Article
Anatomy & Morphology
M. Belen von Baczko, Julia B. Desojo, David J. Gower, Ryan Ridgely, Paula Bona, Lawrence M. Witmer
Summary: In this study, several isolated braincases of the iconic aetosaur Desmatosuchus from the Placerias Quarry locality in Arizona, United States were revised, figured, and redescribed. Two species of Desmatosuchus were identified at the Placerias Quarry, with distinct differences between D. spurensis and D. smalli. Through CT scan images, three new brain endocasts were developed, revealing unique features of each species and providing insights into their neurosensory capabilities. Additionally, the presence of an ossified orbitosphenoid on the anteriormost region of the braincase among aetosaurs was discussed.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Atrayee Haldar, Sanghamitra Ray, Saswati Bandyopadhyay
Summary: A new typothoracine aetosaur species is described based on fossils found in India. The species has a discoidal carapace and asymmetrical lateral osteoderms. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a close relationship with other known species, and a possible sister taxon. This study contributes to our understanding of aetosaurs and the Late Triassic fauna in India.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Josephina Hartung, Felix J. Augustin, Panagiotis Kampouridis, Daniel J. Chure
Summary: This study describes a new trace fossil assemblage from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation in the southwest USA, revealing support for rheotaxis behavior in notostracan crustaceans and indicating they lived in an environment dominated by sheet-flow events in ephemeral river systems.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Paleontology
Andrew B. Heckert, Ricardo N. Martinez, Matthew D. Celeskey
Summary: Aetosaurs are early-diverging archosaurs with records from Argentina and Brazil. An incomplete, articulated posterior skeleton of an aetosaur resembling Aetosauroides was described from Argentina, exhibiting some differences from the recognized genus A. scagliai.
Article
Biology
Denis A. Ponce, Julia B. Desojo, Ignacio A. Cerda
Summary: This study analyzed the microstructure of the humerus, femur, and tibia of Aetosauroides scagliai and found different growth patterns and tissue structures. The study also showed that appendicular bones and osteoderms can be used to estimate age, but their accuracy varies.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
William G. Parker, William A. Reyes, Adam D. Marsh
Summary: This study examines the maximum body size of pseudosuchian archosaurs and investigates the factors influencing body size. Through the analysis of a newly discovered large specimen, it is found that the specimen has a large body size but has not yet reached skeletal maturity, which differs from smaller specimens. Furthermore, the study suggests that neurocentral suture co-ossification may be correlated with skeletal maturity in aetosaurs, while body size may not be congruent with skeletal maturity.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Voltaire D. Paes Neto, Julia B. Desojo, Ana C. B. Brust, Ana M. Ribeiro, Cesar L. Schultz, Marina B. Soares
Summary: This study describes the first braincase of the basal aetosaur Aetosauroides, revealing shared and distinct features with other aetosaurs and erpetosuchids, providing valuable phylogenetic information within Pseudosuchia relationships.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Sterling J. Nesbitt, Hans-Dieter Sues
Summary: The paper provides a detailed description of the unique early-diverging dinosaur Daemonosaurus chauliodus from northern New Mexico, USA. The taxon is believed to be at the base of dinosaurs and its unusual mix of character states has implications for character evolution in early dinosaurs.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jorge Cubo, Paul Aubier, Mathieu G. Faure-Brac, Gaspard Martet, Romain Pellarin, Idriss Pelletan, Mariana V. A. Sena
Summary: Notosuchia, a group of terrestrial crocodyliforms, have been suggested to have an erect posture, which is often associated with endothermy. However, a recent study using bone histology suggests that they were ectothermic. To investigate this further, a new study was conducted using a larger sample size and a different analysis method, which suggests that some Notosuchia species were indeed ectothermic.
Article
Paleontology
William G. Parker, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Adam D. Marsh, Ben T. Kligman, Kenneth Bader
Summary: Doswellia kaltenbachi is a long-snouted non-archosaur archosauriform from the Late Triassic of the United States, with new material discovered in Arizona for the first time. The findings strengthen the presence of this taxon during the Adamanian period and establish biogeographic links to other regions like Texas and Virginia, highlighting the similarity of North American vertebrate assemblages across different time periods.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Qvarnstrom, Martin Fikacek, Joel Vikberg Wernstrom, Sigrid Huld, Rolf G. Beutel, Emmanuel Arriaga-Varela, Per E. Ahlberg, Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki
Summary: The Triassic period was crucial for the early evolution and diversification of insects, including beetles. Through synchrotron microtomography, researchers discovered well-preserved beetle remains in a fragmentary Upper Triassic coprolite, providing important insights into insect evolution before the Cretaceous period. The findings highlight the significance of coprolites as a source of well-preserved insect remains, shedding light on insect evolution and paleoecology.
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ben T. T. Kligman, Bryan M. M. Gee, Adam D. D. Marsh, Sterling J. J. Nesbitt, Matthew E. E. Smith, William G. G. Parker, Michelle R. R. Stocker
Summary: Scientists have discovered the oldest caecilian fossil in Arizona, USA, suggesting that the origin of caecilians can be traced back to the Triassic period. These fossils reveal the tempo and mode of early caecilian morphological and functional evolution, providing new evidence supporting a single origin of caecilians with other amphibians.
Article
Paleontology
Sterling J. Nesbitt, Michelle R. Stocker, Martin D. Ezcurra, Nicholas C. Fraser, Andrew B. Heckert, William G. Parker, Bill Mueller, Saradee Sengupta, Saswati Bandyopadhyay, Adam C. Pritchard, Adam D. Marsh
Summary: Archosauromorph reptiles underwent rapid diversification, with increases in morphological and body size disparity, and expanded into new adaptive landscapes. Malersaurus is identified as an early diverging, but late-surviving, carnivorous member of Azendohsauridae within Allokotosauria. Fossils from western North America suggest that Allokotosauria had a near-global distribution from the Middle Triassic to Late Triassic.
PAPERS IN PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Szymon Gornicki, Mateusz Antczak, Adam Bodzioch
Summary: The incomplete, articulated right pes of an aetosaur from the lower bone-bearing horizon of the Krasiejow Late Triassic site is larger than any other known from among the Aetosauria. The individual bones resemble those of at least three genera, highlighting the speculative nature of taxonomical classification of isolated postcranial bones and making it impossible to assign the limb to any particular genus. The phalangeal formula suggests adaptation for digging.
ANNALES SOCIETATIS GEOLOGORUM POLONIAE
(2021)