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
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
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
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
Long Cheng, Benjamin C. Moon, Chunbo Yan, Ryosuke Motani, Dayong Jiang, Zhihui An, Zichen Fang
Summary: The discovery of Pomolispondylus biani in the Early Triassic Nanzhang-Yuan'an Fauna extends the known range of Saurosphargiformes and increases taxic and ecological diversity. Despite its small size and occupying a different ecological niche compared to previously found species, the overall food web structure of this fauna is notably different from Middle Triassic and later ecosystems, suggesting it represents a transitional stage during recovery.
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qiling Liu, Tinglu Yang, Long Cheng, Michael J. Benton, Benjamin C. Moon, Chunbo Yan, Zhihui An, Li Tian
Summary: A new specimen of the predatory marine reptile Diandongosaurus from the Middle Triassic Luoping Biota in southwest China is reported, indicating recovery from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The specimen, larger than most other known pachypleurosaurs, shows affinities with Diandongosaurus acutidentatus and was predated by an unknown hunter.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Voltaire D. Paes-Neto, Marcel B. Lacerda, Martin D. Ezcurra, Tiago Raugust, Maria J. Trotteyn, Marina B. Soares, Cesar L. Schultz, Flavio A. Pretto, Heitor Francischini, Agustin G. Martinelli
Summary: This study provides a reappraisal of proterochampsid specimens from Brazil and proposes two new taxa: Pinheirochampsa rodriguesi and Kuruxuchampsa dornellesi. The new species expand the knowledge of non-archosaurian archosauriform diversity during the Middle-Late Triassic in South America and enhance comparisons between Argentina and Brazil.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Huyue Song, Shixue Hu, Michael Benton, Dayong Jiang
Summary: This article examines the end Permian to Middle Triassic interval, which witnessed a significant marine mass extinction and delayed recovery. The focus is on Triassic marine sediments in South China, providing unique documentation of the collapse and recovery of marine ecosystems. Several papers analyze different fossils and their ecological significance, while others study biostratigraphy, reconstruct paleoenvironments, and link records to volcanic eruptions.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biology
Andrzej S. Wolniewicz, Yuefeng Shen, Qiang Li, Yuanyuan Sun, Yu Qiao, Yajie Chen, Yi-Wei Hu, Jun Liu
Summary: This study reports a new species - Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis gen. et sp. nov. - from the Early Triassic of South China, representing the earliest known occurrence of the Sauropterygia clade. A phylogenetic analysis confirms saurosphargids as a part of sauropterygians, forming a clade with eosauropterygians and excluding placodonts. The classification of several Sauropterygia species from the Early and Middle Triassic, such as Atopodentatus, Hanosaurus, Majiashanosaurus, and Corosaurus, is also clarified.
Article
Paleontology
Hans-Dieter Sues, Rainer R. Schoch
Summary: Micromenodon pitti is a newly described sphenodontian reptile with unique facial features and dentition suited for processing hard arthropod exoskeletons and snail shells. It is classified as an early-diverging sphenodontian with fully acrodont tooth implantation.
JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Rodrigo Temp Mueller, Mauricio Silva Garcia, Andre de Oliveira Fonseca
Summary: This study describes a new proterochampsid with a well-preserved hind limb, which contributes to the understanding of the hind limb anatomy of this group. The new taxon exhibits unique traits that provide insights into the evolutionary origins of certain muscle attachment structures. The specimen suggests that some archosaurian features evolved earlier than previously thought, shedding light on the evolutionary context of Archosauria.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Mohd Shafi Bhat, Debajit Datta, Sanghamitra Ray, P. M. Datta
Summary: A new clevosaurid rhynchocephalian, Clevosaurus nicholasi, is discovered in the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of the Rewa Gondwana Basin in India. The study is based on multiple partial craniomandibular elements with unique features, such as acrodont and fully ankylosed tooth implantations. Phylogenetic analysis reveals the placement of Tiki rhynchocephalian within the Clevosauridae clade, suggesting its early divergence from other clevosaurs. The absence of wear facets on teeth further distinguishes Clevosaurus nicholasi. This discovery contributes to the relatively sparse Late Triassic rhynchocephalian record in Gondwana and suggests a possible Gondwanan origin for Clevosauridae.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Neil P. Kelley, Randall B. Irmis, Paige E. DePolo, Paula J. Noble, Danielle Montague-Judd, Holly Little, Jon Blundell, Cornelia Rasmussen, Lawrence M. E. Percival, Tamsin A. Mather, Nicholas D. Pyenson
Summary: The discovery of multiple specimens of the giant ichthyosaur Shonisaurus in Nevada, USA suggests that early marine tetrapods also exhibited grouping behavior, potentially linked to reproductive activity, and this behavior has existed for at least 230 million years.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jicheng Ren, Haishui Jiang, Kunpeng Xiang, Corwin Sullivan, Yongzhong He, Long Cheng, Fenglu Han
Summary: This paper describes a newly discovered basal ichthyosauromorph, Baisesaurus robustus gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Triassic of South China. The fossil specimen, collected from the Zhebao region of Baise City, represents a large ichthyosauromorph relative to previously known Chinese specimens and shares morphological similarities with Utatsusaurus hataii. It also extends the known geographic distribution of Early Triassic ichthyosauromorphs in the Guangxi Autonomous Region of China.