r/Paleontology

https://www.instagram.com/emmalerae?igsh=NWpoMnE5anlqd3c2

Mastodonsaurus was a genus of giant capitosaur temnospondyl amphibian from the mid Triassic of Europe. At 5 meters long, it was the largest known amphibian with a skull length of over a meter. Mastodonsaurus lived in a variety of habitats, ranging from rivers, lakes, and even marine lagoons. Most of the largest individuals have been found in deep, well-aerated lakes with depths less than 10 meters. The skull was flat and broad with narrow grooves along the surface of the bone called sulci. These grooves show it had sensory organs that could detect vibrations and pressure under water. Its not unlike that of the lateral lines on fish and macroreceptory systems seen in reptiles, allowing Mastodonsaurus to sense prey in low light conditions. A pair of

massive tusks grew from the tip of the lower jaw. When the mouth is closed, these tusks pass through special openings called palatal fenestrae in the upper jaw, poking straight out through the top of its snout. These tusks were for peircing prey and preventing them from escaping. Mastodonsaurus was a bottom dwelling ambush predator, waiting for prey to come near enough for a fast strike. It was the apex predator of Triassic waterways in Europe, feeding on large amphibians like Plagiosuchus and fish, but could possibly have also hunted terrestrial vertebrates as well. The limbs of Mastodonsaurus were greatly reduced and had weakly developed joints, indicating it was poorly equipped for walking on land. Mastodonsaurus likely died en masse during droughts when the water levels were too low for them to move. Juveniles likely didn't have this restriction, however.

Las probabilidades de exactitud en la reconstrucción facial de tyrannosaurus rex oscilan entre su relación filogenética y las necesidades adaptativas

Part two of reconstructing the Hell creek environments, this time the red forest dominated by metasequoias and sequoias and fern species, main fauna the Tyrannosaurus rex with scars and missing an arm from countless conflicts and other mammals that lived alongside it.

Like the title says, we're working on a mod for Minecraft based on the tv series Prehistoric Park. Our goal is to make everything as realistic as possible, with the idea of making the environment as immersive as possible. That being said, this is for the first release, so environments are heavily WIP, as are a lot of the textures.

We are looking for blockbench animators and foley artists to join the team, so let us know if you're interested. Otherwise, if you're wanting to keep up to date with the mod and see some other progress picture, join our discord: https://discord.gg/eHYQ5c44uj

We're also always welcome to suggestions on the mod, in line with the show of course :D

I'm making a cardboard replica of a couple pterosaur skulls and I'm afraid I might have fucked up the width of pterodaustro's skull.

For #Fossil Friday, meet "Junior." About a month back I was able to take these photos at the new Bison: Standing Strong Smithsonian exhibit in Washington, DC.

Junior is a massive Bison latifrons skull with horns over six feet wide. He was discovered along the Snake River near the American Falls Reservoir in southeastern Idaho.

Marie L. Hopkins, Idaho's first female paleontologist, excavated Junior and in 1951 published on the discovery (see reference below). One of the most complete long horned bison skulls I've ever come across.

#womenwhodig #pleistocene #bisonlatifrons #paleontology #iceage #fossil #citizenscience

Hopkins, M. L. (1951). Bison (Gigantobison) latifrons and Bison (Simobison) alleni in southeastern Idaho. Journal of Mammalogy, 32(2), 192-197. https://doi.org/10.2307/1375374

Wanted to do a sea scorpion cuz I love them and was inspired by a medieval painting of a crab

I just finished painting him! I got him last month along with my c'gaulus (will be working on that one soon; stay tuned).

Happy 250th birthday, America! Astrodon fossils have been discovered in Washington D.C.

people love their titans. this is the second one ive been able to do. Both turned out not bad imo

Could there have been a similar situation as a whale fall for a leedsichthys and if so what animals do you think would have been seen at one during the time? I could see at least a Liopleurodon taking advantage of the free meal.

Featured species: Jaekelopterus (the Moon), Parapuzosia seppenradensis and Dolichorhynchops
(Wheel of Fortune), and Quetzalcoatlus (Judgement)