This article describes new fossil material of Exallerix pustulatus from the early Late Oligocene of Nei Mongol, China. The specimens supplement and clarify certain mandibular and lower dental morphological features of this species, allowing for further comparisons with other short-faced hedgehogs. Previously, E. pustulatus had only been recorded from the Hsanda Gol Formation at Taatsiin Gol, in the Valley of Lakes, Mongolia. This discovery of new material from Sonid Left Banner marks the first occurrence of the genus Exallerix in China. In addition, discussions of other short-faced hedgehog fossils from Chinese localities confirm the validity of Metexallerix gaolanshanensis, which lived during the late Late Oligocene, approximately 25 Ma. Furthermore, the short-faced hedgehog specimens from locality Damiao 16 in Nei Mongol are tentatively referred to Synexallerix junggarensis, rather than M. gaolanshanensis.
The geographic distribution of Crocodylia in Europe throughout the Cenozoic experienced fluctuations in the extension of its northern limit. Whereas crocodylians reached very high latitudes during the early Eocene (78ºN), their northward extension was more moderate during almost the entire Paleogene and the Neogene. Here we reassess previous Early-to- Middle Miocene crocodylian records from the Fore-Carpathian Basin and its foreland, namely from marine limestones of Pińczów (Poland), and Židlochovice (Czechia) and from the new vertebrate site of Szczerców (Poland), currently interpreted as a freshwater paleoenvironment. All crocodylian material from these three sites represents Crocodylia indet. and its possible taxonomic attribution is discussed. The new Szczerców specimen, an osteoderm, represents the world’s northernmost record of a crocodylian from the entire Neogene.
Alison J. Rowe, Isabelle Kruta, Loïc Villier
et al.
The Cretaceous outcrops of Haqel, Hjoula (Cenomanian) and Sahel Aalma (Santonian) in Lebanon are renowned for their exceptional preservation of coleoid soft tissue in coeval shallow carbonate mud deposits and provide an unmatched opportunity to study many specimens of a single species, Dorateuthis syriaca. Despite being the most abundant coleoid from these localities, the taxon lacks clear, unambiguous diagnostic characteristics of both the gladius, and soft tissue anatomy. The absence of a defined character complex for the species has led to inconsistencies in the literature and the need for a reappraisal. This investigation represents the largest sample of D. syriaca studied with high-resolution, multi-imaging techniques, and has obtained a comprehensive morphological dataset of measurements on this key taxon. This has allowed us to refine some of the character states used to understand the phylogeny of coleoids. Furthermore, we have identified morphological characters that were previously undescribed for the genus, including suckers, axial nerves, and possible retractor muscles, as well as provided confirmation of the circulatory and excretory systems, and an Octobrachia-type digestive system. We also discount the presence of tentacles, tentacular pockets, and hooks within the arm crown, and we show that the species definition of D. syriaca is more complex than expected as our sample suggests intraspecific variability is present in the gladius. We strongly support the hypothesis that it was an 8-armed coleoid that was likely an active visual predator.
Two paleopteran and four polyneopteran insects are described from the Moscovian, Pennsylvanian, of coal slag heaps of Avion and Bruay-la-Bussière, Pas-de-Calais, Northern France, namely the spilapterid paleodictyopteran Spilaptera sp., Megasecoptera indet., a new caloneurodean Fusiogramma minuta gen. et sp. nov., an Archaeorthoptera indet., a new paoliid Avionpaolia amansfossilia gen. et sp. nov., and a Paoliida gen. et sp. indet. These new taxa confirm the important paleodiversity of the late Carboniferous insect assemblage from this area. Small insects are especially diverse and abundant in materials from Avion. Unfortunately, these coal slag heaps are now closed. We postulate that more efficient policy of field research should be applied to save the important insect assemblages of the area.
Este trabajo da a conocer el análisis de la variación de tamaño y forma de silicofitolitos BILOBATE en hojas de Arundo donax L. procesados mediante calcinación a diferentes rangos de temperatura (específicamente a 500 ºC, 650 ºC, 800 ºC y 950 ºC). Las variables morfométricas aplicadas fueron de tamaño y forma (e.g., longitud, ancho, perímetro, área, perímetro convexo, área convexa, factor de forma, redondez, convexidad, solidez y relación de aspecto). La asociación fitolítica para esta especie se caracterizó por la presencia de morfotipos ELONGATE, BULLIFORM FLABELLATE, BILOBATE, POLYLOBATE, CROSS, y estructuras estomáticas, tanto unicelulares como pluricelulares. La variabilidad fitolítica de hojas procesadas a 950 ºC evidenció un menor recuento de CROSS y BILOBATE, y una mayor abundancia de silicofitolitos ELONGATE y BULLIFORM FLABELLATE. En tanto, los silicofitolitos BILOBATE articulados disminuyeron y los articulados del tipo BULLIFORM FLABELLATE aumentaron su
frecuencia. Los morfotipos BILOBATE fueron seleccionados para análisis morfométricos por su alta frecuencia, demostrando que, procesados a 950 ºC presentan cambios en coloración y alteraciones de forma indicados por altos valores de convexidad, solidez, factor de forma y redondez, y de tamaño representados por la reducción de perímetro. Estos resultados indicarían una tendencia en el cambio de tamaño expresada como una reducción del perímetro y variación de forma relacionado a una mayor esfericidad y convexidad de los morfotipos. Como complemento se realizó su observación mediante MEB y análisis de MEB-EDX demostrando pérdida de sílice en silicofitolitos procesados a 950 ºC. El presente trabajo genera aportes para el conocimiento metodológico de procesamiento de material vegetal para extracción de silicofitolitos.
Las primeras investigaciones sobre aves fósiles en el Museo de La Plata se llevaron a cabo en la última década del siglo XIX. Se trataban de estudios aislados que no incrementaron su frecuencia ni intensidad hasta comienzos del siglo XX. Fue entonces cuando se produjo un aceleramiento y una profundización temática que derivó en la especificidad que hoy caracteriza a los trabajos científicos en todo el mundo. Desde ese momento, el Museo de La Plata se consolidó como un centro de formación de paleontólogos que se establecieron en otras instituciones formando nuevos equipos de trabajo.
ALESSANDRO P. CARNITI, GIOVANNA DELLA PORTA, VANESSA J. BANKS
et al.
The systematic study of a brachiopod fauna collected from a Brigantian, uppermost Visean, Mississippian, mud mound
complex on the Derbyshire Carbonate Platform (England, United Kingdom) recognises 45 species, representing 36 genera and seven orders (Productida, Orthotetida, Orthida, Rhynchonellida, Spiriferida, Spiriferinida, and Terebratulida).
The mound complex is a decametre-scale lens-shaped buildup composed of three facies associations: the basal tabular
unit made of skeletal packstone beds and tabular mounds, the complex core formed by metre-scale lens-shaped massive
mounds and the surrounding inclined skeletal packstone flank beds. Brachiopods are widespread and very abundant in all
three facies associations. Spinose, concavo–convex productides are dominant in the mud mound fauna, both in terms of
the number of specimens, species, and biovolume. Productide success is related to scattered and scarce food resources,
which they better exploited using their simple, unsupported feeding apparatus in comparison with that of the spiriferides.
Spiriferides with a wide interarea are common and large in the basal tabular unit, but are rare and small in the complex core,
probably due to greater availability of food resources during the deposition of the basal unit. Substrate type also played a
role in controlling brachiopod diversity: varied substrates in the mound complex core allowed small-sized pedicle-attached
rhynchonellides, spiriferides, and terebratulides to extensively colonise the seafloor, whereas they are rare in the basal unit.
Giovanni Bianucci, Josep Quintana Cardona, Alberto Collareta
et al.
The finding of significant vertebrate remains inside commercial stone blocks is relatively rare. Here we describe a fossil cetacean skull discovered inside two slabs cut from a limestone block of Tortonian (i.e., early late Miocene) age from Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain); this find represents the third record of a fossil cetacean from this island, as well as the best preserved. Unlike similar cases in the past, the Menorca skull was not extracted mechanically from the stone matrix, being rather imaged by means of computed tomography. The resulting 3D reconstruction of the skull allows us to refer the studied skull to the extant odontocete family Ziphiidae (beaked whales) and sheds light on the morphology of very delicate structures (e.g., the thin pterygoid hamuli and the mesorostral cartilage) that would likely have been destroyed during traditional mechanical preparation. This non-invasive investigation permits detailed osteo- anatomical comparisons between the Menorca specimen and other extinct ziphiids, leading to the referral of the former to the stem beaked whale Messapicetus cf. longirostris. We then review the geographic distribution of fossil remains of Messapicetus, which include other occurrences from Tortonian shelf deposits of southeastern Italy, southern Peru, and Maryland (eastern USA). Early branching beaked whales (including basal members of the so-called “Messapicetus clade”) likely dispersed via the Central American Seaway, which allowed a direct communication between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans (including the Mediterranean cul-de-sac) throughout the Miocene.
Masaya Iijima, Takehisa Tsubamoto, Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar
et al.
Although the distribution of Asian crocodyliforms was extended northwards during the Paleocene–Eocene greenhouse world, the fossil record in northern Asia becomes scarce towards the end of the Eocene. We here report the first crocodyliform (an isolated tooth) from the upper Eocene Ergilin Dzo Formation of southeastern Mongolia, the mammalian fauna of which defines the Ergilian Asian Land Mammal Age. The conical non-recurved crown, the near complete root with the central resorption facet, and its late Eocene age suggest the crocodyliform affinity of the tooth. The current finding represents one of the northernmost occurrences of crocodyliforms in the upper Eocene of Asia (paleolatitude ca. 49°30’ N), and demonstrates that SE Mongolia probably met thermal requirements of crocodyliforms during the late Eocene.
Kristyn K. Voegele, Matthew C. Lamanna, Kenneth J. Lacovara
Many titanosaurian dinosaurs are known only from fragmentary remains, making comparisons between taxa difficult because they often lack overlapping skeletal elements. This problem is particularly pronounced for the exceptionally large-bodied members of this sauropod clade. Dreadnoughtus schrani is a well-preserved giant titanosaurian from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) Cerro Fortaleza Formation of southern Patagonia, Argentina. Numerous skeletal elements are known for Dreadnoughtus, including seven nearly complete dorsal vertebrae and a partial dorsal neural arch that collectively represent most of the dorsal sequence. Here we build on our previous preliminary description of these skeletal elements by providing a detailed assessment of their serial positional assignments, as well as comparisons of the dorsal vertebrae of Dreadnoughtus with those of other exceptionally large-bodied titanosaurians. Although the dorsal elements of Dreadnoughtus probably belong to two individuals, they exhibit substantial morphological variation that suggests that there is minimal, if any, positional overlap among them. Dreadnoughtus therefore preserves the second-most complete dorsal vertebral series known for a giant titanosaurian that has been described in detail, behind only that of Futalognkosaurus. The dorsal sequence of Dreadnoughtus provides valuable insight into serial variation along the vertebral column of these enormous sauropods. Such variation includes the variable presence of divided spinodiapophyseal laminae and associated spinodiapophyseal fossae. Given that dorsal vertebrae are the only elements that overlap between known remains of most giant titanosaurian taxa, the dorsal series of Dreadnoughtus provides a means to directly compare the morphologies of these sauropods. The dorsal vertebrae of Dreadnoughtus and Futalognkosaurus have dorsoventrally narrow transverse processes, unlike the condition in Puertasaurus. Further, Dreadnoughtus and Argentinosaurus have ventromedially inclined prezygapophyses, whereas Futalognkosaurus has almost horizontal prezygapophyses. The continued inclusion of new, well-represented skeletons of titanosaurians such as Dreadnoughtus in phylogenetic and functional morphological studies will aid in deciphering the interrelationships and paleobiology of Titanosauria.
Nicholas J. Hogancamp, James E. Barrick, Richard E. Straus
A new morphometric approach was developed to study morphological variation within P1 elements commonly referred to as Idiognathodus simulator, which was selected to be the biostratigraphic marker for the base of the global Gzhelian Stage (Carboniferous). This new approach combines landmark-based geometric morphometrics with eigen analyses to analyze shape variation within P1 elements of the I. simulator group, and could be used to analyze shape variation in other morphologically similar conodont groups. Specimens analyzed were obtained from three sections of the early Gzhelian Heebner Shale of the Oread cyclothem in the North American Midcontinent region, the cyclothem from which I. simulator was originally named. This analysis shows that the I. simulator group comprises a set of at least five species with asymmetrical P1 element pairs, relatively short adcarinal ridges, and a variably developed eccentric groove. Species discrimination is based on the presence of caudal and rostral lobes, character of the adcarinal ridges, and platform shape. The species I. simulator is restricted to P1 elements with a caudal adcarinal ridge that is isolated from the caudal platform margin. Idiognathodus lateralis sp. nov. is erected to include P1 elements with a caudal adcarinal ridge that is not isolated from the caudal platform margin.
The diet of the extinct European cave bear, Ursus spelaeus, has widely been debated. Diverging from the extant brown bear (Ursus arctos) approximately 1.2 million years ago, the cave bear is one of the most ubiquitous fossil bears occurring in Europe during the middle and Late Pleistocene. Early morphological studies suggested that the cave bear was likely specialized on processing tough and/or abrasive foods, while later two-dimensional low-magnification microwear studies suggested that they were omnivorous and may have consumed more bone than U. arctos. Here, we used dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) to further interpret the diet of the cave bear. Microscopic wear features were assessed and compared to modern ursids, including the cave bears’ closest living relative, U. arctos. Results suggest that U. spelaeus consumed a diet with a diversity of textural properties, similar to most other bears and only distinguishable from the hyper-carnivorous polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Further, only U. maritimus can be distinguished from all bear species here examined (i.e., the giant panda bear, Ailuropoda melanoleuca; sun-bear, Ursus malayanus; spectacled bear, Tremarctos ornatus; American black bear, Ursus americanus; and U. arctos), with significantly greater area-scale fractal complexity (Asfc) of microwear surfaces. The DMTA of A. melanoleuca also has significantly lower Asfc than T. ornatus and U. americanus, consistent with observed dietary behavior. As modern bears vary their diets seasonally and across their range, it may be difficult to characterize the dietary ecology of extinct bears using dental microwear alone. Nevertheless, DMTA here demonstrates that U. spelaeus had a diet distinct from the hyper-carnivorous U. maritimus and instead likely consumed food with textural properties most similar to other herbivorous/omnivorous bears. Lastly, the European cave bear and North American giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus) may have had similar diets as evident from DMTA, with U. spelaeus potentially eating tougher food items.
In recent decades there has been a growing interest in proboscideans’ body size, given that mass is highly correlated with biological functions. Different allometric equations have been proposed in the recent decades to estimate their body masses, based on a large number of living examples. However, the results obtained by these formulae are not accurate because extinct animals often had different body proportions and some were outside the size range of extant samples. Here the body mass of a large number of extinct proboscideans has been calculated by the Graphic Double Integration volumetric method which is based on technical restorations from graphical reconstructions of fossils employing photos, measurements and comparative anatomy of extant forms. The method has been tested on extant elephants with highly accurate results. The reconstructions necessary to apply this method give important information such as body proportions. On the other hand, equations to calculate the skeletal shoulder height have been developed, with a large number of published shoulder heights being recalculated. From the shoulder heights, several equations were created to find out the body mass of a series of extant and extinct species. A few of the largest proboscideans, namely Mammut borsoni and Palaeoloxodon namadicus, were found out to have reached and surpassed the body size of the largest indricotheres. Bearing this in mind, the largest land mammal that ever existed seems to be within the order of Proboscidea, contrary to previous understanding.
Emanuel Tschopp, Oliver Wings, Thomas Frauenfelder
et al.
Several types of pathological bony overgrowth are known from various dinosaur taxa but, except for stress fractures, are rarely reported from appendicular elements. Herein we describe pathological manual and pedal phalanges of a camarasaurid sauropod (SMA 0002), which show features rarely recognised in non-avian dinosaurs. They include lateral osteophytes and smoothing of phalangeal articular surfaces, a deep pit, proximal enthesophytes in pedal unguals, distal overgrowth associated with a fracture, and a knob-like overgrowth lateral to the distal condyles of a pedal phalanx. Their causes were assessed by means of visual examination, CT scans, and bone histology, where possible. The lateral osteophytes are interpreted as symptoms of osteoarthritis. The ossified tendon insertions in the unguals are most probably the result of prolonged, heavy use of the pedal claws, possibly for scratchdigging. The distal overgrowth is interpreted to have developed due to changed stress regimes, and to be the cause for the fracture. The deep pit represents most likely a case of osteochondrosis, whereas the knob-like overgrowth likely represents a post-traumatic phenomenon not previously reported in dinosaurs. The study confirms that a rigorous assessment of pathologies can yield information about behaviour in long-extinct animals.
En el Paleógeno de Nicaragua. principalmente representado por sedimentitas de la cuenca Central/Pacífica, asociadas con facies turbidíticas y someras, se reconocen las siguientes unidades:
En el Paleoceno-Eoceno, la Formación Brito (areniscas y areniscas finas calcáreas, calizas, margas y aglomerados, y pocos niveles de tabas andesíticas-basálticas), la F. Machuca (lutitas, areniscas. calizas silíceas), la F. Tuche (areniscas, lutitas, tabas, calizas y aglomerados), y la F. Matiguás (calizas, cherts, areniscas, lutitas, tobas y aglomerados).
En el Eoceno medio superior, la F. Punta Gorda (calizas, areniscas finas, lutitas, areniscas, arcillas con intercalaciones yesíferas).
En el Oligoceno, la F. Masachapa (areniscas finas tobáceas, lutitas, grauvacas con lentes de calcoarenitas), la F. Totogalpa (conglomerados polimícticos y areniscas rojas continentales), el Grupo Matagalpa, compuesto por unidades volcanoclásticas y tobas, y la F. Camanon (lutitas, calizas, areniscas finas y arcillas).
Michał Ginter, Christopher J. Duffin, Mark T. Dean
et al.
The relatively rich assemblages of shark teeth from pelagic limestone (Mississippian, late Viséan, late Asbian–middle Brigantian) of three northern European regions: the Rhenish Mountains (Westenfeld Quarry, Germany), the Holy Cross Mountains (Todowa Grząba at the edge of Ostrówka Quarry, Poland), and Derbyshire (Cawdor Quarry, Matlock, England, UK) display certain similarities, with the absolute predominance of the teeth of Falcatidae (small Symmoriiformes) and the constant presence of Thrinacodus spp. The largest and most diverse assemblage from Todowa Grząba contains at least three species of a falcatid Denaea, a xenacanthimorph Bransonella nebraskensis, a newly described phoebodontid Thrinacodus dziki sp. nov., a few ctenacanthiform and euselachian teeth, and two abraded euchondrocephalan dental elements. Anachronistidae, common in the most of late Viséan pelagic faunas, are absent from Todowa Grząba and Westenfeld. The material under study differs from the shallow-water chondrichthyan fauna, hitherto described from the Mississippian carbonate platform facies, by its taxonomic content (particularly almost total absence of Euchondrocephali), generally lower diversity, and higher frequency of small teeth.
Sergio Archangelsky, Silvia Césari, Néstor R. Cúneo
New specimens of Asterotheca golondrinensis Herbst found in the type area (Bajo de La Leona, Santa Cruz province) and in the Tepuel-Genoa Basin (Chubut province), allow a new definition of pinnular characters (margins are shown to be toothed). This type of morphology resembles Nemejcopteris pinnules, but the fructification is more similar to Asterotheca. The Patagonian specimens resemble African (Zimbabwe) material determined as Pecopteris arcuata Halle. The stratigraphic distribution of A. golondrinensis is Early Permian in Chubut and Late Permian in Santa Cruz.
KEY WORDS. Permian. Argentina. Patagonia. Ferns.