http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general hourly 1 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://gmane.org/img/gmane-25t.png http://gmane.org http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57222 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: Daniel E. Barta, Krista M. Brundridge, Jasmine A. Croghan, Frankie D. Jackson, David J. Varricchio, Xingsheng Jin &amp; Ashley W. Poust (2013) Eggs and clutches of the Spheroolithidae from the Cretaceous Tiantai basin, Zhejiang Province, China. Historical Biology (advance online publication) DOI:10.1080/08912963.2013.792811 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2013.792811#.UZ2Pf7W1FcQ Numerous discoveries in the Tiantai basin of Zhejiang Province, China, enrich our understanding of the parataxonomy, paleobiology and taphonomic histories of fossil eggs from a diverse array of Cretaceous oofamilies. We describe the most abundant of these egg types catalogued in the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, Spheroolithus cf. zhangtoucaoensis (oofamily Spheroolithidae). Scanning electron microscopy, here utilised for the first time on Spheroolithus eggs from Tiantai, and petrographic microscopy reveal 0.81–1.37-mm thick eggshell composed of </pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-23T03:48:12 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57221 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: Marcos G. Becerra, Diego Pola, Claudia A. Marsicano &amp; Oliver W.M. Rauhut (2013) The dentition of Manidens condorensis (Ornithischia; Heterodontosauridae) from the Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation of Patagonia: morphology, heterodonty and the use of statistical methods for identifying isolated teeth. Historical Biology (advance online publication) DOI:10.1080/08912963.2013.794227 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2013.794227#.UZ2Pm7W1FcQ The recently described Manidens condorensis is one of the most completely known taxa of the family Heterodontosauridae from the southern landmasses. However, some dental aspects are not well known due to preservational problems in the type material. This contribution reports new isolated teeth found in the Cañadón Asfalto Formation (Early-Middle Jurassic). These teeth are referred to Manidens condorensis based on the presence of autapomorphic characters of the unusual dentition of this ta</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-23T03:46:41 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57220 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A number of new non-dino papers (plus a video) that may be interest: S. Sanchez &amp; R. R. Schoch (2013) Bone Histology Reveals a High Environmental and Metabolic Plasticity as a Successful Evolutionary Strategy in a Long-Lived Homeostatic Triassic Temnospondyl. Evolutionary Biology (advance online publication) DOI: 10.1007/s11692-013-9238-3 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11692-013-9238-3 NOTE: pdf is open access (for now) Evolutionary stasis (long-term stability of morphology in an evolving lineage) is a pattern for which explanations are usually elusive. The Triassic tetrapod Gerrothorax pulcherrimus, a gill-bearing temnospondyl, survived for 35 million years in the Germanic Basin of Central Europe persisting throughout the dinosaur-dominated Late Triassic period. This evolutionary stasis coincides with the occurrence of this species in a wide range of habitats and environmental conditions. By the combination of palaeoecological and palaeohistological analy</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-22T15:57:52 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57219 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: Bradley McFeeters, Michael J. Ryan, Sanja Hinic-Frlog &amp; Claudia Schröder-Adams (2013) A reevaluation of Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis (Dinosauria) from the Cretaceous of Morocco. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (advance online publication) doi: 10.1139/cjes-2012-0129 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjes-2012-0129#.UZwdrrW1FcQ The original hypodigm of the controversial mid-Cretaceous Moroccan dinosaur Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis is redescribed, and the diagnosis of the taxon is revised. Unambiguously referred material is restricted to cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae sharing apomorphies with the holotype. A newly recognized diagnostic character of Sigilmassasaurus is the absence of anterior and posterior interzygapophyseal laminae of the neural arch, so that the neural spine directly meets the dorsal margin of the neural canal. A phylogenetic analysis supports the inclusion of Sigilmassasaurus in Tetanurae but not in Carch</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-22T01:26:30 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57218 <pre>WitmerLab has a whole bunch of bonus info to go with the paper here: http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/dbms-witmer/allosaurus_mechanics.htm  Jason ----- Original Message ----- </pre> Jura 2013-05-21T20:32:32 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57217 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com New in open-access Palaeontologia Electronica: Eric Snively, John R. Cotton, Ryan Ridgely, and Lawrence M. Witmer (2013) Multibody dynamics model of head and neck function in Allosaurus (Dinosauria, Theropoda). Palaeontologia Electronica Vol. 16, Issue 2; 11A 29p palaeo-electronica.org/content/2013/389-allosaurus-feeding http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2013/389-allosaurus-feeding We present a multibody dynamics model of the feeding apparatus of the large Jurassic theropod dinosaur Allosaurus that enables testing of hypotheses about the animal's feeding behavior and about how anatomical parameters influence function. We created CT- and anatomical-inference-based models of bone, soft tissue, and air spaces which we use to provide inertial properties for musculoskeletal dynamics. Estimates of bone density have a surprisingly large effect on head inertial properties, and trachea diameter strongly affects moments of inertia of neck segments for dorsoventral moveme</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-21T18:46:14 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57216 <pre>A new article online: Blanchard, S., Rossignol, C., Bourquin, S., Dabard, M.-P., Hallot, E., Nalpas, T., Poujol, M., Battail, B., Jalil, N.-E., Steyer, J.-S., Vacant, R., Véran, M., Bercovici, A., Diez, J. B., Paquette, J.-L., Khenthavong, B. and Vongphamany, S. 2013. Late Triassic volcanic activity in South-East Asia: new stratigraphical, geochronological and paleontological evidence from the Luang Prabang Basin (Laos). Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 70-71: 8–26. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367912013001442 In South-East Asia, sedimentary basins displaying continental Permian and Triassic deposits have been poorly studied. Among these, the Luang Prabang Basin (North Laos) represents a potential key target to constrain the stratigraphic and structural evolutions of South-East Asia. A combined approach involving sedimentology, palaeontology, geochronology and structural analysis, was thus implemented to study the basin. It resulted in a new geological map, in defining n</pre> Jocelyn Falconnet 2013-05-21T07:20:20 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57215 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online article: S. Lautenschlager &amp; T. Hübner (2013) Ontogenetic trajectories in the ornithischian endocranium. Journal of Evolutionary Biology (advance online publication) DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12181 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jeb.12181/abstract Understanding ontogenetic and developmental patterns is critical for reconstructing the life history of fossil vertebrates. In dinosaurs, ontogenetic studies have nearly exclusively focused on changes in the cranial and post-cranial skeleton, whereas ontogenetic changes in the endocranium have received little attention. Here, we present digital reconstructions of the brain and inner ear anatomy of two ontogenetic stages of the Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki. Results show that the endocranial anatomy underwent considerable changes during growth, including a rostrocaudal elongation of the olfactory apparatus, a reduction in the cephalic and pontine flexure and an increase in </pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-20T21:32:18 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57214 <pre>David B. Baier. Stephen M. Gatesy, Kenneth P. Dial (2013) Three-Dimensional, High-Resolution Skeletal Kinematics of the Avian Wing and Shoulder during Ascending Flapping Flight and Uphill Flap-Running. PLOS ONE 8: e63982 Abstract: "Past studies have shown that birds use their wings not only for flight, but also when ascending steep inclines. Uphill flaprunning or wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) is used by both flight-incapable fledglings and flight-capable adults to retreat to an elevated refuge. Despite the broadly varying direction of travel during WAIR, level, and descending flight, recent studies have found that the basic wing path remains relatively invariant with reference to gravity. If so, joints undergo disparate motions to maintain a consistent wing path during those specific flapping modes. The underlying skeletal motions, however, are masked by feathers and skin. To improve our understanding of the form-functional relationship of the skeletal apparatus and joint morphology with a correspo</pre> Tim Williams 2013-05-20T03:58:08 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57213 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: Yanina Herrera, Marta S. Fernández &amp; Zulma Gasparini (2013) Postcranial skeleton of Cricosaurus araucanensis (Crocodyliformes: Thalattosuchia): morphology and palaeobiological insights. Alcheringa 37 (advance online publication) 1–14 DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2013.743709 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03115518.2013.743709#.UZkLobW1FcQ The metriorhynchid crocodyliform Cricosaurus araucanensis (Gasparini &amp; Dellapé) has been documented from Tithonian (Upper Jurassic) strata of the Vaca Muerta Formation exposed in the Neuquén Basin, northwest Patagonia, Argentina. Postcranial components of this species were mentioned but not described in the original analysis. Subsequently, other authors described the forelimbs. The postcranial elements of metriorhynchids are poorly documented in comparison with their skulls, but new data from C. araucanensis reveal delayed ossification of the caudal neurocentral sutures indicating skeletal paedomorphos</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-19T17:34:36 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57212 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: P. Martin Sander, Nicole Klein, Paul C. H. Albers, Constanze Bickelmann &amp; Herman Winkelhorst (2013) Postcranial morphology of a basal Pistosauroidea (Sauropterygia) from the Lower Muschelkalk of Winterswijk, The Netherlands. Paläontologische Zeitschrift (advance online publication) DOI: 10.1007/s12542-013-0181-5 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-013-0181-5 Two partial postcranial skeletons from the Lower Muschelkalk (early Anisian) of Winterswijk, The Netherlands, are described in detail. The specimens were assigned to basal Pistosauroidea, presumably to cf. Cymatosaurus or a closely related taxon. Cymatosaurus is currently the earliest member of the Pistosauroidea and is only known from skull material. Taxonomical assignment is based on humerus morphology and histology, and on morphological differences from other Sauropterygia (Nothosauria and Pachypleurosauria). </pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-19T02:32:06 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57211 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: Marta S. Fernández and Marianella Talevi (2013) Ophthalmosaurian (Ichthyosauria) records from the Aalenian–Bajocian of Patagonia (Argentina): an overview. Geological Magazine (advance online publication) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0016756813000058 http://128.232.233.5/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&amp;aid=8920772&amp;fulltextType=RA&amp;fileId=S0016756813000058 The oldest ophthalmosaurian records worldwide have been recovered from the Aalenian–Bajocian boundary of the Neuquén Basin in Central-West Argentina (Mendoza and Neuquén provinces). Although scarce, they document a poorly known period in the evolutionary history of parvipelvian ichthyosaurs. In this contribution we present updated information on these fossils, including a phylogenetic analysis, and a redescription of ‘Stenopterygius grandis’ Cabrera, 1939. Patagonian ichthyosaur occurrences indicate that during the Bajocian the Neuquén Basin palaeogulf, on the southern margi</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-17T15:15:58 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57210 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com A new online paper: Chun Li, Da-Yong Jiang, Long Cheng, Xiao-Chun Wu and Olivier Rieppel (2013) A new species of Largocephalosaurus (Diapsida: Saurosphargidae), with implications for the morphological diversity and phylogeny of the group. Geological Magazine (advance online publication) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S001675681300023X http://128.232.233.5/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&amp;aid=8920775&amp;fulltextType=RA&amp;fileId=S001675681300023X Largocephalosaurus polycarpon Cheng et al. 2012 was erected after the study of the skull and some parts of a skeleton and considered to be an eosauropterygian. Here we describe a new species of the genus, Largocephalosaurus qianensis, based on three specimens. The new species provides many anatomical details which were described only briefly or not at all in the type species, and clearly indicates that Largocephalosaurus is a saurosphargid. It differs from the type species mainly in having three premaxillary teeth, a very s</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-17T15:14:23 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57209 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com Since this has not been commented on on the DML (it's mentioned on some blogs), I would point out an important fact revealed in this paper--the fossil nest of psittacosaurs with a cluster of juveniles "guarded" by an adult is in fact a fake (shades of Archaeoraptor!). This doctored fossil find is cited in various places as supposed evidence of direct parental care in dinosaurs. "Our close inspection of this cluster of 34 juveniles (DNHM D2156) shows that the ‘adult’ skull has been added with glue, and so was not part of the original specimen; there is no sedimentary connection to the main slab below, and the skull rests loosely on top of that slab, and is not in any way part of the sedimentary layer in which the juveniles all occur, intertwined with each other. The evidence is that the ‘adult’ skeleton just contains a few postcranial bones without any articulation, and the skull position is much higher than the juvenile bone-bed plane. The juveniles all seem </pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-16T15:55:42 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57208 <pre> So far, so good... Hang on a second. Here it's you who suddenly jumps to conclusions without evidence. We don't even know that much! I can't remember specific papers, but there are people who have vehemently disagreed with this piece of textbook wisdom. </pre> David Marjanovic 2013-05-16T13:13:11 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57207 <pre> NP. It gets everyone now and then. </pre> Kelly Clowers 2013-05-15T22:54:10 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57206 <pre>Thanks. I didn't even catch that it was truncated. Stupid Yahoo mail. Jason lation, but insulation hinders es not i, M. 2009. Metabolic Correlates of </pre> Jura 2013-05-15T22:25:48 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57205 <pre>Rescued from truncation: On Wed, May 15, 2013 at 12:17 PM, Jura &lt;pristichampsus&lt; at &gt;yahoo.com&gt; wrote: The truth is that we are no closer to knowing the thermophysiology of dinosaur now then we were in the 70's and 80's when this whole thing was called into question. The biggest problem with metabolism is that differences between groups are often a question of grade rather than of structure. For instance the cell membranes of crocodiles and cows are almost exactly the same. However cows incorporate more polyunsaturated fatty acids in their cell membranes than crocs do. This makes the cell membrane less efficient at retaining certain ions which forces the protein pumps in the membranes to work harder to keep proper ionic concentrations, ultimately giving cow cells higher metabolic rates than croc cells. Wu et al. (2004) actually "turned" a croc cell into a cow cell by changing the unsaturated fatty acid ratio in the membranes. All of this is soft-tissue related and differs only in ratios. None of it fossilizes</pre> Kelly Clowers 2013-05-15T22:11:06 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57204 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com New in PLoS ONE: Michael Pittman, Stephen M. Gatesy, Paul Upchurch, Anjali Goswami &amp; John R. Hutchinson (2013) Shake a Tail Feather: The Evolution of the Theropod Tail into a Stiff Aerodynamic Surface. PLoS ONE 8(5): e63115. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063115 http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0063115 Theropod dinosaurs show striking morphological and functional tail variation; e.g., a long, robust, basal theropod tail used for counterbalance, or a short, modern avian tail used as an aerodynamic surface. We used a quantitative morphological and functional analysis to reconstruct intervertebral joint stiffness in the tail along the theropod lineage to extant birds. This provides new details of the tail’s morphological transformation, and for the first time quantitatively evaluates its biomechanical consequences. We observe that both dorsoventral and lateral joint stiffness decreased along the non-avian theropod lineage (between nodes</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-15T21:34:59 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57203 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com New in PLoS ONE: Phil R. Bell &amp; Rodolfo A. Coria (2013) Palaeopathological Survey of a Population of Mapusaurus (Theropoda: Carcharodontosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation, Argentina. PLoS ONE 8(5): e63409. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063409 http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0063409 Paleoepidemiology (the study of disease and trauma in prehistoric populations) provides insight into the distribution of disease and can have implications for interpreting behavior in extinct organisms. A monospecific bonebed of the giant carcharodontosaurid Mapusaurus (minimum number of individuals = 9) from the Cañadón del Gato site, Neuquén Province, Argentina (Cenomanian) provides a rare opportunity to investigate disease within a single population of this important apex predator. Visual inspection of 176 skeletal elements belonging to a minimum of nine individuals yielded a small number of abnormalities on a cervical vertebra, two</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-15T21:31:07 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.science.dinosaurs.general/57202 <pre>From: Ben Creisler bcreisler&lt; at &gt;gmail.com New in open-access PLoS ONE: Lucio M. Ibiricu, Rubén D. Martínez, Gabriel A. Casal &amp; Ignacio A. Cerda (2013) The Behavioral Implications of a Multi-Individual Bonebed of a Small Theropod Dinosaur. PLoS ONE 8(5): e64253 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064253 http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0064253 Background Central Patagonia, Argentina, preserves an abundant and rich fossil record. Among vertebrate fossils from the Upper Cretaceous Bajo Barreal Formation of Patagonia, five individuals of the small, non-avian theropod dinosaur Aniksosaurus darwini were recovered. Group behavior is an important aspect of dinosaur paleoecology, but it is not well-documented and is poorly understood among non-avian Theropoda. Methods/Principal Findings The taphonomic association of individuals from the Bajo Barreal Formation and aspects of their bone histology suggest gregarious behavior for Aniksosaurus, during at least a portion of the life history of thi</pre> Ben Creisler 2013-05-15T21:26:07 Search the mailing list at Gmane query http://search.gmane.org/?group=$group=gmane.science.dinosaurs.general