Draconyx loureiroi,a new camptosauridae (Dinosauria,Ornithopoda) from the Late Jurassic of Lourinhã, Portugal

A new ornithopod dinosaur is described here under the name of Draconyx loureiroi n. gen., n. sp. on teeth, caudal vertebrae, forelimb, hindlimb, and foot material that were found in association in the Late Jurassic-Tithonian of Lourinhã, Portugal. Draconyx is a Camptosauridae related to Camptosaurus.     

Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs from the Neuquén Basin,Argentina

Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs are well represented in the Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin, in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Most of the ichthyosaur material from the Neuquén Basin was originally identified as Ophthalmosaurus. Recently, the new ichthyosaur genus Caypullisaurus was described, based on an almost complete mature specimen from Cerro Lotena. Some material previously referred to Ophlhalmosaurus has been referred to the new genus. However, both genera are present in the Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin. The discovery of an articulated forefin in Cajón de Almanza (near Loncopue, Neuquén) confirms the presence of Ophthalmosaurus in the uppermost Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin.     

A new Semionotid (Actinopterygii,Neopterygii) from the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous of Thailand

A new semionotid fish, Lepidotes buddhabutrensis n. sp., is described from the continental Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Phu Kradung Formation, Phu Nam Jun, Kalasin Province. L. buddhabutrensis is characterized notably by the pattern of its cheek bones, by its short preorbital region, and by its numerous and well-developed premaxillary teeth. L. buddhabutrensis is provisionally placed in the genus Lepidotes; it shares, however, derived characters with other semionotids, such as Araripelepidotes and Pliodetes. To cite this article: L. Cavin et al., C. R. Palevol 2 (2003).     

A theropod–sauropod track assemblage from the ?Middle–Upper Jurassic Shedian Formation at Shuangbai,Yunnan Province,China, reflecting different sizes of trackmakers: Review and new observations

A dinosaur tracksite at Hemenkou (Shuangbai County, Yunnan Province) in the ?Middle–Upper Jurassic Shedian Formation that consists mainly of gray-purple feldspathic quartz sandstones was previously reported incorrectly as being in the Lower Cretaceous Puchanghe Formation. The previous assignment is also inconsistent with two regional geological maps. Although mostly yielding poorly preserved tracks, the site nevertheless indicates a diversity of theropod and sauropod trackmakers partly consistent with the Late Jurassic body fossils from the region. Purported ornithopod are re-evaluated here as those of theropods. The theropod tracks and trackways show distinct similarities to those of the Grallator–Eubrontes plexus and can be subdivided into three morphotypes that may reflect different pes anatomy and/or substrate conditions. Two sizes of tracks (small, large) indicate the presence of different size classes or species in this area in the Late Jurassic. Similarly, the sauropod trackways document three differently sized trackmakers (small–medium–large) showing a typical wide-gauge (Brontopodus) pattern. The track record is the first evidence of theropods in the ?Middle–Late Jurassic of central Yunnan, whereas the sauropod tracks suggest a relation to the coeval basal eusauropods known from this region by skeletal remains.     

Shark faunas from the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous of northeastern Thailand

A revision of the freshwater shark fauna from the Phu Kradung Formation in NE Thailand allows the recognition of a new species of Acrodus, which represents the youngest occurrence of the genus and confirms its displacement in freshwater environments after the Toarcian. The rest of the shark fauna includes teeth of Hybodus sp., aff. Hybodus sp., hybodontid dermal denticles, Jiaodontus sp., Lonchidion sp. A, Lonchidion sp. B, Heteroptychodus cf. H. kokutensis and dorsal fin spines. The presence of Jaiodontus and of unusual hybodontid dermal denticles suggests a Jurassic age for most of the Phu Kradung Formation, whereas the presence of Heteroptychodus suggests an Early Cretaceous age for the top of the Formation. However, the age of the Phu Kradung Formation is still uncertain, with contradictory signals coming from palynology, detrital zircon thermochronology and vertebrate palaeontology. In any case, it appears that this is the oldest occurrence of the genus Heteroptychodus, and suggests a Thai origin for this genus, which may have replaced Acrodus in the Thai freshwater palaeoecosystems. Together with Acrodus, the presence of Lonchidion sp. A suggests some European affinities for the shark fauna from the Phu Kradung Formation.     

On a theropod scapula (Upper Cretaceous) from the Marília Formation, Bauru Group, Brazil

The record of theropod dinosaurs in Brazil is very scarce. One of the most promising lithostratigraphic units for those reptiles is the Bauru Group. The dinosaur remains found in this unit are mainly those of sauropods, while theropods are represented mostly by teeth. Here we describe a right scapula (housed at the Earth Science Museum of the Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral/Rio de Janeiro) that is the first theropod scapula reported from the Cretaceous of Brazil and only the second osteological evidence of the Tetanurae from the Bauru Group. The specimen was recovered from the outskirts of Peirópolis, in Minas Gerais State. Comparisons with other theropod dinosaurs are limited, but the overall morphology of the new specimen indicates that it is neither a member of the Abelisauridae nor a member of the Avialae. It also differs from more basal members of the Theropoda, but its overall shape is consistent with several derived members of the Tetanurae, likely a non-avialan maniraptoran. Despite the lack of precision in its taxonomic position, the new specimen confirms the presence of non-avialan Maniraptora in the Bauru Group.     

New ommatids from the Late Jurassic of western Liaoning, China （Coleoptera： Archostemata）

A new genus Amblomma gen. nov. of fossil beetles is erected and can be assignedto the family Ommatidae because its two procoxal cavities are contiguous and the articulations of the abdominal ventrites are abutting. The new genus is similar to Zygadenia Handlirsch, 1906 (=Notocupes Ponomarenko, 1964), Tetraphalerus Waterhouse, 1901,Rhobdocupes Ponomarenko, 1966 and Sinocupes Lin, 1976, but can be distinguished from other genera according to the following characters: the second segment of antennae is shorterthan the third one in length; the posterior tarsi with the basal segment is obviously shorter than the three following taken together in length; the antennae reach the posterior ridge of prothroax in length, and the sides of the prothroax with serrulate margin. Four new species of the new genus are described and figured: Amblomma psilata gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma rudis gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma epicharis gen. et sp. nov., and Amblomma stabilis gen. etsp. nov. A key to species within this new genus is provided. All the specimens are collected from the Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of western Liaoning and are now housed in the College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.     

A new look at the Late Jurassic Canjuers conservation Lagerstätte (Tithonian,Var, France)

The Canjuers conservation Lagerstätte represents a Late Jurassic lagoonal environment. The sedimentology and stratigraphy of the locality show three different depositional sequences. Fossils are mainly found in the basalmost layers that correspond to the first phase of deposition in the lithographic limestones sensu stricto. The fossil biodiversity is rich. So far, more than 1000 specimens including 38 invertebrate and 18 vertebrate taxa have been recovered from the limestones. The depositional information suggests that most invertebrates and vertebrates were not autochthonous to the lagoon, but swept in during storm events from the open sea or nearby emerged reef environments.     

Şerefköy-2, a new Late Miocene mammal locality from the Yatağan Formation,Muğla,SW Turkey

Here we report on a new fossil locality, ?erefköy-2, from the Yata?an Basin of southwestern Turkey that preserves a well-sampled, abundant, and diverse mammal fauna. Indeed, after three field seasons, more than 1200 catalogued specimens representing 26 mammal species belonging to 14 genera make the ?erefköy-2 mammalian assemblage one of the richest Late Miocene fauna from Anatolia. Five hipparionines, six bovids, including the rare and enigmatic Urmiatherium rugosifrons and the presence of Pliohyrax graecus, strongly support affinities with Late Miocene faunas from Samos Island, Greece. Through a consideration of the identified material and the subsequent comparison with material from well-known Balkan and Anatolian faunas, a Middle Turolian (MN12) age for ?erefköy-2 is indicated.     

First Amphilestid from South America: A Molariform from the Jurassic Ca?adón Asfalto Formation, Patagonia, Argentina

We report here the first amphilestid triconodont from the Jurassic of South America. The specimen, a single isolated molariform, was found at the Queso Rallado locality from where a growing mammalian fauna is known (including a triconodontid, two australosphenidans, and an as yet undescribed allotherian). The specimen, interpreted as a left lower tooth, presents five mesiodistally aligned, fairly symmetrical cusps, and is recognized as the type of a new taxon, Condorodon spanios. The phylogenetic analysis recovers Condorodon as a member of the clade Amphilestheria, closely related to Tendagurodon janenschi, an amphilestid triconodont from the Late Jurassic of Tanzania. Condorodon spanios is only distantly related to Argentoconodon fariasorum, the other triconodont known from Queso Rallado quarry. The phylogenetic position of Condorodon spanios points to the origin and diversification of amphilestherians during the Early Jurassic in a paleogeographical setting that allowed wide dispersion of these forms and argues, at least from the mammalian evidence, against a highly provincialized Pangaea. Some differences are however established between the filial western/eastern Gondwanan masses and their respective faunas.     

Theropod and possible ornithopod track assemblages from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary Houcheng Formation,Shangyi, northern Hebei,China

Dinosaur track assemblages from the Houcheng Formation in the small continental Shangyi Basin of northern Hebei Province, China bridge a gap in the record of vertebrates from this unit and enrich our knowledge of ichnofaunas from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary. Their stratigraphic position between the Middle Jurassic Yan-Liao Biota and the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota gives them a special importance. New discoveries allow a re-assessment of theropod and possible ornithopod tracks that are present with several trackways. Seventy-three footprints were examined and documented. Despite their smaller size, the tridactyl mesaxonic theropod tracks show morphological similarities with the ichnogenus Therangospodus known from the Upper Jurassic deposits of North America, Europe, and Central Asia. The possible ornithopod tracks lack an associated manus imprint, suggesting a bipedal trackmaker. These possible ornithopod tracks from the Houcheng Formation provide evidence for the presence of small basal ornithopods or basal Cerapoda in the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous in this region. The depositional environment was the margin of an extensive shallow lake with fluctuating water levels under seasonally dry climate.     

Seed Size and Dispersal Systems of Early Cretaceous Angiosperms from Famalicão, Portugal

Seeds and fruits of Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Aptian) angiosperms from the Famalic?o locality in Portugal were analyzed to establish seed and fruit size (volume) distributions and to infer the proportion of animal-dispersed fruits. On the basis of a sample of 106 angiosperm fruit and seed taxa, the average seed size was 0.78 mm3 (range 0.02-6.86 mm3), whereas the average fruit size was 2.06 mm3 (range 0.12-8.34 mm3). Variation in seed size among taxa is smaller than in modern plant communities, but within-taxon variation is similar to that known for extant plants. No significant difference in the size of "fleshy" versus other fruits was observed. The proportion of fleshy fruits was 24.5%. This high figure was surprising and indicates that the significance of animal dispersal during an early stage in angiosperm evolution has been underestimated. We suggest that reptiles and multituberculates, and perhaps other mammals and birds as well, were the likely seed dispersers and that the early angiosperms from Famalic?o probably were herbs or small shrubs that inhabited a semiopen coniferous woodland.     

A tetrapod footprint assemblage with possible swim traces from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary,Anning Formation,Konglongshan, Yunnan,China

A small tetrapod footprint assemblage from the Anning Formation (Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous) at Konglongshan Town, Yunnan Province, China, contains possible swim traces attributable to theropod dinosaurs based on their tridactyl and mesaxonic pes morphology. Morphotypes are tentatively assigned to the ichnogenera Characichnos and Wintonopus, a third one is similar to Hatcherichnus. Due to the inherent variability observed in tetrapod swim tracks, the names are used here informally describing footprints that reflect a distinct trackmaker behavior rather than anatomically accurate images of the pes anatomy. Variation of the imprint shape is obviously due to extramorphological effects and does not indicate taxonomic diversity of trackmakers. Elongate, slender impressions associated with these tracks are discussed here as possible tail traces. Trackmakers were possibly buoyant and active swimming individuals touching and scratching the bottom of deeper waterbodies with the distal ends of their digits. The orientation of the traces perpendicular to preserved ripples suggest cross-current movement and activities.     

The first specimen of Archaeopteryx from the Upper Jurassic Mörnsheim Formation of Germany

From an initial isolated position as the oldest evolutionary prototype of a bird, Archaeopteryx has, as a result of recent fossil discoveries, become embedded in a rich phylogenetic context of both more and less crownward stem-group birds. This has prompted debate over whether Archaeopteryx is simply a convergently bird-like non-avialan theropod. Here we show, using the first synchrotron microtomographic examination of the genus, that the eighth or Daiting specimen of Archaeopteryx possesses a character suite that robustly constrains it as a basal avialan (primitive bird). The specimen, which comes from the Mörnsheim Formation and is thus younger than the other specimens from the underlying Solnhofen Formation, is distinctive enough to merit designation as a new species, Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi sp. nov., but is recovered in close phylogenetic proximity to Archaeopteryx lithographica. Skeletal innovations of the Daiting specimen, such as fusion and pneumatization of the cranial bones, well vascularized pectoral girdle and wing elements, and a reinforced configuration of carpals and metacarpals, suggest that it may have had more characters seen in flying birds than the older Archaeopteryx lithographica. These innovations appear to be convergent on those of more crownward avialans, suggesting that Bavarian archaeopterygids independently acquired increasingly bird-like traits over time. Such mosaic evolution and iterative exploration of adaptive space may be typical for major functional transitions like the origin of flight.     

Fauna and Predator-Prey Relationships of Ettling,an Actinopterygian Fish-Dominated Konservat-Lagerst?tte from the Late Jurassic of Southern Germany

The newly recognized Konservat-Lagerstätte of Ettling (Bavaria), field site of the Jura-Museum Eichstätt (JME), is unique among Late Jurassic plattenkalk basins (Solnhofen region) in its abundant, extremely well preserved fossil vertebrates, almost exclusively fishes. We report actinopterygians (ginglymodins, pycnodontiforms, halecomorphs, aspidorynchiforms, “pholidophoriforms,” teleosts); turtles; and non-vertebrates (echinoderms, arthropods, brachiopods, mollusks, jellyfish, sponges, biomats, plants) in a current faunal list. Ettling has yielded several new fish species (Bavarichthys incognitus; Orthogonikleithrus hoelli; Aspidorhynchus sanzenbacheri; Macrosemimimus fegerti). Upper and lower Ettling strata differ in faunal content, with the lower dominated by the small teleost Orthogonikleithrus hoelli (absent from the upper layers, where other prey fishes, Leptolepides sp. and Tharsis sp., occur instead). Pharyngeal and stomach contents of Ettling fishes provide direct evidence that Orthogonikleithrus hoelli was a primary food source during early Ettling times. Scarcity of ammonites and absence of vampyromorph coleoids at Ettling differ markedly from the situation at other nearby localities in the region (e.g., Eichstätt, Painten, Schamhaupten, the Mörnsheim beds), where they are more common. Although the exact biochronological age of Ettling remains uncertain (lack of suitable index fossils), many Ettling fishes occur in other plattenkalk basins of Germany (e.g., Kelheim) and France (Cerin) dated as Late Kimmeridgian to Early Tithonian (eigeltingense horizon), suggesting a comparable geologic age. The Ettling deposits represent an independent basin within the larger Upper Jurassic “Solnhofen Archipelago”, a shallow subtropical sea containing scattered islands, sponge-microbial and coral reefs, sandbars, and deeper basins on a vast carbonate platform along the northern margin of the Tethys Ocean.     

A limulid trackway from the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Lagerstätte of Canjuers (Var,France)

The first record of an invertebrate trackway from the lithographic limestones of the Canjuers Lagerstätte is described here. The preserved part of the trackway is approximately 39 cm long and 17 cm wide; it consists of two successive sets of imprints and the beginning of a third one. Two kinds of imprints have been recorded: the first one, well-preserved, is tetradactyl and the second one is straight, narrow and in sets of two or three imprints. The tracks described in this paper are similar to the type specimen of the ichnogenus Kouphichnium. The trackway, corresponding to locomotion behavior and left by a 26 cm wide specimen, can be related to the ichnospecies Kouphichnium lithographicum. This is the first evidence of a limulid from the Canjuers Lagerstätte.     

Two new“Meganthropus” mandibles from Java

There are now eleven known mandibular pieces from the Lower and Middle Pleistocene of Java, all but one being from the Sangiran site. All of these have been assigned toHomo erectus by most authorities, while others have suggested as many as four different hominoid taxa. Two of the mandibles, Sangiran 33 (Mandible H) and“Meganthropus”D (no Sangiran number yet assigned), are described here for the first time. The two new mandibles come from the Upper Pucangan Formation and date approximately 1.2–1.4 Myr. They are morphologically compatible with other“Meganthropus” mandibles described from Java. Despite attempts by numerous authorities to place all the Sangiran hominid mandibles in the species,H. erectus, the range of variation in metric and nonmetric features of the“Meganthropus” hominids is clearly beyond the know variation found inH. erectus. “Meganthropus” could represent a speciation from the well-knownH. erectus.     

Two new labdane diterpenoids and one new β-lactam from the aerial parts of Roylea cinerea

Two new labdane diterpenoids cinereanoid C (1), cinereanoid D (2), a new β-lactam, cinerealactam E (3) as well as six known flavonoid glycosides (4–9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Roylea cinerea (Lamiaceae). The structures of (1–9) were all determined by MS, IR and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of cinereanoid D (2) was further proven by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Six known flavonoid glycosides (4–9) were also isolated for the first time from this plant. 2, 5, 6 and 7 were found to significantly inhibit the ATP binding of a tumour growth-promoting heat shock protein, Hsp90.