Search

El Geoparque mundial de la UNESCO Orígens, situado en los Pirineos catalanes, alberga paisajes impresionantes y un rico patrimonio geológico, paleontológico y cultural. Sus paisajes cuentan con el reconocimiento internacional de la comunidad científica, que los consideran un laboratorio al aire libre único para el estudio y la comprensión de los procesos geológicos. En consecuencia, geólogos de todo el mundo, ya sean estudiantes, académicos o profesionales, lo visitan todos los años para aprender o investigar temas de diferentes ramas de la Geología.

Leviathanochelys aenigmatica gen. etsp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:28CDDCDB-AC31-45B6-98B1-448E3282A041. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2B8F389C-6437-450F-812C-E7CD8EFF07A2. Etymology. The generic name is composed of the following words: Leviathan, in reference to the Biblical marine beast, in allusion to the body size of the new species; and chelys, Latinized name from the ancient Greek Χ έλυς (“khélūs” meaning turtle in feminine gender). The specific nomination aenigmatica, Latinized adjective from the Greek noun αἴνιγμα (“aínigma” meaning enigma, conundrum or riddle) is in reference to the peculiar anatomical characteristics of its pelvis and carapace. Holotype. MCD9884. Posterior portion of the carapace including the neural plates 5–8, both left and right fragmentary costals 5–8 and a putative vertebral centra, nearly unidentifiable (MCD9884a); and a partial pelvic girdle, including: the left pubis (MCD9884b); right pubis (MCD9884c); left ischium (MCD9884d); right ischium (MCD9884e); left ilium (MCD9884f); and right ilium (MCD9884g). Type locality and age. Cal Torrades, Coll de Nargó (Lleida Province, Catalonia, North-eastern Spain). Lower part of the Perles Formation, Middle Campanian, Upper Cretaceous 35. Diagnosis. Large-sized basal chelonioid defined by the following and unique combination of characters: reduction of the costal plates ossification without a sutural contact between costals and peripherals; carapacial plate margins (costals 5–8 and neurals 5–8) finely sutured; hexagonal/octagonal neural plates, longer than wide, that prevent the costals 6–7 from contacting one another; posterior costal plates that are rectangular-shaped, much wider than long; oval articular area of the ilium, located near the lateral margin of the right costal 8; H-shaped pelvis; enlarged and flat lateral pubic process; conspicuously ornamented, textured surface surrounding the acetabular region; extremely elongated iliac neck; and the absence of carapacial scute sulci, keels, or ornamentation on the external part of the carapace, and absence of the ilium’s posterior notch. Leviathanochelys aenigmatica is further diagnosed by having two autapomorphic characters as follows: accessory process on the anteromedial margin of the pubis; and acetabulum strongly ventrolaterally directed. Nomenclatural acts. The electronic version of this article in Portable Document Format (PDF) will represent a published work according to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), and hence the new names contained in the electronic version are effectively published under that Code from the electronic edition alone. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank LSIDs (Life Science Identifiers) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix http://zoobank.org/. The LSID for this publication is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8288E740-AE81- 4F71-8931-86A730182034. The online version of this work is archived and available from the following digital repositories: PubMed Central and CLOCKSS. Description. Only a posterior fragment of the carapace is preserved (Fig. 2a,b), consisting of the remains of the neurals 5–8, and both right and left costals 5–8. The smooth dorsal surface of the carapace is slightly convex, whereas the ventral one is almost flat. No epidermal scute marks are present (Fig. 2a), and there is no evidence of keel or medial shallow depression along the medial axis of the preserved neural or costal plates (Fig. 2a). The left portion of the carapace is the most complete, being their lateral edge slightly sinuous and smooth. The preserved costal plates are subrectangular, much wider mediolaterally than long anteroposteriorly, and finely sutured (Fig. 2a). Their distal edges are slightly sinuous and smooth, which indicates that these plates would have had the lateral extensions rod-shaped to join with the peripheral plates. Viscerally, the right portion of the costal 8 preserves an oval concavity to anchor the ilium to the carapace by ligaments (Fig. 2b, Fig. S1a). The neural series only preserves four elements (Fig. 2a,b): Neural 5 only preserves its posteriormost part, neural 6 is the largest plate and is octagonal-shaped, while neural 7 is hexagonal with short sides in front, and neural 8 is represented by its anteriormost part. It is noteworthy that the neural 7 is highly reduced posteriorly, which would indicate that the total number of elements of the neural series would be equal to or less than nine. In either case, both neurals 6–7 prevent the costals 6–7 from contacting one another along the midline (Fig. 2a,b). Remains of the thoracic vertebrae attachments can be discerned viscerally in both neural plates 6–7 (Fig. 2a,b), highlighting extremely crushed vertebral centra preserved over the neural 7. As for the preserved pelvic bones (Fig. 2c,d,h, Fig. S1b–f), they form a nearly flat and H-shaped pelvic girdle (Fig. 2c,d). Both pubes are almost complete but lacking most of the anteromedial and posteromedial processes. These bones are flat, smooth, and completely fused to each other. Because of the fragmentary nature of the pelvis, it is not possible to accurately evaluate the expansion of the anteromedial pubic process. The lateral pubic process is flat, square-shaped, and prominent (Fig. 2c–f, Fig. S1b): it extends anterolaterally being deflected about 50º from the sagittal plane of the pubic symphysis (Fig. 2c). Apubic accessory process is located between the lateral and medial pubic processes, which is slightly protruding anteriorly (Fig. 2e,f): it shows a striated pattern on its surface and is slightly convex dorsally and ventrally. Due to the absence of most of the posterior margins of the pubes, it is not possible to evaluate with confidence if the thyroid fenestra was completely separated (Fig. 2g). However, it is certain that an expanded pubioischiadic bridge would have divided the thyroid fenestrae, at least partially along its medial plane, given that the area for accommodating such process is thicker than the surrounding lateral areas (Fig. 1g). The acetabular contour is oval-shaped and slightly constricted anteroposteriorly (Fig. 2d, Fig. S1b). The acetabulum concavity is completely directed ventrally, and slightly tilted laterally (Fig. 2d). Both the lateral and medial external surfaces surrounding the acetabular region are strongly ornamented with irregular anastomosed ridges. There is no posterior notch in the acetabulum. Both left and right ilia are partially preserved, but given the fragmentary nature of the right ilium, the following description is mainly based on the best-preserved left ilium (Fig. 2h, Fig. S1c–e). It preserves most of the acetabular region and the iliac neck, which is elongated, and when complete, would have reached an anteroposterior length greater than two times the anteroposterior acetabulum’s length. Ventrally, the medial margin of the iliac neck is nearly straight, while the lateral one is convex, proximally straight, and distally deflected posteriorly. The iliac neck slightly bends dorsomedially (Fig. 2h, Fig. S1c–f). Moreover, its medial, lateral and ventral external surfaces are strongly sculptured with anastomosing anteroposteriorly-oriented ridges (Fig. 2i). Both ischia are poorly preserved. In fact, only fragments of both left and right ischia, which contribute to the posteromedial region of the acetabulum, are available. According to the preserved graphic documents, it can be stated that the ischium contributed significantly to the acetabulum, and that its main body was likely projected medially (Fig. S1f). Phylogeneticrelationships. The parsimony analyses resulted in 20 most parsimonious trees of 1647 steps in length, with a Consistency Index of 0.250 and a Retention Index of 0.686 (Fig. 3). The Strict Consensus topology recovered Leviathanochelys aenigmatica as the sister taxon of the basal chelonioid Allopleuron hoffmanni (Fig. 3). Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the only common synapomorphy grouping Leviathanochelys and Allopleuron is “the attachmentof thepelvis to shellby ligaments, insteadof astrong sutural contact” (ch. 318:0) 37. However, this feature is highly plesiomorphic since it represents the typical condition for all Testudinata, to the exception of Pleurodira, Proterochersidae and, maybe also Australochelyidae 38, 39. The identification of L. aenigmatica as a pan-chelonioid is supported by the absence of contact between costal and peripheral plates (ch. 212:1), while the recovery of Leviathanochelys and Allopleuron as basal members of the Chelonioidea superfamily is established by: the absence of discernible carapacial scutes (ch. 188) 37; and the presence of apartially or completely separated thyroid fenestra (ch. 319) 37, a featurethat is also shared with Peritresius martini and Erquelinnesia gosseleti taxa. Despite being out of thescope of the present study to deeply analyse all the phylogeneticrelationships of the recovered topology, it is worth noting that our phylogenetic results located Protostegidae as stem Chelonioidea. As previously mentioned, the phylogenetic position of this group of Cretaceous marine turtles is a matter of an intense debate 5, nonetheless, our results concur with some of the most recent studies 37. On the other hand, Ctenochelyidae is recovered as members of Chelonioidea, being its location more inclusive than in other recent phylogeneticstudies 5, 11., Published as part of Castillo-Visa, Oscar, Luján, Àngel H., Galobart, Àngel & Sellés, Albert, 2022, A gigantic bizarre marine turtle (Testudines: Chelonioidea) from the Middle Campanian (Late Cretaceous) of South-western Europe, pp. 18322 in Scientific Reports 12 (1) on page 18322, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22619-w, http://zenodo.org/record/7342034, {"references":["35. Villalonga, R. etal. Largerforaminiferaandstrontiumisotopestratigraphyofmiddle Campanianshallow-waterlagoonalfacies of the Pyrenean Basin (NE Spain). Facies. 65, 1 - 23 (2019).","37. Evers, S. W., Barrett, P. M. & Benson, R. B. J. Anatomy of Rhinochelys pulchriceps (Protostegidae) and marine adaptation during the early evolution of chelonioids. PeerJ 5, e 6811 (2019).","38. Sterli, J., de la Fuente, M. S. & Rougier, G. Anatomy and relationships of Palaeochersis talampayensis, a Late Triassic turtle from Argentina. Palaeonto. Abt. A. 281, 1 - 61 (2007).","39. Szczygielski, T. & Sulej, T. Revision of the Triassic European turtles Proterochersis and Murrhardtia (Reptilia, Testudinata, Proterochersidae), with the description of new taxa from Poland and Germany. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 177, 395 - 427 (2016).","5. Joyce, et al. Anomenclature for fossil and living turtles using phylogenetically defined clade names. Swiss J. Palaeontol. 140, 1 - 45 (2021).","11. Gentry, A. D. Thenon-protostegidCretaceousmarineturtlesof Alabamaandtheirbearingontheevolutionofextantchelonioids. The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Doctoral dissertation. 1 - 282 (2020)."]}

An open natural museum using virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) methods based on geological reconstructions of the UNESCO Global Geopark Orígens territory is envisaged. The aim is to provide an emotional experience to the public for the understanding of geological and paleoecological systems, as well as their impact on landscape and human activity. To achieve these objectives, scientific reconstructions will be combined with virtual reality production technologies to generate virtual geological, paleontological and historical scenarios of 11 selected sites. The first results on the reconstruction of the virtual reality model of the Boixols-Sant Corneli anticline, catalogued as Global Geosite, are presented here. These also include timelapse 3D models restitutions with their corresponding paleogeographic interpretations, among which those of the Upper Cretaceous inhabited by the last dinosaurs of Europe. Animation production uses technologies that allow the superimposition of virtual images over real images to display on smartphones or VR glasses. These models will help to understand the evolution of the geological landscape both at the university and divulgation level and contribute to positioning the geoheritage as a tool for the sustainable rural development.

Tight fractured sandstones of the Devonian Huamampampa Formation are associated with large gas discoveries in the sub-Andean fold-and-thrust belt of southern Bolivia. A LIDAR-based fracture characterization of the Abra del Condor backlimb anticline, a structuralstratigraphic analog, is used as the basis for a fracture stratigraphy determination. Fracture characterization using LIDAR is integrated with outcrop scanlines and is framed by stratigraphy and structural positions within this thrust-related anticline. SEFL software was used to process LIDAR data, dividing the outcrop by orientations. A workflow to extract modeled fracture planes and their associated orientations, lengths, and heights results in five fracture sets, partially validated by fracture outcrop scanlines. Multiple virtual scanlines are used to measure fracture intensity, identify fracture stratigraphic units, and define fracture-associated parameters of abundance and size distribution.

An impact test of the crash of a hen egg and a computational simulation using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) have been implemented to determine the different types of failure occurred correlating with the values and the stress maps obtained in the computational simulation. The experimental procedure consists in releasing seventeen eggs from a height which determines the incident kinetic energy and hence the incident velocity while a Transitory Analysis was developed to simulate the dynamical impact of the eggshell on the floor. With the results obtained, a newly classification for the types of failure the eggshells was proposed.

Southern Pyrenees has provided an abundant fossil record of dinosaur eggs and eggshells. Historically, the oofamily Megaloolithidae has shown its predominance over any other group of fossil eggs in this region. In addition, this oofamily is world-wide distributed being represented by, at least, four oogenus and 20 oospeices. Considering that the eggshell is a high stable structure, this number of Megaloolithus‘s oospecies is too high for such a relatively short time-interval (Campanian to Maastrichtian; less than 7 My). The structural characters used to define these oospecies are critically revised. As a consequence, three structural groups have been identified, and only ten oospecies have been considered valid. Four of those oospecies have been recognized in Southern Pyrenees: M. aureliensis, M. sirugei, M. mamillare and M. baghensis. The oogenus Cairanoolithus, historically included in Megaloolithidae oofamily, is reevaluated. All evidences suggest that this type of fossil egg is, definitively, different from any other Megaloolithus. Consequently, a new oofamily is erected (Cairanoolithidae oofam. nov), which emphasizes the singularity of cairanoolithid eggs. Phylogenetical analysis also suggests that the eggs of Cairanoolithidae oofam. nov. could be laid by ornithischian dinosaurs. New oological material is described here, including the first spheroolithid oospecies (Spheroolithus oosp. nov.) from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe. Several oospecies of Prismatoolithus (Prismatoolithus oosp. nov, Prismatoolithus cf. levis, Prismatoolithus oosp. indet.) and few eggshells of ratite-morphotype (cf. Ageroolithus fontllonguensis) have been identified. In addition, the great number of specimens attributed to Pseudogeckoolithus oogenus allows re-describing and re-assigning this ootaxon to Mesozoic lizards. The space-temporal variation of the oological diversity in the Southern Pyrenees could be a consequence of environmental changes during the end-Cretaceous or even due to preferences in the nesting-site of each group of dinosaurs. Finally, biostratigraphical studies based on the successions of megaloolithid oospecies have been performed in Coll de Nargó and Àger-Tremp basins, and the European Megaloolithus succession has been updated. As a result, three oozonones have been described: M. aureliensis + Cairanoolithus oozone dates the Late Campanian, M. siruguei oozone the Early Maastrichtian and M. mamillare + M. baghensis oozone the Late Maastrichtian.

Few studies paid attention to the Permian and Triassic vertebrates from the Iberian Peninsula and a reevaluation of these faunas is needed in order to compare them with other European basins. As a first step, we present here the available data from the Catalonian and Pyrenean basins (NE of the Iberian Peninsula), offering new insights on the diversity and temporal distribution of their vertebrate faunas. The two basins have yielded unexpectedly abundant and diverse vertebrate assemblages, including fishes, amphibians and reptiles from continental and marine environments. The revision of classical finds and the analysis of new material provide data towards an understanding of the evolutionary and palaebiogeographical history of the Permian and Triassic vertebrate Iberian faunas. Permian remains mainly correspond to footprints recovered from alluvial deposits; the osteological record is scarce in the Iberian Peninsula. Early Triassic vertebrate localities are unknown. Middle Triassic faunas are abundant and reflect the change from continental environments to a wide diversity of coastal and marine depositional environments. During the Anisian, faunas are represented by footprints and skeletal remains of amphibians (capitosaurs) and terrestrial reptiles (archosauromorphs and procolophonoids). Ichthyofauna, sauropterygians, thalattosaurs and protorosaurians are known through the late Anisian and Ladinian. Finally, Late Triassic localities representing coastal environments have also yielded marine reptiles (sauropterygians) and a diverse ichthyofauna. Se han realizado hasta el momento pocos estudios de los vertebrados del Pérmico y el Triásico de la Península Ibérica y por este motivo, una re-evaluación de estas faunas es necesaria para compararlas con las halladas en otras cuencas europeas. Como primer paso, aquí presentamos la información disponible de las cuencas Catalana y Pirenaica (NE de la Península Ibérica), ofreciendo nuevos puntos de vista sobre la diversidad y distribución temporal de las faunas de vertebrados. Las dos cuencas muestran una inesperada abundancia y diversidad de faunas de vertebrados, incluyendo peces, anfibios y reptiles de ambientes continentales y marinos. La revisión de hallazgos clásicos y el análisis de nuevo material proporcionan nuevos datos para la comprensión de la historia evolutiva y paleobiogeográfica de las faunas de vertebrados durante el Pérmico y el Triásico en la Península Ibérica. Los hallazgos en el Pérmico corresponden mayoritariamente a pisadas encontradas en depósitos aluviales, siendo el registro osteológico muy escaso en la Península Ibérica. Se desconocen localidades de vertebrados del Triásico inferior. Las faunas del Triásico medio son abundantes y reflejan el cambio desde ambientes continentales hasta una amplia diversidad de ambientes deposicionales costeros y marinos. Durante el Anisiense, las faunas están representadas por pisadas y restos esqueléticos de anfibios (capitosaurios) y reptiles terrestres (arcosauriformes y procolofonoideos). De finales del Anisiense y el Ladiniense se conoce ictiofauna, sauropterigios, talattosaurios y protorosaurios. Finalmente, las localidades del Triásico superior están representadas por ambientes costeros conservando reptiles marinos (sauropterigios) y una diversa ictiofauna.