#cascocauda

Finally released from the Dinosaur Hell of my own making, I bring to you some extra size charts comparing related species that I’ve drawn so far!

Huge congrats to everyone who completed Archovember this year, as well as to those who are still working through the list at their own (healthier) pace! It was nice having a couple extra people to check in on on Tumblr this year too! It was so fun seeing everyone’s take on these species, and being able to give some of the lesser-known ones some much deserved attention.

I’d like to urge people to go to my Instagram SaritaPaleo and see the story highlights, check out what other people have drawn, and give them some likes and comments as well. A lot of people put so much effort and creativity into this year!

Anurognathids stickers

Anurognathids were small short-tailed pterosaurs. They were probably nocturnal and insectivorous, but were without a doubt weird and cute! Get this sticker set featuring 6 unique species.

252mya.com/anuro

#Archovember Day 18 - Cascocauda rong

The Anurognathids of the Jurassic and Cretaceous were highly derived pterosaurs that filled a similar niche to bats. They were nocturnal or crepuscular, insectivorous (though some larger species may have eaten fish as well), arboreal, and had short tails. However, Cascocauda rong of Middle - Late Jurassic China was an exception to the short tail rule. It’s tail was longer than other known anurognathids, earning it a name meaning “fluffy ancient tail.” But more importantly, Cascocauda provides us evidence of the complexity of pycnofibers in pterosaurs. Long thought to be simple and furlike, pterosaur pycnofibers were thought to be unique structures that evolved independently from feathers. However, Cascocauda had an array of different pycnofiber shapes and structures, one of them being similar to downy feathers with frayed ends. This further strengthens the hypothesis that feathers evolved before dinosaurs and pterosaurs even split into two different clades. Also, infrared spectral analysis was used on these pycnofibers, showing they had a similar absorption spectra to red human hair, making Cascocauda one of the only pterosaurs for which we know its coloration!

Here’s some of the amazing diversity of Mammaliaformes of Jurassic China. Volaticotherium glides in pursuit of a tasty bug. Agilodocodon, an excellent climber, already got one and brings it back to its young in the trees. Some Docofossors are digging up the lawn. Castorocauda, the largest mammaliaform of the Mesozoic, is going for a swim. With the exception of Volaticotherium, these are all Docodonts, a group closely related to the crown group mammals, having branched off a little before the monotremes did. I wanted to show off how much more diverse and interesting Mesozoic mammals were than we usually imagine. They did a lot more than cowering from dinosaurs and being eaten by them!

Cascocauda

Cascocauda (що означає «стародавній хвіст») — вимерлий рід анурогнатидних птерозаврів з формації Тяоішань (пізня–середня юра) провінції Хебей, Китай. Рід містить один вид, C. rong, відомий за повним скелетом молодої особини, збереженим з м’якими тканинами, включаючи перетинки крил і щільне покриття пікноволокнами. Деякі з цих пікноволокон виявилися розгалуженими та схожими на пір’я манірапторових динозаврів-тероподів. Це дозволяє…

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