Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th October 2012
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Dinosaur could have been a pet
Image: Tyler Keillor
New species of dinosaur discovered

A newly-discovered fanged dwarf dinosaur, called the Pegomastax africanus, would have been a nice pet, according to the scientist that discovered it.

The fossil was originally chipped out of red rock in the 1960s but was discovered by palaeontologist and professor at the university of Chicago, Paul Sereno, who is also National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, in a collection of fossils at Harvard University.

Sereno published his study of the dinosaur, nicknamed thick-jaw from Africa, in the ZooKeys online journal. He said that the dinosaur lived along forested rivers in southern Africa about 200 million years ago, at the very beginning of the dinosaur era.

It is thought that the Pegomastax had reptile scales, porcupine-like quills, a blunt, parrot-like beak and was about the size of a domestic cat - growing to around 0.6 metres (2ft) long. The dinosaur was part of the Heterodontosaurus family and was a herbivore, with fangs used for self-defence and competition for mates, as opposed to meat-eating.

Professor Sereno said: "It would be a nice pet - if you could train it not to nip you."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA announces 12th Edition of the Small Animal Formulary

The BSAVA has published an updated edition of its Small Animal Formulary, which includes new drug monographs and emergency drug doses for rabbits, rodents, birds and reptiles.

One of BSAVA's most trusted and widely used clinical resources, this 12th edition of the manual also includes seven new client information leaflets and information on drugs used for the management of urinary incontinence.

Part A of the Formulary, Canine and Feline, sees Fergus Allerton return as Editor-in-Chief, while Part B: Exotic Pets was edited by Joanna Hedley. For more information, visit the BSAVA website.