fossil

Figure 1. Evolution of macroecological traits in Dinosauria. Large scale event in dinosaur evolution (a); the origin of dinosaurs (star), hyperthermals (volcano), the earliest fossil Avialae (bird), the earliest fossil angiosperm (flower), the Cretaceous/Palaeogene mass extinction (asteroid). Phylogeny of dinosaurs (b) redrawn from Sereno and adapted to the current consensus and upon which an ancestral state reconstruction of temperature niche (mean annual temperature) after Chiarenza et al. is plotted; Mesozoic palaeogeographies (c) for Triassic (T), Jurassic (J) and Cretaceous (K). Silhouette colours symbolize body mass for each of the taxa represented; information on dietary habits are plotted after Barrett and Zanno & Makovicky; numbers represent clades discussed through this study: 1, Ornithischia; 2, Thyreophora; 3, Ornithopoda; 4, Hadrosauroidea; 5, Marginocephalia; 6, Ceratopsia; 7, Saurischia; 8, Sauropodomorpha; 9, Sauropoda; 10, Theropoda; 11, Ceratosauria; 12, Tetanurae; 13, Coelurosauria; 14, Maniraptoriformes; 15, Maniraptora; 16, Deinonychosauria; 17, Avialae; 18, Ornithothoraces. Palaeogeographies modified from original plots via R package ‘mapast’ using plate models by Scotese.

Simplified cladogram of Dinosauria with the distribution of feathers according to the fossil record. Despite its more ancient origin, it was only in maniraptoriformes that modern-type feathers (pennaceous feathers) have arisen (Based in Xu & Guo, 2009; Clarke, 2013; Godefroit et al., 2013; Han et al., 2014; Koshchowitz et al., 2014).

Photographer: User:Ballista Edited in Adobe PhotoShop: User:Firsfron Photographed object is in fact a cast of a real fossil. It's part of a hands-on exhibit of the NHM in London.

The Chicago specimen of Archaeopteryx (PA 830), a well-preserved fossil highlighting the transitional features between non-avian dinosaurs and birds, housed at the Field Museum of Natural History.

Fossil of Anhanguera, an extinct reptile-- Took the photo at Natural History Museum, London

Fossil of Balaur, an extinct theropod- Took the photo at Fossil Show, Munich

The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden boasts the largest collection of marine invertebrate fossils in Canada. Visitors to the museum not only get to see this collection, but can join a dig in search for more fossils at a 109-acre escarpment property. Photo credit: Robyn Hanson

Fossil of Pinacosaurus, an ankylosaurian dinosaur Took the photo at Musee d'Histoire Naturelle, Brussels

1830 watercolor by the geologist Henry de la Beche depicting life in ancient Dorset based on fossils found by Mary Anning.

Geographic and geologic map showing the location and involved strata of the studied fossil sites in the Xinhe Formation. (A, B) location of the fossiliferous localities in the Gansu Province. (C) Geological map of the involved strata of the studied fossil site (from State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, GS (2016)2884). White star=Jinchuanloong niedu. Black star=plesiosaur fossils. (D) Stratigraphic chart of the Jurassic at the localities.

Jinchuanloong is a relatively basal sauropod that measured an estimated 10 m in length. Sauropod skulls typically don't preserve well in the fossil record, but Jinchuanloong is known mainly from the skull, and parts of the neck and tail. Like all sauropods, Jinchuanloong was a quadrupedal herbivore that used its long neck to reach the vegetation that it fed on.

Fossil of Quetzalcoatlus, an extinct pterosaur- Took the photo at Senckenberg Museum of Frankfurt

Artists’ reconstruction of the living Sarabosaurus dahli swimming with ammonites and fish in southern Utah, 94 million years ago. Artwork by Andrey Atuchin. On June 23, 2023, the following link will go live for more information, www.blm.gov/press-release/94-million-year-old-fossil-prov...

Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 23 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original (most notably, figures 3 and 4 were swapped to minimize confusion). Original description: Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1.— Right side of skull. Fig. 2. — Cross-section of posterior portion of the lower jaw, taken above the point marked A on the lateral view of the skull. Fig. 3. — Cross-section of the upper and lower jaws, taken at the break immediately behind the point marked Sp on the lateral view of the skull. Fig. 4. — Lateral view of an anterior caudal centrum. Legend (modified from original): Ar - articular A - angular D - dentary J - jugal L - lacrimal Mx - maxilla Po - postorbital Sa - surangular Se - sclerotic ring Sp - spenial T - cross-section of tooth X - doubtful element

Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus californicus. This image is derived from plate 24 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original. Original description: Toretocnemus californicus n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1. — Inferior side of right posterior limb. t, tibia. Fig. 2. — Right anterior limb. r, radius. Fig. 3.— Pelvic arch. Fig. 4. — Middle dorsal vertebrae and a rib from the same region.

Photograph of a fossil cast of a Tanycolagreus topwilsoni skeleton taken at the North American Museum of Ancient Life.