Harpymimus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Harpymimus Harpymimus (HAR-pih-MIME-us; “Harpy mimic”) is a genus of ornithomimosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 113 to 100 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The name refers to the Harpies of Greek mythology, fearsome winged creatures, and […]
Hatzegopteryx: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Hatzegopteryx Hatzegopteryx (HAT-zeh-GOP-ter-iks; “HaÈ›eg Basin wing”) is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago, in what is now Romania. This giant flying reptile, one of the largest known, was first described in 2002 by paleontologists Eric Buffetaut, Dan Grigorescu,
Haustellum: Profile of a Prehistoric Predatory Sea Snail Haustellum Haustellum (HAWS-tel-uhm; “Little drawer of liquid”) is a genus of medium to large-sized predatory sea snails. These marine animals are gastropod mollusks belonging to the family Muricidae, which is commonly known as the murex snails or rock snails. Species of Haustellum are found in tropical and
Haya: The Agile Ornithopod of Ancient Mongolia Haya Haya (HA-yah GREE-vah; “Horse-headed deity”) is a genus of small, herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period (Santonian to Campanian stages), approximately 85 to 75 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The name Haya is derived from
Heishansaurus Heishansaurus (HAY-shahn-SAWR-us; “Black Mountain lizard”) is a genus of armoured dinosaur, an ankylosaurian, that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 to 100 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Xinminpu Group (Minhe Formation) in the Heishan (“Black Mountain”) region of Gansu Province, China. The dinosaur was first named and described
Helioceratops: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Helioceratops Helioceratops (HEE-lee-oh-SEH-rah-tops; “Helios’ horned face” or “Sun horned-face”) is a genus of basal neoceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 125 to 98 million years ago. Fossil remains of Helioceratops have been discovered in the Quantou Formation in Jilin Province, northeastern China. The name Helioceratops comes
Helopus Helopus (HEE-loh-pus; “Marsh Foot”) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that roamed East Asia during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period, approximately 150 to 125 million years ago. The fossils of Helopus were first discovered in Shandong Province, China, and were scientifically named Helopus zdanskyi in 1929 by Swedish paleontologist Carl Wiman. However,
Heptasteornis: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Heptasteornis Heptasteornis (HEP-tuh-STEE-or-niss; “Seven Cities Bird”) is a genus of small dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 70 to 66 million years ago, in what is now Romania. The name Heptasteornis, from Greek words meaning “seven cities bird,” refers to the historical German name for the
Herbstosaurus Herbstosaurus (HERBST-oh-SAWR-us; “Herbst’s lizard”) is a genus of prehistoric flying reptile, a pterosaur, that lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 150 to 145 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The name honors Dr. Rafael Herbst, a notable Argentine geologist. Herbstosaurus was first described in 1974 by
Herrerasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Herrerasaurus Herrerasaurus (her-RARE-uh-SAWR-us; “Herrera’s lizard”) is a genus of one of the earliest known dinosaurs. It lived during the Late Triassic period, around 231.4 million years ago, in what is now northwestern Argentina. The name honors Victorino Herrera, a local goatherd who discovered the first fossils of this dinosaur
