Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Adam J. Fitch, Merle Haas, Wayne C'Hair, Eugene Ridgley, Ben Ridgley, Devin Oldman, Crystal Reynolds, David M. Lovelace
Summary: New findings in the lower Popo Agie Formation of central Wyoming led to the reevaluation of the only known hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur in western North America. The phylogenetic analysis rejects the previous identification and suggests a close relationship between the USNM 494329 specimen and Oryctorhynchus bairdi. Additional specimens found in the same formation provide further insights into the evolutionary history of the hyperodapedontines. The Popo Agie Formation is considered significant as it represents the first nonmarine Late Triassic unit of Western North America confidently restricted to the Carnian age.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guang-Hui Xu, Qing-Hua Shang, Wei Wang, Yi Ren, Hong Lei, Jun-Ling Liao, Li-Jun Zhao, Chun Li
Summary: A new pachypleurosaurid, Luopingosaurus, with a long snout and hyperphalangy in the manus, is discovered in China, providing new insights into the evolution and biogeography of this group. The reduction of hyoid length to mandibular length ratio and the increase of snout length in pachypleurosauroids suggest a gradual recession of suction feeding. Phylogenetic analysis supports a western Tethyan origin for this family.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Artai A. Santos, Xin Wang
Summary: The study introduces a cone-like organ named Combina gen. nov., which shows similarities to carpels in angiosperms, indicating a possible connection between Triassic plants and early angiosperms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guang-Hui Xu, Yi Ren, Li-Jun Zhao, Jun-Ling Liao, Dong-Hao Feng
Summary: In this study, a new pachypleurosaurid species, Honghesaurus longicaudalis, from Yunnan, China is reported. This discovery fills the morphological gap in pachypleurosaurs and provides new evidence and insights into this group. The study also reveals the role of the Tethys Ocean in the dispersal of pachypleurosaurs from Europe to South China.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, Robert A. Coram, Michael J. Benton
Summary: Rhynchosaurs were dominant herbivores in the Middle and Late Triassic, and their successful ecological expansion and global extinction were influenced by their unique dentition. The CT scanning of Bentonyx sidensis skull revealed concealed details of their teeth, allowing us to study the tooth replacement process and understand the changes in dentition and jaw morphology as they aged.
Article
Geography, Physical
Da-yong Jiang, Min Zhou, Ryosuke Motani, Andrea Tintori, Nicholas C. Fraser, Jian-dong Huang, Olivier Rieppel, Cheng Ji, Wan-lu Fu, Zuo-yu Sun, Hao Lu
Summary: Two major evolutionary events in the early history of Mesozoic marine reptiles have been recorded in the Triassic of China. The first event was the emergence of new marine communities and their subsequent radiation in the Late Olenekian, followed by a transition from coastal to oceanic communities and the disappearance of coastal species in the Middle Triassic. These events played a crucial role in the formation of Mesozoic marine ecosystems.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Guang-Hui Xu, Xin-Ying Ma
Summary: A new fossil ginglymodian, Diandongichthys ocellatus gen. et sp. nov., is described based on well-preserved specimens from the Early-Middle Triassic marine deposits in China. It is one of the oldest and smallest ginglymodians discovered from the Middle Triassic and provides new insights into the origin and early diversification of this group.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hans-Dieter Sues, Rainer R. Schoch
Summary: We report the discovery of Rutiotomodon tytthos, the first trilophosaurid stem-archosaur from Central Europe, found in Germany. The fossils consist of two jaw fragments with distinct teeth. This finding expands the known temporal range of trilophosaurids and suggests that their diversity in dental structure and diet is greater than previously thought.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Frederick Tolchard, Roger M. H. Smith, Andrea Arcucci, Helke Mocke, Jonah N. Choiniere
Summary: The Upper Omingonde Formation in Namibia contains a new large predatory archosaur, Etjosuchus recurvidens, which adds to the diversity of tetrapod fauna in the area and shows faunal similarity to other Gondwanan ecosystems. This discovery highlights the importance of studying Middle to Late Triassic ecosystems in Gondwana.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richard J. Butler, Vincent Fernandez, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Joao Vasco Leite, David J. Gower
Summary: The Mambawakale ruhuhu fossil specimen from the Manda Beds of southwest Tanzania provides important insights into the early radiation of archosaurian reptiles. It possesses unique cranial features that distinguish it from other archosaurs in the Manda Beds, and is considered to be an early diverging pseudosuchian. It is one of the largest pseudosuchians known from the Middle Triassic.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Qianqi Zhang, Jacek Szwedo, Daran Zheng, Haichun Zhang
Summary: A new planthopper species called Sinosurijikocixius tongchuanensis gen. et sp. nov. belonging to the family Surijokocixiidae was discovered in the Tongchuan Formation in Shaanxi, NW China during the Middle Triassic period (Ladinian). The study also reviewed and compared all known taxa assigned to Surijokocixiidae. Furthermore, the paleogeographic distributional pattern of Surijokocixiidae from the middle Permian to Late Triassic was summarized.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Geography, Physical
Lorenzo Marchetti, Alberto Collareta, Matteo Belvedere, Giuseppe Leonardi
Summary: The Middle Triassic is crucial for understanding the evolution of archosaurs and the rise of Dinosauromorpha. The study of tetrapod footprints in the Quarziti del Monte Serra Formation in Italy supports a Ladinian age, with the oldest occurrences of Atreipus likely from this period, highlighting the wide dispersal of dinosauromorphs as early as the Middle Triassic.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eva Alexandra Bischof, Nils Schlueter, Dieter Korn, Jens Lehmann
Summary: Ammonoids reached their peak diversity during the Triassic period, with representatives of the Ceratitidae family dominating the early Middle Triassic stage. High taxonomic diversity may not necessarily correlate with morphological disparity, as seen in the Anisian ceratitids in Nevada. The study used geometric morphometrics to analyze ontogenetic cross-sections of ammonoids and found that developmental changes contribute to morphological diversification, challenging traditional species distinction based solely on adult characters. Additionally, the traditional nomenclatoric approach for the Anisian cephalopod assemblages in Nevada is considered reasonably accurate.
Article
Geography, Physical
Lautaro Julian Ruffo Rey, Maria Lucia Balarino, Pedro Raul Gutierrez
Summary: This study used hierarchical cluster analysis, ordination methods, and bipartite network analysis to study the phytogeographic units of the Middle-Upper Triassic of Gondwana. The results showed a clear separation between tropical and extratropical associations, and identified a microfloristic region in southwestern Gondwana that is similar to the microfloras of northern Laurasia. These findings confirm, for the first time through quantitative methods, the distinction between different microfloras.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mark W. Hounslow, Ramues Gallois
Summary: Through the study of the Middle to Upper Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group in Britain, it was found that the magnetostratigraphy of this group is compatible with that of the underlying Sherwood Sandstone Group, and the magnetostratigraphy and palynological data of the Dunscombe Mudstone Formation suggest a late Carnian to earliest Norian age. These records indicate coeval flooding events, evaporite deposits, and intervals of sand supply between the Wessex Basin and the Central European Basin in the Carnian, pointing to linked climatic and eustatic changes.
JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Thiago S. Fachini, Pedro L. Godoy, Julio C. A Marsola, Felipe C. Montefeltro, Max C. Langer
Summary: Most crocodyliforms in the Bauru Group are found in rocks of the Adamantina Formation, but the younger Manila Formation has very few such fossils. In this study, a large skull roof, labeled MPMA 02-0005/87, was found in the Marilia Formation deposits of the Monte Alto area and is assigned to a new crocodyliform species. Despite fragmented and puzzling characteristics, the new taxon shows enough distinguishing features to be placed outside of the previously known crocodyliform group, Notosuchia. Phylogenetic analysis using two data matrices confirms its position within the Neosuchia and Eusuchia groups. The size and possible neosuchian affinity of the specimen suggest a potential semi-aquatic behavior, which is rare among the predominantly terrestrial crocodyliforms of the Bauru Group.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Juan V. V. Ruiz, Gabriel S. S. Ferreira, Stephan Lautenschlager, Mariela C. C. de Castro, Felipe C. C. Montefeltro
Summary: This study investigated the craniomandibular functional morphology of the bush dog and compared it to the grey wolf and grey fox. The results showed that the bush dog's biting behavior is more similar to the wolf's, suggesting a convergent evolution in their craniomandibular functional morphology. The bush dog has relatively strong bite force and is specialized in hunting prey similar in size to itself.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Michael A. A. Taylor, Michael J. J. Benton
Summary: This article presents a previously unpublished anonymous manuscript memoir of Mary Anning's life, written by George Roberts. The evidence suggests that Roberts wrote the obituary of Anning and also painted her portrait. It is also mentioned that Henry De la Beche published another obituary of Anning.
JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shenyuan Peng, Jian Liu, Michael J. Benton, Xin Jin, Zhiqiang Shi
Summary: Abundant new dinosaur tracks were discovered at the Tianquan track site in the western Sichuan Basin, China, providing valuable information about dinosaurs from the Late Triassic. The tracks belong to small theropod dinosaurs and are dated to the mid-Norian age of 218.4 +/- 4.7 million years ago.
Article
Geography, Physical
Wen Wen, Qiyue Zhang, Juergen Kriwet, Shixue Hu, Changyong Zhou, Jinyuan Huang, Xindong Cui, Xiao Min, Michael J. Benton
Summary: Hybodont sharks were successful chondrichthyan lineages that existed from the Devonian to the Late Cretaceous. The article describes three taxa of hybodontid sharks and provides information on the tooth replacement rate in the Mesozoic of China.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Susana Gutarra, Thomas L. Stubbs, Benjamin C. Moon, Beatrice H. Heighton, Michael J. Benton
Summary: The evolution of locomotion in Mesozoic marine reptiles is characterized by two divergent paths, with a gradual increase in locomotory disparity throughout the Mesozoic. Aquatic specialization is observed in early ichthyosauromorphs, and there is overlap in morphospace between mosasauroids and ichthyosauromorphs.
Article
Paleontology
Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, Robert A. Coram, Michael J. Benton
Summary: Rhynchosaurs were dominant herbivores in the Middle and Late Triassic, and their successful ecological expansion and global extinction were influenced by their unique dentition. The CT scanning of Bentonyx sidensis skull revealed concealed details of their teeth, allowing us to study the tooth replacement process and understand the changes in dentition and jaw morphology as they aged.
Article
Geology
James Tayler, Christopher J. Duffin, Claudia Hildebrandt, Adam Parker, Michael J. Benton
Summary: The Rhaetian succession of Doniford Bay, North Somerset, a site of fossils for over 200 years, has not been described in detail. There are two bone beds, with significant differences in sedimentary and paleontological characteristics. The upper bone bed shows rich organic matter and an absence of calcite, suggesting a deeper location of deposition and differing faunal composition compared to the lower bone bed.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sukuan Hou, Qinqin Shi, Michael J. Benton, Nikos Solounias
Summary: Wang et al. (Research Articles, 3 June 2022, eabl8316) reported on a fossil of an early Miocene animal that displayed head-butting behavior, suggesting that sexual selection drove the evolution of head-neck structures in giraffoids. However, we argue that this animal is not a giraffoid, thus weakening the support for the hypothesis of sexual selection in giraffoid head-neck evolution.
Article
Ecology
Baoyu Jiang, Yiming He, Armin Elsler, Shengyu Wang, Joseph N. N. Keating, Junyi Song, Stuart L. L. Kearns, Michael J. J. Benton
Summary: The authors discovered an oviparous choristodere from the Lower Cretaceous period in northeast China, confirming the basal archosauromorph affiliation of choristoderes. Phylogenetic analyses on this specimen and other extinct and extant amniotes suggest that the ancestral amniote displayed extended embryo retention, including viviparity. The discovery of oviparity in this assumed viviparous extinct clade supports the hypothesis that extended embryo retention was the primitive reproductive mode in basal archosauromorphs.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Zichuan Qin, Chun-Chi Liao, Michael J. Benton, Emily J. Rayfield
Summary: This study investigates the functions and formation process of the hand claws of early-branching maniraptoran dinosaurs using finite element analysis and functional-space analysis. The results show distinct functional divergence among the hand claws, with early-branching ones being used for digging and late-branching ones for display. The study also confirms that most therizinosaurians were herbivores.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Zixiao Yang, Baoyu Jiang, Michael J. J. Benton, Xing Xu, Maria E. E. McNamara, David W. E. Hone
Summary: Pterosaurs displayed a wide range of body sizes, with some reaching sizes comparable to small airplanes. The growth strategies that allowed these giant pterosaurs to attain their large adult sizes are largely unknown. This study examines the wing development and performance of different pterosaur species, revealing differences in growth patterns and suggesting a shift towards enhanced parental care as a possible factor in allowing the evolution of large body sizes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhen Guo, Joseph T. Flannery-Sutherland, Michael J. Benton, Zhong-Qiang Chen
Summary: Using Bayesian analyses, this study finds that brachiopods and bivalves displayed similar large-scale trends of diversification before the Jurassic period. The extinction of major brachiopod clades during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction set the stage for the switch from brachiopods to bivalves, with high ocean temperatures post-extinction further facilitating the displacement of brachiopods by bivalves.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antonio Ballell, Bohao Mai, Michael J. Benton
Summary: Ankylosaurs were important megaherbivores in Jurassic and Cretaceous ecosystems. This study investigated the skull biomechanics and feeding function of ankylosaurs, revealing diet partitioning between different ankylosaur clades and divergent evolutionary pathways in skull biomechanics.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
