纤细滇美龙(Dianmeisaurus gracilis Shang & Li,2015)新材料（英文）

根据一件产自云南罗平中三叠世关岭组II段的新标本并结合产自相同地点和地层中的模式标本对纤细滇美龙(Dianmeisaurus gracilis ShangLi,2015)进行了详细研究。原模式标本暴露其腹面,而新标本暴露其背面,两者互相补充提供了更完整、精确的纤细滇美龙解剖学信息。新材料揭示该种具有非常短小的吻部,眶前区的长度不仅短于眶后区长度,甚至短于眼眶的长度;外鼻孔小且位置靠前,即鼻孔前区的长度短于鼻孔后缘与眼眶前缘之间的距离;由两额骨构成的眼眶间隔非常狭窄,宽度小于顶骨平台宽度的1/3;额骨前后两端均具渐尖的突起;顶骨后部不收缩,顶骨平台后缘呈深V型。补充了新信息和包含更多属种(如Dawazisaurus)后的系统发育学分析支持了之前滇美龙和滇东龙互为姊妹群的结论,同时它们和马家山龙、滇肿龙、贵州龙和大洼子龙一起构成了一个仅由中国的属种组成的单系类群。与欧洲肿肋龙类群(Dactylosaurus,Anarosaurus,Serpianosaurus和Neusticosaurus)相比,这一单系类群与幻龙类有更近的亲缘关系。     

记云南罗平三叠纪小型始鳍龙类—新属种

根据一保存基本完整的骨架建立了始鳍龙类的一新属、种——纤细滇美龙(Dianmeisaurus gracilis gen.et sp.nov.)。标本采自云南省罗平县中三叠统关岭组Ⅱ段,为体态细长的小型物种。新属种与同产于该地区的利齿滇东龙(Diandongosaurus acutidentatus Shang et al.,2011)和丁氏滇肿龙(Dianopachysaurus dingi Liu et al.,2011a)身体各部位比例和个体大小接近,头骨均具有吻部两侧不收缩、眼眶显著大于上颞孔的特征。但新种眼眶间距要明显小于上颞孔间距,下颌关节与枕髁位于同一水平位置,锁骨前外侧缘的锁骨前突粗大而厚实,尺骨近端明显宽于远端,有比后两种更多的荐前椎(三属种荐前椎数分别为41、38、39枚)。此外,与滇东龙相对比,新种眶前区短于眶后区,前额骨和后额骨不相交。同时,新种下颌联合短,夹板骨参与下颌联合构成。新种前颌和下颌前部齿虽然也为獠齿(犬齿状齿),但未呈显著增大。头后骨骼对比,虽然新种和滇东龙均具有标志性的锁骨前外侧突,但后者的锁骨前外侧突尖细。与滇肿龙相对比,新种尾前部尾肋细长且未见明显加宽肿胀、仅具一个骨化的远侧腕骨、距骨为圆形且不具有近端凹入。去除数据不全的清镇龙、广西龙和三桥龙后的鳍龙类分支系统学分析表明,滇美龙与滇东龙互为姊妹群,同时它们与贵州龙、马家山龙和滇肿龙一起构成了一仅由在中国发现的属种组成的单系类群。这一单系类群与幻龙类的亲缘关系近于它们与欧洲肿肋龙类(Dactylosaurus,Anarosaurus,Serpianosaurus和Neusticosaurus)的亲缘关系。三种小型始鳍龙类的发现,指示云南罗平地区在三叠纪安尼期中晚期时鳍龙类是一类有较高分异度的海生爬行动物。     

云南东部中三叠世始鳍龙类—新属种(英文)

根据一保存完整的骨骼(包括头骨、下颌和全部头后骨骼)建立了鳍龙类的一新属新种——利齿滇东龙(Diandongosaurus acutidentatus gen.et sp.nov.)。标本采自云南省罗平县中三叠世安尼期关岭组上段。新属种既具有肿肋龙类(包括Dactylosaurus,Anarosaurus,Serpianosaurus和Neusticosaurus)吻部两侧不收缩、眶前区域长于眶后区域、眼眶大于上颞孔等典型特征,同时又具有幻龙类(包括Simosaurus和nothosaurians)前颌和下颌前部犬齿型齿发育、上颌具1或2个犬齿型齿等典型特征。新种的额骨和顶骨均愈合,额骨两后外侧支的末端后延超过上颞孔前缘,轭骨和鳞骨相交将眶后骨排除于下颞孔之外,方轭骨发育,锁骨前外侧缘具一突起,3对荐肋以及最前部尾肋的外侧端均未见明显收缩。这些特征也多表现出肿肋龙类和幻龙类的混合特征。此外,新种还具有一些较为独特的特征,包括前额骨和后额骨沿眼眶背缘相交,第3至第8对尾肋的长度超过荐肋,后肢末端发育异常膨大的爪趾骨。系统关系分析表明,滇东龙既不是肿肋龙类也不是幻龙类;它可能与由乌蒙龙、幻龙类和传统的肿肋龙类所构成的分支亲缘关系最近,为始鳍龙类基干类群。     

封面说明

<正>发现于云南罗平三叠系安尼阶关岭组Ⅱ段的海生爬行动物新属种——纤细滇美龙(Dianmeisaurus gracilis gen.et sp.nov.)生态复原图。它属于海生爬行动物始鳍龙类,为一体态纤长的的小型物种(体长小于50 cm)。新种与同产于该地区的始鳍龙类利齿滇东龙(Diandongosaurus acutidentatus Shang et al.,2011)和丁氏滇肿龙(Dianopachysaurus dingi Liu et al.,2011)个体大小接近,头骨均具有吻部两侧不收缩、眼眶显著大于上颞孔的特征,同时拥有可弯曲的长颈和桨状的桡足。但     

辽宁下白垩统九佛堂组伊克昭龙一新种

伊克昭龙 (Ikechosaurus)是一类长吻的离龙类 ,以前根据内蒙古的材料建立了孙氏种 (I.sunailinaeSigogneau Russell,1 981 )及高氏种 (I.gaoiL櫣ｅｔａｌ.,1 999)。根据蒙古的材料建立的TchoiriamagnusEfimov ,1 979也于 1 983年被原作者归入本属。本文记述了辽宁义县皮家沟九佛堂组新发现的一个近于完整保存的骨架 (中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所标本编号 :IVPPV 1 32 83) ,并建立一新种 :皮家沟伊克昭龙 (Ikechosauruspijiagouensissp .nov .)。新种以下列特征区别于伊克昭龙其他种 :轭骨前伸约至泪骨之半 ;眶间距小于眼眶短径 ;眶后骨与后额骨不愈合 ;髂骨片前突不发育 ,颈区不收缩 ;四肢中桡胫骨与肱股骨之比相对较小。另外其荐前椎数目与孙氏种相同 ,为 2 5枚 ,比鳄龙属 (Champsosaurus)少 1枚 ;坐骨明显比孙氏种短 ;桡肱骨长度之比为 0 .5 8,胫股骨长度之比为 0 .60 ,在所知新离龙类 (Neochoristodera)中属最小 ;前肢腕骨至少 7块 ,后肢跗骨至少 6块 ;指 /趾式均为 2 3 4 4 3。在正型标本中其第二远侧跗骨在左右脚中不对称。提出眶后骨与后额骨的愈合与分离以及轭骨眶后支发育程度不能作为Simoedosaridae和鳄龙科间的鉴别特征 ;股骨内转子与股骨头分离不该作为高氏种的鉴定特征 ;新离龙类?     

中国第一个完整的锯齿龙头骨

中国已经命名了7种锯齿龙,但是没有一个有完整的头骨。本文描述一个产自鄂尔多斯盆地孙家沟组的新材料,包括一个近于完整头骨及关连的下颌。根据下列特征将其归入埃尔金龙科(Elginiidae):头骨的膜质骨突起形成长而尖的角,面颊上装饰有显著的锥型角,上颞骨角从头骨一角向侧后方伸出,副基蝶骨细长且腹面中间有凹沟,案骨加大并在中间相互接触,使后顶骨不参与形成头骨边缘。该标本与矮小三川龙(Sanchuansaurus pygmaeus)有下列共同特征:鼻孔后的上颌骨前背支有小的突起,上颌齿齿冠扇形,9—11个齿尖;但是有以下特征区别于后者:眶下神经两个外开口距离更近且更接近上颌骨腹缘,齿冠不重叠,只有14个牙槽。与柳林黄河龙(Huanghesaurus)共有以下特征:下颌腹缘直、光滑,隅骨突位于后缘,下颌齿有中脊,17个齿尖;不过其下颌前部厚度比后部大。新标本表明三川龙和黄河龙关系接近,两者都应可能属于埃尔金龙科。根据新标本建立一个新种并暂时归入石千峰龙属,即完整石千峰龙(Shitienfenia completus);但是目前不能排除这个标本属于二叠石千峰龙的可能性。     

新发现的长吻型离龙(双孔亚纲：离龙目)幼年个体——袖珍蒙山龙，兼论新离龙类的个体发育（英文）

离龙是一类生活在中侏罗世至中新世的半水生掠食性动物。白垩纪早期,部分离龙类演化为与现生鳄鱼形态类似的大型长吻爬行动物,称为新离龙类。报道了来自山东省下白垩统蒙阴组的一长吻型离龙新种——袖珍蒙山龙(Mengshanosaurus minimus),正型标本头骨全长仅35 mm,是迄今为止发现的最小新离龙类个体。根据未完全骨化的颅腔和额骨-顶骨间尚存未愈合的圆孔,推测蒙山龙正型标本为一幼年个体。系统发育分析显示,蒙山龙属于新离龙类,具有单个外鼻孔,单一鼻骨和下颞孔开放等新离龙类的共有衍征。在新离龙类内部,蒙山龙分类位置较为基干,为伊克昭龙属(Ikechosaurus)、车尔龙属(Tchoiria)、西莫多龙属(Simoedosaurus)和鳄龙属(Champsosaurus)组成的支系的姐妹群。蒙山龙区别于其他新离龙类的特征包括泪孔位于前额骨与泪骨之间,以及增大的腭面齿(宽度超过上颌齿的1/3)。蒙山龙具有长吻和紧密排列的尖利牙齿,推测离龙类幼体与现生鳄类幼体食性类似,以水生昆虫和无脊椎动物为食。现生鳄类在发育过程中,吻部的形态常发生改变,牙齿也会从尖细的形状转向圆钝;而蒙山龙的吻部和牙齿的形态与已知大体型的成体新离龙类没有明显区别,这说明相较于现生鳄类,新离龙类在发育过程中生态位的变化并不显著。     

拟小鲵属(有尾目,小鲵科)一新种

在比较和研究Pseudohynobius已知3物种P.flavomaculatus、P.shuichengensis、P.kuankuoshuiensis后,确定贵州省贵定县产拟小鲵为新种,贵州拟小鲵Pseudohynobius guizhouensis sp.nov..新种与P.kuankuoshuiensis极相似,但新种身体腹面具有分散细小白点;躯干椎为17枚;二额骨前端中央较尖、呈三角形与鼻骨后缘相接;额骨之间、顶骨之间骨缝连接紧密,无骨中缝;Y形软骨前端分叉细而长,与P.kuankuoshuiensis身体腹面无斑点;躯干椎为18枚;二额骨前端钝圆、呈弧形与鼻骨后缘相接;额骨之间和顶骨之间有骨中缝;Y形软骨前端分叉宽而短相区别.新种身体腹面散布有细小白点,区别于P.flavomaculatus.新种身体背面和尾部背面有近圆形桔红色或黄色斑点,区别于P.shuichengensis.     

贵州中三叠世早期幻龙属(Nothosaurus)一新种

作为三叠纪海生爬行动物的重要分子,幻龙属化石主要发现于欧洲、中东和中国西南地区的中三叠世海相地层,且主要集中分布于安尼期晚期和拉丁期晚期(Edinger,1921;Haas,1980;Rieppel,2000)。我国目前已报道的幻龙属化石有两种：杨氏幻龙(Li and Rieppel,2004)和幻龙属未定种(Rieppel,1998),它们均产于贵州省兴义地区的法郎组竹杆坡段,时代为中三叠世拉丁期。最近在贵州省盘县地区关岭组Ⅱ段地层中也发现了数量较多的幻龙骨骼化石,证明中三叠世早期东特提斯区同样生存着幻龙类。鉴于标本的骨骼特征与已知的幻龙属种相比存在一定的差异,因此本文建立一新种Nothosaurus rostellatus sp．nov．(小吻幻龙)。新种的个体在幻龙属种中为中等(头骨中线长210～320mm);吻部短而小,具4个前颌骨獠齿,紧随其后是第5个明显较小的前颌齿;一对上颌骨犬齿之前有6～9个小型上颌齿;眼窝较大,卵圆形,位置相对靠前;内鼻孔的后缘由腭骨构成,具内鼻槽;外翼骨形成腹向凸缘;下颌具冠状突;背椎神经棘较低,背肋肩部明显加厚。N．rostellatus与其他已知种的主要区别特征是吻部形态和比例。新种的吻部较小,长略大于宽,前端钝圆,基部明显收缩,其吻部长度(从吻端至外鼻孔前端的距离)仅占其头骨中线长度的1/6～1/7,而其他种一般占1/4～1/5,具有细长吻部的N．haasi甚至接近1/3。此外,新种吻端-上颞孔前缘距离与吻端-外鼻孔前缘距离的比值也明显高于其他种。N．rostellatus区别于其他幻龙种的另一主要特征是上颌骨牙齿的数目和排列。在已知的幻龙属种中,很少有一对上颌犬齿前的上颌齿数超过5个者。新种正型标本ⅣPPⅤ14294在一对上颌犬齿前具有6个小型锥状上颌齿,它们大小相等,指向腹方。副型标本ⅣPPⅤ14301在一对上颌犬齿前具有9个小型锥状上颌齿。在已知的Nothosaurus中,新种与N．youngi Li & Rieppel,2004和N．marchicus Koken,1893无论是个体大小还是头骨形态均比较接近,如具有相对短而宽的吻部和较短的上颌齿列、相似的鼻骨形态等,与其他种相差较大,因此这里仅对新种与此二种之间的异同做简要的介绍。从头骨的一些具体形态特征看,N．rostellatus的鼻骨后侧方与前额骨相连,阻隔了额骨和上颌骨,该特征与N．youngi相同而不同于N．marchicus,后者鼻骨受额骨与上颌骨的阻隔,不与前额骨相连。如果不考虑鳞骨的外侧分支的宽度,Ⅴ14294和Ⅴ14301与N．youngi的头骨的最宽处均位于轭骨的后端位置,且其宽度为吻部宽度的2．6～3．5倍(其中N．youngi为2．6倍,Ⅴ14294为3倍,Ⅴ14301为3．5倍),而N．marchicus的最宽处位于头骨后部鳞骨的分支处,其轭骨后缘处头骨宽度为吻部宽度的2～2．8倍(Rieppel and Wild,1996,fig．36,41)。此外,N．rostellatus外翼骨形成腹向突起和下颌具冠状突的特点也与N．youngi相同,N．marchicus不具有该特征。另一方面,N．rostellatus的枕部特征则与N．marchicus接近而不同于N．youngi。新种的枕部内凹,枕骨侧边的后耳骨等向后侧部延伸,下颌关节在头骨后部位于枕髁之后,该枕部特征与N．marchicus一致。N．youngi的下颌关节与枕髁基本位于一个平面内,因此枕部未形成明显的内凹。新种的眼眶与上颞孔之间的距离相对较宽,其中V 14294眼眶与上颞孔之间的距离与外鼻孔与眼眶之间的距离接近相等,而V 14301眼眶与上颞孔之间的距离大于外鼻孔与眼眶之间的距离。此特征也与N．marchicus相同而不同于N．youngi,前者眼眶与上颞孔之间的距离与外鼻孔与眼眶之间的距离相等,后者的眶后弓很窄,其眼眶与上颞孔之间的距离小于外鼻孔与眼眶之间的距离的1/2。N．rostellatus鼻骨的左右两前突分别伸至两外鼻孔的前缘内侧,位置与N．marchicus相同,而N．youngi鼻骨前突仅伸至外鼻孔内侧缘的中部。N．rostellatus前颌骨的背突向后伸至外鼻孔后缘之后,接近鼻骨的后缘,而N．youngi仅伸至外鼻孔后缘中间部位。除前文所述新种两个主要鉴定特征外,N．rostellatus又以具有内鼻槽,翼骨前伸至内鼻槽附近等特征与该已知二种相区别。此外,新种前颌骨具外侧支突起,其他种该特征多不明显,如N．jagisteus不存在前颌骨外侧支突起,其前颌骨在外鼻孔的前外侧缘沿前外侧方向与上颌骨相交(Rieppel,2001)。从地理分布和地层层位看,N．marchicus主要分布于欧洲中部的中三叠统安尼阶,而N．youngi则分布于我国贵州南部的中三叠统拉丁阶。本文描述的化石产于贵州南部关岭组Ⅱ段,其时代应相当于中三叠世晚安尼期。N．rostellatus与分布于欧洲的同时期的幻龙N．marchicus以及与在其后约7～8Ma相邻地区出现的M．youngi的亲缘关系的远近可能还需要更深入的研究来证实。     

陕西蓝田发现的猿人头骨化石

1.蓝田公王岭发现的猿人头骨化石材料,计有完整的额骨,顶骨的大部分,右侧颞骨的大部分,左鼻骨的大部分和右鼻骨的鼻根部,右上颌骨的体部和额突部,以及右上第二、三臼齿和左上第二臼齿。2.头盖骨的骨缝已经愈合,上第二臼齿的磨耗已达二度,估计蓝田猿人的年龄大约是三十多岁。3.由牙齿、上颌骨、颞骨锥体和颅中窝等较为细小来判断,蓝田猿人可能是女性。4.额骨前部的眶上圆枕硕大粗壮,在眼眶上方几形成一直条横行的骨嵴。圆枕的两侧端明显向外侧延展,圆枕之后明显缩窄。眼眶约呈方形,眶顶很平,没有眶上孔和泪腺窝。额骨的鳞部明显后斜,颞线隆起成为明显的骨嵴。眶上圆枕与额鳞之间没有明显的宽沟相隔。没有额窦。额骨内面的正中有宽阔而较高的额嵴。测量数值表明眉间部粗壮,额骨脑部的弧度极小,额骨极为宽阔。5.顶骨约成长方形,在正中矢状面上,顶骨短于额骨。6.颞骨锥体长轴的方向大约介于现代猿与现代人之间,与北京猿人相似。锥体较为细致,其形状和大小与现代人的女性较为接近。锥体的前后面倾斜度较大,上绿较锐,与现代人相近。7.蓝田猿人头骨的明显特点之一是其骨壁极厚,接近甚至超过北京猿人和爪哇猿人头骨相当部分厚度的上限。8.两鼻骨在根部相交约成130°角。鼻额缝与额上颌缝互相连续,约在水平位。鼻骨宽度远大于现代人,鼻骨长度明显比现代人为短。9.上颌骨及其附连的臼齿较为细致。上颌骨呈明显的齿槽凸颌。上颌骨前面与鼻腔底约成直角,两者之间有明确的分界。有小而明显的鼻前棘。右上颌骨外侧面的内侧缘有相当明显隆起的犬齿齿槽轭,在该轭与上颌骨颧突之间有从上向下延伸的沟状低凹。上第二臼齿齿冠呈长方形,前尖较为向前外方突出,有较明显的近侧颊角。上第三臼齿的形态大体与第二臼齿相似,但其齿冠长度较小,其相对宽度更大,齿冠咬合面近乎三角形。10.参考北京猿人和爪哇粗健猿人的复原头骨,进行了蓝田猿人头骨的复原。11.根据复原头骨颅内的长、宽和高计算了蓝田猿人的脑量。又根据复原的顶骨,依照比例,计算了脑量。两种方法所得的结果极为接近,估计其脑量大约为780c.c.。12.从眶上圆枕的形态和圆枕后的明显缩窄,额鳞的非常低平,头骨壁极厚,头骨高度很小,脑量很小等一系列特征,明显表示蓝田猿人的形态比北京猿人和爪哇猿人为原始,而大致与最早的爪哇粗健猿人相近,两者的地层层位也大致相当。13.为了符合人类学上的新的分类系统,建议蓝田猿人的学名为 Homo[Sinanthropus]erectus lantianensis,即把蓝田猿人和所有其他的猿人都归入直立人种;又为了便于与过去的文献资料相对照,建议把原先的属名放在新的属名之后的方括弧内,在过一定时期之后,再取消方括弧内的旧属名。     

A phylogenetic hot spot for evolutionary novelty in Middle American treefrogs

Among the various types of evolutionary changes in morphology, the origin of novel structures may be the most rare and intriguing. Here we show statistically that the origins of different novel structures may be correlated and phylogenetically clustered into "hot spots" of evolutionary novelty, in a case study involving skull elements in treefrogs. We reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within a clade of Middle American treefrogs based on data from 10 nuclear and four mitochondrial genes and then analyze morphological evolution across this tree. New cranial elements are rare among anurans and tetrapods in general, but three novel elements have evolved within this clade, with a 40% increase in the number of skull roof elements in some species. Two of these elements also evolved in a related clade of treefrogs, and these two novel elements may have each evolved repeatedly within one or both clades. The molecular phylogeny suggests striking homoplasy in cranial morphology and shows that parsimony and Bayesian analyses of the morphological data have produced misleading results with strong statistical support. The origins of the novel elements are associated with an overall increase in the ossification of dermal skull roof elements (suggesting peramorphosis) and with the evolution of a novel adaptive behavior. Our study may be the first to statistically document significant phylogenetic clustering and correlation in the origins of novel structures, and to demonstrate the strongly misleading effects of peramorphosis on phylogenetic analysis.     

云南武定节甲类的新材料

文中描述了采自云南武定中泥盆统一新的属种Yinostius maior gen.et sp.nov.属于短胸节甲类Heterosteidae科,这类化石在我国系初次发现。     

A new eusuchian crocodyliform with novel cranial integument and its significance for the origin and evolution of Crocodylia

Crocodyliforms were one of the most successful groups of Mesozoic tetrapods, radiating into terrestrial, semiaquatic and marine environments, while occupying numerous trophic niches, including carnivorous, insectivorous, herbivorous, and piscivorous species. Among these taxa were the enigmatic, poorly represented flat-headed crocodyliforms from the late Cretaceous of northern Africa. Here we report a new, giant crocodyliform from the early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Kem Kem Formation of Morocco. Represented by a partial braincase, the taxon has an extremely long, flat skull with large jaw and craniocervical muscles. The skull roof is ridged and ornamented with a broad, rough boss surrounded by significant vascular impressions, likely forming an integumentary structure unique among crocodyliforms. Size estimates using endocranial volume indicate the specimen was very large. The taxon possesses robust laterosphenoids with laterally oriented capitate processes and isolated epipterygoids, features allying it with derived eusuchians. Phylogenetic analysis finds the taxon to be a derived eusuchian and sister taxon to Aegyptosuchus, a poorly understood, early Late Cretaceous taxon from the Bahariya formation. This clade forms the sister clade of crown-group Crocodylia, making these taxa the earliest eusuchian crocodyliforms known from Africa. These results shift phylogenetic and biogeographical hypotheses on the origin of modern crocodylians towards the circum-Tethyean region and provide important new data on eusuchian morphology and evolution.     

A new fossil from the Jurassic of Patagonia reveals the early basicranial evolution and the origins of Crocodyliformes

Extant crocodylians have a limited taxonomic and ecological diversity but they belong to a lineage (Crocodylomorpha) that includes basal and rather generalized species and a highly diverse clade, Crocodyliformes. The latter was among the most successful groups of Mesozoic tetrapods, both in terms of taxonomic and ecological diversity. Crocodyliforms thrived in terrestrial, semiaquatic, and marine environments, and their fossil diversity includes carnivorous, piscivorous, insectivorous, and herbivorous species. This remarkable ecological and trophic diversity is thought only to occur in forms with a completely akinetic skull, characterized by a functionally integrated and tightly sutured braincase‐quadrate‐palate complex. However, the patterns of evolutionary change that led to the highly modified skull of crocodyliforms and that likely enabled their diversification remain poorly understood. Herein, a new basal crocodylomorph from the Late Jurassic of Patagonia is described, Almadasuchus figarii gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is known from a well‐preserved posterior region of the skull as well as other craniomandibular and postcranial remains. Almadasuchus figarii differs from all other crocodylomorphs in the presence of six autapomorphic features, including the presence of a large lateral notch on the upper temporal bar, an otic shelf of the squamosal that is wider than long, a deep subtriangular concavity on the posterolateral surface of the squamosal, and an elongated pneumatopore on the ventral surface of the quadrate. Phylogenetic analysis focused on the origin of Crocodyliformes places Almadasuchus as the sister group of Crocodyliformes, supported by synapomorphic features of the skull (e.g. subtriangular basisphenoid, absence of basipterygoid process, absence of a sagittal ridge on the frontal, and a flat anterior skull roof with an ornamented dorsal surface). New braincase information provided by Almadasuchus and other crocodylomorphs indicates that most of the modifications on the posterior region of the skull of crocodyliforms, including the strongly sutured braincase, quadrate, and the extensive secondary palate appeared in a stepwise manner, and pre‐dated the evolutionary changes in the snout, jaws, and dentition. This indicates that the progressively increased rigidity of the skull provided the structural framework that allowed the great ecological diversification of crocodyliforms during the course of the Mesozoic. The phylogenetic pattern of character acquisition inferred for the strongly sutured (akinetic) skull and the appearance of more diverse feeding behaviours that create high mechanical loads on the skull provides another interesting parallel between the evolution of Mesozoic crocodyliforms and the evolutionary origins of mammals.     

The subdivisions and fusions of the exoskeletal skull bones ofDiscosauriscus austriacus (Makowsky 1876) and their possible homologues in rhipidistians

Two localities in the Boskovice Furrow region of Moravia (Czecho-Slovakia) have produced new, well preserved material of the Lower Permian tetrapodDiscosauriscus austriacus (Makowsky 1876). A relatively large number of specimens have been found with some dermal skull roof bones partly or fully subdivided, and/or fused. These are the first records of such subdivisions and fusions in this tetrapod and the following bones are discussed: frontal, postfrontal, parietal, intertemporal, supratemporal, tabular and postparietal. The subdivided bones within the skull roof ofDiscosauriscus (and some dissorophoids) are situated at the same places as those found in Devonian rhipidistians, and may relate to the homology of the bones of the cranial exoskeletal roof inDiscosauriscus and in osteolepiforms. It shows that the “orthodox” terminology of the skull roof bones used in osteolepiforms is correct.     

New Crocodyliforms from Southwestern Europe and Definition of a Diverse Clade of European Late Cretaceous Basal Eusuchians

The late Campanian-early Maastrichtian site of Lo Hueco (Cuenca, Spain) has provided a set of well-preserved crocodyliform skull and lower jaw remains, which are described here and assigned to a new basal eusuchian taxon, Lohuecosuchus megadontos gen. et sp. nov. The reevaluation of a complete skull from the synchronous site of Fox-Amphoux (Department of Var, France) allows us to define a second species of this new genus. Phylogenetic analysis places Lohuecosuchus in a clade exclusively composed by European Late Cretaceous taxa. This new clade, defined here as Allodaposuchidae, is recognized as the sister group of Hylaeochampsidae, also comprised of European Cretaceous forms. Allodaposuchidae and Hylaeochampsidae are grouped in a clade identified as the sister group of Crocodylia, the only crocodyliform lineage that reaches our days. Allodaposuchidae shows a vicariant distribution pattern in the European Late Cretaceous archipelago, with several Ibero-Armorican forms more closely related to each other than with to Romanian Allodaposuchus precedens.     

An Additional Baurusuchid from the Cretaceous of Brazil with Evidence of Interspecific Predation among Crocodyliformes

A new Baurusuchidae (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia), Aplestosuchus sordidus, is described based on a nearly complete skeleton collected in deposits of the Adamantina Formation (Bauru Group, Late Cretaceous) of Brazil. The nesting of the new taxon within Baurusuchidae can be ensured based on several exclusive skull features of this clade, such as the quadrate depression, medial approximation of the prefrontals, rostral extension of palatines (not reaching the level of the rostral margin of suborbital fenestrae), cylindrical dorsal portion of palatine bar, ridge on the ectopterygoid-jugal articulation, and supraoccipital with restricted thin transversal exposure in the caudalmost part of the skull roof. A newly proposed phylogeny of Baurusuchidae encompasses A. sordidus and recently described forms, suggesting its sixter-taxon relationship to Baurusuchus albertoi, within Baurusuchinae. Additionally, the remains of a sphagesaurid crocodyliform were preserved in the abdominal cavity of the new baurusuchid. Direct fossil evidence of behavioral interaction among fossil crocodyliforms is rare and mostly restricted to bite marks resulting from predation, as well as possible conspecific male-to-male aggression. This is the first time that a direct and unmistaken evidence of predation between different taxa of this group is recorded as fossils. This discovery confirms that baurusuchids were top predators of their time, with sphagesaurids occupying a lower trophic position, possibly with a more generalist diet.     

A new stem-sperm whale (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Physeteroidea) from the Latest Miocene of Peru

A finely preserved skull with mandible and teeth associated, from the Latest Miocene beds (ca. 6 Ma) of the Pisco Formation, Sud-Sacaco, Peru, represents a new physeteroid genus and species, Acrophyseter deinodon. This moderate size sperm whale is characterized, among others, by: the short rostrum, the mandible distinctly curved upwards, large teeth very close together (12 on each upper tooth row and 13 on each lower tooth row), the lateral margin of the maxilla along the rostrum base much lower than the orbit roof, a wide supracranial basin dorsally overhanging the right orbit and limited to the cranium and a large temporal fossa dorsomedially elevated. A preliminary cladistic analysis provides a phylogenetic position of Acrophyseter nested within the stem-Physeteroidea, more basal than the clade Kogiidae + Physeteridae. The morphology of the oral apparatus and of the temporal fossa suggests that Acrophyseter was able to feed on large preys.     

Integration of morphological data sets for phylogenetic analysis of Amniota: the importance of integumentary characters and increased taxonomic sampling

Several mutually exclusive hypotheses have been advanced to explain the phylogenetic position of turtles among amniotes. Traditional morphology-based analyses place turtles among extinct anapsids (reptiles with a solid skull roof), whereas more recent studies of both morphological and molecular data support an origin of turtles from within Diapsida (reptiles with a doubly fenestrated skull roof). Evaluation of these conflicting hypotheses has been hampered by nonoverlapping taxonomic samples and the exclusion of significant taxa from published analyses. Furthermore, although data from soft tissues and anatomical systems such as the integument may be particularly relevant to this problem, they are often excluded from large-scale analyses of morphological systematics. Here, conflicting hypotheses of turtle relationships are tested by (1) combining published data into a supermatrix of morphological characters to address issues of character conflict and missing data; (2) increasing taxonomic sampling by more than doubling the number of operational taxonomic units to test internal relationships within suprageneric ingroup taxa; and (3) increasing character sampling by approximately 25% by adding new data on the osteology and histology of the integument, an anatomical system that has been historically underrepresented in morphological systematics. The morphological data set assembled here represents the largest yet compiled for Amniota. Reevaluation of character data from prior studies of amniote phylogeny favors the hypothesis that turtles indeed have diapsid affinities. Addition of new ingroup taxa alone leads to a decrease in overall phylogenetic resolution, indicating that existing characters used for amniote phylogeny are insufficient to explain the evolution of more highly nested taxa. Incorporation of new data from the soft and osseous components of the integument, however, helps resolve relationships among both basal and highly nested amniote taxa. Analysis of a data set compiled from published sources and data original to this study supports monophyly of Amniota, Synapsida, Reptilia, Parareptilia, Eureptilia, Eosuchia, Diapsida, Neodiapsida, Sauria, Lepidosauria, and Archosauriformes, as well as several more highly nested divisions within the latter two clades. Turtles are here resolved as the sister taxon to a monophyletic Lepidosauria (squamates + Sphenodon), a novel phylogenetic position that nevertheless is consistent with recent molecular and morphological studies that have hypothesized diapsid affinities for this clade.     

A New Baurusuchid (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil and the Phylogeny of Baurusuchidae

Background

Baurusuchidae is a group of extinct Crocodyliformes with peculiar, dog-faced skulls, hypertrophied canines, and terrestrial, cursorial limb morphologies. Their importance for crocodyliform evolution and biogeography is widely recognized, and many new taxa have been recently described. In most phylogenetic analyses of Mesoeucrocodylia, the entire clade is represented only by Baurusuchus pachecoi, and no work has attempted to study the internal relationships of the group or diagnose the clade and its members.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Based on a nearly complete skull and a referred partial skull and lower jaw, we describe a new baurusuchid from the Vale do Rio do Peixe Formation (Bauru Group), Late Cretaceous of Brazil. The taxon is diagnosed by a suite of characters that include: four maxillary teeth, supratemporal fenestra with equally developed medial and anterior rims, four laterally visible quadrate fenestrae, lateral Eustachian foramina larger than medial Eustachian foramen, deep depression on the dorsal surface of pterygoid wing. The new taxon was compared to all other baurusuchids and their internal relationships were examined based on the maximum parsimony analysis of a discrete morphological data matrix.

Conclusion

The monophyly of Baurusuchidae is supported by a large number of unique characters implying an equally large morphological gap between the clade and its immediate outgroups. A complex phylogeny of baurusuchids was recovered. The internal branch pattern suggests two main lineages, one with a relatively broad geographical range between Argentina and Brazil (Pissarrachampsinae), which includes the new taxon, and an endemic clade of the Bauru Group in Brazil (Baurusuchinae).