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 NEW PTEROSAUR FROM THE LIAONING PROVINCE OF CHINA, THE PHYLOGENY OF THE PTERODACTYLOIDEA, AND CONVERGENCE IN THEIR CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

Abstract:  The largest known flying organisms are the azhdarchid pterosaurs, a pterodactyloid clade previously diagnosed by the characters of their extremely elongate middle-series cervical vertebrae. The named species of the Azhdarchidae are from the Late Cretaceous. However, isolated mid-cervical vertebrae with similar dimensions and characters have been referred to this group that date back to the Late Jurassic, implying an almost 60 million year gap in the fossil record of this group and an unrecorded radiation in the Jurassic of all the major clades of the Pterodactyloidea. A new pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning Province of China, Elanodactylus prolatus gen. et sp. nov., is described with mid-cervical vertebrae that bear these azhdarchid characters but has other postcranial material that are distinct from the members of this group. Phylogenetic analysis of the new species and the Pterodactyloidea places it with the Late Jurassic vertebrae in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Ctenochasmatidae and reveals that the characters of the elongate azhdarchid vertebrae appeared independently in both groups. These results are realized though the large taxon sampling in the analysis demonstrating that the homoplastic character states present in these two taxa were acquired in a different order in their respective lineages. Some of these homoplastic characters were previously thought to appear once in the history of pterosaurs and may be correlated to the extension of the neck regions in both groups. Because the homoplastic character states in the Azhdarchidae and Ctenochasmatidae are limited to the mid-cervical vertebrae, these states are termed convergent based on a definition of the term in a phylogenetic context. A number of novel results from the analysis presented produce a reorganization in the different species and taxa of the Pterodactyloidea.     

The hybodont shark, Priohybodus d'Erasmo, 1960 (Early Cretaceous, northern Africa)

Priohybodus arambourgi d'Erasmo, 1960 is redescribed on the basis of nearly 200 teeth and a dorsal fin spine from the Chicla Sandstone (Aptian to Albian, Early Cretaceous) near Nalut in northwestern Libya. The generic distinction of Priohybodus is confirmed; its geological record is so far confined to the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Africa.     

A NEW LATE CRETACEOUS MACROSEMIID FISH (NEOPTERYGII, HALECOSTOMI) FROM MOROCCO, WITH TEMPORAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE EXTENSIONS FOR THE FAMILY

Abstract:  A recent collection of actinopterygian fossil fishes from a previously unreported locality in the Cenomanian or Turonian of southeastern Morocco includes a single specimen of a macrosemiid fish. Macrosemiids are more common in Jurassic and Early Cretaceous deposits, with the previously known range of the family being Late Triassic through Aptian or Albian. This discovery therefore extends the temporal range of the family into the Late Cretaceous. Moreover, macrosemiids had not previously been reported from northern Africa or the Moroccan area of the Tethys basin; therefore, this fossil also increases the geographical range of the family. The Moroccan macrosemiid is described in a new genus and species, Agoultichthys chattertoni . A phylogenetic analysis places it basal to all other genera of the family with the exception of Notagogus . Diagnostic characters of the new species include the high number of scales laterally along the body and the greater number of dorsal fin rays than in other members of the family.     

The early evolution of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaurs

Titanosauriformes was a globally distributed, long‐lived clade of dinosaurs that contains both the largest and smallest known sauropods. These common and diverse megaherbivores evolved a suite of cranial and locomotory specializations perhaps related to their near‐ubiquity in Mesozoic ecosystems. In an effort to understand the phylogenetic relationships of their early (Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous) members, this paper presents a lower‐level cladistic analysis of basal titanosauriforms in which 25 ingroup and three outgroup taxa were scored for 119 characters. Analysis of these characters resulted in the recovery of three main clades: Brachiosauridae, a cosmopolitan mix of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous sauropods, Euhelopodidae, a clade of mid‐Cretaceous East Asian sauropods, and Titanosauria, a large Cretaceous clade made up of mostly Gondwanan genera. Several putative brachiosaurids were instead found to represent non‐titanosauriforms or more derived taxa, and no support for a Laurasia‐wide clade of titanosauriforms was found. This analysis establishes robust synapomorphies for many titanosauriform subclades. A re‐evaluation of the phylogenetic affinities of fragmentary taxa based on these synapomorphies found no body fossil evidence for titanosaurs before the middle Cretaceous (Aptian), in contrast to previous reports of Middle and Late Jurassic forms. Purported titanosaur track‐ways from the Middle Jurassic either indicate a substantial ghost lineage for the group or – more likely – represent non‐titanosaurs. Titanosauriform palaeobiogeographical history is the result of several factors including differential extinction and dispersal. This study provides a foundation for future study of basal titanosauriform phylogeny and the origins of Titanosauria. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 624–671.     

Osteology and relationships of Thaiichthys nov. gen.: a Ginglymodi from the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous of Thailand

Abstract: The osteology of Thaiichthys buddhabutrensis, nov. gen., from the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous of Thailand is described on the basis of a collection of well‐preserved specimens. The mode of preservation of the material allows describing the external anatomy, as well as some elements of the internal anatomy (braincase, elements of the vertebral column). Most of the cranial and postcranial skeleton shows a rather conservative anatomy for ‘semionotiformes’, but the jaw apparatus displays specializations. Variations observed in the ossification pattern of the skull roof and of the cheek, in the morphology of the median dorsal scales and in fin rays’ count indicate that caution should be applied when these characters are used in diagnoses and in phylogenetic analyses. A phylogenetic analysis including a set of gars, of ‘semionotiformes’, of Macrosemiiformes and of Halecomorphi shows the following features: (1) the monophyly of Holostei; (2) sister‐pair relationships between Tlayuamichin/Semiolepis, Isanichthys/’Lepidotes’ latifrons and Araripelepidotes/Pliodetes; (3) the latter pair, together with Thaiichthys and possibly ‘Lepidotes’ mantelli, are resolved as stem Lepisosteiformes; and (4) the ‘semionotiformes’ (a group gathering species of Semionotus and Lepidotes) do not form a clade.     

THE TYPE SERIES OF 'SINEMYS'WUERHOENSIS, A PROBLEMATIC TURTLE FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF CHINA, INCLUDES AT LEAST THREE TAXA

Abstract:  We re-examine the type series of ' Sinemys ' wuerhoensis Yeh (at least 20 specimens, including several shells and skulls on three slabs of matrix and one isolated skull) from the Early Cretaceous Tugulu Group of China. Our study shows that the type series of ' S. ' wuerhoensis is actually a chimera made up of at least three distinct taxa. The holotype of this taxon should be assigned to the basal eucryptodire genus Xinjiangchelys Yeh. As there are no characters that distinguish ' S. ' wuerhoensis from Xinjiangchelys species, we consider it to be a nomen dubium . This new assignment of ' S. ' wuerhoensis expands the temporal range of Xinjiangchelys from the Late Jurassic into the Early Cretaceous in Asia. The majority of the paratypes of ' S. ' wuerhoensis (several shells in dorsal and ventral aspect and skulls) are referred to the basal eucryptodire genus Ordosemys Brinkman and Peng. We establish a new name for these specimens, Ordosemys brinkmania sp. nov. One additional specimen in the type series of ' S. ' wuerhoensis , a skull, is referred to cf. Pantrionychia Joyce, Parham and Gauthier indet.     

DUROPHAGOUS PREDATION ON MIDDLE JURASSIC MOLLUSCS, AS EVIDENCED FROM SHELL FRAGMENTATION

Abstract:  Durophagous (shell-crushing) predation is known from the beginning of the Phanerozoic, but it has been suggested that modern intensity was not reached until the Late Cretaceous and Early Cenozoic, when specialized marine durophagous taxa increased in diversity. In this paper, evidence of durophagous predation on Middle Jurassic communities of molluscan prey is presented on the basis of distinct accumulations of fossil remains in the Polish Jura (south-central Poland) that contain characteristic, angular shell fragments with sharp, non-abraded margins. The diverse fossil content of the accumulations studied, consisting of either benthic or nektic/nekto-benthic taxa, indicates that the potential predatory taxon was an opportunistic generalist, most probably fish. On the basis of taphonomic observations, the faunal accumulations are interpreted to represent regurgitated remains (pellets). The common occurrence of such accumulations in the Middle Jurassic clays of the Polish Jura indicates that durophagous predation has been intense since the mid-Mesozoic, at least locally.     

Dinosaur footprints from the Phra Wihan Formation (Early Cretaceous of Thailand)

The ichnological assemblage of the Phra Wihan Formation (early Early Cretaceous of northeastern Thailand) includes the first sauropod tracks ever found in Thailand. It is reminiscent of the fauna of the underlying Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation with theropods, small ornithischians of uncertain affinities (possibly Hypsilophodon-like ornithopods) and sauropods. It suggests that, in southeastern Asia, an important faunal change occurred in the Early Cretaceous among continental vertebrates, whereas little happened at the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary.     

A phylogeny of the families of fossil and extant tetraodontiform fishes (Acanthomorpha, Tetraodontiformes), Upper Cretaceous to Recent

A data matrix is presented of 210 morphological characters (mostly osteological, some external) for 20 extant taxa of the ten Recent families of tetraodontiform fishes and 36 fossil tetraodontiforms. The oldest of these are from the Upper Cretaceous (95 Mya); most are from the Lower to Middle Eocene (50–58 Mya). There are two outgroup taxa (a zeiform and a caproid). A cladistic analysis of this matrix for only the extant taxa produced two equally parsimonious trees that call into question the monophyly of some of the previously accepted major higher-level tetraodontiform clades. Inclusion in the analysis of the large number of available fossil taxa helps to resolve relationships between family level clades. The new phylogenetic hypothesis, together with stratigraphic and biogeographical data, is used to discuss scenarios of the origin and evolution of the major clades of the order.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 139 , 565−617.     

Atoposaurid crocodyliforms from the Khorat Group of Thailand: first record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Theriosuchus</Emphasis> from Southeast Asia

We describe a partial crocodilian skull from the Mesozoic non-marine sediments of the Khorat Plateau Sao Khua Formation (Berriasian-Barremian) in northeastern Thailand and assign it to Theriosuchus grandinaris sp. nov. An isolated dentary from the Phu Kradung Formation (latest Jurassic–Early Cretaceous) is also tentatively assigned to the genus Theriosuchus, and an isolated tooth from the Khok Kruat Formation (Aptian-Albian) may belong to this genus. The Thai fossils represent the first unambiguous evidence of presence of Theriosuchus outside Europe. Its occurrence in Thailand increases the known diversity of neosuchian crocodyliforms from Southeast Asia and suggests that Atoposauridae had a wide geographical distribution from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

Comparative vegetative anatomy and systematics of the Oncidiinae (Maxillarieae, Orchidaceae)

Subtribe Oncidiinae comprises a vegetatively heterogeneous assemblage of species that has persistently been incapable of organization. Anatomy was considered to be a possible means to resolve the perplexity of relationships amongst the constituent taxa. The consistent occurrence of a foliar hypodermis, homogeneous mesophyll, conical silica bodies in stegmata, and ubiquitous fibre bundles in leaves provides a matrix for linking the taxa, as do the parenchymatous pith and O-thickened endodermal cell walls in roots. However, the strict consensus of the 40 genera studied was completely unresolved, suggesting that vegetative characters alone are insufficient to assess the relationships amongst these taxa, a conclusion also reached for the remainder of Maxillarieae.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 152 , 91–107.     

我国中生代的Margaritiferidae和它的演化

对我国中生代珍珠蚌科内的属、种进行了较系统的修订，归并了１科、１亚属、１０种，并据这些属、种纵向、横向的分布情况及其壳形、壳饰、内部构造等特征，进一步探讨了它们的起源和演化规律。     

辽宁晚侏罗世～早白垩世一长颈双弓类爬行动物(英文)

初步记述了采自辽西凌源地区晚侏罗世～早白垩世义县组一新的双弓类水生爬行动物化石材料,并确立其为、新属新种──凌源潜龙（Ｈｙｐｈａｌｏｓａｕｒｕｓ　ｌｉｎｇｙｕａｎｅｎｓｉｓｇｅｎ．ｅｔ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．）。化石产于凌源大王杖子乡范杖子村义县组合火山灰的灰白色湖相页岩中,与狼鳍鱼（Ｌｙｃｏｐｔｅｒａ）共生。 凌源潜龙的正模是一具几乎完整、保存完好的化石骨架,包括近乎完整的头骨、下颌骨和头后骨骼,仅尾椎有少量丢失,标本上主要显露腹面骨骼（中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所标本编号Ｖ１１７０５）。其与水生爬行类Ｃｈｏｒｉｓｔｏｄｅｒｅｓ共有特征包括平凹型脊椎,３个荐椎,背肋肿大,肢骨下节远短于上节,腕骨和跗骨弱骨化。凌源潜龙主要鉴别特征为：相对身体比例,头骨较小;颈部大大加长,颈椎１９个;显著肿大的背肋呈Ｓ型;超过２０组腹肋,每组由３段组成,而对应每一椎体有２～３组腹肋;第Ⅲ、Ⅳ　骨长度基本相等,第Ｖ　骨不为钩状。 凌源潜龙所具有的异乎寻常的长颈与三叠纪海相幻龙类（Ｎｏｔｈｏｓａｕｒｓ）有相似的特征。其所具有的相对小的头骨,尖的吻部,似针状的牙,特殊的长颈及其埋藏特征反映该动物为适应湖泊环境的食鱼性动物。 凌源潜龙是迄?     

中国化石两栖类和有鳞类研究进展:过去15年回顾

过去15年中,我国的化石两柄类和有鳞类研究取得了加速进展。共报道了16种两栖类和22种有鳞类,其中15种两栖类和11种有鳞类为新种,包括我国最古老的四足动物宁夏晚泥盆世的潘氏中国螈,湖北中三叠世的大型全椎两栖类宽头远安鲵,东北晚侏罗世/早白垩世的多种滑体两栖类(如无尾类三燕丽蟾和北票中蟾,有尾类奇异热河螈和东方塘螈),华北占近纪的蜥蜴类(如淅川短齿蜥和垣曲响蜥),以及内蒙古晚白垩世的多种蜥蜴类等。部分旧属种被修订,多与热河生物群的种类有关,如细小矢部龙过去依据幼年个体被认为是一种小型细弱的蜥蜴,新材料显示它实为大型强壮的种类。一批新的两栖类和有鳞类重要化石点被发现,如辽宁北票市四合屯、陆家屯和葫芦岛市水口子,河北丰宁县炮仗沟以及内蒙古宁城县道虎沟和乌拉特后旗巴彦满达呼。我国晚侏罗世/早白垩世两栖类和有鳞类对研究滑体两栖类和有鳞类相关类群的起源和早期演化提供了重要信息,但系统发育研究工作尚处于初级阶段。     

Considerations on the age of the Tiouaren Formation (Iullemmeden Basin,Niger, Africa): Implications for Gondwanan Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrate faunas

Pre-Aptian mid-Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrates from the African continent are still very poorly known. In Niger, the Tiouaren Formation in the Iullemmeden Basin has yielded dinosaur and other vertebrate remains, and this unit has been dated as Early Cretaceous, most probably pre-Aptian, on the basis of its fish fauna and geological relations to other units in the basin. A review of the fish fauna and invertebrates from this formation does not provide any evidence for such an age, and the geological relations only help to constrain the upper limit for the age of the formation (Aptian). In contrast, the described dinosaur taxa are phylogenetically nested with late Middle Jurassic to Early Late Jurassic taxa from other localities, and thus indicate a pre-Kimmeridgian, probably late Middle Jurassic age for the Tiouaren Formation. Under the assumption of such an age, the dinosaur fauna of this formation provides new insights into dinosaur faunal provincialism during the latest Middle Jurassic. Northern Gondwanan faunas of that time seem to have been different from southern Gondwanan faunas, and show closer affinities to Eurasian faunas than to the latter. A possible explanation for this might be a climatically controlled geographic barrier due to pronounced arid conditions and thus desert environments in central Gondwana during this time.