Search

Cambrian Series 2 shelly fossils from thick carbonate successions in East Antarctica have received limited systematic treatment through the 20th century. Described here are the East Antarctic camenellan tommotiids from the Shackleton Limestone in the Central Transantarctic Mountains and the Schneider Hills limestone in the Argentina Range. This material comes from both newly sampled collections and incompletely described material from older collections. The assemblage supports correlation to the Dailyatia odyssei Zone and Pararaia janeae Trilobite Zone of South Australia, with the newly examined specimens of Dailyatia decobruta from the Shackleton Limestone providing direct correlation to the Mernmerna Formation of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and White Point Conglomerate of Kangaroo Island. These East Antarctic assemblages include five species referred to Dailyatia, in addition to an undetermined kennardiid species and fragments of the problematic Shetlandia multiplicata. The results further corroborate the notion that fossiliferous carbonate clasts found on King George Island were sourced from the same carbonate shelf as the Shackleton Limestone, with the taxon S. multiplicata found in both units. The Schneider Hills limestone in the Argentina Range has yielded sclerites of Dailyatia icari sp. nov., currently only known from this location. New taxa described in the preprint manuscript are not considered valid until final publication of reviewed article, according to the rules of the ICZNTitle in thesis list of papers: New and previously undescribed camenellan tommotiids From The Cambrian Series 2, Stages 3-4, East Antarctica: Biostratigraphy, palaeobiogeography, and systematics

In the last few years, the Quebrada de Los Colorados Formation has become an important middle Eocene fossiliferous unit in Northwestern Argentina. In this unit, the South American native ungulates were until now only represented by the order Notoungulata, including one family of Typotheria and three of Toxodontia. In this contribution, we present a new faunistic assemblage of South American native ungulates, collected from outcrops of the Quebrada de Los Colorados Formation at Los Cardones National Park, Calchaquí Valleys, Salta Province (Argentina). This new assemblage is constituted by the following taxa: litoptern Didolodontidae cf. Ernestokokenia sp., Astrapotheria indet., and notoungulate Notostylopidae Homalostylops sp., a ?Homalostylops sp., typothere “Oldfieldthomasiidae” Colbertia falui sp. nov., Colbertia lumbrerense, and Colbertia sp. and toxodont “Notohippidae” Pampahippus secundus. Colbertia falui sp. nov. differs from the other species of Colbertia by the following features: lower cheek teeth with both more labially angular and oblique trigonid; lower premolars more labio-lingually compressed; with proportionally larger trigonid, and shorter talonid; ectoflexid transversally deeper; lower molars with a more developed paralophid, and more expanded metalophid and entoconid; the latter is located in a more mesial position, being closer to the metaconid; deep and lingually narrower talonid basin; disto-lingual sulcus transversally shallower; more developed cingulids; and m3 with less lingually projected hypoconulid. This new fauna markedly increases the taxonomic richness known for this formation since it includes the first mention of notostylopids, “oldfieldthomasiids”, litoptern didolodontids, and astrapotheres. With the current evidence, we postulate an ungulate migration from Patagonia to Northwestern Argentina during the Eocene. We also hypothesize that the observed taxonomic differences among the Quebrada de Los Colorados, Geste, and Lumbrera formations are more probably associated to orogenic factors that have regulated the faunal dynamic in Northwestern Argentina during the Paleogene than to a differential sampling effort or taphonomic biases., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

A new gastropod genus and its type species, namely Ederazyga fanchini gen. et sp. nov., are described from the upper Rhaetian deposits of Lombardy (northern Italy) and tentatively placed into the family Zygopleuridae. The first appearance of Ederazyga is recorded in the lower Carnian deposits of Southern Alps and the stratigraphical distribution of the genus ends almost at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. Its occurrence in Norian beds of the Nayband Basin (central Iran) suggests an eastward extension of the distribution during that time. Ederazyga is probably one of the Alpine gastropod taxa appearing in this area after the formation of the basin. The genus is possibly related to a group of Early Jurassic, medium to large Zygopleura-like species that are well represented in the Sinemurian and Pliensbachian carbonate platform deposits of the Mediterranean region and in the Hettangian to Pliensbachian successions of the European epicontinental shelf. This group shows an apparent species radiation in these areas testifying to the gastropod recovery following the Late Triassic decline in biodiversity. Ederazyga fanchini is shown to be congeneric with Cerithium? lateplicatum Klipstein, 1843, which is the type species of Camponaxis Bandel, 1995. The definition and diagnosis of Camponaxis was based on specimens that are clearly different, at generic and higher taxonomic levels, from the holotype of C.? lateplicatum. They belong to a distinct species here named Camponaxis bandeli sp. nov. Several species have been subsequently ascribed to Camponaxis following its original diagnosis. Therefore, we invoke ICZN Art. 70.3.2 in order to preserve the unambiguous identity of the genus and to ensure its nomenclatural stability. Camponaxis bandeli is fixed as the new type species for Camponaxis and C.? lateplicatum is here assigned to Ederazyga.

Ammonoid soft parts have been rarely described. Here, we document the soft parts of a perisphinctid ammonite from the early Tithonian of Wintershof near Eichstätt (Germany). This exceptional preservation was enabled by the special depositional conditions in the marine basins of the Solnhofen Archipelago. Here, we document this find and attempt to homologize its parts with various organs such as the digestive tract, reproductive organs, the mantle cavity with gills, and the hyponome, with differing degrees of reservation. Alternative interpretations are also taken into account. We suggest that the soft parts were separated from the conch either taphonomically (following necrolytical processes affecting the attachment structures) or during a failed predation, where a predator (fish or coleoid) removed the soft parts from the conch but then dropped them. This find is interesting because it adds to the knowledge of ammonite anatomy, which is normally hidden in the conch. The reproductive organs show traces of what might have been spermatophores, thus supporting the hypothesis that the microconchs represented the males.

The Triassic basal sauropodomorph Plateosaurus trossingensis is well-known from mass accumulations at the German localities of Trossingen and Halberstadt and the Swiss locality of Frick, and is significant especially regarding its ta-phonomy and proposed developmental plasticity. These implications, however, rely on the assumption that this material derives from a single species, which has been questioned. Here we describe new skull material from Frick including eight complete and six partial skulls, more than doubling the number of known skulls of P. trossingensis. This exceptional sample size allows for gaining a deeper understanding of variability that may occur in a single species. The new mate-rial includes the first known juvenile skulls of Plateosaurus, allowing for detecting ontogenetic changes. An attempt is made to distinguish between variability caused by taphonomic plastic deformation and intraspecific variability. Plastic deformation may shorten, but not widen bones. A number of characters commonly included in phylogenetic analyses of basal sauropodomorphs are shown to be variable within P. trossingensis, and possibly require re-evaluation. Although P. trossingensis skulls are highly variable, many of the variable characters include intermediate character states and therefore are continuous. No groupings based on skull features, locality, or stratigraphy are apparent. Consequently, the analyzed skull material from the bonebeds of Frick, Trossingen, and Halberstadt bears no evidence for the presence of more than one species.

Foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils were studied in washed drill-cuttings of three wells from the Chilean sector of the Magallanes Basin. This contribution aims to identify, characterize and illustrate microfossil assemblages throughout the Cretaceous sedimentary record to integrate foraminiferal and the nannofossil data and improve further biostratigraphic studies in the basin. The analyzed Cretaceous succession in these wells corresponds to five discrete foraminiferal and nannofossil assemblages, which were recognized and are described here. The Valanginian–Hauterivian assemblage is characterized by a low diversity of benthic foraminifera typical of this age, like Lenticulina nodosa and Astacolus gibber, and nannofossil markers Lithraphidites bollii and Eiffellithus striatus; then, the Aptian–Albian begins with a predominance of radiolarians and transitions into a highly diverse assemblage comprising mainly gavelinellid benthics as well as abundant planktic foraminifera, which include Muricohedbergella delrioensis and M. portsdownensis, and diverse calcareous nannofossils with the marker Sollasites falklandensis. The Cenomanian can be distinguished by the presence of the nannofossil Corollithion kennedyi and also abundant planktic foraminifers; whilst the Coniacian–Campanian assemblage is characterized by planktic foraminifera like Costellagerina bulbosa, C. pilula, and Planoheterohelix reussi, as well as a diverse benthos and the nannofossil species Reinhardtites anthophorus, Eiffellithus eximius, and Eprolithus floralis. Finally, the Maastrichtian assemblage is characterized by mainly agglutinated foraminifera and few poorly preserved nannofossils. A detailed systematic list of both foraminiferal and nannofossil species is presented, intended to serve as a catalogue that will help to identify the different Cretaceous assemblages of the basin in future studies.

In the central Jura Mountains (Western Switzerland), the Urgonien Jaune (UJ) facies with the Marnes de la Russille beds (MRu) have provided very rich nannofloras associated with very rare Tethyan ammonites. A late Early Barremian nannoflora of the Mid-Barremian Event (MBE, following a regional tectonic event of an earliest Barremian synsedimentary tectonic crisis) was found in MRu of the lower UJ and includes 42 genera with 90 species. Among them,Biscutum jurensisDe Kaenel, n. sp.,Flabellites eclepensensisDe Kaenel, n. sp.,Palaeopontosphaera giraudiiDe Kaenel, n. sp.,Rhagodiscus buisensisDe Kaenel, n. sp., andVagalapilla rutledgeiDe Kaenel, n. sp., are recognized as five new species. This nannoflora is a mixture of Boreal and Tethyan taxa with 20 nannofossil markers (Assipetra terebrodentarius,Broinsonia galloisii,Calcicalathina oblongata,Cyclagelosphaera rotaclypeata,Diloma placinum,Ethmorhabdus hauterivianus,Flabellites eclepensensis,Gorkaea pseudoanthophorus,Nannoconus abundans,Nannoconus pseudoseptentrionalis,Palaeopontosphaera giraudii,Palaeopontosphaera pinnata,Placozygus howei,Placozygus reticulatus,Reinhardtites scutula,Rhagodiscus buisensis,Rhagodiscus eboracensis,Tegulalithus septentrionalis,Tubodiscus jurapelagicus,Zeugrhabdotus moulladei) indicating very precisely the nannofossil Zones LK19 (Boreal)–NC5D (Tethyan) as well as the Elegans (Boreal) and Moutonianum (Tethyan) ammonite Zones of the latest Early Barremian. The ammonites in the basal UJ facies of Early Barremian age are reworkedLyticoceras claveli(Nodosoplicatum Zone, Early Hauterivian) and reworkedCruasicerascf.cruasense(Sayni Zone, early Late Hauterivian), andPseudometahoplitessp. juv. (Compressissima to Vandenheckii Zones, Early to Late Barremian transition) from the basal MRu. The new palaeontological and sequential results of this study allow a revision of previous data from Godet et al. (2010) precisely assigning a Barremian age to the MRu of the central Jura Mountains (Tethyan Compressissima to lower Sartousiana and Boreal uppermost Fissicostatum to middle Denckmanii ammonite Zones, Boreal LK20B-LK19-LK18 and Tethyan NC5D nannofossil Zones), within the Early to Late Barremian UJ (Tethyan Hugii to lower Sartousiana and Boreal Rarocinctum to middle Denckmanii ammonite Zones, Boreal LK20C to LK18 and Tethyan NC5C-NC5D nannofossil Zones) and below the Late Barremian Urgonien Blanc facies (Tethyan Sartousiana ammonite Zone).

Pronothrotherium typicum es un perezoso notrotérido del Mioceno tardío–Plioceno temprano (Edades Mamífero Huayqueriense–Chapadmalense) de la provincia de Catamarca, noroeste de Argentina. Pronothrotherium es uno de los cuatro géneros de notroterinos cuyos esqueletos son relativamente completos, pero a diferencia de los otros tres, su anatomía no ha sido formalmente descripta. El presente estudio proporciona las primeras descripciones e ilustraciones de la anatomía craneana de Pronothrotherium, basadas principalmente en un cráneo casi completo de un subadulto y un fragmento de cráneo de un adulto de P. typicum, depositados en las colecciones del Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Se provee también una revisión de la diagnosis de P. typicum basada en caracteres craneanos. El cráneo de esta especie muestra una serie de características específicas, como una marcada quilla del vómer en la región nasofaríngea que termina en una protuberancia globosa, que representaría una característica única dentro de los mamíferos. Sobre la base del presente estudio se reconocen dos especies contemporáneas del género Pronothrotherium, P. typicum y P. mirabilis, aunque la segunda es más dudosa. No se acepta la validez de una tercera especie anteriormente descripta, P. figueirasi, que es considerada como sinónimo de P. mirabilis. Este estudio no se propone resolver las relaciones filogenéticas inciertas entre los notroterinos más conocidos Pronothrotherium, Mionothropus (Mioceno tardío) y los dos géneros de Nothrotheriini pleistocenos, Nothrotherium y Nothrotheriops. Sin embargo, esperamos que los datos proporcionados faciliten futuros estudios que abarquen estas cuestiones. Pronothrotherium typicum is a late Miocene–early Pliocene (Huayquerian–Chapadmalalan SALMA) nothrotheriid sloth known from the Catamarca Province of northwestern Argentina. Pronothrotherium is one of four nothrotheriid genera known from relatively complete skeletal material, but unlike the other three, the osteology of Pronothrotherium has not been formally described. The present study provides the first detailed description and illustration of the cranial anatomy of Pronothrotherium, based largely on a nearly complete, subadult skull of P. typicum from the collections of The Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois, USA), as well as a less well-preserved adult skull and isolated mandible from the same collections. A revised cranial diagnosis of P. typicum is provided in the text. The skull of this species shows a number of distinctive features, most notably a peculiar vomerine keel in the nasopharynx, terminating in a swollen knob, that is, as far we know, a unique morphology among mammals. Based on the results of the present study, there appears to be reason to recognize two contemporaneous species of Pronothrotherium, P. typicum and P. mirabilis, although the latter is less well supported. We do not accept the validity of a third described species, P. figueirasi, considering it instead to be synonymous with P. mirabilis. The present study does not resolve the uncertain phylogenetic relationships among the well-preserved nothrotheriine taxa Pronothrotherium, Mionothropus (late Miocene), and the two Pleistocene genera in Nothrotheriini, Nothrotherium and Nothrotheriops. However, we hope that the data provided will facilitate subsequent phylogenetic studies that may resolve these issues. Fil: Gaudin, Timothy J.. University of Tennessee; Estados Unidos Fil: Tuckniss, Susan. University of Tennessee; Estados Unidos Fil: Boscaini, Alberto. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina Fil: Pujos, François Roger Francis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: De Iuliis, Gerardo. University of Toronto; Canadá

To date there is little information on carpal bone homology in late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Synapsida. Crucial to the understanding of homology in synapsid carpal elements is the fact that different nomenclatures are used for the carpals of non-mammaliamorph Synapsida (Gegenbauer?s canonical nomenclature) and Mammaliaformes (mammalian nomencla-ture). The homologies of the carpals of non-mammaliamorph synapsids and mammals were established early last century and have not been reviewed since then. Here we provide a detailed study of the carpal bones of synapsids ranging in age from the early Permian to Late Cretaceous. The mammaliamorph lunate, previously considered the homologue of the intermedium of non-mammaliamorph synapsids, is interpreted here as homologous to their lateral centrale. We interpret the single mammaliamorph centrale as a homologue of the medial centrale of non-mammaliamorph synapsids. In some synapsid specimens, we found that one or two centralia are fused to the radiale (e.g., the gorgonopsian Arctognathus and tritylodontid Bienotheroides), supporting a digging habit. A third centrale is present in the therocephalian Theriognathus, very likely an abnormal duplication. An additional medial bone in a biarmosuchian was interpreted as a prepollex/sesamoid. A cartilaginous prepollex/sesamoid may also have been present in several non-mammaliamorph synapsids, which have an open space proximal to distal carpal I. Distal carpal V is completely lost in dicynodonts and it is mainly fused to distal carpal IV in the adult stage of most other therapsid groups, but showed a delayed development in most non-mammaliamorph cynodonts. In mammaliamorphs, distal carpal V is not present. Our observations provide an up-dated revision of synapsid carpal homologies, mainly on the basis of position and anatomical contacts and also taking into account the results of embryological studies Fil: Kummell, S.. University Witten/herdecke; Alemania Fil: Abdala, Nestor Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina Fil: Sassoon, J.. University Of Bristol; Reino Unido Fil: Abdala, Virginia Sara Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina

In order to contribute to the knowledge of the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate evolution that occurred from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene in the Pampa Ondulada, northeast of the Province of Buenos Aires, the results obtained by interdisciplinary research carried out in the Salto-Arrecifes fluvial basin are presented. These results were integrated and correlated with those published by some authors of this work referring to the geological and paleoecological characteristics that dominated the valleys of this sector of the Argentina Pampas region since the Late Pleistocene. The age of the sedimentary successions was obtained by radiocarbonic dates in 10 locations of the Salto-Arrecifes fluvial basin. Regional correlations with the units described for the Luján and Areco river basins were carried out. Those characterize the sedimentary processes that occur in the current valleys, of the lower-middle basins of these courses. The various sedimentary facies present in the continental sectors and in the sections closest to the river’s mouth are discriminated. The Late Pleistocene–Holocene sedimentation, which occurred in the middle Salto-Arrecifes, Luján and Areco basin, shows the incidence of climatic changes during the period. As for the facies recognized in the sections near the river’s mouth of the courses, the incidence of eustatic changes produced during the current interglacial were added. Exposure in the ravine of deposits that have the oldest recorded ages and that occurs only in some stretches along the current valley could indicate that neotectonics has been another extrinsic factor acting in the basins at some point in the Late Holocene.

Libro de Resúmenes de las 2das Jornadas de Paleovertebrados de la Cuenca Neuquina, realizadas durante el 31 de octubre y el 2 de noviembre de 2019 en la ciudad de Neuquén.

Narambuenatitan palomoi is a titanosaurian sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of North Patagonia. Considered initially as a basal titanosaur, this taxon has uncertain phylogenetic relationships within the clade. An X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the holotype braincase allowed the first reconstruction of the brain and inner ear of this taxon, making it possible to compare the neuroanatomy with that of closely related forms. Except for the slightly sigmodal shape of the endocast in lateral view—considered a basal condition—, the brain shows derived titanosaurian traits such as a poorly developed dorsal expansion and a single exit for Cranial Nerve (CN) XII. In contrast, the inner ear exhibits slender and long semicircular canals (the anterior semicircular canal is distinctly longer than the posterior semicircular canal), which is a character present in more basal representatives of the group, such as Sarmientosaurus. We consider, however, the morphology of the inner ear as an unreliable indicator of phylogenetic position. Furthermore, there is a remarkable similarity between the morphology of the endocast of Narambuenatitan and the possible saltasaurid from (FAM 03.064), from the Upper Cretaceous of Fox-Amphoux-Métisson, France, suggesting saltasaurine affinities for the Argentinean taxon.

Nota nomenclatural en donde se rechaza la sinonimia propuesta entre Propachyrucos robustus Roth, 1899 y Hemihegetotherium cf. H. tantillum Vera, 2019. Se considera Propachyrucos robustus como un nomen dubium. Fil: Seoane, Federico Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina Fil: Cerdeño, María Esperanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina

Libro de resúmenes de la Reunión de Comunicaciones de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina, realizada en la ciudad de La Plata durante los días 27-29 de Noviembre de 2019

Based on three specimens assigned to Arthrophyllum sp., the family Lamellorthoceratidae is reported from the Lower Devonian Talacasto Formation in the Precordillera Basin, central western Argentina. These Devonian cephalopods have been known only from low to mid palaeolatitudes and its presence in the cold water settings of southwestern Gondwana is notable. A nektonic mode of life, not strictly demersal but eventually pelagic, with a horizontal orientation of the conch is proposed for adults lamellorthoceratids, whereas a planktonic habit is suggested for juvenile individuals. These features would had allow their arrival to this southern basin, explaining their unusual presence in the Malvinokaffric Realm, and reinforcing the need of re-evaluate the distribution pattern of several groups of cephalopods. Fil: Cichowolski, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina Fil: Rustán, Juan José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Rioja; Argentina

Notoungulates represent the most taxonomically diverse and temporally and geographically widespread group among South American native ungulates. Here, we analyze anatomical and systematic aspects of proximal tarsal bones recovered from the Lower and Upper Lumbrera formations (middle and late middle Eocene) in northwestern Argentina. We provide detailed descriptions, comparisons, and infer foot stances and range of movements for the taxa implicated. Material studied includes astragali belonging to the oldfieldthomasiid Colbertia lumbrerense (Lower Lumbrera Formation), a set of proximal tarsals referred as Typotheria indet. (Lower Lumbrera Formation), and tarsals (also including navicular and cuboid) of the informal taxon “Campanorco inauguralis” (Upper Lumbrera Formation). The comparison of the tarsals of Colbertia lumbrerense (middle Eocene of Argentina) with Colbertia magellanica (early Eocene of Brazil) reveals several differences including variations on the development and arrangement of articular facets, and the size of the dorsal astragalar foramen in the Argentinean species. The specimen of Typotheria indet. shows morphological affinities with basal interatheriid taxa. However, its larger size contrasting with the overall small body sizes of Eocene interatheriids precludes an indisputable taxonomic assignment. Concerning “Campanorco inauguralis”, our observations indicate that there is no morphological evidence for a close phylogenetic relationship with Mesotheriidae. It presents a “reversed alternating tarsus” condition, which is also observed in Leontiniidae, “Notohippidae”, Toxodontidae, and some typotherians. However, the spectrum of singularities exhibited by this form precludes the assessment of its relationships in the context of the Paleogene radiation of Typotheria and it is necessary to extend the comparison to Eocene notoungulates. Finally, in a morphofunctional context a plantigrade foot posture is inferred for the specimens here reported. These observations have the potential to provide functional proxies for paleoecological reconstructions to be applied to the study of the early radiation of these notoungulate faunas. Fil: Armella, Matías Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina Fil: Garcia Lopez, Daniel Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra Geología Estructural. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica; Argentina Fil: Babot, María Judith. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina Fil: Deraco, Maria Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra Geología Estructural. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica; Argentina Fil: Herrera, Claudia Marcela Reina. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina Fil: Saade, Luis Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra Geología Estructural. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica; Argentina Fil: Bertelli, Sara Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra Geología Estructural. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica; Argentina

Ornithosuchidae is one of the most enigmatic clades of Triassic pseudosuchians. The group is composed by three carnivorous species that were excavated from Upper Triassic beds of Scotland and Argentina. We describe the first ornithosuchid from the Upper Triassic sediments of Brazil and explore its phylogenetic affinities and implications for the evolution of the group. Dynamosuchus collisensis gen. et sp. nov. was found as the sister taxon of the Argentinean form Venaticosuchus rusconii. These relationships reject a potential endemic radiation of ornithosuchids from the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin and would better support multiple diversification events. Our findings with ornithosuchids is consistent with the pattern reported for proterochampsid and erpetosuchid archosauriforms from Ischigualasto-Villa Unión and the Paraná basins. In addition, the presence of an ornithosuchid in the Late Triassic of Brazil suggests that ornithosuchids were more widespread than previously thought in the southern hemisphere. The new ornithosuchid further demonstrates a faunistic link between the Argentinean and Brazilian basins during the Carnian. Finally, the discovery of the new species provides the first clue of a putative necrophagous vertebrate from the oldest dinosaur-bearing beds and expands our knowledge regarding the trophic structure of the Late Triassic of Brazil. Fil: Müller, Rodrigo. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Brasil Fil: Von Baczko, Belen. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Desojo, Julia Brenda. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Nesbitt, Sterling. Virginia Tech University; Estados Unidos

The study of bone microstructure of fossil vertebrates (i.e. paleohistology) has demonstrated to be a very important source of paleobiological information. Paleohistological studies are based on the standardized analysis of petrographic thin sections. Although the development of new technologies (e.g. microtomography) have provided non-destructive procedures for the study the fossil tissues, thin sections are still the main information source in paleohistology. In this contribution, we provide a detailed protocol for sampling and thin sectioning preparation of bone tissue from both fossil and extant vertebrates. We describe the most common procedures for sample obtainment and also some particular differences, which are related to variations in the equipment and sampling techniques. The main objective of this contribution is to offer an alternative protocol for laboratories in formation and/or with limited funding., El estudio de la microestructura ósea de vertebrados fósiles (i.e., paleohistología) ha demostrado ser una importante fuente de información paleobiológica. Los estudios paleohistológicos están basados en análisis estandarizados de secciones delgadas petrográficas. A pesar de que el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías (e.g., microtomografía) ha proporcionado procedimientos no destructivos para el estudio de tejidos fósiles, las secciones delgadas continúan siendo la principal fuente de información paleohistológica. En esta contribución, proporcionamos un protocolo detallado para el muestreo y preparación de secciones delgadas de huesos de vertebrados tanto fósiles como vivientes. Se describen los procedimientos más comunes para la obtención de las muestras y se plantean diferencias particulares, las cuales están relacionadas con las variaciones del equipamiento y las técnicas de muestreo. El objetivo principal de esta contribución es proveer un protocolo alternativo para laboratorios en formación y/o con financiamiento limitado., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

A unique functional adaptation to herbivory within early ray-finned fishes is exemplified by the late Permian actinopterygians within the family Etuynotoidiidae with policuspid teeth strongly modified with respect to the primitive actinopterygian conditions. Here we report additional finds of multidenticulated teeth from the fluvial latest Permian deposits of Russia. The teeth belong to the members of endemic Eurynotoidiidae and show rather high morphological diversity. We confirm that the Russian forms are the earliest known ray-finned fishes with substantial modifications of teeth adapted to the processing of food. These finds confirm some previous suggestions that the adaptation to herbivory first developed in freshwater fishes, not marine. We found very similar dental adaptations in some groups of Recent freshwater teleosts, especially in characifonns and cichlids. It suggests that sympatric species of Permian Eurynotoidiidae explored various herbivorous niches like modem fish in East African lakes. Apparently, this first pulse of adaptive radiation in ray-finned fishes was probably caused by diversification of Permian aquatic vertebrate community.

Eoconophorinadelfineae gen. et sp. nov., the oldest repre-sentative of the bee fly subfamily Bombyliinae, is described from the earliest Eocene Oise amber (France). It is charac-terized by the presence of mid tibial spurs, cylindrical ab-domen and a particular combination of wing venation char-acters. It is putatively attributed to the tribe Conophorini. This fossil is 53 Ma old, ca. 19 Ma older than the previ-ous oldest records of the subfamily, known as compression fossils. There are very few older bee flies, one from the Paleocene of Menat (France), and six from the mid-Creta-ceous Burmese amber, belonging to different subfamilies or of uncertain taxonomic position. Thus this fossil will be helpful for future calibration of phylogeny and dating of the bee flies.

International audience; A new compilation of the Old World fossil record of the Camelidae and a recent phylogenetic analysis allow a new assessment of the timing of the diversification in that taxon. Using a recent implementation of the fossilized birth-death process, we show that the divergence between Bactrian camel and dromedary has a peak probability density around 1 Ma and probably occurred less than 2 million years ago. These dates are much younger than molecular estimates, which place the divergence between the dromedary and the Bactrian camel between 4 and 8 million years ago. Calibration problems in molecular dating seems to explain much of this difference.

This contribution details new records of Notoungulata and Astrapotheria from the exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation in the Río Santa Cruz (Early-Middle Miocene; Province of Santa Cruz). The astrapothere Astrapotherium sp. Burmeister, the notoungulate toxodonts Homalodotherium sp. Flower, Nesodon sp. Owen and Adinotherium sp. Ameghino, and the typotheres Hegetotherium mirabile Ameghino, Interatherium sp. Ameghino, Protypotherium sp. Ameghino, P. attenuatum Ameghino, P. australe Ameghino and P. praerutilum Ameghino are recognized in the localities Barrancas Blancas and Segundas Barrancas Blancas. Nesodon imbricatus Owen was recorded in the former and Adinotherium ovinum (Owen) in the latter locality. The typothere Pachyrukhos moyani Ameghino was identified only in Segundas Barrancas Blancas, but with numerous specimens. Only the large ungulates Astrapotherium magnum (Owen) and Adinotherium sp. were recorded in Yaten Huageno. At a generic level, Barrancas Blancas and Segundas Barrancas Blancas only differ by the presence of Pachyrukhos Ameghino in the latter; at Yaten Huageno the Typotheria, Homalodotheriidae and Nesodon have not been recorded. The general faunal composition, including the larger samples from Barrancas Blancas and Segundas Barrancas Blancas, matches the record from the better-known Santacrucian localities from the Atlantic coast. This faunal similarity implies that similar environmental conditions prevailed in the two areas, indicating that the localities from Río Santa Cruz, as the Atlantic coastal localities, would have constituted a complex mosaic of open and closed habitats. Esta contribución involucra un reporte faunístico de los nuevos registros de Notoungulata y Astrapotheria provenientes de los yacimientos de la Formación Santa Cruz del Río Santa Cruz (Mioceno Temprano–Medio; provincia de Santa Cruz). El astrapoterio Astrapotherium sp., los notoungulados toxodontes Homalodotherium sp. Flower, Nesodon sp. Owen y Adinotherium sp. Ameghino, y los tipoterios Hegetotherium mirabile Ameghino, Interatherium sp. Ameghino, Protypotherium sp. Ameghino, P. attenuatum Ameghino, P. australe Ameghino y P. praerutilum Ameghino fueron reconocidos en Barrancas Blancas y Segunda Barrancas Blancas. Las especies Nesodon imbricatus Owen y Adinotherium ovinum (Owen) fueron identificados en la primera y en la segunda localidad, respectivamente. El tipoterio Pachyrukhos moyani Ameghino fue identificado únicamente en Segundas Barrancas Blancas, pero a través de numerosos ejemplares. Solo los ungulados de gran talla Astrapotherium magnum (Owen) y Adinotherium sp. fueron reconocidos en Yaten Huageno. A un nivel supraespecífico, Barrancas Blancas y Segundas Barrancas Blancas difieren por la presencia de Pachyrukhos Ameghino en la segunda, mientras que en Yaten Huageno los Typotheria, Homalodotheriidae y Nesodon no han sido identificados. La composición faunística general, incluyendo las grandes muestras provenientes de Barrancas Blancas y Segundas Barrancas Blancas, coincide con la registrada en las localidades Santacrucenses más conocidas de la costa Atlántica. Esta similitud faunística permite inferir, preliminarmente, similares condiciones ambientales, indicando que las localidades del Río Santa Cruz podrían haber constituido un complejo mosaico de ambientes abiertos y cerrados. Fil: Fernández, Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina Fil: Muñoz, Nahuel Antu. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina

In the Acknowledgements in the original published article [Georgalis et al. 2020], we thanked by mistake Antonella Cinzia Marra as follows: “We thank […] A.C. Marra (Messina) for discussion and field work at Cessaniti”. Under request of Antonella Cinzia Marra (University of Messina), the authors specify that the discussion and the field work at the Cessaniti Site she has been involved with were not related to this research.

Previously, palaeopathological features of fossil hardparts were often difficult to interpret because it was impossible to decipher their internal structure without destroying the specimens. We applied high-resolution computedtomo graphy (CT) to document such internal structures. This enabled us to describe a variety of pathologies of Jurassic and Cretaceous belemnite rostra. The examined rostra have been assigned to the taxa ?Acrocoelites sp., Belemnello camax spp., Belemnitella sp., Duvalia emerici, Goniocamax sp., Gonioteuthis spp., Hibolithes jaculoides, Neoclavibelus sp., and Pseudobelus sp. The studied pathologies comprise rostra with two apices, bulges, pearls, broken juvenile rostra, highly porous rostra with abnormal growth increments, blunt-rostra, rostra with callus-like structures, and bent- or knee-shaped rostra. In one rostrum the apex has been turned towards the anterior (alveolus) during ontogeny. Additionally, computed-tomography data were used to document diagenetic alterations of the rostra such as silification, sedimentary infill, pyrite formation. Specimens can also be tested for the presence or absence of internal elements (septa, siphuncle) and surface features. Palaeoecological studies clearly benefit from the application of computed-tomography to gain high resolution images of otherwise invisible internal features of extinct organisms, as demonstrated herein. Key words: Belemnitida, palaeopathology, rostra, micro computed-tomography, diagenesis, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Germany.

Semi-articulated paguroids are rare fossils, and there are only few records from Cenozoic strata. Here we present a new and exceptionally preserved hermit crab (Diogenidae) from the Eocene of Huesca (Spain) that preserves the anterior part of the carapace, together with appendages. Diogenes augustinus sp. nov. represents one of most completely preserved hermit crabs known to date, providing crucial information to understand the evolution of the family Diogenidae. It is characterized by poorly marked regions of shield, absence of Y-line and markedly unequal and robust chelipeds. The specimen is preserved out of its host shell suggesting rapid burial in siliciclastic strata of a prodeltaic environment.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T17:34:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) The genus Leinzia is a typical member of the renowned Artinskian-Wuchiapingian (Permian) endemic bivalve fauna of the Passa Dois Group, Parana Basin, Brazil. The extraordinary shells of Leinzia, characterized by a rostrum extending from the anterior cardinal margin led certain authors to regard them as bivalved arthropods (Spinicaudata). Due to the unusual morphology and typically poor preservation of the available specimens, the taxonomic position of Leinzia still remains obscure. Leinzia has been variously referred either to the Pterioida, the Crassatelloidea, the Sanguinolitidae, or the Megadesmidae, or to the Pholadomyida. Herein, based on a detailed review of the topotype material and description of newly found specimens of Leinzia from the Serrinha Member, Rio do Rasto Formation, southern Brazil, we shed light on the taxonomic position of this genus. The hinge of the right valve with its large, blunt, anteriorly inclined subumbonal tooth and corresponding socket in the left valve coupled with the absence of true lateral teeth indicate close affinities to Pyramus and Cowperesia. Thus, the data here strongly suggest a Pachydomidae (Edmondioidea) rather than a Crassatelloidea affinity for Leinzia. Conversely, Leinzia differs from all other known Pachydomidae due to its anteriorly rostrate and posteriorly elongated shell. Finally, detailed stratigraphic data indicate that the vertical distribution of Leinzia is constrained to the middle part of the Guadalupian Serrinha Member of the Rio do Rasto Formation. Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Biosci, Botucatu Campus,POB 510, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Geosci & Exact Sci, Rio Claro Campus, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Biosci, Botucatu Campus,POB 510, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Geosci & Exact Sci, Rio Claro Campus, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, Brazil

Owing to monospecific mass-accumulation sites in Central Europe, the early-branching sauropodomorph Plateosaurus has one of the best fossil records among dinosaurs. Despite this, early-stage juveniles have been conspicuously absent. However, such specimens are critical in assessing the ontogenetic development of this taxon, as well as the role of heterochrony in sauropodomorph evolution. A new skeleton from the Plateosaurus bonebed at the Gruhalde Quarry (Klettgau Formation, Norian) of Frick, Switzerland, nicknamed “Fabian”, represents the first substantially complete juvenile referrable to Plateosaurus. The specimen includes large portions of the cranium and vertebral column and an almost completely represented appendicular skeleton. Its juvenile ontogenetic stage is confirmed by a lack of neurocentral suture fusion in the axial skeleton. Consistent with this, the estimated total length and body mass of approximately of 2.3 m and 40 kg are considerably smaller than any previously reported specimen of the genus. Surprisingly, the postcranial morphology of the specimen is remarkably consistent with that of osteologically mature individuals, including a virtually fully developed pattern of laminae and fossae in the vertebrae. Comparisons of body proportions are complicated by varying degrees of compaction in the limb elements, but skeletal proportions mostly appear to follow isometry, with the notable exceptions of a relatively long neck, proportionately larger manus, shorter, more gracile humerus and shorter forearm in the juvenile specimen. The observed morphology suggests that adult morphology was either achieved early in ontogeny of Plateosaurus, or alternatively that developmental plasticity, which has previously been found to result in high variability of adult body size, could potentially also extend to morphological development.

The Sociedade de História Natural in Torres Vedras, Portugal houses an extensive collection of as yet undescribed dinosaur tracks with ornithopod affinities. They have been collected from different Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian) geological formations (Praia de Amoreira-Porto Novo, Alcobaça, Sobral, and Freixial) that outcrop along the Portuguese coast, and belong to two different sub-basins of the Lusitanian Basin (the Consolação and Turcifal sub-basins). Three main morphotypes can be distinguished on the basis of size, mesaxony and the morphology of the metatarsophalangeal pad impression. The minute to small-sized morphotype is similar to the Anomoepus-like tracks identified in other Late Jurassic areas. The small to medium-sized morphotype resembles the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous ichnotaxon Dinehichnus, already known in the Lusitanian Basin. Interestingly, these two morphotypes can be distinguished qualitatively (slightly different size, metatarsophalangeal pad impression and digit morphology) but are nevertheless difficult to discriminate by quantitatively analysing their length-width ratio and mesaxony. The third morphotype is considered a large ornithopod footprint belonging to the ichnofamily Iguanodontipodidae. This ichnofamily is typical for Cretaceous tracksites but the new material suggests that it might also be present in the Late Jurassic. The three morphotypes show a negative correlation between size and mesaxony, so the smaller tracks show the stronger mesaxony, and the larger ones weaker mesaxony. The Upper Jurassic ornithopod record from the Lusitanian Basin has yielded both small and medium-sized ornithopod remains, mainly iguanodontians such as dryosaurids and ankylopollexians, which are the main candidates to be the trackmakers.

Trilobites achieved their maximum generic diversity in the Cambrian, but the peak of morphological disparity of their cranidia occurred in the Middle to Late Ordovician. Early to middle Cambrian trilobites with a specialized cephalon are rare, especially among the ptychoparioids, a group of libristomates featuring the so-called “generalized” bauplan. Here we describe an unusual ptychopariid trilobite Phantaspis auritus gen. et sp. nov. from the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian, Wuliuan) Mantou Formation in the Shandong Province, North China. This new taxon is characterized by a cephalon with an extended anterior area of double-lobate shape resembling a pair of rabbit ears in later ontogenetic stages; a unique type of cephalic specialization that has not been reported from other trilobites. Such a peculiar cephalon as in Phantaspis provides new insights into the variations of cephalic morphology in middle Cambrian trilobites, and may represent a heuristic example of ecological specialization to predation or an improved discoidal enrollment.

Se analizan y describen los Litopterna provenientes de los afloramientos de la Formación Santa Cruz (Mioceno Temprano–Medio) a lo largo del Río Santa Cruz, Patagonia Argentina. En las localidades prospectadas, conocidas como Barrancas Blancas (Estancias Aguada Grande y Santa Lucía) y Segundas Barrancas Blancas (Estancias Cordón Alto y El Tordillo), se hallaron especímenes asignables a las familias Proterotheriidae y Macraucheniidae. En el caso de los Proterotheriidae se han identificado Anisolophus australis, A. floweri, Tetramerorhinus lucarius, Te. cingulatum, Thoatherium minusculum y Diadiaphorus majusculus. Los Macraucheniidae son más escasos y se encuentran representados por Theosodon sp. Si bien la sistemática de los litopternos de la Formación Santa Cruz requiere una revisión, los nuevos restos reportados aquí del Río Santa Cruz, así como otros recientemente recuperados de la misma unidad en la costa atlántica, serán valiosos para aclarar la taxonomía de este particular grupo de ungulados extintos de América del Sur. Litopterna from fossiliferous exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation (Early?Middle Miocene) along the Río Santa Cruz, Patagonia Argentina, are analyzed and described. In the prospected localities, known as Barrancas Blancas (Estancia Aguada Grande and Estancia Santa Lucía) and Segundas Barrancas Blancas (Estancia Cordón Alto and Estancia El Tordillo), specimens belonging to the families Proterotheriidae and Macraucheniidae were recorded. Within Proterotheriidae, the species Anisolophus australis, A. floweri, Tetramerorhinus lucarius, Te. cingulatum, Thoatherium minusculum and Diadiaphorus majusculus have been identified. Macraucheniidae are scarcer and represented by Theosodon sp. Although the systematics of litopterns of the Santa Cruz Formation requires a review, the new remains from the Río Santa Cruz reported here, as well as others recently recovered from the same unit in the Atlantic coast, will be valuable to clarify the taxonomy of this peculiar group of South American extinct ungulates. Fil: Schmidt, Gabriela Ines. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina Fil: Hernández del Pino, Santiago Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: Muñoz, Nahuel Antu. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina Fil: Fernández, Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina

One of the best preserved Early Pliensbachian radiolarian assemblages from the Western Tethys is described from the grey marly limestone exposed at Mount Rettenstein in the Northern Calcareous Alps, south of the Dachstein Massif. Fourty-five genera and 71 species are documented and illustrated here. Four species are newly described: Tozerium filzmoosense Cifer sp. nov., Loupanus pliensbachicus Cifer sp. nov., Thurstonia? robusta Cifer sp. nov., and Ares rettensteinensis Cifer sp. nov. Radiolarian age is in accordance with ammonoid data from the overlying red marly limestone, which was assigned to the upper part of the Lower Pliensbachian. The best equivalent for the radiolarian-bearing lithology is the Dürrnberg Formation, characteristic of the open-marine Hallstatt facies zone. Previously published radiolarian data from the Dürrnberg Formation were re-evaluated and the originally proposed age assignments revised. At two localities, the published Hettangian–Sinemurian age was emended to the early Early Pliensbachian that is in accordance with the age of radiolarians from Mount Rettenstein. We compared the studied fauna from Mount Rettenstein also with two other rich radiolarian assemblages, one from another locality in the Dürrnberg Formation and one from the Gümüslü Allochthon in Turkey, which were assigned to the late Early Pliensbachian and are somewhat younger than the assemblages studied herein.

Late Cretaceous plants from the North Sudetic Basin (Lower Silesia, south-western Poland) are reviewed on the basis of megaflora from 17 localities (270 identifiable specimens), mesoflora from two localities, and microflora from four localities. Major sites are Rakowice Małe and Bolesławiec. Eight megafloral assemblages are distinguished (Assemblage 1, Turonian; Assemblages 2, 3, lower–middle Coniacian; Assemblages 4, 5, upper Coniacian?–lower Santonian?; Assemblages 6–8, lower–middle Santonian); the bulk of the palaeoflora is from Assemblages 4–6 and 8. Megaflora consists of 29 taxa (6 ferns, 4 conifers, and 19 angiosperms). Geinitzia reichenbachii is the most common species. Dryophyllum westerhausianum (Richter, 1904) Halamski and Kvaček comb. nov. is a trifoliolate leaf re-interpreted as a representative of Fagales. Three species of Dewalquea are distinguished: Dewalquea haldemiana, Dewalquea insignis, and Dewalquea aff. gelindenensis. Platanites willigeri Halamski and Kvaček sp. nov. is characterised by trifoliolate leaves, the median leaflet of which is ovate, unlobed, with a serrate margin, and cuneate base. Palaeocommunities inferred from the megafossil record include: a back swamp forest dominated by Geinitzia, with abundant ferns; a Dryophyllum-dominated riparian forest; a forest with Dewalquea and Platanites willigeri possibly located in the marginal part of the alluvial plain; dunes with D. haldemiana and Konijnenburgia; a fern savanna with patches of Pinus woodlands. Palynoassemblage A from the Nowogrodziec Member, studied mostly at Rakowice Małe and Żeliszów, consists of 126 taxa, including 105 terrestrial palynomorphs (54 bryophyte, lycophyte, and pteridophyte spores, 16 gymnosperms, 35 angiosperms). The mega- and mesofossil records are dominated by angiosperms; the palynoassemblages are dominated by ferns. Palaeocommunities represented solely by the microfossil record are halophytic (with Frenelopsis and unconfirmed presence of Nypa) and pioneer vegetation. Palaeocommunities are intermediate in general character between those pre-dating the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution and modern, angiosperm- dominated vegetation. In comparison to older plant assemblages from contiguous areas laurophylls are much rarer; this might correspond to a real phenomenon of exclusion of lauroids from Santonian riparian forests. The studied assemblage is more similar to younger palaeofloras than to older ones; this might be interpreted as stabilisation of communities after a period of pronounced change related to the rise to dominance of the angiosperms. In contrast to widespread endemism among vertebrates of the European Archipelago, the plant cover consists mostly of species that are widely distributed.

Se presenta el estudio sistemático de las esporas y formas algales recuperadas de la Formación Río Turbio, Eoceno medio–tardío de la Cuenca Austral. Se describen algas de agua dulce, briofitas, helechos y licofitas. Closterium sp. cf. C. thailandicum Songtham et al., Botryococcus sp., Coelastrum sp. 1, Catinipollis eiseltalensis Krutzsch, Bryophyta s.l. sp. 1, Kuylisporites waterbolkii Potonié, Matonisporites sp.1, Foveotriletes sp. 1, Polypodiisporites perverrucatus (Couper) Khan y Martin, Klukisporites scaberis (Cookson y Dettmann) Dettmann, Deltoidospora cf. australis, (Couper) Pocock, Verrucosisporites sp. 1, Verrucosisporites sp. 2 son nuevas formas para la Formación Río Turbio. La especie Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni Germeraad et al. es un nuevo registro para Argentina y Gleicheniidites circinidites Dettmann lo es para el Eoceno de Argentina. de Argentina.

Anhanguerids are a particular group of pterodactyloid pterosaurs, characterized mainly by their rostral sagittal crests, well laterally expanded jaw tips and enlarged anterior teeth. Due to the fragmentary nature of most known specimens, including holotypes, the taxonomy of the group has proved particularly difficult and controversial. Coloborhynchinae is a recently proposed clade within the Anhangueridae, and was defined as the most inclusive clade containing Coloborhynchus clavirostris but not Anhanguera or Ludodactylus. Coloborhynchinae was originally thought to include Coloborhynchus, Uktenadactylus, and Siroccopteryx. Here we present a reassessment of the taxonomy and phylogeny of all proposed members of the Coloborhynchinae and Coloborhynchus complex, with new anatomical comparisons and a novel phylogenetic analysis. Several features allow us to establish that coloborhynchines were much more diverse than previously thought, englobing four genera and seven species: Aerodraco sedgwickii gen. et comb. nov., Coloborhynchus clavirostris, Nicorhynchus capito gen. et comb. nov., Nicorhynchus fluviferox gen. et comb. nov., Uktenadactylus rodriguesae sp. nov., and Uktenadactylus wadleighi. Nicorhynchus and Uktenadactylus are considered sister taxa, being distinct on the basis of several rostral characters. Although with a homoplastic flat rostrum surface, Siroccopteryx was recovered out of the Coloborhynchinae, as sister taxon of Tropeognathus, due to similarities on the palatal ridge (which is broad and deep, and starting at the same level) and the relatively stout teeth compared to other anhanguerids. Tropeognathus and Siroccopteryx are further related to the Australian taxa Ferrodraco and Mythunga, which are all grouped in a new clade: the Tropeognathinae. Our analysis suggests that morphological evolution within anhanguerids was quite more complex than previously thought, with coloborhynchines representing the oldest recorded lineage of Anhangueridae, which achieved a worldwide distribution at least from the Aptian to the Cenomanian.

La Formación Santa Cruz (FSC) registra paleoecosistemas terrestres de alta latitud en el hemisferio sur durante el Burdigaliense– Langhiense temprano (Mioceno Temprano–Medio). Los primeros mamíferos fósiles del Río Santa Cruz (RSC) fueron recolectados a fines del siglo 19 y constituyeron la base de la Edad Mamífero Santacrucense. Nuevas colecciones permitieron actualizar la lista de especies santacrucenses del RSC. La riqueza taxonómica total es de 95 especies. Muchas especies consideradas por Ameghino como exclusivas del más antiguo Piso Notohippidense no lo son en realidad. La riqueza taxonómica en las tres localidades del RSC es sustancialmente diferente: 47 especies en Barrancas Blancas (BB), 60 en Segundas Barrancas Blancas (SBB) y nueve en Yaten Huageno. La composición faunística también es dife- rente entre BB y SBB; comparten 31 especies, seis presentes solo en BB y 20 solo en SBB. Más del 85 % de las especies de mamíferos RSC también se encuentran en la FSC de la costa atlántica. Aunque BB (~ 17,04–16,49 Ma) es más próxima cronológicamente a las exposiciones costeras y los fósiles de SBB (~ 16,46–15,63 Ma) son más jóvenes, se registra mayor similitud entre SBB y la costa (~17,80–16,30 Ma). Las diferencias faunísticas entre las localidades podrían explicarse por la variación local de factores climáticos y ambientales. Las biozonas propuestas previamente deben ser dejadas de lado. Las exposiciones de la FSC a lo largo del RSC deben considerarse como el área tipo de la unidad y la fauna santacrucense. The Santa Cruz Formation (SCF) records high latitude terrestrial paleoecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere during Burdigalian– early Langhian times (Early–Middle Miocene). Mammalian fossils from Río Santa Cruz (RSC) localities were first collected in the late 19th century, forming the basis for the Santacrucian South American Land Mammal Age. New collections permitt an update of the SCF mammalian species along the RSC. The total taxonomic richness is 95 mammalian species. Many species considered by Ameghino as exclusive for the older Notohippidian stage at similar latitude in the west, are not in fact so. The taxonomic richness in three localities along the RSC is substantially different: 47 species from Barrancas Blancas (BB), 60 from Segundas Barrancas Blancas (SBB) and nine from Yaten Huageno. The faunal composition between BB and SBB is also different: they share 31 species, of which six are present only at BB and 20 only at SBB. More than 85 % of all RSC species are also found at Atlantic coastal exposures of the SCF. In spite of BB (~17.04–16.49 Ma) being closer in age to coastal exposures, and SBB fossils (~16.46–15.63 Ma) being younger than the coastal localities (~17.80–16.30 Ma), the greatest similarity is between SBB and the coast. Faunal differences among the localities may be accounted for local variation in climatic and environmental factors. Previously proposed Santacrucian biozones should be set aside. The exposures of the SCF along the RSC should be considered as the type area of this unit and the Santacrucian fauna. Fil: Fernicola, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján; Argentina Fil: Vizcaíno, Sergio Fabián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Bargo, María Susana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Comision de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Kay, Richard F.. University of Duke; Estados Unidos Fil: Cuitiño, José Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Geología y Paleontología; Argentina

Exceptionally well-preserved material from a fossil mammal is presented. For the first time, several fragments of tracheal rings and cricoid cartilage assigned to Panochthus sp. (Xenarthra; Glyptodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina are described in detail and figured. In this contribution, in addition to a meticulous description, a tracheal ring was reconstructed and compared to tracheal rings of domestic and wild mammals. As a result, among domestic mammals it is similar to those of Sus scrofa domestica (domestic pig), and among wild mammals to those of Zalophus californianus (California sea lion). Tracheal rings of fossil vertebrates have been recognized in birds (Cariamiformes and Anseriformes) and other dinosaurs (Theropoda). This is likely the first report of tracheal rings in a fossil mammal; future comparisons with extant xenarthrans could provide information on the paleobiological implications of this structure in glyptodonts, and allow making inferences about other fossil mammals.

The Santa Cruz Formation is an Early–Middle Miocene terrestrial sedimentary succession widely distributed in southern Patagonia. Particularly, it is exposed along the southern margin of the Río Santa Cruz valley where the sedimentological and stratigraphical features are described for three localities. From east to west these localities are: Barrancas Blancas, Segundas Barrancas Blancas and Yaten Huageno. The facies analysis permits us to identify three associations, representing deposition in 1) low-energy floodplains; 2) crevasse splays and sheet floods; and 3) fluvial channels. The three localities are chronologically equivalent and represent accumulation in an aggradational lowgradient fluvial system that drained towards the east and northeast from the Patagonian Andes to the Atlantic sea. Abundant pedogenic features and some trace fossils are consistent with a temperate subhumid climate and in part, a grassland environment., La Formación Santa Cruz consiste en una sucesión de sedimentos continentales del Mioceno Temprano–Medio que se encuentran ampliamente distribuidos en la Patagonia austral. Se describen los atributos sedimentológicos y estratigráficos de tres localidades a lo largo del Río Santa Cruz. De este a oeste estas localidades son: Barrancas Blancas, Segundas Barrancas Blancas y Yaten Huageno. El análisis de facies permitió definir tres Asociaciones que representan acumulación en 1) planicies de inundación; 2) lóbulos de desbordamiento y crecidas en manto; y 3) canales fluviales. Las tres localidades son cronológicamente equivalentes y representan acumulación en un sistema fluvial de bajo gradiente con alta agradación, el cual drenaba hacia el este y noreste desde los Andes Patagónicos hasta la plataforma. Los rasgos de los paleosuelos, más algunas trazas fósiles reconocidas, sugieren un clima templado subhúmedo y en parte, una planicie herbácea., Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas

Fil: Wetzel, Andreas. Universität Basel, Departement Umweltwissenschaften; Switzerland Fil: Carmona, Noelia B. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina. Fil: Carmona, Noelia B. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina Fil: Ponce, Juan J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina. Fil: Ponce, Juan J. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina The reworking of a trace by a subsequently following organism represents a so-called sequorichnial behavior and leads to formation of a “burrowing highway”. Burrowing highways occur more frequently than assumed in the fossil record. Their ichnological and sedimentological meaning is elucidated by using the trace fossil Gyrochorte. Gyrochorte producers exploiting sandy event beds tend to use “burrowing highways” in the same direction. Evidently, the Gyrochorte producers are thigmotactically highly sensitive as they can recognize a burrow produced by the same species because of the less densely packed grains, a somewhat increased mud content, and supposedly mucus segregated within the burrow. These changes make the reworking of pre-existing burrows energetically advantageous. However, in shallow-marine settings mucus is degraded rapidly and loose sediment consolidates in a short while. Therefore, the time to recognize a pre-existing burrow appears to be limited and a rather high number of organisms is a prerequisite for reutilization of a previous trace. “Burrow highways” potentially represent an additional criterion to characterize an opportunistic population strategy The reworking of a trace by a subsequently following organism represents a so-called sequorichnial behavior and leads to formation of a “burrowing highway”. Burrowing highways occur more frequently than assumed in the fossil record. Their ichnological and sedimentological meaning is elucidated by using the trace fossil Gyrochorte. Gyrochorte producers exploiting sandy event beds tend to use “burrowing highways” in the same direction. Evidently, the Gyrochorte producers are thigmotactically highly sensitive as they can recognize a burrow produced by the same species because of the less densely packed grains, a somewhat increased mud content, and supposedly mucus segregated within the burrow. These changes make the reworking of pre-existing burrows energetically advantageous. However, in shallow-marine settings mucus is degraded rapidly and loose sediment consolidates in a short while. Therefore, the time to recognize a pre-existing burrow appears to be limited and a rather high number of organisms is a prerequisite for reutilization of a previous trace. “Burrow highways” potentially represent an additional criterion to characterize an opportunistic population strategy

El escaneo de superficie incluye técnicas de adquisición de imágenes y su procesamiento. La adquisición se lleva a cabo a través de diferentes dispositivos (e.g., escáneres portables y fijos, cámaras) que capturan imágenes del objetivo, mientras que el procesamiento se realiza a través de software especializado en el cual las imágenes adquiridas son procesadas para fusionarlas en una imagen simple en tres dimensiones. El escaneo en 3D en paleontología de vertebrados incluye una gran variedad de dispositivos que incorporan diferentes técnicas de adquisición de imágenes, los cuales son descriptos y comparados aquí, en términos de sus ventajas y desventajas, considerando el tiempo de escaneo y post-procesamiento, costos y calidad de imagen. La decisión de qué dispositivo elegir dependerá, principalmente, del presupuesto, la transportabilidad y de la naturaleza del material fósil a ser escaneado (e.g., tamaño, peso, accesibilidad). En este sentido, la fotogrametría constituye la técnica de escaneo de superficie que posee la mejor relación costo-beneficio. Three-dimensional (3D) surface scanning includes techniques of image acquisition and image processing. Among the former, hardware devices (e.g., portable and non-portable scanners, camera) capture images from the target, whereas image processing is conducted via specialized software, in which acquired images are processed to merge them into a single 3D surface model. Image surface scanning comprises a wide variety of devices which incorporate different image acquisition techniques, all of them with potential high standards results. We describe four different scanning devices and techniques commonly used in vertebrate paleontology in order to compare them in terms of pros and cons, considering different variables, such as scanning time, post-processing time, costs and image resolution. The decision on which device to choose will depend on the budget available, the portability as well as the nature of the fossil material being analyzed (e.g., size, weight, accessibility). In the light of this, photogrammetry constitutes the image surface technique which fulfills these requirements, having the best cost-benefit relationship. Fil: Otero, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina Fil: Pérez Moreno, Agustín. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Falkingham, Peter. Liverpool John Mores University; Reino Unido Fil: Cassini, Guillermo Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Ruella, Agustin. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Militello, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina Fil: Toledo, Néstor. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina

Fossil rodents from the Río Santa Cruz (RSC) classic localities (Santa Cruz Formation, Early–Middle Miocene) are known by the works of F. Ameghino and W.B. Scott since the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. These caviomorph rodents have not been comprehensively reviewed since then. In this contribution, we studied new fossil specimens from the cliffs of the RSC (Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina) collected with accurate stratigraphic and geographic data during fieldtrips in 2013 and 2014. An increase in the caviomorph taxonomic richness is observed, based upon our taxonomic study of caviomorphs previously recorded in the RSC. Also, these fieldworks recovered for the first time several taxa previously found in other Santacrucian and even older Patagonian localities (Colhuehuapian, Early Miocene). As a general evolutionary pattern, we note an increase of derived euhypsodont taxa (Prolagostomus, Pliolagostomus, Schistomys, and Eocardia) in Segundas Barrancas Blancas (16.47–15.3 Ma). In addition, a taxonomic replacement of Phanomys by Schistomys is noted between Barrancas Blancas (17.21–16.3 Ma) and Segundas Barrancas Blancas, as well as a notably increase in the abundance of the large Perimys onustus in the latter locality. The present study provides a revision of the caviomorph systematics, and intends to be the starting point to understand the diversity (in all its aspects) and the evolution of this group during the Santacrucian, a major event in the South American mammalian history., Los roedores fósiles provenientes de localidades del Río Santa Cruz (RSC; Formación Santa Cruz, Mioceno Temprano–Medio) se conocen desde fines del siglo 19 y principios del 20, gracias a los trabajos de F. Ameghino y W.B. Scott. Sin embargo, no fueron estudiados a nivel integral desde ese momento. En este sentido, analizamos nuevos ejemplares recolectados en las barrancas del RSC (Santa Cruz, Argentina) durante los años 2013 y 2014 que cuentan con datos de procedencia estratigráfica y geográfica precisos. El estudio taxonómico permitió reconocer taxones previamente descriptos para el RSC, así como nuevos taxones conocidos en otras localidades santacrucenses o en localidades más antiguas de Patagonia (Colhuehuapense, Mioceno Temprano). Se corroboró un aumento en la riqueza taxonómica del conjunto de roedores del RSC. Como patrón evolutivo general, se observa un incremento de formas euhipsodontes derivadas (Prolagostomus, Pliolagostomus, Schistomys, Eocardia) en Segundas Barrancas Blancas (16,47–15,3 Ma). A su vez, observamos un reemplazo taxonómico de Phanomys por Schistomys desde la localidad de Barrancas Blancas (17,21–16,3 Ma) a Segundas Barrancas Blancas y un notable aumento en la abundancia de Perimys onustus, la especie más grande del género, en esta última localidad. El presente estudio es una puesta al día de la sistemática de los caviomorfos del RSC y pretende ser el punto de partida para entender la diversidad y la evolución de los caviomorfos durante el Santacrucense, un periodo crucial en la historia de los mamíferos sudamericanos., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The first detailed geological and paleontological survey of the Santa Cruz Formation (Early–Middle Miocene; Burdigalian–early Langhian) along the Rio Santa Cruz was carried out in 1887 by Carlos Ameghino, who recovered more than 2000 fossil remains. In that same year, his brother Florentino studied and reported these remains, recognizing 122 taxa, of which 110 were new species. Fourteen of these new species were of sloths (Xenarthra, Folivora). In this contribution we report and describe new fossil sloth remains recovered in recent expeditions (between 2013 and 2014) along the southern banks of the Rio Santa Cruz. The new specimens were recovered from two localities: Barrancas Blancas and Segundas Barrancas Blancas. We review the taxonomic richness of fossil sloths, in comparison with other Santacrucian localities recently studied, e.g , from the Atlantic coast and from the Andean region. An analysis of the original taxa erected by Ameghino is also included. As several of the original fossils on which these taxa are based are no longer available, we explore the value of the new collection in helping resolve systematic issues, as well as considering the specimens that formed the basis for the species erected by Ameghino in 1887. Further, the degree to which W.B. Scott’s systematic decisions on the Santacrucian sloths, published in 1903 and 1904, should continue to be recognized is also assessed. Key words. Burdigalian. Santacrucian. Phyllophaga. Taxonomy. Holotype. Ameghino. Resumen. LOS PEREZOSOS (XENARTHRA, FOLIVORA) DEL MIOCENO TEMPRANO DEL VALLE DEL RIO SANTA CRUZ (PATAGONIA AUSTRAL, ARGENTINA). REEXAMINANDO AMEGHINO, 1887. La primera exploracion geologica y paleontologica de la Formacion Santa Cruz (Mioceno Temprano–Medio; Burdigaliense–Langhiense temprano) a lo largo del Rio Santa Cruz fue llevada a cabo en 1887 por Carlos Ameghino, quien recupero mas de 2.000 restos fosiles. Ese mismo ano, su hermano Florentino estudio y reporto estos restos fosiles; reconocio 122 taxones de los cuales 110 eran nuevas especies. De estas ultimas, resultaron 14 nuevas especies de perezosos (Xenarthra, Folivora). En esta contribucion se reportan y describen nuevos restos fosiles de perezosos recuperados en trabajos de campo recientes (entre 2013 y 2014) en la margen sur del Rio Santa Cruz. Los nuevos especimenes provienen de dos localidades: Barrancas Blancas y Segundas Barrancas Blancas. Se analizo la riqueza taxonomica del grupo en comparacion con otras localidades santacrucenses estudiadas recientemente, e.g. , de la costa atlantica y de la region andina. Se incluye ademas un analisis de los taxones originales erigidos por Ameghino. Debido a que muchos de los especimenes originales sobre los que se han basado estos taxones ya no estan disponibles, se analiza la importancia de las nuevas colecciones para resolver cuestiones sistematicas y se consideran los especimenes sobre los que Ameghino erigio las primeras especies en 1887. Asimismo, se evalua el grado en que las decisiones sistematicas sobre perezosos santacrucenses realizadas por W.B. Scott, en 1903 y 1904, deben continuar siendo reconocidas. Palabras clave. Burdigaliense. Santacrucense. Phyllophaga. Taxonomia. Holotipo. Ameghino.

A total of 25 species of mollusks and crustaceans are reported from Oligocene seep deposits in the Talara Basin in northern Peru. Among these, 12 are identified to the species-level, including one new genus, six new species, and three new combinations. Pseudophopsis is introduced for medium-sized, elongate-oval kalenterid bivalves with a strong hinge plate and largely reduced hinge teeth, rough surface sculpture and lacking a pallial sinus. The new species include two bivalves, three gastropods, and one decapod crustacean: the protobranch bivalve Neilo altamirano and the vesicomyid bivalve Pleurophopsis talarensis; among the gastropods, the pyropeltid Pyropelta seca, the provannid Provanna pelada, and the hokkaidoconchid Ascheria salina; the new crustacean is the callianassid Eucalliax capsulasetaea. New combinations include the bivalves Conchocele tessaria, Lucinoma zapotalensis, and Pseudophopsis peruviana. Two species are shared with late Eocene to Oligocene seep faunas in Washington state, USA: Provanna antiqua and Colus sekiuensis; the Talara Basin fauna shares only genera, but no species with Oligocene seep fauna in other regions. Further noteworthy aspects of the molluscan fauna include the remarkable diversity of four limpet species, the oldest record of the cocculinid Coccopigya, and the youngest record of the largely seep-restricted genus Ascheria. Eucalliax is recorded for the first time from a seep and from the Oligocene.

The first Early Cretaceous (Valanginian-Hauterivian) ammonite fauna from the lower part of the Kokieliska Marl Formation (Wkiekly Zleb Member) of the Lower Sub-Tatric (ICrana) Nappe, in the Lejowa Valley of the Tatra Mountains are described. The fauna is precisely placed in the succession and consists of five species: Olcostephanus densicostatus, Spitidiscus cf. cankovi, Criosarasinella cf. subheterocostata, Crioceratites primitivus, and Crioceratites con iferus and additionally an aptychusDidaydamellaptychus seranonis. Remarkable are the valves of anomiid bivalves attached to body chamber of large size heteromorph ammonite C. primitivus. Moreover, a variety of stratigraphically important organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts are recovered from this locality. Dinoflagellates: Cymososphaeridium validum, Citrulodinium vermiculatum, and representatives of Bourkidinium define the Upper Valanginian-Lower Hauterivian Sentusidinium sp. A Dinocyst Subzone of the Cymososphaeridium validum Zone. The character of deposits, the palynofacies, and associations of dinoflagellate cysts indicate a calm marine outer neritic environment. Web of Science 65 4 810 799

A specialized diving lifestyle has repeatedly evolved in several lineages of modern and fossil waterfowl (Anseriformes), with the oldest previously known representative being the late Oligocene Australian oxyurine ducks Pinpanetta. However, diving specializations have never been previously documented for any of the primitive Paleogene anseriforms ( “stem-anatids”), and thus may be associated with the origin of modern anatid-like body plan. Here I describe a tarsometatarsus of a new duck-sized diving anseriform bird from the latest Eocene (late Priabonian) Kusto Svita in Eastern Kazakhstan, which predates the previously reported occurrence of diving specialization in Anseriformes by at least 6 MA. The new taxon Cousteauvia kustovia gen. et sp. nov. has an unusual and previously undocumented morphology, but partly resembles the stem-anatids Paranyrocidae and Romainvilliidae, thus representing the first known occurrence of diving adaptations in primitive non-anatid anseriforms. The evolutionary appearance of specialized waterfowl taxa in the late Eocene of Central Asia supports a view that this region might have played an important role in the evolution of morphologically derived Anseriformes. The structure of the intertarsal joint in basal and modern anseriforms is here further discussed in relation with adaptations for aquatic locomotion. The presence of elongate and evenly narrow condyles of the tibiotarsus in Anatidae and other swimming/diving birds allows a firm contact with the hyperprotracted tarsometatarsus at the initial phase of the propulsion. This morphology contrasts with the restricted condyles of Presbyornithidae, which indicate a different, strictly wading locomotory specialization. Cousteauvia obviously evolved diving specializations on the basis of a more primitive structure of the intertarsal joint.

International audience; Due to the lower fossilization potential of chitin, non-mineralized cephalopod jaws and arm hooks are much more rarely preserved as fossils than the calcitic lower jaws of ammonites or the calcitized jaw apparatuses of nautilids. Here, we report such non-mineralized fossil jaws and arm hooks from pelagic marly limestones of continental Greece. Two of the specimens lie on the same slab and are assigned to the Ammonitina; they represent upper jaws of the aptychus type, which is corroborated by finds of aptychi. Additionally, one intermediate type and one anaptychus type are documented here. The morphology of all ammonite jaws suggest a desmoceratoid affinity. The other jaws are identified as coleoid jaws. They share the overall U-shape and proportions of the outer and inner lamellae with Jurassic lower jaws of Trachyteuthis (Teudopseina). We also document the first belemnoid arm hooks from the Tethyan Maastrichtian. The fossils described here document the presence of a typical Mesozoic cephalopod assemblage until the end of the Cretaceous in the eastern Tethys.

Tanystropheidae is a clade of early archosauromorphs with a reported distribution ranging from the Early to the Late Triassic of Asia, Europe, and North America. Although some specimens with possible tanystropheid affinities from the Lower Triassic beds of Brazil have been previously attributed to “Protorosauria”, little is known about the tanystropheid record in Gondwana. Here, two new and one previously reported specimen from the Sanga do Cabral Formation (Induan–Olenekian) of Brazil are described and interpreted as ?Tanystropheidae. These records, together with other tetrapods previously reported for the Sanga do Cabral Formation, increase the knowledge of the biotic diversification during the beginning of the Triassic. This contribution reinforces that the archosauromorph diversification occurred shortly after the Permo-Triassic extinction, making the Sanga do Cabral Formation an important unit for the study of early Mesozoic faunas.

We present a systematic and phylogenetic revision of the Carboniferous–Permian subfamilies usually included within the family Globivalvulinidae (superfamily Biseriamminoidea), based for the first time on the interrelation between a morphological/structural approach (traditionally used for this fossil group) and a cladistic analysis (rarely applied to Palaeozoic Foraminifera). The systematic review of the globivalvulinid genera defines a new composition of the already existing four subfamilies of Globivalvulinidae (Globivalvulininae, Paraglobivalvulininae, Dagmaritinae, and Paradagmaritinae). The phylogenetic analysis of the Globivalvulinidae is aimed at understanding and reconstructing the relationships between its four subfamilies. The resulting phylogenetic tree is obtained by means of fifteen qualitative and one quantitative characters. The analysis shows that the Globivalvulinidae represents a monophyletic clade having the subfamily Globivalvulininae as the first taxon to branch out. The close affinity between the Dagmaritinae and Paradagmaritinae is confirmed.

The sponge body fossils from the Lutetian (Eocene) of Chiampo Valley in north-eastern Italy, Lessini Mountains, exhibit a high diversity. The fauna, comprising 32 species, was recently described in a systematic study based on museum material. Here we compare diversity measures and rank-abundance distributions between the museum material and new material from random surface collection at the original sampling site. Not surprisingly, we find that selectively collected museum material tends to have greater diversity and evenness than bulk field samples. Nevertheless, abundance rank- orders are maintained between samples. Bulk field sampling revealed hexactinellids to be strongly dominant over lithistids, which suggests a deep-water setting of greater than 200 m water depth.

The endocranial morphology of Secernosaurus koerneri (= Kritosaurus australis junior synonym), a hadrosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina, was studied using latex and digital endocasts based on three fragmentary braincases. This new information allowed describing and comparing the neuroanatomy of this South American representative of the clade for the first time. The endocast morphology is mostly complete (except for the pituitary and the inner ear regions), and most cranial nerves and some blood vessels were reconstructed. Also, some features of the inner ear were observed in the CT scans, nonetheless its incompleteness restricts further comparisons. Secernosaurus koerneri shares its overall endocranial morphology with saurolophinid hadrosaurids, indicating a conservative brain morphology for Cretaceous hadrosaurids worldwide. The novel cranial information increases the knowledge of the neuroanatomy in hadrosaurids by adding a southern perspective, since knowledge on the endocranial anatomy of the lineage is biased by species from North America. Fil: Becerra, Marcos Gabriel. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Paulina Carabajal, Ariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Cruzado Caballero, Penélope. Instituto de Investigación En Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Sede Alto Valle; Argentina Fil: Taborda, Jeremías Ramón Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina