In my interpretation I pair the octopus with the giant ammonite Parapuzosia, these animals aren't known from the same localities but their time ranges overlap which makes it plausible to me that these guys, or close relatives, could have met.

You cherry picked an example where it’s a single word short name. While ignoring that the name doesn’t tell us anything unless you speak Latin. “Blue Whale” can be remembered by a normal person, they ain’t gonna remember “Balaenoptera musculus”

100% the right call. Scientific names really should only be used in academic settings, as they're needlessly wordy and subject to change as scientists debate and reassign taxonomic placements. They're also just not how people talk about extant animals. Imagine a documentary about Costa Rica's jungles being like "and here we have Dendrobates auratus" instead of "poison dart frog".

Our 25 contributing artists have started to receive their personal copies of #MesozoicArtII, the huge and spectacular new #palaeoart-themed @BloomsburyBooks book by myself and @sharkbitesteve. Truly the ultimate must-have if you're interested in representations of ancient life :)

Artists, show me your most popular piece ✏️

I am a cotylorhynchus hater. Man that is a bad-looking animal. Is this controversial?

Everyone I need you to show me your Hatzegopteryx art. I need it

They’re back!