Article
Geology
Alexander O. Averianov, Alexey Lopatin
Summary: Isolated sacrum fragments, manual ungual phalanges, and a third metatarsal from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Yalovach Formation at the Kansai locality in Tajikistan, are similar to those elements in various dromaeosaurid theropods. They are identified as Kansaignathus sogdianus and further analysis confirms its position as the basalmost Asiatic velociraptorine. It is also the oldest known member of this clade in Asia and worldwide.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geology
Nicholas R. Longrich, David M. Martill, Megan L. Jacobs
Summary: The Lower Cretaceous in England has yielded a diverse assemblage of dinosaurs, including ornithischians, sauropods, and theropods. A newly discovered dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Vectiraptor greeni, from the Isle of Wight shows similarities to Early Cretaceous eudromaeosaurs from North America, suggesting faunal interchange between Europe and North America. The Early Cretaceous dinosaur assemblage in England and Europe resulted from dispersal from North America, Asia, and West Gondwana.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hans-Dieter Sues, Alexander Averianov, Brooks B. Britt
Summary: The Upper Cretaceous Bissekty Formation in Uzbekistan has yielded various non-avian theropod dinosaur remains, including a large dromaeosaurid and a neovenatorid carcharodontosaurian named Ulughbegsaurus uzbekistanensis. However, the classification of Ulughbegsaurus uzbekistanensis remains uncertain due to the lack of definitive diagnostic features. Furthermore, a giant dromaeosaurid and a medium-sized tyrannosauroid called Timurlengia euotica coexisted in the same formation.
GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE
(2023)
Article
Geology
Federico A. Gianechini, Virginia L. Zurriaguz
Summary: The study reveals the presence of pneumatic foramina in the vertebrae of the Unenlagia comahuensis, a southern dromaeosaurid theropod, which differs from extant birds and many non-avian theropods. CT scans showed camellate tissue in the centra, consisting of small chambers separated by thin trabeculae. This information contributes to a better understanding of the evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in theropods.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geology
Melani Berrocal-Casero, Maria Rosario Alcalde-Fuentes, Julia Audije-Gil, Paloma Sevilla
Summary: The Vadillos-1 site in the North of the Cuenca Province, Spain, is a paleontological site that provides significant data on the European Barremian record and the geographic distribution of dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Steven E. Jasinski, Robert M. Sullivan, Aja M. Carter, Erynn H. Johnson, Sebastian G. Dalman, Juned Zariwala, Philip J. Currie
Summary: Dineobellator notohesperus, a recently described dromaeosaurid from the late Cretaceous of the southwestern United States, exhibits unique physical attributes and pathologic features. Its presence reveals physical variation among dromaeosaurids and suggests the coexistence of multiple dromaeosaurids in its environment.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher R. Noto, Domenic C. D'Amore, Stephanie K. Drumheller, Thomas L. Adams
Summary: The poorly studied terrestrial fossil record of the mid-Cretaceous interval in North America has been enhanced by recent focus on fossil localities in the western United States. The Woodbine Group in Texas, a recently separated deposit from its western counterparts, has yielded a rich variety of vertebrate remains from the Cenomanian age. Discovery of non-avian theropod material in this deposit provides valuable insights into the faunal diversity and ecosystem dynamics during this time period.
Article
Paleontology
Lukasz Czepinski
Summary: The discovery of numerous dromaeosaurid taxa in the Gobi Desert has raised questions about niche partitioning among closely related species. This study describes a partial skull of a dromaeosaurid specimen from the Baruungoyot strata, which can be attributed to the velociraptorine Shri devi. The skull confirms its affinity with Velociraptor mongoliensis, but shows distinctive features and a convergence with North American eudromaeosaurians.
ACTA PALAEONTOLOGICA POLONICA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Natan Santos Brilhante, Taina Constancia de Franca, Fabiano Castro, Leandro Sanches da Costa, Philip J. Currie, Sergio Alex Kugland de Azevedo, Rafael Delcourt
Summary: A dromaeosaurid-like pedal ungual fossil was discovered in the Upper Cretaceous formation in southern France, showing similarities with the known Pyroraptor olympius specimen.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andres Santos-Cubedo, Carlos de Santisteban, Begona Poza, Sergi Meseguer
Summary: A new spinosaurid genus and species, Protathlitis cinctorrensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on fossil remains from the Arcillas de Morella Formation in Spain. This discovery reveals a previously unknown diversity of medium-to-large bodied spinosaurid dinosaurs in the Iberian Peninsula during the Early Cretaceous. It also suggests that spinosaurids appeared in Laurasia and later migrated to Africa and Asia where they diversified.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Min Wang, Thomas A. Stidham, Zhiheng Li, Xing Xu, Zhonghe Zhou
Summary: The study describes a new enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous in China, revealing the components of cranial kinesis and highlighting the highly modular and mosaic evolution of avialan skulls. Early birds not only had major innovations in their locomotor system, but also evolved highly derived skulls.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
A. O. Averianov, A. V. Lopatin
Summary: This passage describes two isolated metatarsals (III and IV) of theropod dinosaurs from the Bostobe Formation in Kazakhstan, which are assigned to the families Caenagnathidae and Dromaeosauridae respectively. The metatarsal III provides evidence of the presence of oviraptorosaurs in the dinosaur assemblage from the Bostobe Formation and has a similar morphology to Elmisaurus rarus from the Maastrichtian of Mongolia. The metatarsal IV is characterized by a lateral crest, which is only known in Velociraptor mongoliensis from the Campanian of Mongolia.
DOKLADY EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Albert G. Selles, Bernat Vila, Stephen L. Brusatte, Philip J. Currie, Angel Galobart
Summary: The end-Cretaceous European archipelago was home to a unique fauna of dinosaurs and vertebrates, some of which were dwarves or had features related to their insular habitats. A new study in Spain has identified a new genus and species of theropod dinosaur, Tamarro insperatus, which may have migrated from Asia to reach the Ibero-Armorican island during the Maastrichtian dispersal events. This theropod shows unique characteristics, such as a distinguishing foramen, setting it apart from other troodontids.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Ryuji Takasaki, Anthony R. Fiorillo, Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig, Yoshinori Hikida
Summary: This study re-examines a specimen from the lower Campanian Osoushinai Formation in Japan and identifies it as a new taxon, Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus gen. et sp. nov. It demonstrates unique characteristics in the metacarpal I and unguals. The study also reveals an evolutionary trend in ungual shape and suggests the adaptation of therizinosaurs to coastal environments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gregory F. Funston, Mark J. Powers, S. Amber Whitebone, Stephen L. Brusatte, John B. Scannella, John R. Horner, Philip J. Currie
Summary: Tyrannosaurids were dominant carnivores in Late Cretaceous Laurasia, but little is known about their early developmental stages. Recent discoveries of embryonic fossils provide new insights into the early growth of these dinosaurs. The findings shed light on the previously unknown aspects of tyrannosaurid development.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Frank J. Tulenko, Peter D. Currie
Summary: The transition from fins to limbs has long been a topic of fascination for evolutionary biologists, and a recent study on teleost fins sheds new light on the potential for limb-like skeletal patterns. This research offers insights into the evolutionary processes of proximo-distal patterning.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dhanushika Ratnayake, Phong D. Nguyen, Fernando J. Rossello, Verena C. Wimmer, Jean L. Tan, Laura A. Galvis, Ziad Julier, Alasdair J. Wood, Thomas Boudier, Abdulsalam I. Isiaku, Silke Berger, Viola Oorschot, Carmen Sonntag, Kelly L. Rogers, Christophe Marcelle, Graham J. Lieschke, Mikael M. Martino, Jeroen Bakkers, Peter D. Currie
Summary: Through muscle injury models in zebrafish, it has been found that specific macrophage populations 'dwell' within the injury site, providing a transient niche for stem cell proliferation. The signals released by these macrophages directly stimulate stem cell proliferation, governing the repair process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sanna Holm-Alwmark, Carl Alwmark, Ludovic Ferriere, Matthias M. M. Meier, Sofie Lindstrom, Gavin G. Kenny, Emma Sheldon, Gunter Schweigert, Christoph Spotl, Martin J. Whitehouse, Beda A. Hofmann
Summary: The study investigates a distant impact ejecta layer near Bernhardzell in Switzerland, providing evidence of its impact-related nature through analysis of shocked quartz grains and U-Pb dating of zircon grains. The age and origin of the Blockhorizont are constrained through these analyses, consistent with deposition as distal impact ejecta from the Ries impact structure in Germany. The observations help constrain models of impact ejecta emplacement and highlight the preservation of the Ries ejecta as a significant event in Earth's history.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geology
Steven D. Andrews, Henrik Nohr-Hansen, Pierpaolo Guarnieri, Karen Dybkjaer, Sofie Lindstroem, Peter Alsen
Summary: The structural relationships and distribution changes of Permian to Late Cretaceous strata in East Greenland are significant for regional paleogeographic reconstructions and exploration, indicating further understanding of the tectonic evolution in the area.
Article
Paleontology
Mark J. Powers, Matteo Fabbri, Michael R. Doschak, Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar, David C. Evans, Mark A. Norell, Philip J. Currie
Summary: Eudromaeosauria, a group of derived dromaeosaurids, has a controversial evolutionary history. This study used computed tomography to analyze the maxillae of Acheroraptor, Atrociraptor, and Deinonychus, comparing them with other Eudromaeosauria species from Asia and North America. Through improved morphometric characters and phylogenetic analysis, three well-defined clades within Eudromaeosauria were identified, supporting the fossil record's occurrence data.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Lars B. Clemmenseno, Sofie Lindstrom, Octavio Manuse, Malte Mau, Jesper Milano, Dennis Kent
Summary: The Kap Stewart Group in central East Greenland, traditionally considered a continental unit, is now believed to have experienced marine influence based on new findings of plesiosaur bone remains. The bonebearing sandstone layer in the Rhaetelv Formation of the group can be dated back to the Hettangian period, around 200 million years ago. This discovery provides a numerical age constraint for a previously poorly dated succession.
Article
Paleontology
Erik Isasmendi, Angelica Torices, Jose Ignacio Canudo, Philip J. Currie, Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola
Summary: A total of 227 theropod teeth have been recovered from the Lano site, making it the richest and most diverse latest Cretaceous theropod site in Europe. The sample includes medium to large abelisaurids, small coelurosaurians, and a large terrestrial bird. The findings suggest multiple dispersal events of theropods during the Cretaceous, resulting in a mixture of European endemic, Asiamerican, and Gondwanan forms.
PAPERS IN PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Natan Santos Brilhante, Taina Constancia de Franca, Fabiano Castro, Leandro Sanches da Costa, Philip J. Currie, Sergio Alex Kugland de Azevedo, Rafael Delcourt
Summary: A dromaeosaurid-like pedal ungual fossil was discovered in the Upper Cretaceous formation in southern France, showing similarities with the known Pyroraptor olympius specimen.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
James O. Farlow, Dan Coroian, Philip J. Currie, John R. Foster, Jordan C. Mallon, Francois Therrien
Summary: Counts of skeletal specimens suggest that large theropods were more abundant relative to big herbivores than expected. Models indicate that the population density of large theropods may have been higher than estimates based on modern carnivores. In addition to other factors, large theropods likely included non-megaherbivore dinosaurs as significant components of their diet.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joe Scibiorski, Daniel Peyrot, Sofie Lindstrom, Adam Charles, David Haig
Summary: This paper presents a major review of the taxonomy and position in conifer evolution of the Enzonalasporites group. New data and interpretations on the morphology, ornamentation, and ultrastructure of key species are provided, and the taxonomy of the group is revised based on these findings. The study also discusses the importance of these pollen grains in understanding the paleoecology and paleobiogeographic distribution of the Late Triassic period.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bryan R. S. Moore, Mathew J. Roloson, Philip J. Currie, Michael J. Ryan, R. Timothy Patterson, Jordan C. Mallon
Summary: This study reconstructs the appendicular muscle structure of the pachycephalosaur Stegoceras validum using its skeleton. It reveals that the forelimb musculature is conservative while the pelvic and hind limb musculature is more derived, indicating a stronger and more stable structure that would have been advantageous for head-butting contests.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Steven E. Jasinski, Robert M. Sullivan, Aja M. Carter, Erynn H. Johnson, Sebastian G. Dalman, Juned Zariwala, Philip J. Currie
Summary: Dineobellator notohesperus, a recently described dromaeosaurid from the late Cretaceous of the southwestern United States, exhibits unique physical attributes and pathologic features. Its presence reveals physical variation among dromaeosaurids and suggests the coexistence of multiple dromaeosaurids in its environment.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sungjin Lee, Yuong-Nam Lee, Philip J. Currie, Robin Sissons, Jin-Young Park, Su-Hwan Kim, Rinchen Barsbold, Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar
Summary: Streamlining the body is crucial for aquatic animals to move efficiently in water. We report a new theropod dinosaur specimen from Mongolia that has a streamlined body, suggesting independent evolution of such body shape in different lineages of theropod dinosaurs.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Philip J. Currie
Summary: Dinosaurs have been of interest to scientists and the public since 1824, but interest has increased since the 1960s. This has led to more dinosaur discoveries, museums and parks displaying dinosaurs, publications, and research on dinosaurs. It is now recognized that modern birds are descendants of dinosaurs. Technological improvements have revealed new facts about their biology. There is still much more to be learned!
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Lars B. Clemmenseno, Sofie Lindstrom, Octavio Manuse, Malte Mau, Jesper Milano, Dennis Kent
Summary: The discovery of plesiosaur bone remains in the Rhaetelv Formation of the Kap Stewart Group in central East Greenland suggests a period of marine influence. By dating the bone-bearing sandstone bed to approximately 200 million years ago, this study provides the first numerical age constraint for this previously poorly dated succession.
