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Cranial Anatomy, Taxonomic Implications
[Palaeontology, Vol. 55, Part 4, 2012, pp. 743–773] CRANIAL ANATOMY, TAXONOMIC IMPLICATIONS AND PALAEOPATHOLOGY OF AN UPPER JURASSIC PLIOSAUR (REPTILIA: SAUROPTERYGIA) FROM WESTBURY, WILTSHIRE, UK by JUDYTH SASSOON1, LESLIE F. NOE` 2 and MICHAEL J. BENTON1* 1School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK; e-mails: [email protected], [email protected] 2Geociencias, departamento de Fisica, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota´ DC, Colombia; e-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author. Typescript received 5 December 2010; accepted in revised form 6 April 2011 Abstract: Complete skulls of giant marine reptiles of the genera. The two Westbury Pliosaurus specimens share many Late Jurassic are rare, and so the discovery of the 1.8-m- features, including the form of the teeth, but marked differ- long skull of a pliosaur from the Kimmeridge Clay Forma- ences in the snout and parietal crest suggest sexual dimor- tion (Kimmeridgian) of Westbury, Wiltshire, UK, is an phism; the present specimen is probably female. The large important find. The specimen shows most of the cranial size of the animal, the extent of sutural fusion and the and mandibular anatomy, as well as a series of pathological pathologies suggest this is an ageing individual. An erosive conditions. It was previously referred to Pliosaurus brachy- arthrotic condition of the articular glenoids led to pro- spondylus, but it can be referred reliably only to the genus longed jaw misalignment, generating a suite of associated Pliosaurus, because species within the genus are currently in bone and dental pathologies. -
Brittle-Star Mass Occurrence on a Late Cretaceous Methane Seep from South Dakota, USA Received: 16 May 2018 Ben Thuy1, Neil H
www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Brittle-star mass occurrence on a Late Cretaceous methane seep from South Dakota, USA Received: 16 May 2018 Ben Thuy1, Neil H. Landman2, Neal L. Larson3 & Lea D. Numberger-Thuy1 Accepted: 29 May 2018 Articulated brittle stars are rare fossils because the skeleton rapidly disintegrates after death and only Published: xx xx xxxx fossilises intact under special conditions. Here, we describe an extraordinary mass occurrence of the ophiacanthid ophiuroid Brezinacantha tolis gen. et sp. nov., preserved as articulated skeletons from an upper Campanian (Late Cretaceous) methane seep of South Dakota. It is uniquely the frst fossil case of a seep-associated ophiuroid. The articulated skeletons overlie centimeter-thick accumulations of dissociated skeletal parts, suggesting lifetime densities of approximately 1000 individuals per m2, persisting at that particular location for several generations. The ophiuroid skeletons on top of the occurrence were preserved intact most probably because of increased methane seepage, killing the individuals and inducing rapid cementation, rather than due to storm-induced burial or slumping. The mass occurrence described herein is an unambiguous case of an autochthonous, dense ophiuroid community that persisted at a particular spot for some time. Thus, it represents a true fossil equivalent of a recent ophiuroid dense bed, unlike other cases that were used in the past to substantiate the claim of a mid-Mesozoic predation-induced decline of ophiuroid dense beds. Brittle stars, or ophiuroids, are among the most abundant and widespread components of the marine benthos, occurring at all depths and latitudes of the world oceans1. Most of the time, however, ophiuroids tend to live a cryptic life hidden under rocks, inside sponges, epizoic on corals or buried in the mud (e.g.2) to such a point that their real abundance is rarely appreciated at frst sight. -
The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, Second Edition
MASS ESTIMATES - DINOSAURS ETC (largely based on models) taxon k model femur length* model volume ml x specific gravity = model mass g specimen (modeled 1st):kilograms:femur(or other long bone length)usually in decameters kg = femur(or other long bone)length(usually in decameters)3 x k k = model volume in ml x specific gravity(usually for whole model) then divided/model femur(or other long bone)length3 (in most models femur in decameters is 0.5253 = 0.145) In sauropods the neck is assigned a distinct specific gravity; in dinosaurs with large feathers their mass is added separately; in dinosaurs with flight ablity the mass of the fight muscles is calculated separately as a range of possiblities SAUROPODS k femur trunk neck tail total neck x 0.6 rest x0.9 & legs & head super titanosaur femur:~55000-60000:~25:00 Argentinosaurus ~4 PVPH-1:~55000:~24.00 Futalognkosaurus ~3.5-4 MUCPv-323:~25000:19.80 (note:downsize correction since 2nd edition) Dreadnoughtus ~3.8 “ ~520 ~75 50 ~645 0.45+.513=.558 MPM-PV 1156:~26000:19.10 Giraffatitan 3.45 .525 480 75 25 580 .045+.455=.500 HMN MB.R.2181:31500(neck 2800):~20.90 “XV2”:~45000:~23.50 Brachiosaurus ~4.15 " ~590 ~75 ~25 ~700 " +.554=~.600 FMNH P25107:~35000:20.30 Europasaurus ~3.2 “ ~465 ~39 ~23 ~527 .023+.440=~.463 composite:~760:~6.20 Camarasaurus 4.0 " 542 51 55 648 .041+.537=.578 CMNH 11393:14200(neck 1000):15.25 AMNH 5761:~23000:18.00 juv 3.5 " 486 40 55 581 .024+.487=.511 CMNH 11338:640:5.67 Chuanjiesaurus ~4.1 “ ~550 ~105 ~38 ~693 .063+.530=.593 Lfch 1001:~10700:13.75 2 M. -
Distant Learning for Middle School Science for STUDENTS!
St. Louis Public Schools Continuous Learning for Students Middle School Science Welcome to Distant Learning for Middle School Science for STUDENTS! Students are encouraged to maintain contact with their home school and classroom teacher(s). If you have not already done so, please visit your child’s school website to access individual teacher web pages for specific learning/assignment information. If you cannot reach your teacher and have elected to use these resources, please be mindful that some learning activities may require students to reply online, while others may require students to respond using paper and pencil. In the event online access is not available and the teacher cannot be reached, responses should be recorded on paper and completed work should be dropped off at your child’s school. Please contact your child’s school for the dates and times to drop off your child’s work. If you need additional resources to support virtual learning, please visit: https://www.slps.org/extendedresources Overview of Week 6: Students engage with the performance task Evolution of Andes where they use what they know about the rock cycle and how earth systems interact (weeks 3-5 (April 6-24) of Continuous Learning plans) to create a model of how the growing Andes could have led to the sloths living in the Amazon and write an argument about how the Andes led to the sloths using their model as evidence. Students will present their final model and argument via PowerPoint slides, essay, or poster. To access all instructional fillable pdf files, also available in print, for Week 6 go HERE. -
A New Bathyal Ophiacanthid Brittle Star (Ophiuroidea: Ophiacanthidae) with Caribbean Affinities from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Mediterranean
Zootaxa 4820 (1): 019–030 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4820.1.2 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ED703EC8-3124-413F-8B17-3C1695B789C5 A new bathyal ophiacanthid brittle star (Ophiuroidea: Ophiacanthidae) with Caribbean affinities from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Mediterranean LEA D. NUMBERGER-THUY & BEN THUY* Natural History Museum Luxembourg, Department of Palaeontology, 25, rue Münster, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6097-995X *corresponding author: [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8231-9565 Abstract Identifiable remains of large deep-sea invertebrates are exceedingly rare in the fossil record. Thus, every new discovery adds to a better understanding of ancient deep-sea environments based on direct fossil evidence. Here we describe a collection of dissociated skeletal parts of ophiuroids (brittle stars) from the latest Pliocene to earliest Pleistocene of Sicily, Italy, preserved as microfossils in sediments deposited at shallow bathyal depths. The material belongs to a previously unknown species of ophiacanthid brittle star, Ophiacantha oceani sp. nov. On the basis of morphological comparison of skeletal microstructures, in particular spine articulations and vertebral articular structures of the lateral arm plates, we conclude that the new species shares closest ties with Ophiacantha stellata, a recent species living in the present-day Caribbean at bathyal depths. Since colonization of the deep Mediterranean following the Messinian crisis at the end of the Miocene was only possibly via the Gibraltar Sill, the presence of tropical western Atlantic clades in the Plio-Pleistocene of the Mediterranean suggests a major deep-sea faunal turnover yet to be explored. -
A New Plesiosaur from the Lower Jurassic of Portugal and the Early Radiation of Plesiosauroidea
A new plesiosaur from the Lower Jurassic of Portugal and the early radiation of Plesiosauroidea EDUARDO PUÉRTOLAS-PASCUAL, MIGUEL MARX, OCTÁVIO MATEUS, ANDRÉ SALEIRO, ALEXANDRA E. FERNANDES, JOÃO MARINHEIRO, CARLA TOMÁS, and SIMÃO MATEUS Puértolas-Pascual, E., Marx, M., Mateus, O., Saleiro, A., Fernandes, A.E., Marinheiro, J., Tomás, C. and Mateus, S. 2021. A new plesiosaur from the Lower Jurassic of Portugal and the early radiation of Plesiosauroidea. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 66 (2): 369–388. A new plesiosaur partial skeleton, comprising most of the trunk and including axial, limb, and girdle bones, was collected in the lower Sinemurian (Coimbra Formation) of Praia da Concha, near São Pedro de Moel in central west Portugal. The specimen represents a new genus and species, Plesiopharos moelensis gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis places this taxon at the base of Plesiosauroidea. Its position is based on this exclusive combination of characters: presence of a straight preaxial margin of the radius; transverse processes of mid-dorsal vertebrae horizontally oriented; ilium with sub-circular cross section of the shaft and subequal anteroposterior expansion of the dorsal blade; straight proximal end of the humerus; and ventral surface of the humerus with an anteroposteriorly long shallow groove between the epipodial facets. In addition, the new taxon has the following autapomorphies: iliac blade with less expanded, rounded and convex anterior flank; highly developed ischial facet of the ilium; apex of the neural spine of the first pectoral vertebra inclined posterodorsally with a small rounded tip. This taxon represents the most complete and the oldest plesiosaur species in the Iberian Peninsula. -
Mesozoic Marine Reptile Palaeobiogeography in Response to Drifting Plates
ÔØ ÅÒÙ×Ö ÔØ Mesozoic marine reptile palaeobiogeography in response to drifting plates N. Bardet, J. Falconnet, V. Fischer, A. Houssaye, S. Jouve, X. Pereda Suberbiola, A. P´erez-Garc´ıa, J.-C. Rage, P. Vincent PII: S1342-937X(14)00183-X DOI: doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2014.05.005 Reference: GR 1267 To appear in: Gondwana Research Received date: 19 November 2013 Revised date: 6 May 2014 Accepted date: 14 May 2014 Please cite this article as: Bardet, N., Falconnet, J., Fischer, V., Houssaye, A., Jouve, S., Pereda Suberbiola, X., P´erez-Garc´ıa, A., Rage, J.-C., Vincent, P., Mesozoic marine reptile palaeobiogeography in response to drifting plates, Gondwana Research (2014), doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2014.05.005 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Mesozoic marine reptile palaeobiogeography in response to drifting plates To Alfred Wegener (1880-1930) Bardet N.a*, Falconnet J. a, Fischer V.b, Houssaye A.c, Jouve S.d, Pereda Suberbiola X.e, Pérez-García A.f, Rage J.-C.a and Vincent P.a,g a Sorbonne Universités CR2P, CNRS-MNHN-UPMC, Département Histoire de la Terre, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP 38, 57 rue Cuvier, -
Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field
Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field June 12, 2007 ABSTRACT This is compilation of a technical analysis of existing paleontological data and a limited, selective paleontological field survey of the geologic bedrock formations that will be impacted on Federal lands by construction associated with energy development in the Jonah Field, Sublette County, Wyoming. The field survey was done on approximately 20% of the field, primarily where good bedrock was exposed or where there were existing, debris piles from recent construction. Some potentially rich areas were inaccessible due to biological restrictions. Heavily vegetated areas were not examined. All locality data are compiled in the separate confidential appendix D. Uinta Paleontological Associates Inc. was contracted to do this work through EnCana Oil & Gas Inc. In addition BP and Ultra Resources are partners in this project as they also have holdings in the Jonah Field. For this project, we reviewed a variety of geologic maps for the area (approximately 47 sections); none of maps have a scale better than 1:100,000. The Wyoming 1:500,000 geology map (Love and Christiansen, 1985) reveals two Eocene geologic formations with four members mapped within or near the Jonah Field (Wasatch – Alkali Creek and Main Body; Green River – Laney and Wilkins Peak members). In addition, Winterfeld’s 1997 paleontology report for the proposed Jonah Field II Project was reviewed carefully. After considerable review of the literature and museum data, it became obvious that the portion of the mapped Alkali Creek Member in the Jonah Field is probably misinterpreted. -
Mosasaurs Continuing from Last Time…
Pliosaurs and Mosasaurs Continuing From Last Time… • Pliosauridae: the big marine predators of the Jurassic Pliosauridae • Some of the largest marine predators of all time, these middle Jurassic sauropterygians include such giants as Kronosaurus, Liopleurodon, Macroplata, Peloneustes, Pliosaurus, and Brachauchenius Pliosaur Mophology • While the number of cervical vertebrae is less than in plesiosaurs, there is still variation: Macroplata (29) vs. Kronosaurus (13) Pliosaur Morphology • Larger pliosaurs adopted a more streamlined body shape, like modern whales, with a large skull and compact neck, and generally the hind limbs were larger than the front, while plesiosaurs had larger forelimbs Pliosaur Morphology • Powerful limb girdles and large (banana sized) conical teeth helped pliosaurs eat larger, quicker prey than the piscivorous plesiosaurs Liopleurodon • NOT 25 m long in general (average of 40 feet), though perhaps certain individuals could reach that size, making Liopleurodon ferox the largest carnivore to ever live • Recent skull studies indicate that Liopleurodon could sample water in stereo through nostrils, locating scents much as we locate sound Cretaceous Seas • Breakup of Gondwana causes large undersea mountain chains to form, raising sea levels everywhere • Shallow seas encourage growth of corals, which increases calcium abundance and chalk formation • Warm seas and a gentle thermal gradient yield a hospitable environment to rays, sharks, teleosts, and the first radiation of siliceous diatoms Kronosaurus • Early Cretaceous -
Biological Properties of Brittle Star Ophiocnemis Marmorata Collected from Parangipettai, Southeast Coast of India
Vol. 5(10), pp. 110-118, October 2013 DOI: 10.5897/JMA2013.0270 ISSN 2141-2308 ©2013 Academic Journals Journal of Microbiology and Antimicrobials http://www.academicjournals.org/JMA Full Length Research Paper Biological properties of brittle star Ophiocnemis marmorata collected from Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India K. Prabhu and S. Bragadeeswaran* Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai - 608 502, India. Accepted 5 September, 2013 The classes Ophiuroidea (Brittle stars) and Asteroids (sea stars) belonging to phylum, Echinodermata are characterized by their toxic saponins content. The aim of the present observation was to study the antimicrobial, hemolytic and cytotoxic properties of crude extracts from Ophiocnemis marmorata. The antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract showed maximum zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (7.0 mm) followed by 5.0 mm inhibition against Escherichia coli and 4 mm against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Staphylococcus typhi. Hemolytic activity was high in goat blood (128 HU) in methanolic extracts. Thin layer chromatography indicates the presence of steroidal compounds in the crude sample. The brine shrimp lethality assay showed maximum mortality at 100% for of 93.6 and 95% ethanol extracts and minimum amount of mortality was noticed at 20% concentration. The regression analysis showed LC50 value of 55.3% in ethanol and 56.3% in methanol extract. Therefore, it is concluded in the present investigation that the steroidal related compounds present in crude extract were responsible for the cytotoxicity activity. Keywords: Asteroids, antimicrobial, hemolytic, cytotoxic, steroids. INTRODUCTION The phylum, Echinodermata, which comprises about phylogenetically closely related (Luigi et al., 1995). -
Additional Specimen of Microraptor Provides Unique Evidence of Dinosaurs Preying on Birds
Additional specimen of Microraptor provides unique evidence of dinosaurs preying on birds Jingmai O’Connor1, Zhonghe Zhou1, and Xing Xu Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China Contributed by Zhonghe Zhou, October 28, 2011 (sent for review September 13, 2011) Preserved indicators of diet are extremely rare in the fossil record; The vertebral column of this specimen is complete except for even more so is unequivocal direct evidence for predator–prey its proximal and distal ends; pleurocoels are absent from the relationships. Here, we report on a unique specimen of the small thoracic vertebrae, as in dromaeosaurids and basal birds. Poor nonavian theropod Microraptor gui from the Early Cretaceous preservation prevents clear observation of sutures; however, Jehol biota, China, which has the remains of an adult enantiorni- there does not appear to be any separation between the neural thine bird preserved in its abdomen, most likely not scavenged, arches and vertebral centra, or any other indicators that the but captured and consumed by the dinosaur. We provide direct specimen is a juvenile. The number of caudal vertebrae cannot evidence for the dietary preferences of Microraptor and a nonavian be estimated, but the elongate distal caudals are tightly bounded dinosaur feeding on a bird. Further, because Jehol enantiorni- by elongated zygapophyses, as in other dromaeosaurids. The rib thines were distinctly arboreal, in contrast to their cursorial orni- cage is nearly completely preserved; both right and left sides are thurine counterparts, this fossil suggests that Microraptor hunted visible ventrally closed by the articulated gastral basket. -
Phylogeny and Avian Evolution Phylogeny and Evolution of the Aves
Phylogeny and Avian Evolution Phylogeny and Evolution of the Aves I. Background Scientists have speculated about evolution of birds ever since Darwin. Difficult to find relatives using only modern animals After publi cati on of “O rigi i in of S peci es” (~1860) some used birds as a counter-argument since th ere were no k nown t ransiti onal f orms at the time! • turtles have modified necks and toothless beaks • bats fly and are warm blooded With fossil discovery other potential relationships! • Birds as distinct order of reptiles Many non-reptilian characteristics (e.g. endothermy, feathers) but really reptilian in structure! If birds only known from fossil record then simply be a distinct order of reptiles. II. Reptile Evolutionary History A. “Stem reptiles” - Cotylosauria Must begin in the late Paleozoic ClCotylosauri a – “il”“stem reptiles” Radiation of reptiles from Cotylosauria can be organized on the basis of temporal fenestrae (openings in back of skull for muscle attachment). Subsequent reptilian lineages developed more powerful jaws. B. Anapsid Cotylosauria and Chelonia have anapsid pattern C. Syypnapsid – single fenestra Includes order Therapsida which gave rise to mammalia D. Diapsida – both supppratemporal and infratemporal fenestrae PttPattern foun did in exti titnct arch osaurs, survi iiving archosaurs and also in primitive lepidosaur – ShSpheno don. All remaining living reptiles and the lineage leading to Aves are classified as Diapsida Handout Mammalia Extinct Groups Cynodontia Therapsida Pelycosaurs Lepidosauromorpha Ichthyosauria Protorothyrididae Synapsida Anapsida Archosauromorpha Euryapsida Mesosaurs Amphibia Sauria Diapsida Eureptilia Sauropsida Amniota Tetrapoda III. Relationshippp to Reptiles Most groups present during Mesozoic considere d ancestors to bird s.