2020 palaeontological wishes and predictions

[Sim]

@Yutyrannus made this type of thread for previous years, but they haven't been on the forum for a few years now.  So I've decided to make this thread!  Post what you wish or predict for palaeontology in 2020.

Here are my wishes:

1. More remains of Dakotaraptor
It's not known what this animal looks like and a recent analysis even placed it among unenlagiines.  I doubt Dakotaraptor is an unenlagiine but without more remains it's not possible to know what kind of dromaeosaurid Dakotaraptor was.  I would love to learn what Dakotaraptor was actually like!

2. More remains of Achillobator
Similar to the previous one, this is another giant dromaeosaurid known from very fragmentary remains.  I would love to get to see what it actually looked like!  An interesting thing about Achillobator is that unlike Utahraptor which was the largest predator in its environment, and unlike Dakotaraptor which coexisted with the much larger Tyrannosaurus, Achillobator coexisted with a tyrannosauroid of similar size to it: Alectrosaurus.

3. An adult Sinornithosaurus specimen that has its feather arrangement preserved
This would be similar to how Microraptor has specimens that show their feather arrangement.  It would also help resolve the question of whether Sinornithosaurus could fly.

4. More remains of Saurornithoides
Saurornithoides is already known from some pretty good remains.  As it's one of my favourite dinosaurs, I would like for parts of it that are missing to be found.

5. More remains of Zanabazar
Zanabazar is known from a beautiful skull but little else.  It would be great to see exactly what the postcranial anatomy of this large troodontid was like.

6. What kind of theropods megaraptorans are to be worked out
It's still uncertain what kind of theropod megaraptorans are and it would be nice for it to be worked out.  A quite complete specimen would help!  So far megaraptorans are only known from very fragmentary remains, and it would be very good to have a relatively complete specimen of this strange group.

7. What kind of dinosaur Chilesaurus is to be worked out
Chilesaurus is so weird, I don't know how someone could work out what it is beyond being a dinosaur unless a transitional form is found.

8. The genus Nothosaurus is reviewed and species that fall outside the genus get a different genus name
There's a number of species currently classified in Nothosaurus that analysis has shown fall outside that genus.  Some different genus names already exist but are currently unused.  For example Paranothosaurus for the species giganteus.

[Libraraptor]

How about finding more feathered animals older than Archaeopteryx?

[austrosaurus]

The two things that I would really like to see this year are a resolution on whether Eshanosaurus is actually a basal therizinosauroid or just another junior synonym of Lufengosaurus, and for someone to sort out the Omeisaurus/Mamenchisaurus mess.

[australovenator]

I second a more complete megaraptoran, I'd also like to see some more reasonably complete Australian dinosaurs found, and hey, some more of Spinosaurus probably wouldn't hurt either.

[Papi-Anon]

1) More non-dental remains of Gigantopithecus. Even another incomplete lower jaw would be fine (there are 4 so far, I believe)

2) Any postcranial material for Andrewsarchus, or even a lower jaw.

3) More Denisovan remains

4) More 'mummified' specimens of prehistoric life (bonus if it's an actual mummified Pleistocene or Holocene animal)

5) THE TULLY MONSTER SETTLED ONCE AND FOR ALL.

6) Complete skeleton (or at least the missing parts found) for: Thylacosmilus, Paraceratherium, and Sebecus.

7) News of grafting more mammoth genetics into Asian Elephants.

(toy-related) A toy company making a BIPEDAL Postosuchus figure. (I love Schleich's recent entry, but we seriously need a bipedal posto now that it's been established they walked on two legs)

[Shonisaurus]

He would like to see full or partial remains of the therizinosaurus and gigantoraptor more or less of the same quality as its dinosaur counterpart deinocheirus.

[elfwink]

I would love to see more specimens of different growth stages. It's kinda sad that most baby dinos don't get preserved well.

More dinosaurs in Australia would be pretty cool. As long as we're not disturbing any important historical sites.

[SidB]

I would love to see more specimens of different growth stages. It's kinda sad that most baby dinos don't get preserved well.

More dinosaurs in Australia would be pretty cool. As long as we're not disturbing any important historical sites.

I'd really like to see the availability of different growth stages also. I know that it's been done, but I'd love to see it happen far more extensively. Great for dioramas.

[Halichoeres]

I would love to see more specimens of different growth stages. It's kinda sad that most baby dinos don't get preserved well.

More dinosaurs in Australia would be pretty cool. As long as we're not disturbing any important historical sites.

Well, the Auca Mahuevo titanosaur embryos just got some publicity. They were adorable: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253205-best-preserved-titanosaur-embryo-reveals-they-had-nose-horns-as-babies/