Article
Geology
Alexander O. Averianov, Alexander Sizov, Pavel P. Skutschas
Summary: Tengrisaurus starkovi, a titanosaurian sauropod from the Lower Cretaceous of Asiatic Russia, exhibits new morphological details through the discovery of an additional anterior caudal vertebra. This finding suggests a wider distribution of the Colossosauria clade ancestors in Eurasia during the Early Cretaceous.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephen F. Poropat, Philip D. Mannion, Samantha L. Rigby, Ruairidh J. Duncan, Adele H. Pentland, Joseph J. Bevitt, Trish Sloan, David A. Elliott
Summary: The discovery of a new specimen of Diamantinasaurus matildae in Queensland, Australia provides further insight into this species, including a more complete skull and partial postcranial skeleton. The skull exhibits similarities to the coeval Sarmientosaurus musacchioi from Argentina, supporting their inclusion within the clade Diamantinasauria. Additionally, plesiomorphic features suggest an early-branching position for Diamantinasauria within Titanosauria.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geology
John A. Fronimos
Summary: Osteoderms are distinctive features of Titanosauria and are not only considered armor but also mineral storage sites. A new specimen from Texas provides insights into osteoderm structure and function, revealing detailed interior morphology and potential functions of these ossified dermal elements.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephen F. Poropat, Matt A. White, Tim Ziegler, Adele H. Pentland, Samantha L. Rigby, Ruairidh J. Duncan, Trish Sloan, David A. Elliott
Summary: The Snake Creek Tracksite in the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, presents an important vertebrate ichnoassemblage, including the first sauropod tracks reported from eastern Australia. This site also preserves a small number of theropod and ornithopod tracks, as well as the first fossilised crocodyliform and possible turtle tracks reported from Australia.
Article
Geology
Jorge O. Calvo, Agustin Ramirez, Leonardo Salgado, Alejandro Otero
Summary: This study identifies and describes juvenile sauropod remains from the Upper Cretaceous Portezuelo Formation in Neuquen Province, Argentina. The fossils, including a femur and an anterior caudal vertebra, are classified as Titanosauria based on their general morphology. Despite the fragmentary condition of the material, these bones provide valuable insights into the immature stages of titanosaurs.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geology
Ignacio Cerda, Virginia Laura Zurriaguz, Jose Luis Carballido, Romina Gonzalez, Leonardo Salgado
Summary: Pellegrinisaurus powelli is a large titanosaurian sauropod from northern Patagonia, Argentina, with incomplete femur and vertebrae fossils as its holotype. The diagnostic features and phylogenetic position of this species have been reevaluated, with bone histology indicating the holotype as a subadult individual. The caudal vertebra previously attributed to Pellegrinisaurus has been reclassified as belonging to Titanosauria indet.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Matt A. White, Phil R. Bell, Nicolas E. Campione, Gabriele Sansalone, Sienna A. Birch, Joseph J. Bevitt, Ralph E. Molnar, Alex G. Cook, Stephen Wroe, David A. Elliott
Summary: Researchers report the discovery of a new crocodyliform species in Australia, with well-preserved abdominal contents containing parts of a juvenile ornithopod dinosaur. The study suggests that this crocodyliform exhibited feeding behavior similar to modern crocodylians, and provides insights into the relationship between dietary versatility and anatomical features in these reptiles.
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)
Article
Biology
Victoria M. Arbour, Lindsay E. Zanno, David C. Evans
Summary: The tail club of ankylosaurid dinosaurs was primarily used for intraspecific combat rather than defense against predators, according to a new study. The researchers found evidence of injuries consistent with ritualized combat on the flanks of the hip region, supporting the hypothesis that the tail club was a sexually selected structure. The findings suggest that ankylosaurs were behaviorally complex animals that engaged in social dominance battles.
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
Geology
Julian C. G. Silva Junior, Felipe C. Montefeltro, Thiago S. Marinho, Agustin G. Martinelli, Max C. Langer
Summary: Finite element analysis was used to evaluate the bites of two potential predators on titanosaur osteoderms, showing that the bites caused less stress on solid bone osteoderms. This supports the hypothesis that titanosaur osteoderms could have served as defensive tools beyond just mineral storage.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geology
Julian C. G. Silva Jr, Thiago S. Marinho, Agustin G. Martinelli, Luiz C. B. Ribeiro, Max C. Langer
Summary: This study describes three distinct tooth morphotypes of titanosaurs found in the Upper Cretaceous fauna of the Serra da Galga Formation in Minas Gerais, Brazil. One of the teeth represents the largest ever found, while others are possibly from juveniles. The diversity in morphology, size, and ontogenetic stages indicates a diverse titanosaurs fauna in the Serra da Galga environment.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrick S. Druckenmiller, Gregory M. Erickson, Donald Brinkman, Caleb M. Brown, Jaelyn J. Eberle
Summary: The unexpected discovery of non-avian dinosaurs in Arctic and Antarctic settings has sparked debate about their reproductive capabilities at high latitudes. The study found evidence of dinosaur reproduction in northern Alaska, suggesting nonmigratory Arctic residents with specific life history strategies.
Article
Geology
B. J. Vazquez, D. Castanera, B. Vila
Summary: In Europe, the fossil record of sauropods in the uppermost Cretaceous is mainly found in Spain, France, and Romania. Recently, a significant discovery of titanosaurs' teeth was made in Els Nerets, Spain, which contains the largest tooth sample from the Late Cretaceous in Europe. The teeth show distinct characteristics but cannot be attributed to any known European species. Based on tooth morphology and wear facets distribution, a new taxon is proposed.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Xin-Xin Ren, Shan Jiang, Xu-Ri Wang, Guang-Zhao Peng, Yong Ye, Lei Jia, Hai-Lu You
Summary: A newly discovered dinosaur, Dashanpusaurus dongi, from China represents the earliest diverging macronarian and the lowest neosauropod globally in the early Middle Jurassic. Based on biogeographic analysis and geological evidence, it is suggested that neosauropods achieved a global distribution at least in the early Middle Jurassic.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Alexander O. Averianov, Andrei S. Kurin
Summary: Bogolubovia orientalis, the first pterosaur taxon described from Russia, was initially misclassified as an azhdarchid but has now been reclassified as a pteranodontid. A second vertebra, also belonging to Bogolubovia, was discovered at the same locality. This finding confirms the validity of Bogolubovia as a distinct taxon and distinguishes it from other pteranodontids.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Pavel P. Skutschas, Veniamin V. Kolchanov, Andrey G. Sennikov, Elena Syromyatnikova
Summary: The discovery of an indeterminate crown salamander fossil in the Peski locality of the Moscow Region represents the oldest crown salamander in Eastern Europe during the Middle Jurassic.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
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
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Kirill Mansurov, Alexander Semenov, Dmitry Grigoriev, Andrei Radionov, Rustam Ibragimov
Summary: In this paper, we explore the role of self-learning agents in multi-agent models of financial markets. By developing an agent-based simulation model and introducing an agent with a self-learning strategy, we demonstrate that this model provides a better approximation of the real market compared to models with classic agents. Our results illustrate that simulation models should incorporate self-learning agents to fully understand market processes.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Zhe-Xi Luo, Thomas Martin
Summary: Henkelotherium guimarotae Krebs 1991 is an important Jurassic mammal that provides valuable information on the evolution of therian mammals. Our study focuses on previously undescribed mandibles and dentitions, and reveals important characteristics such as dental formula, timing of tooth eruption, and unique features in comparison to other mammals.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Oleg A. Lebedev, Russell K. Engelman, Pavel P. Skutschas, Zerina Johanson, Moya M. Smith, Veniamin V. Kolchanov, Kate Trinajstic, Valeriy V. Linkevich
Summary: A new species of Dunkleosteus, D. tuderensis sp. nov., was identified based on an infragnathal fossil discovered in the Tver Region of Russia. CT scanning of the holotype revealed similarities in bone composition and structure between coccosteomorph arthrodires and this new Dunkleosteus species. The study also suggested revised anatomical terminology for gnathal elements in dunkleosteid arthrodires.
Article
Geology
Roman A. Bapinaev, Lina B. Golovneva, Alexander O. Averianov, Pavel P. Skutschas
Summary: Fossils from high-latitude Mesozoic vertebrate localities provide insights into the adaptations of polar dinosaurs to months of twilight and relatively low temperatures. New hadrosaurid specimens from the Kakanaut locality in Russia were analyzed, revealing the presence of two different taxa and indicating that the dinosaurs were not significantly stressed. The research suggests that Arctic dinosaurs, like other polar dinosaurs, were year-round residents of paleopolar ecosystems.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
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
Evolutionary Biology
Thomas Martin, Julia A. Schultz
Summary: The Late Jurassic docodontan Haldanodon exspectatus from the Guimarota coal mine in Portugal provides important information on the evolution of the dental replacement pattern in mammaliaforms.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander O. O. Averianov, Thomas Martin, Alexey V. V. Lopatin, Pavel P. P. Skutschas, Dmitry D. D. Vitenko, Rico Schellhorn, Petr N. N. Kolosov
Summary: Eutriconodonta are an important group of early crown mammals. Three eutriconodontan taxa are known from the Early Cretaceous Teete vertebrate assemblage in Russia, indicating a remarkable taxonomic diversity at this locality. The coexistence of two Gobiconodon species suggests a dispersal event from Asia to North America.
Article
Paleontology
Alexander O. O. Averianov, Alexey V. V. Lopatin
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geology
Pavel P. Skutschas, Veniamin V. Kolchanov, Alexander O. Averianov, Rico Schellhorn, Petr N. Kolosov, Marc E. H. Jones, Thomas Martin
Summary: This study examines isolated incomplete salamander dentaries from the Lower Cretaceous Teete locality in Yakutia, Eastern Siberia, Russia. The findings provide evidence of the existence of small-sized salamanders in high latitudes during the Mesozoic era. The dentaries exhibit distinct morphological features and a neurovascular system similar to that of small-sized non-karaurid salamanders from the Juro-Cretaceous period.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
