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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caleb M. Brown, Darren H. Tanke, David W. E. Hone
Summary: Mammalian carnivores utilize prey bones to a higher degree than non-avian theropod dinosaurs, as shown by differences in tooth mark frequency and morphology. An isolated adult-sized hadrosaurid pedal ungual from the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta exhibits unique bite marks from a small- to medium-sized theropod dinosaur, potentially suggesting late-stage carcass consumption behavior similar to mammalian gnawing.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip D. Mannion, Emanuel Tschopp, John A. Whitlock
Summary: Sauropod dinosaurs were abundant and diverse in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the USA, with some authors questioning the validity of certain species. However, there is no evidence to suggest that any recognized Morrison sauropod species are ontogimorphs. Anatomical features of subadult sauropods do not drastically change as they approach maturity, and the taxonomic affinities of these individuals are not substantially misinterpreted.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Jeffrey F. DiBerto, Bryan L. Roth
Summary: Psilocybin has been shown to have potentially rapid and enduring antidepressant effects. A study in Neuron demonstrates that psilocybin quickly induces dendritic spine formation in cortical layer V pyramidal neurons, providing a potential cellular mechanism for its therapeutic actions.
Article
Biology
Xi Yao, Paul M. Barrett, Lei Yang, Xing Xu, Shundong Bi
Summary: This study describes a new taxon of early armored dinosaurs from the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation of Yunnan Province, China. The taxon is distinguished by numerous unique cranial and postcranial features, and phylogenetic analysis suggests it may be closely related to Emausaurus or the clade Scelidosaurus+ Eurypoda. This discovery confirms the rapid geographic spread and diversification of thyreophorans after their first appearance in the Early Jurassic, and reveals previously unrealized morphological diversity.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Li -Da Xing, Martin G. Lockley, Bo-Lin Tong, Hendrik Klein, Chang Liu, W. Scott Persons
Summary: This study re-examined a previously partially lost tracksite in the Santai Formation of Shandong Province, China. New excavations revealed additional pterosaur tracks and a possible deinonychosaurian track. The age of the Santai Formation is controversial, but it is likely Late Jurassic, and the pterosaur tracks may be older than previously reported.
JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY-ENGLISH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sita Manitkoon, Uthumporn Deesri, Bouziane Khalloufi, Thanit Nonsrirach, Varavudh Suteethorn, Phornphen Chanthasit, Wansiri Boonla, Eric Buffetaut
Summary: An exceptionally well-preserved skeleton of a new basal neornithischian dinosaur, named Minimocursor phunoiensis gen. et sp. nov., was discovered in Thailand. This dinosaur exhibits both primitive and advanced characteristics resembling those of small-bodied ornithischians from China during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. The study contributes to a better understanding of the early evolution and taxonomic diversity of ornithischians in Southeast Asia.
Article
Paleontology
Phil R. Bell, Christophe Hendrickx
Summary: The study reveals previously unseen diversity in the epidermal covering of the theropod Juravenator starki, with distinctive scale patterns and suggestion of integumentary sense organs. The research also indicates that the scutate scales on the underside of the tail may have served a role related to mechanical protection rather than locomotion. The complexity of squamous integument in Juravenator is highlighted, suggesting potential for further inquiry into the taxonomic and biological importance of epidermal structures in non-avian theropods.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Facundo Riguetti, Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, Denis Ponce, Leonardo Salgado, Sebastian Apesteguia, Sebastian Rozadilla, Victoria Arbour
Summary: This study reviews the most representative ankylosaurian remains from the Allen Formation in Argentina and proposes a new species, Patagopelta cristata, with unique anatomical features. These findings support a palaeobiogeographical context of ankylosaurs migrating into South America during the late Campanian as part of the First American Biotic Interchange.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sven Sachs, Daniel Madzia, Ben Thuy, Benjamin P. Kear
Summary: The emergence of gigantic pliosaurid plesiosaurs in the early-Middle Jurassic reshaped the trophic structure of marine ecosystems and led to the decline of coeval large-bodied rhomaleosaurid plesiosaurs. The appearance of these macropredatory pliosaurids may have been influenced by regional faunal turnover and was accompanied by the global extinction of other higher trophic-level marine reptiles.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Sergio Sanchez-Fenollosa, Francisco J. Verdu, Alberto Cobos
Summary: During the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous, Ankylopollexia, a diversified clade of ornithopods, was abundant in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, the relationships among the basal ankylopollexians remain poorly understood. A new ankylopollexian ornithopod genus and species, Oblitosaurus bunnueli, is described based on fossil remains found in the Villar del Arzobispo Formation. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Oblitosaurus bunnueli and Draconyx loureiroi are the basalmost members of Ankylopollexia. This discovery increases our understanding of ankylopollexian diversity in Iberia and provides taxonomic implications for the genus Camptosaurus.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junki Yoshida, Atsushi Hori, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Michael J. Ryan, Yuji Takakuwa, Yoshikazu Hasegawa
Summary: Goniopholididae is a group of basal neosuchian crocodyliforms closely related to Paralligatoridae and Eusuchia, with key features in early crocodylian body plan evolution and aquatic adaptation. The discovery of a new species, Amphicotylus milesi, sheds light on the acquisition of a new respiratory system in crocodyliform evolution and early aquatic adaptation, leading to modern crocodylians.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Serafini, Davide Foffa, Mark T. Young, Giacomo Friso, Miriam Cobianchi, Luca Giusberti
Summary: Despite being rare and fragmentary, the aquatic crocodylomorphs from the Rosso Ammonitico Veronese (RAV) of Italy have attracted interest for centuries. This study presents a comprehensive revision of the thalattosuchian record from the RAV, including new metriorhynchoid specimens from the Middle Jurassic. The revised record suggests an early origin and fast colonization of the open-ocean environment by Metriorhynchoidea.
Article
Biology
S. Lyons, S. Baeckens, S. Van Wassenbergh
Summary: The study shows that the ability of woodpeckers to move their upper beak in relation to the braincase is important for tasks like feeding and singing. Contrary to previous beliefs, woodpeckers' cranial kinesis is not constrained and differs significantly from other closely related species. These findings suggest that pecking behavior significantly influences how cranial kinesis is manifested in woodpeckers.
Article
Zoology
J. M. Barends, B. Maritz
Summary: The study compared the morphologies of specialist and generalist competitors, revealing that relatively smaller head size facilitates the consumption of bird eggs, and there is a positive relationship between head size and dietary niche breadth within snake species.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davide Foffa, Emma M. Dunne, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Richard J. Butler, Nicholas C. Fraser, Stephen L. Brusatte, Alexander Farnsworth, Daniel J. Lunt, Paul J. Valdes, Stig Walsh, Paul M. Barrett
Summary: The early Late Triassic reptile Scleromochlus taylori was hypothesized to be closely related to pterosaurs, but its poor preservation has led to controversy over its identification. This study uses microcomputed tomographic scans to accurately reconstruct Scleromochlus and identify it as a close relative of pterosaurs within Pterosauromorpha.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma M. Dunne, Alexander Farnsworth, Roger B. J. Benson, Pedro L. Godoy, Sarah E. Greene, Paul J. Valdes, Daniel J. Lunt, Richard J. Butler
Summary: The rise of dinosaurs as dominant components in terrestrial ecosystems was a significant event in the history of life. The drivers of their early evolution and diversity, however, remain poorly understood. This study suggests that the expansion of dinosaurs' distribution and abundance may have been driven by both opportunistic factors, such as the extinction of co-occurring species, and changes in global climatic distributions during the Triassic to Jurassic transition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Romy R. Rayner, Richard J. Butler, Christian F. Kammerer, Jonah N. Choiniere
Summary: The Burgersdorp Formation in South Africa is a fossil-rich rock sequence known for its abundant Early-Middle Triassic vertebrate remains. This study identified a specimen previously referred to Cricodon as a new taxon named Guttigomphus avilionis. The phylogenetic analysis placed Guttigomphus as a basal member of Trirachodontidae.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Edina Prondvai, Richard J. J. Butler
Summary: Radial porosity profiles (RPP) are a new parameter in osteohistology that capture the changes in limb bone porosity through development, revealing insights into skeletal growth and functional development in vertebrates. This study investigates RPPs in pheasants, pigeons, and ducks, and finds that RPP channelization correlates with drastic locomotor transitions in volant birds. The study also suggests that RPPs can be used in paleobiology to study the ontogeny and evolution of flight in fossil birds and pterosaurs.
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kirsty M. M. Edgar, Lewis Haller, Daniel D. D. Cashmore, Emma M. M. Dunne, Richard J. J. Butler
Summary: Dinosaur tracks are an important tool for understanding the ecology and distribution of dinosaurs. The UK has a rich history of dinosaur track discoveries, and this new dataset shows a close correlation between the distribution of sediments and the preservation of dinosaur tracks. The track record reveals similar patterns to the body fossil record, but also provides unique insights into dinosaur communities and shows a trend towards higher numbers of tracks over time.
JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Gemma Louise Benevento, Roger B. J. Benson, Roger A. Close, Richard J. Butler
Summary: The extinction of non-avian dinosaurs led to the diversification of placental mammals, with increases in diversity observed in all body size classes. Small-bodied mammals experienced similar diversity increases to larger species, likely due to greater access to resources and finer resource partitioning. The extinctions and ecological changes during the Late Cretaceous and across the K/Pg boundary contributed to this diversification.
Article
Geology
Kirsty M. Edgar, Luke E. Meade, Harry T. Jones, Lewis Haller, Sam Scriven, Christopher Reedman, Richard J. Butler
Summary: Spyway Quarry in Dorset is the largest easily accessible UK dinosaur tracksite, with over 100 tracks made by sauropod dinosaurs. The trackway surface has undergone changes over time due to natural processes, resulting in the reduction of track prominence. Visitor data indicates an annual visitation of approximately 10,000 people, with potential improvements suggested for visitor directions and information. Our study emphasizes the importance of using 3D imaging techniques for documenting and preserving site legacies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Enrique Penalver, David Peris, Sergio Alvarez-Parra, David A. Grimaldi, Antonio Arillo, Luis Chiappe, Xavier Delclos, Luis Alcala, Jose Luis Sanz, Monica M. Solorzano-Kraemer, Ricardo Perez-de la Fuente
Summary: Extant terrestrial vertebrates, including birds, have symbiotic relationships with insects and arachnids, but arthropod-vertebrate symbioses in the fossil record are rarely found. In this study, direct and indirect evidence of beetles feeding on feather remains from an undetermined theropod host 105 million years ago is presented. An exceptional amber assemblage was found, including beetle larval exuviae associated with feathers, along with additional amber pieces containing isolated larval exuviae. The morphological and taphonomic data suggest that these beetle larval exuviae belonged to a keratophagous species, indicating a symbiotic relationship between beetles and their Early Cretaceous relatives similar to current ecosystems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Molly J. Fawcett, Stephan Lautenschlager, Jordan Bestwick, Richard J. Butler
Summary: This study used finite element analysis to compare the functional morphology of basal pseudosuchian archosaurs with the stress distribution of post-Triassic theropod dinosaurs. The results showed some degree of functional convergence, but also revealed that the basal loricatan Saurosuchus had a weaker bite force and likely consumed softer parts of carcasses. This finding highlights the functional diversity of basal pseudosuchians and the functional differences between Triassic and post-Triassic apex predators.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Richard J. Butler, Luke E. Meade, Terri J. Cleary, Kai T. Mcwhirter, Emily E. Brown, Tom S. Kemp, Juan Benito, Nicholas C. Fraser
Summary: The fissure fill localities in southwest England and South Wales have yielded diverse small-bodied tetrapod assemblages from the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period. However, the age of the fissures and the origin of these assemblages are still debated. A new species of procolophonid, named Hwiccewyrm trispiculum gen. et sp. nov., has been discovered in the Cromhall fissure. This species shares similarities with Late Triassic procolophonids from Scotland, Brazil, and North America, but also has unique characteristics.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Davide Foffa, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Richard J. Butler, Stephen L. Brusatte, Stig Walsh, Nicholas C. Fraser, Paul M. Barrett
Summary: Scleromochlus taylori, a reptile from the Lossiemouth Sandstone Formation in Scotland, has been the subject of much debate due to the poor preservation of its fossils. Using microcomputed tomographic techniques, this study provides a detailed description of the animal's anatomy and highlights previously unknown features. The findings reveal that Scleromochlus taylori retains primitive characteristics of archosaurs, while also showing similarities to pterosauromorphs, shedding light on the origin of pterosaurs.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmed Oussou, Peter L. Falkingham, Richard J. Butler, Khadija Boumir, Driss Ouarhache, Kawtar Ech-charay, Andre Charriere, Susannah C. R. Maidment
Summary: In addition to bone fossils, fossil tracks and trackways provide valuable insights into dinosaur paleobiology. This article reports on three new tracksites from the Imilchil area in Morocco, which contain tracks made by different types of dinosaurs, including sauropods, theropods, ornithopods, and potentially bird-like non-avian theropods. The authors also created three-dimensional digital models of the track sites using photogrammetry. These new tracksites contribute to our understanding of dinosaur-substrate interactions and enrich the existing record of faunal ichnoassemblages in the High Atlas Mountains and North Africa.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin D. Ezcurra, Saswati Bandyopadhyay, Dhurjati P. Sengupta, Kasturi Sen, Andrey G. Sennikov, Roland B. Sookias, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Richard J. Butler
Summary: Proterosuchidae represents the earliest significant diversification of Archosauromorpha and is crucial in understanding the recovery of life after the end-Permian mass extinction. Recent revisions have confirmed the presence of new Proterosuchidae species, including Samsarasuchus pamelae, in the Panchet Formation in India, expanding the taxonomic diversity of Proterosuchidae.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Emma M. Dunne, Samuel E. D. Thompson, Richard J. Butler, James Rosindell, Roger A. Close
Summary: A spatially explicit mechanistic model based on neutral theory is used to explain the changes in apparent diversity in the fossil record of the late Carboniferous and early Permian, which are caused by variation in sampling intensity through time.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Davide Foffa, Sterling J. J. Nesbitt, Ben T. T. Kligman, Richard J. J. Butler, Michelle R. R. Stocker
Summary: Anisodontosaurus greeri is a small-bodied tetrapod with a heterodont dentition from the Middle Triassic. Its evolutionary relationships have been uncertain, but new data from micro-computed tomography scans suggest that it belongs to the archosauromorph clade Trilophosauridae. Comparison with other trilophosaurids reveals similarities with Variodens inopinatus, and cladistic analyses confirm the existence of two distinct lineages within Trilophosauridae. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the early evolution and distribution of trilophosaurids.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2023)