Dinosaur Highlights of 2017

Clockwise from bottom left:
Borealopelta markmitchelli - A nodosaurid known from an incredibly well-preserved specimen with scales and osteoderms in situ. Analysis of chemical traces from its pigmentation suggest that it had reddish coloration on its dorsum and a countershaded pattern.

Matheronodon provincialis - A rhabdodontid with unusual dentition, having fewer but larger teeth than other iguanodontians.

Patagotitan mayorum - One of the largest dinosaurs known and the most completely known giant titanosaur. (Though it has been claimed to be the largest dinosaur described, this is arguable.)

Tsidiiyazhi abini - A Paleocene stem-mousebird. Its discovery supports the hypothesis that most major groups of modern birds originated and rapidly diversified shortly after the K-Pg extinction.

Cruralispennia multidonta - An enantiornithine with several unusual features, including strap-like feathers on its legs and wings as well as a rapid growth rate.

Serikornis sungei - A basal paravian known from a well-preserved specimen. Its entire body was covered in plumulaceous feathers similar to those of Silkie chickens.

Halszkaraptor escuilliei - A small dromaeosaurid with numerous teeth, a long neck, and short, paddle-like forelimbs. It was likely semi-aquatic, using its wings to help maneuver through the water.

Vouivria damparisensis - Long known from a specimen known as the "French Bothriospondylus" (due to having been mistakenly referred to Bothriospondylus in the past), this dinosaur has been reevaluated as the oldest known brachiosaurid (dating to the Oxfordian Age of the Late Jurassic).

Mierasaurus bobyoungi - Along with the closely related Moabosaurus (also described in 2017), this represents the youngest known turiasaurian sauropod, dating to the Early Cretaceous.

Latenivenatrix mcmasterae - 2017 was a good year for troodonts, seeing the description of no fewer than six new species. This is one of them, based on specimens formerly assigned to Troodon. It is the largest known troodont, at around 3 m long.

Isaberrysaura mollensis - An ornithischian with preserved gut contents (cycad seeds). It was described as a basal neornithischian (which I have restored it as here), but may in fact be a stegosaur.

Zuul crurivastator - 2017 was also a good year for extraordinary ankylosaur specimens. This one is the most completely known ankylosaurid from North America.