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Dyrosauridae was a successful clade of marine crocodyliforms that survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene biotic crises. The most important taxon from North America is Hyposaurus rogersii, a species firs...

O trabalho apresenta o projeto “Museu em Movimento” desenvolvido durante o ano de 2019, atraves da parceria entre o Museu de Ciencias da Terra, instituicao gerida pelo Servico Geologico do Brasil e a Secretaria Municipal de Educacao da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. O objetivo foi levar a experiencia museal e o conhecimento cientifico para criancas com faixa etaria entre zero e cinco anos e onze meses matriculadas em Creches e Espaco de Desenvolvimento Infantil do municipio. A intencao, durante o planejamento, foi produzir atividades que promovessem a integracao entre as areas cognitivas, psicomotora e afetiva do dos alunos. Por isso foi dada atencao as especificidades e a fase do desenvolvimento das criancas durante a selecao do acervo e da producao do material de apoio para as acoes educativas. As atividades tiveram como tema central a paleontologia e as estrategias utilizadas durante a interacao com os alunos envolveram musicas, historias infantis, teatro, uso de fantasias e brincadeiras relacionadas dinossauros alem do manuseio do acervo de fosseis da colecao didatica do museu, especificamente um coprolito e exemplares do peixe da especie Rhacolepis buccalis. Como resultado, a itinerância do museu contemplou 1767 criancas de diversas localidades da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, inclusive, algumas areas de dificil acesso, de grande vulnerabilidade social e historico de violencia. A iniciativa demonstrou que existe um grande potencial para a realizacao de atividades de divulgacao cientifica voltadas para os alunos da educacao infantil e que um projeto de itinerância pode contribuir para a desmitificacao do museu como instituicao elitizada e inacessivel.

A recent publication of fossil bones of titanosaurs assigned to Aeolosaurini from the Morro do Cambambe site (Mato Grosso state, Brazil, Upper Cretaceous) reported anomalous growth in some of them. Here, we present osteohistological sections of elements to understand not only the microstructure and growth of such bones, but also the nature of those anomalies. Among them, we selected one cervical and one mediumposterior dorsal rib, and a haemal arch. The primary bone of all specimens consisted of a variation of the fibrolamellar complex, with the inner cortex being rich in woven bone with dispersed longitudinal canals, while the outer cortex was parallel-fibred with rows of longitudinal canals, interlayered by Lines of Arrested Growth. We identified a maximum of two Lines of Arrested Growth in the cervical rib and haemal arch, and four in the dorsal rib. The haemal arch shows an External Fundamental System in most sections. The advanced remodelling and variation of the fibrolamellar bone in the cortex suggests that all the specimens represent individuals that reached sexual maturity. However, the haemal arch was distinct due to the wide distribution of External Fundamental System. Based on the microstructure, we identified a subadult semaphoront, and probably an adult. The dorsal rib exhibited periosteal and endosteal outgrowth. Such microstructure was assigned to a reactive bone due to an intra-thoracic infection (a pneumonia, probably related to a tuberculosis), which is the first report in a non-avian dinosaur. The microstructure resembles the medullary bone recovered in dinosaurs, which suggests that further studies of medullary bone in thoracic bones should also regard the pathological cases. En una reciente publicación de los huesos fósiles de titanosaurios asignados al clado Aeolosaurini provenientes del yacimiento de Morro do Cambambe (estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil, Cretácico Superior), se reconocieron anormalidades en el crecimiento de algunos de ellos. En el presente trabajo presentamos cortes osteohistológicos de elementos para entender no sólo la microestructura y crecimiento de los mismos, sino también la naturaleza de aquellas anomalías. Entre ellos, seleccionamos una costilla cervical y una costilla dorsal media posterior, así como un arco hemal. El hueso primario de todos los especímenes comprendía una variación del complejo fibrolamelar, siendo la corteza interna rica en tejido reticular óseo con canales longitudinales dispersos, mientras que la corteza externa tenía fibras paralelas con hileras de canales longitudinales, intercaladas por líneas de crecimiento detenido. Identificamos un máximo de dos líneas de crecimiento detenido tanto en la costilla cervical como en el arco hemal, y cuatro en la costilla dorsal. El arco hemal muestra un Sistema Externo Fundamental en la mayoría de las secciones. La remodelación avanzada y la variación del hueso fibrolamelar en la corteza, se sugiere que todas los especímenes alcanzaron la madurez sexual. Sin embargo, el arco hemal fue distinto debido a la amplia distribución de Sistema Externo Fundamental. Con base en la microestructura, identificamos un semaforonte subadulto, y probablemente a un adulto. La costilla dorsal mostró una excrecencia perióstica y endosteal. Dicha microestructura se ha identificado con un hueso reactivo a una infección intratorácica (una neumonía, probablemente relacionada con una tuberculosis), que es el primer informe de un dinosaurio no aviano. La microestructura se asemeja al hueso medular recuperado en los dinosaurios, lo que sugiere que los estudios posteriores del hueso medular en los huesos torácicos también deberían considerar los casos patológicos.

The study of pneumatization along axial series of theropods is mostly based on isolated and fragmented specimens. Among abelisauroids, so far the pneumatization of vertebrae was only recognized by external aspects and the morphology of internal pneumatic structures is restricted to the observation of broken regions. Here we describe and provide μCT-scan of one vertebra recovered from the Adamantina Formation (Campanian-lower Maastrichtian) of the Bauru Group, from Brazil. The specimen (DGM 929-R) comprises a cervical vertebra, which is assigned to Noasauridae based on the anteriorly-placed neural spine and the developed centroprezygapophyseal fossae. The internal structures show regular branching pattern of septae, wide chambers with at least 3 ramifications, and pneumatic pedicles connecting wide, deep fossae of the neural arch, which are indicative of a polycamerate centrum and a procamerate neural arch. Comparisons with other internal structures revealed by tomographic studies and broken regions of cervical series of other theropod specimens show a more diverse arrangement of pneumatic chambers. In addition, a discussion of the internal camerate pneumatic morphology of previously studied theropod cervical vertebrae in the light of the new information revealed by the new material is presented.

The Solimoes Formation (lower Eocene–Pliocene), southwestern Brazilian Amazonia, is one of the most abundant deposits of reptiles from the Cenozoic of Brazil. Eight species of Crocodylia have been described from this formation, including taxa of all the three main extant clades: Gavialoidea (Gryposuchus and Hesperogavialis), Alligatoroidea (Caiman, Mourasuchus and Purussaurus) and Crocodyloidea (Charactosuchus). Here, we describe crocodylian fossil remains collected in 1974 by RadamBrasil Project. Specimens were described and identified to the possible lowermost systematic level. With the exception of the osteoderms, the associated postcranial elements were not identified. It is concluded that at least in one location there may have been co-occurrence of four different morphotypes (Gavialoidea indet., Purussaurus sp., Mourasuchus sp. and taxa of the Brevirostres clade, but not pertaining to Purussaurus or Mourasuchus), suggesting that they could have been contemporaneous, with habitat and niche partitioning

The knowledge on the Brazilian theropod fauna is hampered by the limited number of specimens unearthed so far. The most potential deposits for the finding of those dinosaurs are the layers of Bauru Group, which comprises several different formations of Late Cretaceous age. Most of those remains are referred to Abelisauroidea, a clade that is particularly well represented in Gondwana. Here we report two new abelisaurid specimens comprising a left ilium (DGM 927-R) and the distal articulation of a right femur (MCT 1857-R) unearthed from the outcrops of Adamantina Formation (Turonian – Maastrichtian) in the locality known as Santo Anastacio, that comprises an abandoned quarry located in the outskirts of the homonymous city in Sao Paulo State. The ilium has a preacetabular process horizontally oriented and ventrally deflected, as well as an acute angle between this process and the pubic peduncle. The femur shows a well-developed anteromedial crest, but not to the same degree as in noasaurids, and ossified ridges between condyles and tibiofibular crest. Those features allow us to assign both specimens to Abelisauridae. CT-scans of those specimens shows that the ilium has pneumaticities similar to the camellate pattern previously recorded in neosauropods and reveals the diverticula invasion of abdominal air-sacs. The femur presents a developed anisotropic trabecular system, which suggests that the main muscular strain is located at the distal portion of this bone. These features have not been previously reported in Abelisauridae, indicating that the internal organization of the postcranial skeleton in the group is rather complex and quite variable.

In 1940, L.I. Price and A. Oliveira recovered four crocodyliform specimens from the Early Cretaceous Bahia Supergroup (Recôncavo-Tucano Basin). In the present work, we describe four different fossil specimens: an osteoderm, a fibula, a tibia, and some autopodial bones. No further identification besides Mesoeucrocodylia was made due to their fragmentary nature and the reduced number of recognized synapomorphies for more inclusive clades. With exception of the fibula, all other specimens have at least one particular feature, which with new specimens could represent new species. The new specimens described here increase the known diversity of Early Cretaceous crocodyliforms from Brazil. This work highlights the great fossiliferous potential of Recôncavo-Tucano Basin with regard to crocodyliform remains.

We report new dinosaur bones from the Upper Cretaceous of western Brazil. Although fragmentary remains are reported since the XIX century, in this paper we describe for the first time, well-preserved cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae and one femur of titanosaur specimens. They come from Morro do Cambambe strata and show similarities with non-Saltasaurinae lithostrotian titanosaurs, such as Trigonosaurus pricei, Uberabatitan riberoi and some Aeolosaurini taxa. Although the bones cannot be sure assigned to a single individual, those elements still consist in the most complete remains recovered for this formation. The taxa described here also helps to understand some gaps in the knowledge of the Late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna from Brazil, and indicate possible faunal similarities among Brazilian Cretaceous formations.

Titanosaurian dinosaurs include some of the largest land-living animals that ever existed, and most were discovered in Cretaceous deposits of Argentina. Here we describe the first Brazilian gigantic titanosaur, Austroposeidon magnificus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous Presidente Prudente Formation (Bauru Group, Paraná Basin), São Paulo State, southeast Brazil. The size of this animal is estimated around 25 meters. It consists of a partial vertebral column composed by the last two cervical and the first dorsal vertebrae, all fairly complete and incomplete portions of at least one sacral and seven dorsal elements. The new species displays four autapomorphies: robust and tall centropostzygapophyseal laminae (cpol) in the last cervical vertebrae; last cervical vertebra bearing the posterior centrodiapophyseal lamina (pcdl) bifurcated; first dorsal vertebra with the anterior and posterior centrodiapophyseal laminae (acdl/pcdl) curved ventrolaterally, and the diapophysis reaching the dorsal margin of the centrum; posterior dorsal vertebra bearing forked spinoprezygapophyseal laminae (sprl). The phylogenetic analysis presented here reveals that Austroposeidon magnificus is the sister group of the Lognkosauria. CT scans reveal some new osteological internal features in the cervical vertebrae such as the intercalation of dense growth rings with camellae, reported for the first time in sauropods. The new taxon further shows that giant titanosaurs were also present in Brazil during the Late Cretaceous and provides new information about the evolution and internal osteological structures in the vertebrae of the Titanosauria clade.

A new species of a bizarre notosuchian mesoeucrocodylian is reported here. Caryonosuchus pricei gen. et sp. nov. was found in the outcrops of the Adamantina Formation (Campanian–Masstrichtian) in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, and shows a typical sphagesaurid dentition: strong and short teeth, obliquely implanted with the crown of the upper teeth showing a rounded anteriolabial margin and a strong compressed posteriolingual edge developed into a carina, ornamented by developed ridges and denticles. Amongst the diagnostic features of the new taxon are the presence of horn-like tubercles on the premaxilla and maxilla, never reported in this group before. The occurrence of C. pricei increases the diversity of sphagesaurids and confirms that all members of this clade, only recorded in Late Cretaceous deposits from Brazil so far, share the same dentition. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, S57–S65.

A new species of Notosuchia, Labidiosuchus amicum gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an incomplete lower jaw (DGM 1480-R) from the Upper Cretaceous Marilia Formation (Maastrichtian) recovered from a quarry near the Peiropolis municipality, Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil. The mandibular symphysis is long, strong anterodorsally projected and ‘Y-shaped’. The bizarre dentition is formed by at least eight teeth placed in a symphyseal tooth battery, some located lateral to each other. The first pair is larger than all others and procumbent. Some teeth are obliquely implanted (anterolabially to posterolingually) and have sub circular to elliptical outline. At least the posterior teeth are single cuspidate with acute apex. Labidiosuchus amicum shows a rather bizarre dentition, increasing the taxonomic diversity and potential feeding strategies of notosuchian crocodylomorphs. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, S109–S115.

The family Podocnemididae consists of 20 genera and 30 species considered here as valid and diagnosable by cranial characters. Three of these genera and eight species persist into the Recent fauna, barely reflecting the evolutionary diversity and distribution of the group. The family extends from the Late Cretaceous to the Recent and occurs in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. A phylogenetic analysis utilizes 31 podocnemidid taxa (30 named and one unnamed; a total of 37 taxa analyzed includes outgroups) in the Podocnemididae that are analyzed using PAUP. The resulting consensus of nine equally parsimonious cladograms is the basis for a new classification of the family. The family Podocnemididae is reconfirmed as monophyletic, using the unique possession of a cavum pterygoidei formed by the basisphenoid, pterygoid, prootic, and quadrate, underlain by the pterygoid and basisphenoid, among other characters. Much of our resolution agrees with that of Franca and Langer (2006), which c...

The soft tissue preserved in the holotype (IVPP V12705) of Jeholopterus ningchengensis from the Daohugou Bed (Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous) of China is described in detail. The plagiopatagium can be divided into the distal, comparatively more rigid actinopagatium and a proximal, more tensile tenopatagium. The actinopatagium extends from the wing finger to the articulation between the humerus and the forearm, and shows the presence of at least three layers containing actinofibrils. In each layer, the actinofibrils are parallel to subparallel, but this direction diverges from layer to layer. When distinct layers of actinofibrils are superimposed (owing to taphonomic compression), a reticular pattern is generated. The presence of layers with differently oriented actinofibrils is widespread in this pterosaur. A well-developed integumental covering formed by fibres (here named pycnofibres) that are thicker than the actinofibrils is present. Ungual sheaths that extend the length of the pedal and manual claws of this taxon are also observed. Although the understanding of the mechanical properties of the wing membrane is hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding the composition of the actinofibrils, the configuration observed in Jeholopterus might have allowed subtle changes in the membrane tension during flight, resulting in more control of flight movements and the organization of the wing membrane when the animal was at rest.

The record of theropod dinosaurs in Brazil is very scarce. One of the most promising lithostratigraphic units for those reptiles is the Bauru Group. The dinosaur remains found in this unit are mainly those of sauropods, while theropods are represented mostly by teeth. Here we describe a right scapula (housed at the Earth Science Museum of the Departamento Nacional de Producao Mineral/Rio de Janeiro) that is the first theropod scapula reported from the Cretaceous of Brazil and only the second osteological evidence of the Tetanurae from the Bauru Group. The specimen was recovered from the outskirts of Peiropolis, in Minas Gerais State. Comparisons with other theropod dinosaurs are limited, but the overall morphology of the new specimen indicates that it is neither a member of the Abelisauridae nor a member of the Avialae. It also differs from more basal members of the Theropoda, but its overall shape is consistent with several derived members of the Tetanurae, likely a non-avialan maniraptoran. Despite the lack of precision in its taxonomic position, the new specimen confirms the presence of non-avialan Maniraptora in the Bauru Group.

A previously undescribed toothless flying reptile from northeastern China, Nemicolopterus crypticus gen. et sp. nov., was discovered in the lacustrine sediments of the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation, western Liaoning, China. The specimen consists of an almost complete articulated skeleton (IVPP V14377) and, despite representing an immature individual, based on the ossification of the skeleton, it is not a hatchling or newborn, making it one of the smallest pterosaurs known so far (wing span ≈250 mm). It can be distinguished from all other pterosaurs by the presence of a short medial nasal process, an inverted “knife-shaped” deltopectoral crest of the humerus, and the presence of a well developed posterior process on the femur above the articulation with the tibia. It further shows the penultimate phalanges of the foot curved in a degree not reported in any pterosaur before, strongly indicating that it had an arboreal lifestyle, more than any other pterodactyloid pterosaur known so far. It is the sister-group of the Ornithocheiroidea and indicates that derived pterosaurs, including some gigantic forms of the Late Cretaceous with wingspans of >6 m, are closely related to small arboreal toothless creatures that likely were living in the canopies of the ancient forests feeding on insects.

A partial skeleton (including skull, mandible and soft tissue) of a new archaeopterodactyloid pterosaur, Gegepterus changi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning, northeast China is described. The specimen, IVPP V 11981, was collected from grey shales of the lower Yixian Formation (125 Ma) at the Sihetun locality, near the city of Beipiao. Several elements (cranial bones, scapula-coracoid) are not fused, suggesting that it probably represents a sub-adult individual at the time of death. Soft tissue is found near the posterior region of the skull, inside the orbit and associated with the gastralia. It is formed of an amorphous dark mineralized substance and does not show any particular structure except in an area at the posterior part of the skull where small, dark, unbranched fibres are present. Gegepterus changi shows synapomorphies of the Archaeopterodactyloidea sensu Kellner, 2003 (elongated mid-cervical vertebrae with low, blade-like neural spine and strongly inclined quadrate) and shares with the Gallodactylidae and the Ctenochasmatidae a concave dorsal margin of the skull. It further has a large number of thin, needle-like teeth and a long rostrum (anterior to the nasoantorbital fenestra) allowing its allocation to the Ctenochasmatidae, thus making it the first uncontroversial member of this pterosaur clade in the Jehol Group. Gegepterus changi is diagnosed by several unique features (e.g., extensive sculpturing of frontals; anterior lacrimal process overlying the nasal; neural spine with knob-like dorsal expansion) and has cervical vertebrae that combine primitive and derived features (e.g., cervical ribs, postexapophyses, lateral pneumatic foramen) that have not been recorded in any member of Archaeopterodactyloidea so far.

Background. Pelomedusoides turtles are an important group in extant fauna of northern South America, Africa and Madagascar, which have a long fossil record, with numerous records through the Cretaceous, Paleogene, and Neogene in South America. One of high- diversified clade of this linage is Bothremydidae, and its record extends from Early Cretaceous (Barreminan) to Eocene. So far, no named species from the Paleocene of Brazil were described. The single Paleocene record is a peripheral bone associated to pelomedusoid turtle from the Maria Farinha Formation (Danian), of Pernambuco State. Herein we present an almost complete shell (DGM 1310LE) from the Maria Farinha Formation, Paraíba Basin, which is the first early Paleocene South American bothremydid turtle. Methods. The new specimen have been analyzed through traditional paleontological methodology. We performed a CT scan in DGM 1310LE in search for internal bones and structures. In addition, we scored DGM 1310LE in a modified data matrix of Pelomedusoides, with 43 taxa and 175 characters, and the phylogenetic analysis were performed in TNT. Branch supports were provided using bootstrap and Bremer support. Results. The new specimen is the most complete turtle coming of Maria Farinha Formation. DGM 1310LE has seven neurals, and an incomplete neural series to suprapygal, as the most Podocnemidoidae turtles. Our preliminary phylogeny resulted in 4 most parsimonious trees of 428 steps. The strict consensus tree places DGM 1310LE as a member of Bothremydidae, which was recovered in a polytomy together with early Cretaceous turtle Galianemys. 5th Turtle Evolution Symposium Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil | July, 2015 Discussion. Despite of the almost complete nature of the DGM 1310LE, we were unable to determine if DGM 1310LE is a new species due to the lack of diagnostic characteristics. However, this new Paleocene specimen is important because it expands the record of Bothremydidade to the Cenozoic of Brazil; up to date only the Early Cretaceous genera Cearachelys and Atolchelys were recognized. Moreover, Bothremydidae shows a great diversification, occupying marine environments as well as diverse freshwater environments. Since the depositional context of the Maria Farinha Formation is considered a shallow marine environment (continental shelf), including the presence of marine taxa such as lamniforms sharks (e.g. Cretolamna appendiculata) and the dyrosaurid crocodyliform Guarinisuchus munizi, the presence of a Bothremydidae in these strata confirm the great paleoecological diversification of this family, varying from near-shore marine to freshwater environments.

Two newly discovered fossil pterosaurs from the Liaoning deposits in northeastern China add yet more known species to an already diverse population of flying reptiles. Living about 225 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, they belong to groups previously found only in Europe. An interesting aspect of the Liaoning deposits is the co-occurrence of pterosaurs and birds. The indications are that birds outnumbered pterosaurs in diversity and quantity. And that birds were confined to inland regions while pterosaurs dominated nearer the coast. New specimens and an analysis of the Jehol pterosaur faunae of northeastern China show an unexpected diversity of flying reptile groups in terrestrial Cretaceous ecosystems1,2,3,4. Here we report two new pterosaurs that are referred to European groups previously unknown in deposits of northeastern China. Feilongus youngi, from the Yixian Formation1,3, is closely related to the Gallodactylidae5,6 and is distinguished by the presence of two independent sagittal crests and a protruding upper jaw. Nurhachius ignaciobritoi, from the Jiufotang Formation2,3, has teeth formed by labiolingually compressed triangular crowns, only previously reported in Istiodactylus latidens7 from England. With these new discoveries, the Jehol pterosaurs show a wide range of groups including both primitive and derived forms that are not matched by any other deposit in the world. The discoveries also document the turnover of pterosaur faunae, with the primitive Anurognathidae and early archaeopterodactyloids being replaced by derived pterodactyloids. Furthermore, these deposits offer an opportunity to examine the interaction and competition between birds and pterosaurs—it indicates that the avian fauna during the Lower Cretaceous (and possibly most of the Mesozoic) dominated terrestrial, inland regions, whereas pterosaurs were more abundant in coastal areas.

The Romualdo Member of the Santana Formation (Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil) is famous for the abundance and the exceptional preservation of the fossils found in its early diagenetic carbonate concretions. However, a vast majority of these Early Cretaceous fossils lack precise geographical and stratigraphic data. The absence of such contextual proxies hinders our understanding of the apparent variations in faunal composition and abundance patterns across the Araripe Basin. We conducted controlled excavations in the Romualdo Member in order to provide a detailed account of its main stratigraphic, sedimentological and palaeontological features near Santana do Cariri, Ceara State. We provide the first fine-scale stratigraphic sequence ever established for the Romualdo Member and we distinguish at least seven concretion-bearing horizons. Notably, a 60-cm-thick group of layers (“Matracao”), located in the middle part of the member, is virtually barren of fossiliferous concretions. Moreover, a sample of 233 concretions shows that (i) the stratigraphic distribution of the concretions is very heterogeneous and their density varies from 0.8 to 15 concretions/m3; (ii) concretions have a preferential, bimodal orientation pattern (major NW–SE axis and secondary ≈N–S axis) throughout the section, suggestive of permanent palaeocurrents of low energy; (iii) few concretions yield the well-preserved vertebrates that have made the Romualdo Member so famous, and those are mainly restricted to four stratigraphic horizons; (iv) only six fish taxa were recovered, the most common being Vinctifer and Tharrhias, followed by Cladocyclus, whereas Brannerion, Calamopleurus (=Enneles) and Notelops are rare. No tetrapod was found in the sample; (v) there is a strong stratigraphic control in the distribution of these taxa and one can distinguish at least three major assemblages at the same locus. These are, from older to younger, a Tharrhias-dominated assemblage, an assemblage dominated by Tharrhias and by Cladocyclus, and a Vinctifer-dominated assemblage. The stratigraphic sequence of these assemblages also corresponds to their ranking in terms of diversity (richness and evenness); (vi) previous accounts on the taxonomic composition and relative abundance of fossils from the Romualdo Member were severely biased toward well-preserved and exotic fossils. They are therefore inappropriate for drawing palaeoecological inferences. The factors responsible for the variations in faunal composition and abundance patterns across the Araripe Basin remain largely unknown, and we hypothesize that climate and/or palaeogeography might be the major forcing agents. Only fine-scale stratigraphic and palaeontological investigations have the potential to solve this issue. In turn, this work marks the first step of an expanded research program that aims at explaining the spatio-temporal relationships between palaeocommunities and their palaeoenvironment in the Araripe Basin during Aptian/Albian times.

A new crocodyliform, Sahitisuchus fluminensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a complete skull, lower jaw and anterior cervical vertebrae collected in the São José de Itaboraí Basin of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The specimen is one of the best preserved crocodyliforms from Paleocene deposits recovered so far and represents a sebecosuchian, one of the few clades that survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene biotic crisis. The new taxon is found in the same deposit as an alligatoroid, a group that experienced large diversification in the Paleogene. The sebecosuchian record suggests that after the Cretaceous-Paleogene biotic crisis, the less specialized members of this clade characterized by a higher number of teeth compared to the baurusuchid sebecosuchians survived, some having terrestrial habits while others developed a semi-aquatic life style (e.g., Lorosuchus). Starting in the Eocene, sebecid sebecosuchians became specialized with a more accentuated oreinirostry as observed in Sebecus and in Langstonia, but not showing the typical reduced dentition developed by the Cretaceous baurusuchid sebecosuchians. The basal position of Barinasuchus arveloi, a high-snouted Miocene sebecid, indicates the occurrence of an independent lineage sometime after the K-Pg biotic crisis that developed accentuated oreinirostry, suggesting a more complex history of the post-K-Pg crocodyliform radiation.

A very large pterosaur (MN 6594-V) from the Romualdo Formation (Aptian/Albian), Santana Group, Araripe Basin, is described. The specimen is referred to Tropeognathus cf. T. mesembrinus mainly due to the presence of a low and blunt frontoparietal crest, the comparatively low number of teeth and the inclined dorsal part of the occipital region. Two distinct wingspan measurements for pterosaurs are introduced: the maximized wingspan (maxws), which essentially consists of doubling the addition of all wing elements and the length of the scapula or the coracoid (the smaller of the two), and the normal wingspan (nws), which applies a reducing factor (rfc) to the maximized wingspan to account for the natural flexures of the wing. The rfc suggested for pteranodontoids is 5%. In the case of MN 6594-V, the maxws and nws are 8.70 m and 8.26 m, respectively, making it the largest pterosaur recovered from Gondwana so far. The distal end of a larger humerus (MCT 1838-R) and a partial wing (MPSC R 1395) are also described showing that large to giant flying reptiles formed a significant part of the pterosaur fauna from the Romualdo Formation. Lastly, some comments on the nomenclatural stability of the Santana deposits are presented. Um grande pterossauro (MN 6594-V) da Formação Romualdo (Aptiano/Albiano), Grupo Santana, Bacia do Araripe, é descrito. O espécime é referido a Tropeognathus cf. T. mesembrinus principalmente pela crista frontoparietal baixa e obtusa, por um número comparativamente baixo de dentes e pela inclinação da porção dorsal da região occipital. Duas distintas medidas de envergadura para pterossauros são introduzidas: a envergadura maximizada (maxws), que consiste essencialmente no dobro da soma de todos os elementos da asa e o comprimento da escápula ou do coracóide (o menor de ambos), e a envergadura normal (nws), que aplica um fator de redução (rdc) à envergadura maximizada para compensar as curvaturas naturais da asa. Para pteranodontóides o rfc sugerido é de 5%. No caso de MN 6594-V, maxws e nws correspondem a 8,70 m e 8,26 m, respectivamente, o que faz deste espécime o maior pterossauro coletado do Gondwana até hoje. A extremidade distal de um úmero de maior tamanho (MCT 1838-R) e uma asa parcial (MPSC R 1395) também são aqui descritos, mostrando que pterossauros grandes ou gigantescos formaram uma parcela significativa da fauna de pterossauros da Formação Romualdo. Finalmente, alguns comentários sobre a estabilidade nomenclatural para os depósitos de Santana são feitos.

Brazilian turtle remains date from the Cretaceous and have been recovered from in 11 different basins. Two of these are of particular importance because of the richness of species and specimens: Araripe (Early Cretaceous) and Bauru (Late Cretaceous). Here we present information based on new material that adds to our understanding of the diversity of turtles from Araripe Basin and provides a basis for discussion of the taxonomic status of some species from Bauru Basin. A new specimen from the Araripe Basin that is from the Crato Formation, although generically indeterminate is proposed to be the oldest representative of the clade Podocnemidera. This allocation would extend the stratigraphic range of the Podocnemidera to the Aptian/Albian, matching that of its sister group, the Pelomedusera. New specimens from the Bauru Basin allow a better understanding of the morphology of the shell in Roxochelys and an assessment and interpretation of diagnostic features used to distinguish Bauru Basin endemic forms. Our preliminary examination of this material leads us to conclude that the diversity described in this basin is overestimated. As consequence, we argue that Bauru Basin includes only two well diagnosed species of turtles: Roxochelys wanderleyi and Bauruemys elegans.

11 Anuário do Instituto de Geociências - UFRJ Volume 24 / 2001 Um Professor de Paleontologia: Ignacio Brito (1938-2001) Diogenes de Almeida Campos Museu de Ciências da Terra - DNPM Ignacio Aureliano Machado Brito, nascido no Rio de Janeiro, em 29 de junho de 1938, filho de Gratuliano da Costa Brito e de Adelaide Machado Brito, realizou seus estudos de nível médio no Colégio Mallet Soares, tendo concluído os mesmos em 1956. Suas atividades profissionais foram desenvolvidas primeiramente como jornalista, de 1958 a 1960, como repórter auxiliar da Revista da semana e do Eu sei tudo, além de lecionar em cursos de pré-vestibular. Concluiu o bacharelado e a licenciatura em história natural pela Faculdade Nacional de Filosofia da Universidade do Brasil, em 1960, e logo ingressou na Petrobrás, fazendo, em Salvador, o curso do CENAP e obtendo o diploma de geólogo de petróleo, fornecido pela Universidade Federal da Bahia, em 1962. Apesar dos trabalhos de rotina do laboratório de Paleontologia da Petrobrás, dedicou-se ao estudo dos microfósseis do Paleozóico brasileiro. Paralelamente a suas atividades como paleontólogo da Petrobrás, ministrou aulas de Paleontologia e Geologia Histórica na Escola de Geologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, de 1962 a 1965. Deixou a Petrobrás, em 1965, e foi, como bolsista da CAPES, para a Stanford University, na Califórnia, onde defendeu tese intitulada Os Acritarcha e sua utilização na estratigrafia siluriana e devoniana do Brasil, obtendo o título de Master of Sciences, em 1966. De volta ao Brasil, foi, em janeiro de 1966, para o Rio de Janeiro, a convite de Paulo Erichsen de Oliveira ( -1969), passando a conciliar sua pesquisa com os amonitas da seção de Paleontologia do DNPM e suas aulas no Instituto de Geociências da UFRJ, ainda no largo de São Francisco. Logo deixaria o DNPM, em 1968, passando a dedicar-se às atividades de ensino, pesquisa e administração do Instituto de Geociências até sua aposentadoria. 12 Anuário do Instituto de Geociências - UFRJ Volume 24 / 2001 Nessa fase de sua vida, além de suas pesquisas (nesta altura já com novos interesses, os equinóides do Cretáceo), foi professor de geologia histórica e de Paleontologia e teve importante papel na implantação e no desenvolvimento da pós-graduação do setor de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia da UFRJ, além de ter orientado grande número de trabalhos de mestrado e doutorado. Foi aprovado em concurso, realizado em novembro de 1977, para professor titular do Instituto de Geociências da UFRJ, defendendo a tese Os equinóides fósseis do Brasil. Por sua dedicada atividade, pode, mesmo, ser considerado como a mola propulsora da pós-graduação naquele Instituto. Ocupou cargos de direção e chefia na UFRJ, tais como o de Diretor do Instituto de Geociências, por dois períodos, de Coordenador dos Cursos de Pós-Graduação, Diretor-Adjunto e Chefe de Departamento, em várias oportunidades. Pesquisador I-A do CNPq, desde 1968, foi eleito membro associado da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, em 1972. Pertencia, também, à Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia e à Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia. Participou de diversos eventos nacionais e internacionais sobre assuntos relacionados a suas pesquisas. Foi, também, o contacto brasileiro da Subcomissão do Cretáceo da Comissão Internacional de Estratigrafia. Como professor-visitante, ministrou aulas na Universidade Federal do Ceará, na Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso e na Universidade Federal da Paraíba, além de muitas outras instituições de ensino, não somente no Rio de Janeiro. Ao se aposentar na UFRJ, passou a morar em Araguari, no Triângulo Mineiro, onde veio a falecer em setembro de 2001, embora continuasse a orientar dissertações e teses e a publicar trabalhos. A Comissão Organizadora do XIV Congresso Brasileiro de Paleontologia, em 1995, prestou-lhe singela homenagem, convidando-o para plantar um exemplar de Ginkgo biloba nos jardins do Centro de Pesquisas Paleontológicas Llewellyn Ivor Price, em Peirópolis, município de Uberaba, onde foi realizado o Congresso. Publicou mais de cem trabalhos, abrangendo invertebrados do Cretáceo e do Cenozóico, microfósseis do Devoniano e Estratigrafia das bacias sedimentares brasileiras; estudou, também, os equinóides recentes da costa brasileira. Seu estilo ágil e direto, fruto de sua experiência como jornalista, entre 1958 a 1960, tornava seus trabalhos de grande aceitação entre os estudantes de Geologia e Paleontologia. Anuário do Instituto de Geociências - UFRJ Volume 24 / 2001 Homem de temperamento afável, sabia, no entanto, ser incisivo quando necessário. Foi um professor que sempre será lembrado por seus discípulos e colegas como um entusiasta pela Paleontologia e um divulgador nato da ciência. Em 2001, no ano de seu falecimento, a sessão organizada pela Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia que, tradicionalmente, realiza-se na Academia Brasileira de Ciência foi realizada em sua homenagem. Casou-se duas vezes, tendo de seu primeiro casamento três filhos, Paulo, André e Pedro. E com Lisete Fernandes Moraes Brito, sua segunda esposa, sobreviveram- lhe Fernando e Ana.

A new crocodyliform from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) Presidente Prudente Formation of the Bauru Group is described based on two almost complete skulls and mandibles. The material comes from the "Tartaruguito" site, situated at an old railroad between the cities of Pirapozinho and Presidente Prudente, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The new species, Pepesuchus deiseae gen. et sp. nov., is classified in the clade Peirosauridae on the basis of three synapomorphies: the presence of five premaxillary teeth, the anterior two premaxillary alveoli nearly confluent, and the oval cross-section of the jugal along the lower temporal bar. The new taxon increases the outstanding crocodyliform diversity of the Bauru Group, particularly of the Peirosauridae, which might turn out to be one of the most representative clades of gondwanan mesoeucrocodylians.Um novo crocodilomorfo da Formação Presidente Prudente, Cretáceo Superior (Campaniano-Maastrichtiano) do Grupo Bauru é descrito com base em dois exemplares, consistindo de crânio e mandíbulas quase completos. O material é procedente da localidade conhecida como "Tartaruguito", situada em um antigo ramal ferroviário que ligava as cidades de Pirapozinho e Presidente Prudente, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A nova espécie, denominada de Pepesuchus deiseae gen. et sp. nov., é classificada no clado Peirosauridae, com base em três sinapomorfias: presença de cinco dentes pré-maxilares, os dois primeiros alvéolos da pré-maxila quase confluentes e a secção transversal do jugal ao longo da barra temporal inferior oval. O novo táxon aumenta a marcante diversidade de crocodiliformes do Grupo Bauru e dos Peirosauridae, que poderá vir a ser um dos clados mais representativos de mesoeucrocodilianos gondwânicos.

A new pterosaur, Hongshanopterus lacustris gen. et sp. nov., from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation, western Liaoning, China is described. The specimen (IVPP V14582) consists of a skull preserved in palatal view and some isolated cervical vertebrae. Based on the labiolingually compressed teeth with a triangular crown Hongshanopterus lacustris is referred to the Istiodactylidae. It presents several plesiomorphic features such as the teeth not confined to the anterior third of the skull but extended more posteriorly, and is thus considered the most primitive member of this group. This new species also differs from other istiodactylids by having more teeth, some showing the crown distinctively directed posteriorly. Three other members of the Istiodactylidae are currently represented in the Jiufotang deposits: Nurhachius ignaciobritoi, Istiodactylus sinensis and Longchengpterus zhaoi. To those we add Liaoxipterus brachyognathus, previously classified in the Ctenochasmatidae but that also has triangular labiolingually compressed teeth, and is a potential senior synonym of Lonchengpterus zhaoi. The palatal anatomy of Hongshanopterus lacustris also agrees with previous hypothesis that considers Istiodactylidae more closely related to the Anhangueridae than to Pteranodon (or Pteranodontidae).

The discovery of a previously undescribed pterosaur,Thalassodromeus sethi, yields information on the function of cranial crests and the feeding strategy developed by these extinct flying reptiles. The material consists of a large skull (length: 1420 millimeters, including the crest) with a huge bony crest that was well irrigated by blood vessels and may have been used for regulation of its body temperature. The rostrum consists of two bladelike laminae, the arrangement of which is analogous to the condition found in the birdRynchops, which skims over the water to catch food, indicating thatT.sethialso may have been a skimmer.

Dinosaur research is developing at very high rates around the world resulting in several new discoveries that are improving our understanding of this terrestrial reptilian clade. Except for the last couple years, the studies of Brazilian dinosaurs have not followed this expansive trend, despite the high potential of several dinosaur localities. So far there are only eight described taxa, four in the last year, representing theropod, sauropod, and one possible prosauropod taxa. Except for footprints, there are no records of ornithischian dinosaurs in the country what is at least partially explainable by the lack of continuous vertebrate fossil collecting program in the country. More funding is necessary to improve the research activities in this field.

A new titanosaur dinosaur, Brasilotitan nemophagus gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Adamantina Formation (Turonian-Santonian, Bauru Basin). The specimen consists of a dentary, cervical and sacral vertebrae, one ungual and remains of the pelvic region, that were collected near Presidente Prudente city, Sao Paulo State. It shows a mandible with an ‘L’ shaped morphology, with the symphyseal region of the dentary slightly twisted medially, a feature never recorded before in a titanosaur. Brasilotitan nemophagus can be further separated from other members of this clade by: (1) the dorsal portion of the dentary symphyseal contact is broader anteroposteriorly than the ventral part; (2) the ventral portion of the cervical centrum is arched dorsally; (3) the presence of an anteriorly directed accessory prezygapophyseal articulation surface on the cervical vertebrae; (4) the intraprezygapophyseal laminae of the cervical vertebrae are ‘V’ shaped in dorsal view; and other features. Although the phylogenetic position of Brasilotitan nemophagus is difficult to establish, the new species is neither a basal nor a derived member of the Titanosauria and, based on the lower jaw morphology, appears to be closely related to Antarctosaurus wichmannianus and Bonitasaura salgadoi . This discovery enriches the titanosaur diversity of Brazil and further provides new anatomical information on the lower jaws of those herbivorous dinosaurs.