Variation in the Late Triassic Canjilon quarry (Upper Chinle Group, New Mexico) phytosaur skulls: a case for sexual dimorphism

The Canjilon quarry, located in north-central New Mexico near Ghost Ranch, contains a death assemblage of phytosaurs located stratigraphically high within the Petrified Forest Formation of the Chinle Group (Revueltian = early-mid Norian). The site has yielded numerous fossils ofPseudopalatus-grade phytosaurs, including at least 10 skulls collected from the locality byCharles Camp in 1928 and 1933 and another collected more recently byAlex Downs, curator of paleontology at Ghost Ranch. A re-examination of these skulls reveals two morphotypes that differ only in the relative lengths and relative robustness of their premaxillae. In these two morphotypes, the premaxillae define the shape and length of the rostral crest, the dimensions of which are independent of skull size. In one morphotype, the premaxillae are long, thin bones that lead to an abrupt, volcano-like narial crest. In the second morphotype, the premaxillae are of approximately the same length, but expand dorsoventrally halfway along their lengths, creating a longer and more robust crest. The most probable explanation of these two variants in rostral crest morphology in a Single, catastrophic death assemblage is thatPseudopalatus-grade phytosaurs are sexually dimorphic. Thus, the larger, more robust crest of the first morphotype is probably a display feature, most likely of the male animal. The more gracile snout änderest characterize the female morph. In the sample of phytosaurs examined, there are three individuals of the more robust (male) morphotype, five individuals of the gracile (female) morphotype, and three individuals (2 adult, 1 juvenile) that cannot be assigned to either morphotype because the skulls are too damaged to make an aecurate assessment. This is the first clear evidence of sexual dimorphism in phytosaurs, and has important implications for phytosaur species-level taxonomy, as well as for understanding aspects of their paleobiology (e.g., population dynamics).     

A NEW BASAL PTEROSAUR GENUS FROM THE UPPER TRIASSIC OF THE NORTHERN CALCAREOUS ALPS OF SWITZERLAND

Abstract:  A lower jaw with multicusped teeth and a number of unique characteristics was discovered in an extensive exposure of the Upper Triassic Kössen Formation in the Northern Calcareous Alps. The ramus of the jaw is high and dominated by a row of large, oval foramina that lies parallel to the tooth row. In addition, the anterior portion of the dentary exhibits a large number of nutritive foramina and small pits, which might indicate an association with a soft tissue structure and/or the presence of a keratinous cover of that area during life. All elements of the jaw are thin-walled and hollow, possibly pneumatic. Two teeth are preserved within the dentary. One is tricuspid and the other bears four cuSPS. The teeth are noticeably small in comparison with the overall size of the ramus, being only one-third of the height of the ramus. The teeth show a strong similarity to those of the well-known basal pterosaur genus Eudimorphodon , whose jaw morphology, however, clearly differs from the specimen described in this study. The dentition and the pneumatic bone structure make an assignment to the Pterosauria plausible. Based on the great number of distinct morphological characters the specimen is described as Caviramus schesaplanensis gen. et sp. nov.     

Norian serpulid and microbial bioconstructions: Implication for the platform evolution in the Lombardy Basin (Southern Alps,Italy)

Summary The development of peculiar margin facies and abundant talus breccias within the Dolomia Principale inner platform is commonly observed in the Lombardy Basin during the Norian. The organisms building these margins are mainly serpulids, benthic microbes, subordinate porostomata and other encrusting forms; typical margin organisms, as sponges or corals, are extremely rare or absent. The build-ups form narrow rims along the borders of tectonic-controlled intraplatform basins. Regional back-stepping and progradation of the margin facies on the talus breccias produced by the erosion of the reef is commonly observed in the uppermost Dolomia Principale depositional system. Widespread occurrence of serpulids and microbial margins in middle-late Norian times is indicative of stressed environmental conditions—fluctuation of salinity and temperature on the inner platform and in the intraplatform basins—controlled by palaeogeographic setting. Physical characteristics allowed the bloom of forms able to develop in a wide range of environmental conditions, such as serpulids. In the Late Norian, major input of fine-grained clastics is recorded; close to the Norian-Rhaetian boundary, carbonate ramps were regionally restored. Locally, small serpulid and microbial bioconstructions still persist in the lowermost part of the shaly succession, even if they are less abundant with respect to the Dolomia Principale. Patch-reefs generally do not build a platform margin, but represent isolated mounds within shaly deposits. These build-ups occur on the edge of former structural highs; the communities survived the environmental change responsible for the siliciclastic input and locally managed to produce mounds during the deposition of the lower part of the upper depositional system (Riva di Solto Shale).     

云南保山上三叠统诺利阶南梳坝组和大水塘组的牙形石及沉积环境特征

云南保山地块晚三叠世诺利期(Norian)海相沉积发育。通过野外观察、实测保山大堡子剖面,对剖面南梳坝组中部以及大水塘组顶部灰岩进行了牙形石分析,经鉴定有1属3种,分别为Mockina bidentata,Mockina englandi和Mockina aff.englandi,时代为晚诺利期Sevatian1亚期。岩石显微薄片分析显示,南梳坝组中部灰岩和大水塘组顶部灰岩中含大量被方解石完全或部分交代的放射虫,陆源碎屑岩中见磨圆程度不同的碎屑。结合滑塌沉积构造,推测南梳坝组沉积时期大堡子地区为混积陆棚环境,发育了与岛弧(微板块)有关的特殊陆棚沉积模式。     

滇西巍山地区上三叠统诺利阶三合洞组牙形石年代及沉积相分析*

滇西兰坪-思茅地块晚三叠世诺利期(Norian)发育一套海相碳酸盐岩沉积(三合洞组)。对巍山三合洞剖面进行了实测与采样, 分离了三合洞组碳酸盐岩中的牙形石, 经鉴定其种属为Epigondolella vialovi, Epigondolella uniformis和Epigondolella aff. triangularis, 时代为早诺利期(Lacian亚期)。通过野外剖面及室内显微薄片观察, 采用微相分析的方法对剖面三合洞组碳酸盐岩的微相类型和沉积环境进行研究, 将巍山三合洞剖面三合洞组沉积归纳为9种微相, 并根据微相特征结合野外宏观特征, 将三合洞剖面划分为3种沉积相类型, 即局限台地相、开阔台地相和台地边缘礁相。在剖面不同层位的碳酸盐岩中发现的热液矿物石榴子石及发黑的牙形石化石(CAI指数约为5), 表明该区曾遭受热液作用的影响, 可能与三合洞组沉积后大陆边缘裂谷下陷或板块拼合引起的热卤水上涌有关。     

Dasycladalean green algae from the Upper Triassic of Mt. Rotonda (Verbicaro Unit, Calabria-Lucania Border, Southern Italy)

Summary A rich and diverse dasycladalean algae association is described from the Upper Triassic succession of Mt. Rotonda (Calabria-Lucania border, Southern Italy). This association consists of:Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp.,Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp.,Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp.,Spinaporella andalusica Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,S.? granadaensis Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,Chinianella? sp.,Gyroporella sp.,Griphoporella? sp. andPhysoporella aff.leptotheca. Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp. is characterised by an undulated calcareous skeleton with short acrophore primary laterals bearing a tuft of 4–6 elongate, segmented, trichophore secondary laterals. This species allows to extend back to the Upper Triassic the stratigraphic range of the genusNeoteutloporella, previously known only from Upper Jurassic levels. Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp. has a cylindrical calcareous skeleton and primary laterals only, consisting of a thin proximal part followed by a swollen portion that pinches out distally and finally opens outward with a cup-like swelling. Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp. is characterised by a calcareous skeleton made by partly welded thin individual sheaths enclosing the laterals. The laterals are piriferous, vertically compressed, roughly triangular both in vertical and in verticillar section. In some specimens they end with a spine-like thin apophysis. This species confirms that the typical Middle Triassic genusPhysoporella survived up into the Norian. The dasycladalean algal association of the Norian of Mt. Rotonda shows some similarities with the algal association found in the Upper Triassic of the Betic Cordillera whereas it is markedly different from the rich association occurring in the Upper Triassic of Sicily and of the Northern Calcareous Alps. This pattern is coupled with a different composition of the platform margin communities: microbial/serpulids bioconstructions in the Upper Triassic of the Calabria-Lucania border and of Alpujarridevs. Dachstein-type reefs in Sicily and the Northern Calcareous Alps. This indicates that the palaeoceanographic and palaeogeographic conditions controlled both the development of the different platform margin and of the different algal assemblages.     

An example for black shale development on a carbonate platform (late Triassic, Seefeld, Austria)

Summary East of Seefeld/Tyrol the Hauptdolomit facies (Triassic, Norian) is accompanied by an organic-rich intercalation, the Seefeld facies. Three facies were distinguished, which developed within a separate basin within the Hauptdolomit carbonate platform. These facies have been investigated in an environmental and palaeoecological context applying microfacies analysis, palynology, organic petrology, organic geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry. As the controlling factors of sedimentation, sea level changes are suggested for large scale fluctuations, and climatic changes for variations on a smaller scale. Within the basin facies a μm-scaled rhythm can be observed, which was obviously seasonally controlled. Amajor amount of organic material of the deposit has been produced by microbial activity under anoxic conditions. Causes for the absence of pollen and spores in many black shale deposits are discussed.