Best Dinosaur Ridge Podcasts (2026)

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Rapetosaurus, the Malagasy Giant Lizard Again 24:16

Play Pause

4h ago24:16

24:16

(image source: https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2023/05/17/news/new_series_of_prehistoric_planet_brings_dinosaurs_back_to_life-3281275/) In this fifth episode of Paleo Paleo Bites, where the show takes a month off releasing new episodes so Matthew Donald can rebuild a backlog of episodes to release later (I’ve got holiday plans, okay?! Leave me …

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Proa, the Prow of Val de Arino Again 27:10

2d ago27:10

27:10

(image source: https://www.thoughtco.com/ornithopod-dinosaur-pictures-and-profiles-4043320) In this fourth episode of Paleo Paleo Bites, where the show takes a month off releasing new episodes so Matthew Donald can rebuild a backlog of episodes to release later (I got a life outside this show, believe it or not!) and digs up older episodes to rerel…

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Albertosaurus, the Alberta Lizard Again 28:20

17d ago28:20

28:20

(image source: https://pixels.com/featured/albertosaurus-mohamad-haghani.html) In this third episode of Paleo Paleo Bites, where the show takes a month off releasing new episodes so Matthew Donald can rebuild a backlog of episodes to release later (this show has been consistent for over half a decade at this point, give me a break) and digs up olde…

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Orkoraptor, the Toothed River Thief Again 21:57

16d ago21:57

21:57

(image source: https://jurassicdna.com/dino-tracker/orkoraptor/) In this second episode of Paleo Paleo Bites, where the show takes a month off releasing new episodes to Matthew Donald can rebuild a backlog of episodes to release later (it takes a lot to keep the weekly release of this show going for 6+ years!) and digs up older episodes to rereleas…

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Tullimonstrum, the Monster of Francis Tully Again 16:46

28d ago16:46

16:46

(image source: https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeBeforeUs/comments/147x7b2/tullimonstrum_gregarium_the_enigmatic_tully/) In this first episode of Paleo Paleo Bites, where the show takes a month off releasing new episodes so Matthew Donald can rebuild a backlog of episodes to release later (life is hard, yo) and digs up older episodes to rerelease and th…

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Borealopelta, the Northern Shield 20:17

1M ago20:17

20:17

(image source: https://novataxa.blogspot.com/2017/08/borealopelta.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Borealopelta, a stout armored bugger that would have been mediocrely notable if it weren’t for, I dunno, have literally the best preserved fossil of all time? Seriously, the mummification made it so we could even see it…

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Miragaia, of the Earth Goddess 17:05

1M ago17:05

17:05

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Miragaia) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Miragaia, a long-necked stegosaur that could be mistaken for a sauropod, as long as one ignored those spikes and plates. They blend in, so I get it. From the Late Jurassic, this 20-foot stegosaur is currently in the crosshairs of b…

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Hypsilophodon, the High-Ridged Tooth 27:52

2M ago27:52

27:52

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Hypsilophodon-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Hypsilophodon, a tiny dinosaur with an unremarkable appearance and a ridiculously convoluted taxonomical history. Just what our listeners have always wanted: a boring dinosaur with complicated info. Yay! From the Early Cret…

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Peteinosaurus, the Winged Lizard 23:14

2M ago23:14

23:14

(image source: https://www.dreamstime.com/peteinosaurus-reptile-tail-was-carnivorous-flying-pterosaur-lived-italy-triassic-period-image156432121) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Peteinosaurus, an early pterosaur that’s notable in that it’s an early pterosaur and nothing else. Have you seen a small pterosaur? Then you’ve se…

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Dalyia, the Clustered One 6:42

2M ago6:42

6:42

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalyia) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Nobody McNooneson discuss Dalyia, a creature that no one gives a damn about so it functions perfectly as doubling up as an apology and explanation for what happened to Paleo Bites-oween and why it ended early. I pity the poor singular Dalyia fan that was real…

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Purgatorius, of Purgatory Hill 19:06

2M ago19:06

19:06

(image source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/did-ancient-primates-walk-alongside-dinosaurs-new-evidence-backs-up-theory) Happy Paleo Bites-oween, where we will host Halloween themed episodes all week, every day! On this fourth day of Paleo Bites-oween, this one on actual Halloween (but don’t worry, the celebration of Paleo Bite…

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Zuul, the Destroyer of Shins Again 16:38

2M ago16:38

16:38

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Zuul-picture) Happy Paleo Bites-oween, where we will host Halloween themed episodes all week, every day! On this third day of Paleo Bites-oween, host Matthew Donald unearths an older Halloween episode from years back to rerelease in all of its glory. Kind of like a fossil. Or a mummy. From the Late Cretac…

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Vampyronassa, the Vampiric Fish Trap 23:06

2M ago23:06

23:06

(image source: https://prehistoric-wiki.fandom.com/wiki/Vampyronassa) Happy Paleo Bites-oween, where we will host Halloween themed episodes all week, every day! On this second day of Paleo Bites-oween, host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Vampyronassa, a fricking vampire squid… it’s not as cool as it sounds. From the Late Jurassi…

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Desmodus draculae, the Giant Dracula Bat 19:18

2M ago19:18

19:18

(image source: https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/how-find-desmodus-ark-survival-evolved-fjordur) Happy Paleo Bites-oween, where we will host Halloween themed episodes all week, every day! On this first day of Paleo Bites-oween, host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Desmodus draculae, the biggest vampire bat ever known and th…

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Zalmoxes, of the Dacian Deity 7:32

2M ago7:32

7:32

(image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/Zalmoxes_FI_38b7.jpg) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host… well, there was a guy there, my best friend also named Matt, but he’s already served his time doing Paleo Bites back in the day so he was silent here, discuss Zalmoxes, a teeny iguanodontid that lived on the Romanian islands back in the d…

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Thanatosdrakon, the Dragon of Death 29:54

3M ago29:54

29:54

(image source: https://lorosyguacamayos.com.ar/ave-voladora-mas-grande-de-la-historia-dinosaurio/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-hosts Jaymes Buckman (and their friend Jamie) discuss Thanatosdrakon, a huge pterosaur with a fricking awesome name. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this thing was described in the 90s or early 2000s when everythi…

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Drinker, of Edward Drinker Cope 17:40

3M ago17:40

17:40

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Ikrandraco, the Dragon of the Avatar Banshee 17:22

3M ago17:22

17:22

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Ikrandraco-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Ikrandraco, a big flying reptile named after a creature from the highest grossing movie series of all time. “No cultural footprint” my ass! From the Early Cretaceous, this 5-foot-wingspan pterosaur flapped around in its homel…

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Anurognathus, the Frog Jaw 26:06

3M ago26:06

26:06

(image source: https://jurassic-world-san-diego.fandom.com/wiki/Anurognathus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Anurognathus, a freaky looking bat-frog thing that’s actually a pterosaur and thus closely related to birds and crocodiles. Nature’s weird, I gotta say. From the Late Jurassic, this 12-inch anurognathid pterosaur a…

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Corythosaurus, the Helmeted Lizard 25:09

4M ago25:09

25:09

(image source: https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/wiki/Corythosaurus/JW:_E) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Corythosaurus, a duckbilled dinosaur with a helmet on its head… except not so much a helmet, as I doubt it would help much against collisions with street pavement or Ankylosaurus clubs. But hey, maybe it would. I’d we…

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Argentinosaurus, the Argentine Lizard 22:09

4M ago22:09

22:09

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Argentinosaurus-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Argentinosaurus, a really, really, REALLY big longneck. Like, REALLY big. Oh, and it’s also from Argentina. From the Late Cretaceous, this 100-foot titanosaurid was… goddang, it was SO big! Like seriously, look at it! LO…

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Rhamphorhynchus, the Beak Snout 17:19

4M ago17:19

17:19

(image source: https://fossil.fandom.com/wiki/Rhamphorhynchus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Rhamphorhynchus, a sea pterosaur with a lot of pointy teeth and even more unnecessary H’s in its name. No word should have that many ‘H’ letters in it, and if you disagree, shhhh! From the Late Jurassic, this six-foot wingspan pt…

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Vaderlimulus, the Horseshoe Crab of Darth Vader 14:44

4M ago14:44

14:44

(image source: https://www.deviantart.com/ntvtiko/art/Vaderlimulus-tricki-754817629) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Vaderlimulus, a horseshoe crab that looked like Darth Vader, or at least like the top of Darth Vader’s helmet. The hat part of the helmet, you know? I bet this gives great helmet. From the Early Triassic, t…

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Kosmoceratops, the Ornate Horned Face 20:08

4M ago20:08

20:08

(image source: https://eartharchives.org/articles/kosmoceratops-was-the-frilliest-of-all-the-ceratopsians/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Kosmoceratops, a very horny dinosaur in that it had the most horns of any horned dinosaurs. Although maybe it was also horny in the other sense. What it did in its time is none of my…

1
Shunosaurus, the Lizard of the Sichuan Province 21:56

5M ago21:56

21:56

(image source: https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/wiki/Shunosaurus/JW:_TG?file=Shunosaurus.png) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Shunosaurus, a small longneck dinosaur that’s not very notable except it has a club at the end of its tail. That’s not that notable either, Shunny-boy. I have a club too! A “Cool Dino Fan” club, cu…

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Hatzegopteryx, the Wing of Hateg Basin 25:58

5M ago25:58

25:58

(image source: https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/5kg0O0I-asset-mezzanine-16x9-RIS0K1C.png) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Hatzegopteryx, the last shadow the poor dwarf dino islanders of the Hateg basin ever saw. Oh, watch out, Zalmoxes! You’re gonna get et by a jet. From the Late Cretaceous, this 36-foot wingspan azhdarc…

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"Suciasaurus rex," the State Dinosaur of Washington 17:56

5M ago17:56

17:56

(image source: https://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/suciasaurus-rex-named-washington-states-official-dinosaur/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Jason Zolle discuss “Suciasaurus rex,” an informally named fossil that’s probably Daspletosaurus or something but that’s not the state dinosaur of Washington, is it? Listen to our episode on that parti…

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Hoplitosaurus, the Hoplite Lizard 15:16

5M ago15:16

15:16

(original image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/sauropelta_5c34.jpg) Happy 300 episodes! Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Leonychus the Hoplitosaurus, King of the Lakota Formation, discuss (by performing an overly dramatic farcical audiodrama) Hoplitosaurus, a heavily defended creature that fought the encroaching Acrocanthosaurus a…

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Rhizodus, the Rooted Tooth 20:10

6M ago20:10

20:10

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Rhizodus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Rhizodus, the largest ever freshwater fish that had so much rizz it lived for 30 million whole years. Rhizodus-dizz, thanks for all the rizz! From the Early Carboniferous, this 20-foot sarcopterygian was actually more closely relat…

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Shantungosaurus, the Lizard of the Shandong Province 20:20

6M ago20:20

20:20

(image source: https://makerworld.com/en/models/767570-shantungosaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Shantungosaurus, a big big BIG duckbilled dinosaur, and in fact the biggest non-sauropod dinosaur ever! Then again, I’m the biggest guy named Matthew who’s written a book called Megazoic. Probably, anyways. From the La…

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Catactegenys, the Crushing Jaw 20:50

6M ago20:50

20:50

(image source: http://bit.ly/4kjy8Dk) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Catactegenys, a type of night lizard, which is a group still alive today BUUUUT there’s a really big and exciting study about them involving the big meteor that killed the dinosaurs so it counts. I make the rules! From the Late Cretaceous to the Late Ho…

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Shuvuuia, the Mongolian Bird 29:56

6M ago29:56

29:56

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Shuvuuia-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-hosts Jaymes Buckman and their boyfriend Toby discuss Shuvuuia, the tiny, quirky desert-dwelling dino-bird-thing that proves you don’t need claws, wings, or teeth to be iconic, just a good sense of direction and a thirst for termites. Yum. From the Late …

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Gallimimus, the Chicken Mimic 19:39

6M ago19:39

19:39

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/gallimimus-paleoart-by-me--236087205460103553/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Gallimimus, a classic dinosaur and pioneer of the visual effects industry… at least for us humans. I doubt it dabbled in any visual effects work itself. From the Late Cretaceous, this 20-foot ornit…

1
Enhydriodon, the Otter Tooth 21:47

7M ago21:47

21:47

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676736281530757612/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Enhydriodon, a giant species of otter that you really otter avoid. That’s the kind of humor you should expect on this show. I truly can’t believe we’re nearing 300 episodes. From the Early Pliocene, this 7-foot mustelid was b…

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Megantereon, the Giant Beast 21:48

7M ago21:48

21:48

(image source: https://newdinosaurs.com/megantereon/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Megantereon, a fairly typical saber-toothed cat with one major claim to fame in that we have direct evidence of it hunting early humans, so any time you think there’s danger in the darkness, you can thank this guy for instilling that in…

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Scleromochlus, the Hard Limb 22:35

7M ago22:35

22:35

(image source: https://prehistoria.fandom.com/es/wiki/Scleromochlus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Scleromochlus, a cute little dude with absolutely nothing remarkable about it on its own and is more interesting in what it evolved into; this guy was in fact an early ancestor of the pterosaurs! Celebrate, all ye boring pe…

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FUCA, the First Universal Common Ancestor 21:05

8M ago21:05

21:05

(image source: https://medium.com/@smartap3s/luca-and-fuca-our-great-great-great-grandmas-7880b0950e53) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-hosts Jennifer Grossman and Matt’s niece Logan (against his will) discuss FUCA, the original, original life before even LUCA was a thing, which I also covered with Jennifer about two hundred episodes earlier. From…

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Dromaeosaurus, the Running Lizard 19:52

8M ago19:52

19:52

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Dromaeosaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Dromaeosaurus, the namesake of the dromaeosaur family that are more commonly known as “raptors.” Which means Velociraptor is more the namesake of the family, but I’m talking scientifically! “Uh, actually, they’re not raptors, …

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Smok, the Polish Dragon 19:44

8M ago19:44

19:44

(image source: https://alchetron.com/Smok-(archosaur)) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Smok, a basal archosaur that looks like a dinosaur but apparently is not. Look, it looks like one to me, but I ain’t no scientist. You should listen to them instead of this dumb show. From the Late Triassic, this 20-foot reptile was one…

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Dinocrocuta, the Terrible Hyena 32:15

8M ago32:15

32:15

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinocrocuta by Dmitry Bogdanov) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Dinocrocuta, which is not an awesome dinosaur/crocodile hybrid like the name suggests but is instead some lame hyena thing. Oh wait, it’s actually a fricking enormous hyena thing? Eh, it’s still not as cool as a di…

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Kunpengopterus, the Kunpeng Wing 21:14

8M ago21:14

21:14

(image source: https://marchan-forest.blogspot.com/2021/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Kunpengopterus, a monkey-like pterosaur in that it had opposable thumbs, which is pretty cool I gotta say. There’s no joke there, I genuinely think that’s cool. From the Late Jurassic, this 3-foot wukongopterid was first thought to be…

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Compsognathus, the Elegant Jaw 17:13

9M ago17:13

17:13

(image source: https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/compsognathus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Compsognathus, famously the smallest dinosaur of all but not so famously actually not the smallest dinosaur of all anymore, not even close. It’s been working out, getting yoked and stuff. From the Late Jurassic, this…

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Elasmotherium, the Plated Beast 20:33

9M ago20:33

20:33

(image source: https://newdinosaurs.com/elasmotherium/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Jaymes Buckman discuss Elasmotherium, a woolly rhino that’s not the Woolly Rhino but is woolly and is a rhino, so call it whatever you want I guess. From the late Pleistocene, this 18-foot rhinoceratid came equipped with a seriously metal nose horn coming …

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Homo sapiens, the Intelligent Man 23:00

9M ago23:00

23:00

(image source: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ ) April Fools, puny humans! Host Emperor Splozzitrox, Supreme Ruler of the Planet Zurkabong, and co-host Karzagloth, the underest of underlings, discuss Homo sapiens, the recently exterminated ground vermin that once overpopulated this hunk of space rock named Earth, a backwater planet in the Goo…

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Megalograptus, the Great Writing 19:53

9M ago19:53

19:53

(image source: https://www.darwinsdoor.co.uk/timetour/the-ordovician-period.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Megalograptus, another nope of a creature but this time an ocean-bound nope, so it’s slightly more forgivable. Wait, I’ve just been told they can sometimes go onto land anyway? Nope, nope, NOPE! From the Late…

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Protoceratops, the First Horned Face 22:31

10M ago22:31

22:31

(image source: https://www.thoughtco.com/things-to-know-protoceratops-1093796) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Protoceratops, a hardy and stocky fellow with a tubby body and a grumpy attitude. I really relate to this creature. From the Late Cretaceous, this 8-foot ceratopsian lived in the desert with the more famous Velo…

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Appalachiosaurus, the Appalachian Lizard 31:43

10M ago31:43

31:43

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/347129083760903111/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Appalachiosaurus, a tyrannosaur living on the East Coast like some city slicker sellout. Never forget your Western roots here in Laramidia! Remember who you are! From the Late Cretaceous, this 25-foot theropod dinosaur is the on…

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Ceratosaurus, the Horned Lizard 31:56

10M ago31:56

31:56

(image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/Ceratosaurus3_1b79.jpg) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Ceratosaurus, an almost-famous dinosaur that often gets overshadowed by Allosaurus, which gets overshadowed by Saurophaganax, which just recently got overshadowed again by Allosaurus because the latter is now unfortu…

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A. anax, the Usurper of Saurophaganax 26:50

10M ago26:50

26:50

(image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/Saurophaganax-Paul-Heaston1_2121.jpg) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Allosaurus anax, the new lord of the lizard eaters after supplanting the great and now dubious Saurophaganax after a hard-fought duel. There is truly no mercy sometimes in the battlefield of science. F…

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Temnodontosaurus, the Cutting-Tooth Lizard 35:29

11M ago35:29

35:29

(image source: https://artpictures.club/autumn-2023.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Michele C. Hollow discuss Temnodontosaurus, a rather large marine reptile with potentially the largest eyes of any animal ever at 10 inches wide. Sheesh, my most impressive body part in terms of size is only half that length! From the Early Jurassic, thi…