A Nwe Hadrosauroid Dinosaur from the Mid—Cretaceous of Liaoning,China

A new hadrosauroid dinosaur,Shuangmiaosaurus gilmorei gen.et sp.nov,is descuibed based on a complete left maxilla with articulated premaxilla and lacrimal fragments,and a complete left dentary from the mid-Cretaceous Sunjiawan Formation of Beipiao.Liaoning,northeastern China.Chadistic analysis shows that Shuangmiaosaurus is a basal hadrosauroid,and comprises the sister taxon to Hadrosauridae.In both Shuangmiaosqurus and Hadrosaurids.However,Shuangmiaosaurus does not possess such hadrosaurid synapomorphies as the diamond-shaped maxillary crowns with reduced primary ridges and reduced marginal denticles.     

A new pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Santana Formation (Cretaceous) of Brazil

A partial skull comprising fused maxilla/premaxilla and palate of a ctenochasmatoid pterosaur from the Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin in NE Brazil is named as the new genus and species Unwindia trigonus gen. et sp. nov. on account of its long slender rostrum, isodonty with raised dental alveoli and dentition of seven tooth pairs restricted to the portion of the rostrum anterior to the nasoantorbital fenestra. Unwindia is assigned to the Ctenochasmatoidea, and is probably basal within the clade.     

A New Troodontid Dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China

A new troodontid dinosaur,Daliansaurus liaoningensis gen.et sp.nov.,is erected based on a nearly complete specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Beipiao City,Liaoning Province,China.This well preserved skeleton provides important new details of the anatomy for Liaoning troodontids,and gives new insight into their phylogenetic relationships and evolution.Daliansaurus is distinguished from other troodontids by an enlarged ungual on pedal digit IV,which is approximately the same size as the sickle-shaped second ungual,and is differentiated from other Liaoning troodontids by a number of characters of the skull,manus,pelvis,and hindlimb.A phylogenetic analysis recovers Daliansaurus within a subclade of Liaoning troodontids that also includes Sinovenator,Sinusonasus,and Mei.We erect a name for this group—Sinovenatorinae—and argue that it reflects a localized radiation of small-bodied troodontids in the Early Cretaceous of eastern Asia,similar to previously recognized radiations of Liaoning dromaeosaurids and avialans.As more Liaoning theropods are discovered,it is becoming apparent that small,feathered paravians were particularly diverse during the Early Cretaceous,and future work is needed to clarify how this diversity arose,which species coexisted,and how these numerous species partitioned niches.     

The first crocodyliform from the Chubut Group (Chubut Province, Argentina) and its phylogenetic position within basal Mesoeucrocodylia

A new crocodyliform specimen is presented here found in the Cerro Castaño Member of the Cerro Barcino Formation (Chubut Group). The material consists of cranial and postcranial remains that represent a new taxon that has strong affinities with Peirosauridae, but also shares derived features present in Araripesuchus. The phylogenetic relationships of this new taxon were tested through a cladistic analysis depicting it as a member of the Peirosauridae. The inclusion of Barcinosuchus within this clade of basal mesoeucrocodylians is supported by the presence of hypapophyses up to the third or fourth dorsal vertebrae, anterolateral facing edge on postorbital, quadrate dorsal surface divided in two planes by a ridge; mandibular symphysis tapering anterirorly in ventral view, lateral surface of dentary convex anterior to mandibular fenestra, distal body of quadrate well developed, anteroposteriorly thin and lateromedially broad. The new specimen broadens the temporal and geographical distribution of Peirosauridae during the Cretaceous of Gondwana, representing the southern-most and the most ancient record of the group in Patagonia. The new material also provides insights on the postcranial anatomy of peirosaurids, a group that has been so far studied almost exclusively from cranial material.     

Reassessment of Prejanopterus curvirostris,a Basal Pterodactyloid Pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Spain

Prejanopterus curvirostra, from the Early Cretaceous of La Rioja province, was the first pterosaur genus and species described from Spain. The material comprises disarticulated cranial and postcranial remains from several individuals. The fossil-bearing bed is assigned to the lacustrine Leza Formation (eastern Cameros Basin, NW margin of the Iberian Range). This unit is regarded as either Berriasian-Valanginian or Barremian-Aptian. Prejanopterus curvirostris (specific name emended) was originally diagnosed on the basis of several characters of which the most significant was a lateral curvature of the rostrum. Re-examination of the holotype (rostrum) and paratype (partial rostrum with teeth) indicates that there is no genuine sideways bend of the preserved premaxilla-maxilla segments, but a slight dorsal curvature. Prejanopterus is characterized by a unique combination of characters: an emended diagnosis is provided. In contrast with previous estimates, the wing span of Prejanopterus was probably not much (if ever) in excess of 2 m. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that Prejanopterus is a basal pterodactyloid positioned between Pterodactylus and Cycnorhamphus-Gallodactylus. Prejanopterus represents the first evidence of Pterodactylidae in the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula.     

A new, large tyrannosaurine theropod from the Upper Cretaceous of China

Tyrannosaurids are primarily gigantic, predatory theropod dinosaurs of the Cretaceous. Here we report a new member of the tyrannosaurid clade Tyrannosaurinae from the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group of Zhucheng, Shandong Province, China, based on a maxilla and associated dentary. The discovery of this animal, here named Zhuchengtyrannus magnus gen. et sp. nov., adds to the known diversity of tyrannosaurids in Asia. Z. magnus can be identified by a horizontal shelf on the lateral surface of the base of the ascending process, and a rounded notch in the anterior margin of the maxillary fenestra. Several additional features contribute to a unique combination of character states that serves to further distinguish Z. magnus from other taxa. Comparisons with other tyrannosaurids suggest that Zhuchengtyrannus was a very large theropod, comparable in size to both Tarbosaurus and Tyrannosaurus.     

A new trematochampsid crocodile from the Early Cretaceous of north-western Patagonia,Argentina and its palaeobiogeographical and phylogenetic implications

Amargasuchus minor is described from the Early Cretaceous (Neocomian, of the La Amarga Formation of northwest Patagonia (Argentina). This species possesses a moderately high and narrow snout, strong festooning, a relatively large number of maxillary teeth and a well developed antorbital fenestra, and it lacks hypertrophied teeth, a combination of characters which suggests that it belongs to the crocodile family Trematochampsidae. Amargasuchus differs, however, from Trematochampsa in several respects. These include an almost straight lateral edge of the maxilla in dorsal aspect, a different distribution of the largest teeth, a longer snout, and laterally compressed alveoli. The new material supports a Gondwanan origin of the Trematochampsidae and agrees with a new phylogenetic hypothesis which considers trematochampsids to be the ancestral group of certain lineages of ziphodont mesosuschian crocodiles.     

Iverya averyi gen.nov.and sp.nov.,a New Triadotypomorphan Species from the Middle Triassic at Picton,New South Wales,Australia

<正>A new specimen assigned to the species Iverya averyi gen.nov.and sp.nov.is described.This species is considered as a triadotypomorphan insect,a poorly known group of Triassic stem-odonatans.Like other triadotypomorphans,this species exhibits an area between MA and MP that is comparatively broad,and a cubitoanal area involving an AA stem distinct from CuA+CuP+AA emitting several posterior branches.Diagnostic character states of the new species are listed.Although incomplete,the specimen provides new information on the wing morphology of triadotypomorphans.This discovery might contribute to better assessment of the phylogenetic position of triadotypomorphan species with respect to other stem-odonatans.     

Uberabasuchus terrificus sp. nov., a New Crocodylomorpha from the Bauru Basin (Upper Cretaceous), Brazil

A new fairly complete and articulated skull of a Peirosauridae crocodylomorph from Bauru Basin (Late Cretaceous), Brazil, is described. The fossil is from a level of clayish sandstone within Serra do Veadinho sequence, Peirópolis, Uberaba County, Minas Gerais State. The sedimentary strata of Serra do Veadinho belong to the Marília Formation (Serra da Galga Member), Bauru Group, considered to be Campanian-Maastrichtian in age. The species -Uberabasuchus terrificus sp. nov. - is a peirosaurid with moderately narrow snout, large round orbits protected by supraorbital bones of triangular shape and an antorbital fenestra bounded posteriorly by a deep groove. This fossil resembles Peirosaurus tormini Price, 1955 in the size pattern of premaxillary teeth and by showing a similar wedge-like maxillary process in the premaxilla. It also shares some morphological features with the other species of the Peirosauridae, namely the crocodylomorph Lomasuchus palpebrosus Gasparini, Chiappe and Fernandez, 1991 from Argentina. Their common features comprise a moderately narrow snout and the deep lateral groove at the premaxilla and maxilla articulation for the reception of a large mandibular tooth. However, the nasal participates in the external nares and does not divide the nasal aperture, producing a “beak-like” structure at the extremity of the snout which is unique among peirosaurids. The stratigraphic setting suggests that the specimen was buried when a flash flood overflowed the shallow channels of a braided fluvial system.

Parsimony analysis of 183 morphological characters is performed for 23 crocodylomorphs. Analysis of the morphological data matrix resulted in three most parsimonious trees (374 steps, CI = 0.679; RI = 0.826). The new species is closely related to Mahajangasuchus and both, in addition to Peirosaurus and Lomasuchus, compose the Peirosauridae.     

A New Species of Huaxiapterus （Pterosauria： Pterodactyloidea） from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Liaoning, China with Comments on the Systematics of Tapejarid Pterosaurs

A new species of tapejarid pterosaur, Huaxiapterus coroUatus sp. nov. is erected on the basis of a nearly complete skull and postcranial skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China. Huaxiapterus coroUatus sp. nov. is characterized by a hatchet-shaped rectangular process on the premaxilla, whose short axis is perpendicular to the anterior margin of the premaxillae. Except for this process, other characters of the skull such as the breadth of the snout between the anterior margin of the nasoantorbital fenestra and the anterior margin of the premaxilla are similar to that of Huaxiapterus jii. Huaxiapterus and a second Chinese tapejarid, Sinopterus, share several unique cranial characters in common with Tapejara and these three genera appear to be more closely related to each other than to other azhdarchoids. The Chinese tapejarids （Sinopterus and Huaxiapterus） have relatively elongate skulls and weakly developed cranial crests and seem to be less derived than Tapejara, with its shorter, deeper skull and large cranial crest. Tupuxuarids （Tupuxuara and Thalassodromeus） have often been associated with tapejarids in the family Tapejaridae, but this relationship is controversial because some phylogenetic analyses have supported the pairing of tupuxuarids with Azhdarchidae. We propose that Tapejaridae be restricted to Tapejara, Sinopterus and Huaxiapterus.     

New Species of Enantiornithes (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from the Qiaotou Formation in Northern Hebei,China

<正>We report on a new species of enantiornithine bird from the Lower Cretaceous Qiaotou Formation of northern Hebei,China.The new taxon,Shenqiornis mengi gen.et sp.nov.,possesses several enantiornithine synapomorphies but is unique from other known species.The specimen has a well-preserved skull that reveals new information about enantiornithine cranial morphology.The new taxon possesses a large postorbital with a long tapering jugal process indicating that some enantiornithines may have had a fully diapsid skull,as in Confuciusornis.The tooth morphology of the specimen is unique and likely represents a previously unknown trophic specialization within Enantiornithes.     

Late Triassic aetosaur (Archosauria) from Krasiejów (SW Poland): new species or an example of individual variation?

An aetosaur discovery in Krasiejów (SW Poland), in Late Triassic deposits, was first described by Sulej in 2010 as a new species carrying the name Stagonolepis olenkae. However, new fossil material suggests that its taxonomical position is not as clear as was initially presumed. In the new material from the ‘Triassic’ site of Krasiejów, the typical features of Stagonolepis robertsoni, described by Walker in 1961 from the Elgin area of Scotland, were identified (i.e. frontal/prefrontal width ratio), as well as features of S. olenkae (i.e. angle between ventral edge of the maxilla and ventral edge of the antorbital fenestra). However, distinct features from both species, such as the shape of the canal at the dorsal surface of the frontal, are present. Some of the variation is similar to sexual dimorphism observed in recent amphibians and reptiles. These variations, as well as the fact that the postcranial skeleton was previously described as S. robertsoni by Lucas and co‐workers in 2007, suggest that the taxonomical affiliation of the Krasiejów aetosaur (and/or the number of aetosaur species) should be re‐considered. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

辽西热河生物群一新的巨龙型类恐龙

初步研究了辽西地区热河生物群的一具近完整的蜥脚类恐龙骨架,其代表了一新的巨龙型类恐龙——中国辽宁巨龙(Liaoningotitan sinensis gen.et sp.nov)。其主要特征为:上颌骨腹缘下凸,上颌齿列短且位于前部;颧骨前端近平齐于眶前窗的前缘;翼骨的方骨支基部收缩;上颌齿呈叠瓦状排列;上颌齿冠窄勺形,切面呈D字形,缺失唇侧沟和小锯齿;下颌齿9枚,明显小于上颌齿,排列稀松;下颌齿冠不对称,切面呈椭圆形,舌侧的沟和嵴发育,齿冠基部向舌侧膨大;肱骨近端扩展,约为长度的54.9%;肠骨前髋臼突前端较尖。初步的支序分析显示,辽宁巨龙属于巨龙型类恐龙,是比盘足龙和梁龙更为进步的类群。     

An abelisauroid dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Laurasia and its implications on theropod palaeobiogeography and evolution

We review here the phylogenetic relationships of a theropod distal end of tibia (MB. R.2351) from the Middle Jurassic Stonesfield Slate (Taunton Formation, middle Bathonian) of Oxfordshire, England. This specimen was previously described as a small basal tetanuran, but our reinterpretation suggests that it was an early member of the Abelisauroidea. The new assignment is supported by the presence of an apomorphic vertical facet for the reception of the ascending process of the astragalus, sub-rectangular anterior scar of the astragalar ascending process, median vertical ridge in the scar for the reception of the ascending process of the astragalus, and posterolateral process not distinctly offset from the lateral margin of the shaft. In particular, the Stonesfield specimen shares an overall morphology and a unique combination of apomorphies with the Middle Jurassic Australian abelisauroid Ozraptor. Nevertheless, both specimens differ in some punctual features. MB. R.2351 constitutes the oldest evidence of an abelisauroid outside Gondwana and indicates that the group had achieved a Pangean distribution during, at least, the Middle Jurassic. Thus, the initial diversification of abelisauroids would have occurred earlier than previously thought. Accordingly, the Middle and Late Jurassic Pangean distribution of abelisauroids implies that the absence of the group in Cretaceous Asiamerican assemblages would reflect a regional extinction, in which a competitive replacement with coelurosaurs (e.g. tyrannosauroids) is surely one of the hypotheses that should be tested in future studies.     

贵州关岭上三叠统卡洛维龙 (爬行动物：鱼龙类)一新种

根据采自贵州关岭上三叠统小凹组一件近乎完整的鱼龙骨架标本和一件压扁的头骨标本,笔者建立并系统描述了卡洛维龙的一个新种Callawayia wolonggangensis sp.nov.。分析和讨论了新种与Callawayia属其他种及其在关岭生物群中共生的各鱼龙属种之间的异同点,指出新种以具有发育的上颌骨上升支,窄的额骨及其与鼻骨之间宽缓的U-形接缝与该属模式种C.neoscapularis相区别。新种与关岭生物群中的Panjiangsaurus分子在头骨和四肢的一般形态特征上较为接近,但新种的鼻骨向后延伸与后额骨接触;额骨呈槽状向上颞孔方向延伸,并直接参与上颞孔前边缘的形成,以及后部顶骨脊之下具有发育的顶骨架而易于区别。另外,新种桡骨和桡侧腕骨前边缘直的特点也与Panjiangsaurus明显不同。     

A New Triassic Primitive Ichthyosaur from Yuanan, South China

Based on the systematic study of two fossil skeleton specimens collected from the top of the third member of the marine Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation of Yuanan, Hubei Province, South China, a new Early Triassic primitive ichthyosaur Chaohusaurus zhangjiawanensis sp. nov. is reported and described. The beds yielding the type material are correlated with the Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Conodont zone. The new taxon is most similar to Chaohusaurus geishanensis Young and Dong, 1972 in the shape and configuration of the scapula, forefin, pelvic girdle and hindfin, presacral vertebral count and well-developed caudal peak, but distinguished from the latter by its larger size, the position of the pineal foramen in the centre of the parietal, the occurrence of a larger calcaneum in hindfin and the first sacral rib with distal expansion. The new species exhibits common features of primitive ichthyosaurs such as: (1) the prefrontal has an antero-dorsal shelf projecting towards the orbit; (2) the upper temporal fenestra is small; (3) the postorbital and the squamosal meet laterally to the upper temporal fenestra; and (4) cylindrical centra. However, more derived ichthyosaur characters are seen with the frontal separated from the orbital dorsal margin by the contact of the prefrontal and postfrontal, which offer new clues to the early radiation of ichthyosaurs.     

A New Theropod Dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Lufeng,Yunnan, China

A new theropod dinosaur, Shidaisaurus jinae gen. et sp. nov., has been described on the basis of an incomplete skeleton. The specimen was found near the base of the Upper Lufeng Formation (early Middle Jurassic) in Yunnan, China. It is the first theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Yunnan. Shidaisaurus jinae is distinguishable from other Jurassic theropods by certain features from the braincase, axis, and pelvic girdle. The absence of any pleurocoels in the axis or in any anterior dorsal vertebrae suggests that the new Lufeng theropod is relatively primitive and more plesiomorphic than most of the Middle to Late Jurassic theropods from China. Most Chinese taxa of Jurassic theropod dinosaurs have not been well described; a further detailed study will be necessary for us to determine their phylogenetic relationships with Shidaisaurus jinae.     

New abelisaurid remains from the Anacleto Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Patagonia,Argentina

New theropod remains with abelisaurid affinities from the Upper Cretaceous (Anacleto Formation, lower Campanian), NW Patagonia, Argentina, are here described. The specimen (MPCN-PV 69) consists of a partial premaxilla, fragmentary vertebrae, proximal portion of both humeri, distal portion of the pubis, and an incomplete pedal ungual. Characters linking with Abelisauridae are a premaxilla with a subquadrangular body, externally ornamented, and paradental plates with a striated surface; and humerus with bulbous proximal head, conical internal tuberosity, and reduced greater tubercle. The humerus is similar to those of Carnotaurus and Aucasaurus, due to the presence of a bulbous head and a discontinuity between the head and the internal tuberosity, but also differs from both taxa in the more distal location of the greater tubercle with respect to the internal tuberosity. Aucasaurus also comes from Anacleto Formation, but differences in the humeri suggest that MPCN-PV 69 is a different taxon. The phylogenetic analysis performed supports the affiliation to Abelisauridae, but fails to determinate a more precise relationship with others abelisaurids. However, a majority rule consensus of the analysis shows a position within Brachyrostra. Despite being fragmentary, MPCN-PV 69 probably represents a new abelisaurid from the Anacleto Formation, thus increasing the knowledge and diversity of Late Cretaceous South American abelisaurids.