A new small duckbilled dinosaur (Hadrosauridae: Lambeosaurinae) from Morocco and dinosaur diversity in the late Maastrichtian of North Africa
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
14(1)
Опубликована: Фев. 13, 2024
Abstract
In
the
Late
Cretaceous,
northern
and
southern
hemispheres
evolved
distinct
dinosaurian
faunas.
Titanosaurians
abelisaurids
dominated
Gondwanan
continents;
hadrosaurids,
ceratopsians
tyrannosaurs
North
America
Asia.
Recently,
a
lambeosaurine
hadrosaurid,
Ajnabia
odysseus
,
was
reported
from
late
Maastrichtian
phosphates
of
Oulad
Abdoun
Basin
Morocco,
suggesting
dispersal
between
Laurasia
Gondwana.
Here
we
report
new
fossils
Morocco
showing
lambeosaurines
achieved
high
diversity
in
Africa.
A
skull
represents
dwarf
lambeosaurine,
Minqaria
bata
.
resembles
size,
but
differs
ventrally
positioned
jugal
facet
sinusoidal
toothrow.
The
animal
is
small,
~
3.5
m
long,
fused
braincase
shows
it
mature.
humerus
femur
belong
to
larger
6
implying
at
least
three
species
coexisted.
hadrosaurids
Europe
Africa
suggests
dispersal-driven
radiation,
with
diversifying
take
advantage
low
ornithischian
diversity.
African
are
small
compared
American
Asia
however,
perhaps
due
competition
titanosaurians.
Hadrosaurids
unknown
eastern
Africa,
Moroccan
may
be
part
insular
fauna,
represent
an
island
radiation.
Язык: Английский
Patterns of postcranial fusion in the emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae ) and Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Troodon formosus
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Май 14, 2025
Язык: Английский
Estimation of maximum body size in fossil species: A case study using Tyrannosaurus rex
Ecology and Evolution,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
14(7)
Опубликована: Июль 1, 2024
Among
extant
species,
the
ability
to
sample
extremes
of
body
size-one
most
useful
predictors
an
individual's
ecology-is
highly
unlikely.
This
improbability
is
further
exaggerated
when
sampling
already
incomplete
fossil
record.
We
quantify
likelihood
uppermost
limits
size
in
record
using
Язык: Английский
Endocranial development in non-avian dinosaurs reveals an ontogenetic brain trajectory distinct from extant archosaurs
Nature Communications,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
15(1)
Опубликована: Авг. 28, 2024
Modern
birds
possess
highly
encephalized
brains
that
evolved
from
non-avian
dinosaurs.
Evolutionary
shifts
in
developmental
timing,
namely
juvenilization
of
adult
phenotypes,
have
been
proposed
as
a
driver
head
evolution
along
the
dinosaur-bird
transition,
including
brain
morphology.
Testing
this
hypothesis
requires
sufficient
sampling
morphology
In
study,
we
harness
endocasts
postnatal
growth
series
ornithischian
dinosaur
Psittacosaurus
and
several
other
immature
mature
dinosaurs
to
investigate
how
evolutionary
changes
development
are
implicated
origin
avian
brain.
Using
three-dimensional
characterization
neuroanatomical
shape
across
archosaurian
reptiles,
demonstrate
(i)
underwent
distinct
trajectory
compared
alligators
crown
birds;
(ii)
non-avialan
theropod
shared
similar
trajectory,
suggesting
their
derived
common
ancestor;
(iii)
shift
trajectories
is
partly
consistent
with
paedomorphosis
underlying
overall
transition;
however,
heterochronic
signal
not
uniform
time
region
mosaic
acquisition
form.
Язык: Английский
A New Tyrant Dinosaur from the Late Campanian of Mexico Reveals a Tribe of Southern Tyrannosaurs
Fossil Studies,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
2(4), С. 245 - 272
Опубликована: Сен. 25, 2024
The
end
of
the
Cretaceous
saw
Western
Interior
Seaway
divide
North
America
into
two
land
masses,
Laramidia
in
west
and
Appalachia
east.
Laramidian
dinosaurs
inhabited
a
narrow
strip
extending
from
Mexico
to
Alaska.
Within
this
geographically
restricted
area,
evolved
high
diversity
endemism,
with
distinct
species
north
south.
Here,
we
report
new
tyrannosaurid
Late
Campanian-aged
Cerro
del
Pueblo
Formation
Coahuila,
Mexico,
which
is
part
tribe
tyrannosaurs
originating
southern
Laramidia.
Phylogenetic
analysis
recovers
tyrannosaur
as
clade
including
Labocania
anomala
La
Bocana
Roja
Baja
California
Norte,
Bistahieversor
sealeyi
Kirtland
New
Teratophoneus
curriei
Kaiparowits
Utah,
Dynamoterror
dynastes
Menefee
Mexico.
Distinct
frontal
morphology
younger
age
(~72.5–73
Ma
versus
>75.8
for
L.
anomala)
support
recognition
Labocania,
aguillonae.
dominated
at
time
when
was
by
daspletosaurins
albertosaurines.
endemism
seen
tyrannosaurids
remarkable,
given
that
modern
apex
predators
have
large
geographic
ranges
hints
carnivorous
has
been
underestimated.
Язык: Английский
The first deep-snouted tyrannosaur from Upper Cretaceous Ganzhou City of southeastern China
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
14(1)
Опубликована: Июль 25, 2024
Tyrannosaurids
were
the
most
derived
group
of
Tyrannosauroidea
and
are
characterized
by
having
two
body
plans:
gracile,
long-snouted
robust,
deep-snouted
skulls.
Both
groups
lived
sympatrically
in
central
Asia.
Here,
we
report
a
new
tyrannosaurid,
Asiatyrannus
xui
gen.
et
sp.
nov.,
from
Upper
Cretaceous
Ganzhou
City,
southeastern
China,
which
has
produced
large-bodied
Qianzhousaurus.
Based
on
histological
analysis,
holotype
is
not
somatically
mature
adult,
but
it
already
passed
through
rapid
growth
stages.
small
to
medium-sized
tyrannosaurine,
with
skull
length
47.5
cm
an
estimated
total
3.5-4
m;
or
around
half
size
Qianzhousaurus
other
tyrannosaurines
similar
sympatric
tyrannosaurid
genera
Maastrichtian
China.
differs
that
proportionally
deeper
snout,
longer
premaxilla,
maxilla,
dentary,
cornual
process
lacrimal
inflated
without
developing
discrete
horn.
The
different
proportions
sizes
suggest
likely
had
feeding
strategies
occupied
ecological
niches.
Язык: Английский
Morphological evolution and functional consequences of giantism in tyrannosauroid dinosaurs
iScience,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
27(9), С. 110679 - 110679
Опубликована: Авг. 5, 2024
Язык: Английский
Resolving the "Ontogeny Problem" in Vertebrate Paleontology
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Окт. 28, 2024
Abstract
Ontogenetic
change
is
a
major
source
of
phenotypic
variation
among
members
species
and
often
greater
magnitude
than
the
anatomical
differences
that
distinguish
closely
related
species.
Ontogeny
has
therefore
become
problematic
confounding
variable
in
vertebrate
paleontology,
especially
study
systems
distant
from
extant
crown
clades,
rendering
taxonomic
hypothesis
testing
(a
fundamental
process
evolutionary
biology)
rife
with
difficulty.
Paleontologists
have
adopted
quantitative
methods
to
compensate
for
perception
juvenile
specimens
lack
diagnostic
apomorphies
seen
their
adult
conspecifics.
Here,
I
critically
evaluate
these
assumptions
guide
interpretation
using
µCT
dataset
comprising
growth
series
American
Chinese
alligator.
find
several
widespread
are
scientifically
unjustifiable,
two
popular
–
geometric
morphometrics
cladistic
analysis
ontogeny
unacceptably
high
rates
type
II
error
present
numerous
procedural
difficulties.
However,
also
identify
suite
ontogenetically
invariant
characters
differentiate
living
Alligator
throughout
ontogeny.
These
overwhelmingly
correspond
develop
prior
(and
play
signaling
role
in)
development
cranial
skeleton
itself,
suggesting
ontogenetic
invariance
consequence
widely
conserved
developmental
program.
observations
suggest
architecture
cranium
fixed
early
embryonic
development,
remodeling
does
not
alter
topological
relationships
bones
or
soft
tissue
structures
they
house.
propose
general
model
future
tests
fossil
record,
which
different
stages
single
can
be
falsified
by
discovery
character
cannot
attributed
plausibly
variation.
Язык: Английский
Osteology, relationship, and feeding ecology of the theropod dinosaur Noasaurus leali, from the Late Cretaceous of North-Western Argentina
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
202(4)
Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2024
Abstract
Noasaurus
leali
is
a
small
(~2
m)
carnivorous
theropod
and
the
nominal
genus
of
clade
Noasauridae,
one
two
radiations
abelisauroid
ceratosaurs
predominantly
present
in
Southern
Hemisphere
during
Mesozoic.
This
eponymous
from
Maastrichtian
Lecho
Formation
Salta,
Argentina,
known
an
incomplete
skeleton
which
strongly
curved
manual
ungual
most
peculiar
element.
We
here
provide
for
first
time
comprehensive
description
holotypic
specimens
Noasaurus,
whose
phylogenetic
position
was
explored
using
three
independent
datamatrices
on
relationships.
species
diagnosed
by
several
apomorphies
such
as
dorsal
ridge
maxillary
fossa,
arched
quadrate,
cervical
neural
arch
with
anterior
epipophyseal
prongs,
subtriangular
flexor
fossa
delimited
V-shaped
ridge.
Results
analyses
recovered
closely
related
to
Velocisaurus,
Masiakasaurus,
Laevisuchus,
together
form
Late
Cretaceous
radiation
small-bodied
noasaurids
restricted
Hemisphere.
The
morphology
lateral
dentition
unguals
suggests
that
opportunistic
carnivore
feeding
prey
items
possible
piscivore
gaffing
fish
its
specialized
hand
claws.
Язык: Английский