Meet Kayrasaurus changliensis, a newly described therizinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China.
In this episode of the Prehistoric Life Podcast, we’re taking a look at this bizarre new dinosaur and what its discovery can tell us about the evolution and ecology of early therizinosaurs.
The specimen is particularly interesting because it is nearly complete and skeletally immature, yet was already substantially larger than other therizinosaurs known from the same Jehol ecosystem. The researchers estimate that Kayrasaurus was at least 1.6 times larger than Beipiaosaurus inexpectus, the next-largest therizinosaur from the same ecosystem.
We’ll look at:
🦖 What Kayrasaurus changliensis was
🦴 Where it was discovered
🦷 Its unusual, extremely small and densely packed teeth
🦕 Its unusual neck vertebrae and hand claw anatomy
🌎 How it fits into the famous Jehol Biota
🍃 Possible differences in ecological niches between early therizinosaurs
🧬 What this discovery tells us about therizinosaur evolution
🔬 And why the researchers emphasize that more fossils and analyses are still needed to test these ideas
One of the really fascinating parts of this research is that the authors provisionally identify different ecological strategies among Jehol therizinosaurs. Beipiaosaurus and possibly Kayrasaurus show features associated with greater bite force and a more robust, less cursorial body plan, while Jianchangosaurus and Lingyuanosaurus show characteristics associated with greater cursoriality and forelimb-based foraging.
As always, it’s important to distinguish between what the fossils directly show and what researchers are interpreting from them. The authors specifically note that additional analyses and more complete specimens will be necessary to rigorously test and refine these ecological hypotheses.
🔬 READ THE SCIENTIFIC PAPER
The research was published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, a scientific journal specializing in paleontological systematics, including taxonomy, phylogenetics, functional morphology, evolution, and paleoecology.
“A new therizinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota and ecomorphological patterns among early therizinosaurians” — Liao et al. 2026
Journal: Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Article: 2710287
DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2026.2710287
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If you enjoy dinosaur discoveries, fossils, paleontology research, museum projects, and prehistoric life, subscribe to Prehistoric Life and join me for the next discovery!
🦖 A brand new dinosaur has just been described from Alberta, Canada!In this episode of the Prehistoric Life Podcast, we break down the newly published paper describing Plesiolophus warnerensis, a newly named lambeosaurine dinosaur that may represent one of the earliest known relatives of Parasaurolophus.This discovery comes from the Oldman Formation of southern Alberta and helps fill a major gap in the evolutionary history of the famous crested duck-billed dinosaurs. We discuss:What Plesiolophus warnerensis isWhy its braincase is so importantHow it fits into the Parasaurolophus family treeWhat this means for Late Cretaceous dinosaur evolution in AlbertaAnd why this fossil may represent a crucial transitional form in parasaurolophin evolution🎙️ If you enjoy deep dives into new paleontology papers, dinosaur discoveries, and evolutionary mysteries, this episode is for you.📄 Read the paper herePlesiolophus warnerensis (new lambeosaurine dinosaur from the Oldman Formation, Alberta): 🔗 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences paper : https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjes-2026-0013🦕 Subscribe for moreNew episodes cover:The latest dinosaur discoveriesFossil deep divesMuseum visitsInterviews with paleontologistsAnd the science behind prehistoric life👍 Like, comment, and subscribe if you want to see more episodes breaking down brand-new paleontology research as soon as it is published.🦕 SUPPORT THE PREHISTORIC LIFE PATREON If you want to help fuel these projects (and get some exclusive perks), consider supporting the Prehistoric Life Patreon. Every bit helps me create bigger and better content for you all. Thank you all so much for being here and supporting these worlds we’re building together. More updates coming soon—stay prehistoric! 🌋🦖 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more fossil-filled content! 🎙️ Hosted by Prehistoric Life Podcast: 🌐 Website: prehistoriclifepodcast.com 💖 Support the show: patreon.com/c/PrehistoricLifePodcast 🦴 This Episode is Sponsored By: 🔍 Dinosaur Trips — Go on a fossil-hunting adventure of a lifetime! 🦕 Mention Prehistoric Life Podcast at checkout and get $250 off your tickets: 👉 dinosaurtrips.com 🦖 DinosaurSkeletons.co.uk — For museum-quality fossil replicas and decor: 👉 dinosaurskeletons.co.uk
The Suchomimus Taxonomy Scandal + Mind-Blowing New Spinosaur CT Scans!Is one of the world’s most famous spinosaurs actually a lie? 🦖In today’s episode of the Prehistoric Life Podcast, we are diving straight into the massive paleontology scandal taking the internet by storm! A groundbreaking 2026 paper published in Geodiversitas by Frédéric Pittet has proposed that Suchomimus tenerensis might actually be a junior synonym of Cristatusaurus lapparenti—potentially sinking the beloved giant from Niger forever.But is the case actually closed? We break down the taxonomic drama, explore Dr. Brian Curtice’s (Fossil Crates) fascinating breakdown of the major scaling anomalies in the Suchomimus holotype models, and reveal why this “scandal” might be incredibly premature.Plus, we look at what the paper is actually about: spectacular new CT scans revealing the hyper-sensitive, crocodile-like neurovascular canals inside spinosaur snouts and their rapid, self-sustaining tooth-replacement conveyor belts! Let me know in the comments: Are you Team Suchomimus or Team Cristatusaurus?🔗 Links & Resources:Check out Dr. Brian Curtice’s excellent scaling breakdown on the Fossil Crates channel: https://youtu.be/jIvySfltqGc?si=lYQwa5N5QvX98DV2Read the full study in Geodiversitas: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/geodiversitas/48/12👍 Like, subscribe, and stick around for more dinosaur projects, fossil science, and prehistoric storytelling!🦕 SUPPORT THE PREHISTORIC LIFE PATREON If you want to help fuel these projects (and get some exclusive perks), consider supporting the Prehistoric Life Patreon. Every bit helps me create bigger and better content for you all. Thank you all so much for being here and supporting these worlds we’re building together. More updates coming soon—stay prehistoric! 🌋🦖 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more fossil-filled content! 🎙️ Hosted by Prehistoric Life Podcast: 🌐 Website: prehistoriclifepodcast.com 💖 Support the show: patreon.com/c/PrehistoricLifePodcast 🦴 This Episode is Sponsored By: 🔍 Dinosaur Trips — Go on a fossil-hunting adventure of a lifetime! 🦕 Mention Prehistoric Life Podcast at checkout and get $250 off your tickets: 👉 dinosaurtrips.com 🦖 DinosaurSkeletons.co.uk — For museum-quality fossil replicas and decor: 👉 dinosaurskeletons.co.uk #Paleontology #Suchomimus #Spinosaurus #Dinosaurs #PrehistoricLifePodcast #DinosaurScandal #ScienceNews
Spinosaurus may not have been fully marine like a mosasaur…
but it may have occupied a unique ecological niche unlike any other giant dinosaur in history.
A predator caught between land and sea.
👍 Like, subscribe, and stick around for more dinosaur projects, fossil science, and prehistoric storytelling!
🦕 SUPPORT THE PREHISTORIC LIFE PATREON If you want to help fuel these projects (and get some exclusive perks), consider supporting the Prehistoric Life Patreon. Every bit helps me create bigger and better content for you all. Thank you all so much for being here and supporting these worlds we’re building together. More updates coming soon—stay prehistoric!
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🎙️ Hosted by Prehistoric Life Podcast:
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💖 Support the show: patreon.com/c/PrehistoricLifePodcast
🦴 This Episode is Sponsored By:
🔍 Dinosaur Trips — Go on a fossil-hunting adventure of a lifetime!
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🦖🌊 When people hear “T. rex,” they think of the king of the dinosaurs.But now, there’s another T. rex — and this one ruled the oceans.In this video, we dive into Tylosaurus rex, a newly identified species of giant mosasaur that may have been one of the deadliest marine predators of the Cretaceous seas.At over 40 feet long, armed with serrated teeth and crushing jaws, this apex predator dominated the ancient Western Interior Seaway that once split North America in half.But the wildest part?Scientists had fossils of this animal sitting in museum collections for decades before realizing it was an entirely different species.🎥 In this video, we explore:🌊 The ancient ocean that covered North America🦎 What mosasaurs actually were🦖 Why Tylosaurus rex was different from other tylosaurs⚔️ Fossil evidence of violent combat between giant marine predators🦷 How this animal hunted and what it likely ate🧠 Why this discovery changes what we know about mosasaur evolution👑 The controversy behind naming another animal “T. rex”From giant sharks to massive marine reptiles, the oceans of the Cretaceous may have been even more terrifying than the land.And hidden beneath those ancient waters…was a predator worthy of the name rex.👍 Like, subscribe, and stick around for more dinosaur projects, fossil science, and prehistoric storytelling!🦕 SUPPORT THE PREHISTORIC LIFE PATREON If you want to help fuel these projects (and get some exclusive perks), consider supporting the Prehistoric Life Patreon. Every bit helps me create bigger and better content for you all. Thank you all so much for being here and supporting these worlds we’re building together. More updates coming soon—stay prehistoric! 🌋🦖 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more fossil-filled content! 🎙️ Hosted by Prehistoric Life Podcast: 🌐 Website: prehistoriclifepodcast.com 💖 Support the show: patreon.com/c/PrehistoricLifePodcast 🦴 This Episode is Sponsored By: 🔍 Dinosaur Trips — Go on a fossil-hunting adventure of a lifetime! 🦕 Mention Prehistoric Life Podcast at checkout and get $250 off your tickets: 👉 dinosaurtrips.com 🦖 DinosaurSkeletons.co.uk — For museum-quality fossil replicas and decor: 👉 dinosaurskeletons.co.uk Link: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paleontologists-discover-an-ancient-marine-reptile-theyve-dubbed-the-t-rex-of-the-sea-crowning-another-king-of-the-cretaceous-180988792/#Tylosaurus #TRex #Mosasaur #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #PrehistoricLife #Fossils #Science #MarineReptiles
What if dinosaurs never actually disappeared from a region… we just never found the evidence?
In this episode, we dive into a groundbreaking paleontology discovery: 132 million-year-old dinosaur footprints found along the coast of South Africa—tracks that are rewriting what scientists thought they knew about dinosaur survival and ecosystems.
For decades, the fossil record in southern Africa went silent after massive volcanic eruptions around 182 million years ago. Many believed dinosaurs vanished from the region…
Until now.
These newly discovered trackways reveal that dinosaurs were still present—and possibly thriving—millions of years later. But this discovery isn’t just about footprints…
It’s about how paleontology itself is changing.
Instead of just studying bones, scientists are now uncovering behavior, movement, and entire ecosystems from trace fossils like these.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why this discovery shocked scientists
What kinds of dinosaurs made these tracks
How footprints can reveal behavior
And why this changes the timeline of prehistoric life
This is the story of a discovery that shouldn’t exist… but does.
🔗 Sources & further reading:
ScienceDaily article on the discovery
👍 Like, subscribe, and stick around for more dinosaur projects, fossil science, and prehistoric storytelling!
🦕 SUPPORT THE PREHISTORIC LIFE PATREON If you want to help fuel these projects (and get some exclusive perks), consider supporting the Prehistoric Life Patreon. Every bit helps me create bigger and better content for you all. Thank you all so much for being here and supporting these worlds we’re building together. More updates coming soon—stay prehistoric!
🌋🦖 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more fossil-filled content!
🎙️ Hosted by Prehistoric Life Podcast:
🌐 Website: prehistoriclifepodcast.com
💖 Support the show: patreon.com/c/PrehistoricLifePodcast
🦴 This Episode is Sponsored By:
🔍 Dinosaur Trips — Go on a fossil-hunting adventure of a lifetime!
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