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The upper Stormberg Group of Lesotho has an abundant and diverse ichnological record that dates to the Early Jurassic. Herein, we re-evaluate a known ichnosite in the lowermost Clarens Formation (Karoo Supergroup) at Tsikoane in northern Lesotho. The site was reported to preserve tridactyl tracks as natural casts in the ceiling of overhangs and true track impressions on a fallen sandstone block. At least three track-bearing palaeosurfaces, associated with horizontally laminated sandstones and desiccated green mudstones, can be traced over a distance of 250 m. Associated with one of the track-bearing palaeosurfaces, discrete, U-shaped, cross-sectional structures are interpreted as a series of natural casts, surface tracks, true tracks and undertracks. Although the Tsikoane tracks were historically assigned to a single ichnogenus, later synonymised with Grallator, our findings show a higher diversity of tridactyl ichnites, with tracks that have Kayentapus-like and Eubrontes-like features in addition to previously recognised Grallator-like features. These new findings, within their high-resolution sedimentological context, improve the understanding of theropod palaeodiversity and palaeoecology in southern Africa during a crucial period in dinosaur history marked by increases in both abundance and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Sivameryx (Cetartiodactyla: Anthracotheriidae), found in both Asia and Africa, is considered of Asian origin. Recent excavations in the Negev region of southern Israel led to the discovery of a new early Miocene site called Kamus Junction. Among the fossils recovered at Kamus Junction is an upper molar of Sivameryx palaeindicus. Although known species of Sivameryx have often been distinguished by size, comparisons of the new specimen with known Sivameryx teeth from Asia and Africa emphasize the need for caution when assigning Sivameryx fossils to species based on size alone. This record of Sivameryx highlights the importance of the Levant as a corridor connecting Eurasia and Africa. The new find, along with other recent finds, demonstrates that the Levantine Corridor facilitated faunal dispersal events that shaped modern biotas as early as the early Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-preserved braincase of the basal alligatoroid Diplocynodon tormis was found in the middle Eocene site of 'Teso de la Flecha,' Salamanca, Spain. The specimen was scanned using computed tomography (CT), and its inner cavities were digitally rendered in three dimensions. Most bones of the left side are missing, so the reconstruction was based mainly on the right half of the braincase. The endocast of the brain cavity, nerves, part of the inner ear, and blood vessel canals was reconstructed, as well as a complex network of air-filled cavities around the hindbrain formed by the median pharyngeal sinus and pharyngotympanic sinus systems. Inner cavities of the skull are considered to be conservative structures. The comparison of this specimen with several extant crocodilians (Alligatoroidea, Crocodyloidea, and Gavialoidea) allows us to identify a neuroanatomical evolutionary pattern that matches current phylogenetic hypotheses. All internal cavities of the braincase of Diplocynodon are similar to those of other studied eusuchians, with some noteworthy differences in shape and size, particularly regarding the cerebrum and the paratympanic sinus system. Diplocynodon tormis shows a combination of alligatoroid synapomorphies and crocodylian symplesiomorphies in its internal cavities, consistent with its phylogenetic placement as a basal alligatoroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Gondwana, Early Jurassic dinosaur track sites are especially concentrated in Lesotho. Despite intensive investigations during the third quarter of the twentieth century, a limited number of vertebrate track sites of this country have been studied with rigorous ichnological and sedimentological methodology. Here, we present a previously mentioned, but undescribed track site in the upper Elliot Formation (Hettangian?) of Lesotho, located near Roma (at Lephoto dam). Two tridactyl ichnite morphologies, made by bipedal vertebrate trackmakers are recognised. The first can be identified asGrallator-like, an ichnotaxon common in the Lower Jurassic of both Laurasia and Gondwana that can be attributed to small and medium-size theropod dinosaurs. In contrast, the second ichnite type is reminiscent ofTrisauropodiscus, which is a rare ichnotaxon that resembles tracks of small birds and is known with certainty in Lesotho from only a few places. We suggest that at our upper Elliot Formation study site,Trisauropodiscuswas potentially made by a heterodontosaurid ornithischian dinosaur. Our work provides further evidence that the ichnological record of the Stormberg Group of southern Africa is in a unique position to shed light not only on Early Jurassic biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironments but also on the biodiversity and palaeobiology of early dinosaurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subfamily Ctenodactylinae is known from the Early Miocene to the present. Today this group comprises five species, restricted to north and east equatorial areas in Africa. However, in Miocene times the ctenodactylines experienced their greatest diversification and widest distribution, from Asia, their land of origin, to Africa, which they entered during the Middle Miocene at the latest. So far 24 species can be referred to this group: Ctenodactylus gundi, C. vali, Massoutiera mzabi, Felovia vae, Pectinator spekei, Pellegrinia panormensis, Sayimys obliquidens, S. baskini, S. giganteus, S. assarrarensis, S. intermedius, S. sivalensis, Metasayimys curvidens, Africanomys pulcher, A. major, A. minor, A. kettarati, Irhoudia bohlini, I. robinsoni, Pireddamys rayi, Sardomys dawnsonae, S. antoniettae, Akzharomys mallos and Prosayimys flynni. A cladistic analysis involving all of the above-mentioned species has been carried out. P. flynni emerged as the most basal species of the ingroup. The genus Sayimys did not appear monophyletic. This analysis also provided information on the origin not only of the African ctenodactylines, found to be the Indian subcontinent, but also the origin of European ctenodactylines: Asiatic for Sardinian species, African for Sicilian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]