Carcharodontosaurian remains (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal

AbstractA new specimen of a theropod dinosaur found in the Upper Jurassic (Freixial Formation, late Tithonian) of the Lusitanian Basin is described. It corresponds to a single individual and includes a sequence of articulated caudal vertebrae, an almost complete right pes, and other fragments of the appendicular skeleton. The specimen includes the most complete pes of a theropod dinosaur currently known in the Lusitanian Basin and represents one of the youngest skeletal records of theropod dinosaurs currently known in the Portuguese Upper Jurassic.A systematic analysis of this specimen is performed and it shows a combination of characters that allows us to interpret it as belonging to an allosauroid taxon. Within this clade, the material from Cambelas shares a few features with some carcharodontosaurids, including the presence of a lateral lamina extending along the anterior end of the centrum in the caudal vertebra and of a low vertical crest on the lateral surface of the femoral lesser trochanter. The set of remains described here shares some unusual features with another specimen previously described in the Portuguese fossil record, which also presents some synapomorphies of Carcharodontosauria. However, no autapomorphy or exclusive character combination can be recognized in the specimen here described in order to describe it as a new form. The presence of this specimen suggests a greater diversity in the allosauroid theropod fauna from the Late Jurassic of the Lusitanian Basin than currently known and probably expands the temporal record of Carcharodontosauria up to upper Tithonian of south-western Europe.

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Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7803 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e7803 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daniel J. Chure ◽

Mark A. Loewen

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

North America ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Upper Jurassic ◽

Morrison Formation ◽

Ventral Margin ◽

Western North America ◽

Theropod Dinosaur ◽

Theropod Dinosaurs ◽

A New Species

Allosaurus is one of the best known theropod dinosaurs from the Jurassic and a crucial taxon in phylogenetic analyses. On the basis of an in-depth, firsthand study of the bulk of Allosaurus specimens housed in North American institutions, we describe here a new theropod dinosaur from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Western North America, Allosaurus jimmadseni sp. nov., based upon a remarkably complete articulated skeleton and skull and a second specimen with an articulated skull and associated skeleton. The present study also assigns several other specimens to this new species, Allosaurus jimmadseni, which is characterized by a number of autapomorphies present on the dermal skull roof and additional characters present in the postcrania. In particular, whereas the ventral margin of the jugal of Allosaurus fragilis has pronounced sigmoidal convexity, the ventral margin is virtually straight in Allosaurus jimmadseni. The paired nasals of Allosaurus jimmadseni possess bilateral, blade-like crests along the lateral margin, forming a pronounced nasolacrimal crest that is absent in Allosaurus fragilis.

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Crocodyliform affinities for Kemkemia auditorei Cau & Maganuco, 2009 from the Late Cretaceous of Morocco

Natural History Sciences ◽

10.4081/nhs.2012.119 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 153 (1) ◽

pp. 119 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriel Lio ◽

Federico Agnolin ◽

Andrea Cau ◽

Simone Maganuco

Keyword(s):

Upper Cretaceous ◽

New Genus ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Caudal Vertebra ◽

New Genus And Species ◽

Theropod Dinosaur ◽

Incertae Sedis ◽

Theropod Dinosaurs ◽

Neural Canal ◽

Posterolateral Margin

Kemkemia auditorei Cau & Maganuco, 2009 was recently described as a new genus and species of theropod dinosaur on the basis on an isolated distal caudal vertebra. The holotype and only known specimen comes from Kem Kem beds (Upper Cretaceous) of Morocco. In the present paper we review the phylogenetic position of Kemkemia and we conclude that this taxon belongs to Crocodyliformes. It shares with crocodyliforms the presence of a concavity at the posterolateral margin of neural spines, an inflated neural canal, and reduced prezygapophyses, among other traits. This combination of characters clearly distinguishes Kemkemia from theropod dinosaurs. In this way, Kemkemia is here considered as a Crocodyliformes incertae sedis, and based on the absence of unique characters, the genus and species Kemkemia auditorei is proposed as a nomen dubium.

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The largest European theropod dinosaurs: remains of a gigantic megalosaurid and giant theropod tracks from the Kimmeridgian of Asturias, Spain

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4963 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4963 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Oliver W.M. Rauhut ◽

Laura Piñuela ◽

Diego Castanera ◽

José-Carlos García-Ramos ◽

Irene Sánchez Cela

Keyword(s):

Sea Level ◽

Late Jurassic ◽

Western Europe ◽

Skeletal Remains ◽

The Other ◽

Caudal Vertebra ◽

Short Term ◽

Vertebrate Fauna ◽

Theropod Dinosaurs ◽

Theropod Tracks

The Kimmeridgian Vega, Tereñes and Lastres formations of Asturias have yielded a rich vertebrate fauna, represented by both abundant tracks and osteological remains. However, skeletal remains of theropod dinosaurs are rare, and the diversity of theropod tracks has only partially been documented in the literature. Here we describe the only non-dental osteological theropod remain recovered so far, an isolated anterior caudal vertebra, as well as the largest theropod tracks found. The caudal vertebra can be shown to represent a megalosaurine megalosaurid and represents the largest theropod skeletal remain described from Europe so far. The tracks are also amongst the largest theropod footprints reported from any setting and can be assigned to two different morphotypes, one being characterized by its robustness and a weak mesaxony, and the other characterized by a strong mesaxony, representing a more gracile trackmaker. We discuss the recently proposed distinction between robust and gracile large to giant theropod tracks and their possible trackmakers during the Late Jurassic-Berriasian. In the absence of complete pedal skeletons of most basal tetanurans, the identity of the maker of Jurassic giant theropod tracks is difficult to establish. However, the notable robustness of megalosaurine megalosaurids fits well with the described robust morphotypes, whereas more slender large theropod tracks might have been made by a variety of basal tetanurans, including allosaurids, metriocanthosaurids or afrovenatorine megalosaurids, or even exceptionally large ceratosaurs. Concerning osteological remains of large theropods from the Late Jurassic of Europe, megalosaurids seem to be more abundant than previously recognized and occur in basically all Jurassic deposits where theropod remains have been found, whereas allosauroids seem to be represented by allosaurids in Western Europe and metriacanthosaurids in more eastern areas. Short-term fluctuations in sea level might have allowed exchange of large theropods between the islands that constituted Europe during the Late Jurassic.

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The earliest known titanosauriform sauropod dinosaur and the evolution of Brachiosauridae

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.3217 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e3217 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Philip D. Mannion ◽

Ronan Allain ◽

Olivier Moine

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Late Jurassic ◽

Western Europe ◽

Data Matrix ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Appendicular Skeleton ◽

South American ◽

Single Individual ◽

The Usa ◽

Almost All

Brachiosauridae is a clade of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaurs that includes the well-known Late Jurassic taxaBrachiosaurusandGiraffatitan. However, there is disagreement over the brachiosaurid affinities of most other taxa, and little consensus regarding the clade’s composition or inter-relationships. An unnamed partial sauropod skeleton was collected from middle–late Oxfordian (early Late Jurassic) deposits in Damparis, in the Jura department of eastern France, in 1934. Since its brief description in 1943, this specimen has been informally known in the literature as the ‘Damparis sauropod’ and ‘FrenchBothriospondylus’, and has been considered a brachiosaurid by most authors. If correctly identified, this would make the specimen the earliest known titanosauriform. Coupled with its relatively complete nature and the rarity of Oxfordian sauropod remains in general, this is an important specimen for understanding the early evolution of Titanosauriformes. Full preparation and description of this specimen, known from teeth, vertebrae and most of the appendicular skeleton of a single individual, recognises it as a distinct taxon:Vouivria damparisensisgen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of a data matrix comprising 77 taxa (including all putative brachiosaurids) scored for 416 characters recovers a fairly well resolved Brachiosauridae.Vouivriais a basal brachiosaurid, confirming its status as the stratigraphically oldest known titanosauriform. Brachiosauridae consists of a paraphyletic array of Late Jurassic forms, withEuropasaurus,VouivriaandBrachiosaurusrecovered as successively more nested genera that lie outside of a clade comprising (Giraffatitan+Sonorasaurus) + (Lusotitan+ (Cedarosaurus+Venenosaurus)).Abydosaurusforms an unresolved polytomy with the latter five taxa. The Early Cretaceous South American sauropodPadillasauruswas previously regarded as a brachiosaurid, but is here placed within Somphospondyli. A recent study contended that a number of characters used in a previous iteration of this data matrix are ‘biologically related’, and thus should be excluded from phylogenetic analysis. We demonstrate that almost all of these characters show variation between taxa, and implementation of sensitivity analyses, in which these characters are excluded, has no effect on tree topology or resolution. We argue that where there is morphological variation, this should be captured, rather than ignored. Unambiguous brachiosaurid remains are known only from the USA, western Europe and Africa, and the clade spanned the Late Jurassic through to the late Albian/early Cenomanian, with the last known occurrences all from the USA. Regardless of whether their absence from the Cretaceous of Europe, as well as other regions entirely, reflects regional extinctions and genuine absences, or sampling artefacts, brachiosaurids appear to have become globally extinct by the earliest Late Cretaceous.

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Late Jurassic theropod dinosaur bones from the Langenberg Quarry (Lower Saxony, Germany) provide evidence for several theropod lineages in the central European archipelago

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8437 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8437

Author(s):

Serjoscha W. Evers ◽

Oliver Wings

Keyword(s):

Late Jurassic ◽

Proximal Part ◽

Caudal Vertebra ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Theropod Dinosaur ◽

Central European ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

Theropod Dinosaurs ◽

Taxonomic Range ◽

First Time

Marine limestones and marls in the Langenberg Quarry provide unique insights into a Late Jurassic island ecosystem in central Europe. The beds yield a varied assemblage of terrestrial vertebrates including extremely rare bones of theropod from theropod dinosaurs, which we describe here for the first time. All of the theropod bones belong to relatively small individuals but represent a wide taxonomic range. The material comprises an allosauroid small pedal ungual and pedal phalanx, a ceratosaurian anterior chevron, a left fibula of a megalosauroid, and a distal caudal vertebra of a tetanuran. Additionally, a small pedal phalanx III-1 and the proximal part of a small right fibula can be assigned to indeterminate theropods. The ontogenetic stages of the material are currently unknown, although the assignment of some of the bones to juvenile individuals is plausible. The finds confirm the presence of several taxa of theropod dinosaurs in the archipelago and add to our growing understanding of theropod diversity and evolution during the Late Jurassic of Europe.

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Parataxonomic classification of ornithoid eggshell fragments from the Oldman Formation (Judith River Group; Upper Cretaceous), southern Alberta

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e96-126 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 33 (12) ◽

pp. 1655-1667 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Darla K. Zelenitsky ◽

L. V. Hills ◽

Philip J. Currie

Keyword(s):

Late Cretaceous ◽

Shell Thickness ◽

Upper Cretaceous ◽

Theropod Dinosaur ◽

Surface Sculpture ◽

External Zone ◽

Theropod Dinosaurs ◽

Southern Alberta ◽

The Family

Examination of a large number of eggshell fragments collected from the Oldman Formation of southern Alberta reveals a greater ootaxonomic diversity than is known from complete eggs or clutches. Three new oogenera and oospecies of the ornithoid-ratite morphotype and one of the ornithoid-prismatic morphotype are established, based on the eggshell fragments. Porituberoolithus warnerensis oogen. et oosp. nov. and Continuoolithus canadensis oogen. et oosp. nov. have a microstructure similar to that of elongatoolithid eggs of theropod dinosaurs. Tristraguloolithus cracioides oogen. et oosp. nov. and Dispersituberoolithus exilis oogen. et oosp. nov. possess an external zone and thus have a microstructure like modern avian eggshell. Tristraguloolithus has a shell thickness, microstructure, and surface sculpture similar to those of recent bird eggshell of the family Cracidae (order Galliformes). Dispersituberoolithus exhibits the primitive or normal eggshell condition of some recent neognathous avian taxa. The ootaxa described indicate a diversity of both avian and theropod dinosaur egg layers within Devil's Coulee and Knight's Ranch, southern Alberta, during the Late Cretaceous.

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Caudofemoral musculature and the evolution of theropod locomotion

Paleobiology ◽

10.1017/s0094837300009866 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 170-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 160

Author(s):

Stephen M. Gatesy

Keyword(s):

Knee Flexion ◽

Hind Limb ◽

The Body ◽

Avian Evolution ◽

Theropod Dinosaurs ◽

Data Support ◽

Caudal Vertebrae ◽

Longus Muscle

Living crocodilians and limbed lepidosaurs have a large caudofemoralis longus muscle passing from tail to femur. Anatomical and electromyographic data support the conclusion that the caudofemoralis is the principal femoral retractor and thus serves as the primary propulsive muscle of the hind limb. Osteological evidence of both origin and insertion indicates that a substantial caudofemoralis longus was present in archosaurs primitively and was retained in the clades Dinosauria and Theropoda. Derived theropods (e.g., ornithomimids, deinonychosaurs, Archaeopteryx and birds) exhibit features that indicate a reduction in caudofemoral musculature, including fewer caudal vertebrae, diminished caudal transverse processes, distal specialization of the tail, and loss of the fourth trochanter. This trend culminates in ornithurine birds, which have greatly reduced tails and either have a minute caudofemoralis longus or lack the muscle entirely.As derived theropod dinosaurs, birds represent the best living model for reconstructing extinct nonavian theropods. Bipedal, digitigrade locomotion on fully erect limbs is an avian feature inherited from theropod ancestors. However, the primitive saurian mechanisms of balancing the body (with a large tail) and retracting the limb (with the caudofemoralis longus) were abandoned in the course of avian evolution. This strongly suggests that details of the orientation (subhorizontal femur) and movement (primarily knee flexion) of the hind limb in extant birds are more properly viewed as derived, uniquely avian conditions, rather than as retentions of an ancestral dinosaurian pattern. Although many characters often associated with extant birds appeared much earlier in theropod evolution, reconstructing the locomotion of all theropods as completely birdlike ignores a wealth of differences that characterize birds.

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Changes in disease burden in Poland, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the GBD Study 2017

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz187.081 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

M Ganczak ◽

T Miazgowski ◽

M Kozybska ◽

A Kotwas ◽

M Korzeń ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Disease Burden ◽

Western Europe ◽

Alcohol Use Disorders ◽

Gender Inequalities ◽

Systematic Analysis ◽

Study Objective ◽

Integrated Response ◽

Better Than ◽

Circulatory Diseases

Abstract Background In Poland, a comprehensive analysis describing trends in disease burden for major conditions has never been published. The study objective was to use the GBD database to assess disease burden in Poland, evaluate changes in population health between 1990-2017, and compare Poland with other Central European (CE) countries. Methods The results of GBD 2017 for 1990 and 2017 for Poland were used to assess rates and trends in years YLLs, YLDs, DALYs. Results Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardized YLL rates for all causes declined in Poland by 46.0%, YLD rates declined by 4.0%, and DALY rates by 31.7%. Greater relative declines were observed for females regarding YLLs/YLDs. There was a decrease in communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional disease DALYs (48.2%); DALYs due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) decreased 2.0%. In 2017, Poland performed better than CE as a whole (ranked 4th for YLLs, 6th for YLDs and 5th for DALYs) and achieved greater reductions in YLLs and DALYs than most CE countries. In both 2017 and 1990, the leading cause of YLLs and DALYs in Poland was ischemic heart disease (IHD), of YLDs - low back pain. In 2017, the top 20 causes of YLLs and YLDs in Poland and CE were the same, although the order was different. In Poland, age-standardized DALYs from neonatal causes, other cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, and road injuries declined substantially between 1990 and 2017, while alcohol use disorders and chronic liver diseases increased. The highest observed-to-expected ratios (OER) were seen for alcohol use disorders for YLLs, neonatal sepsis for YLDs, and falls for DALYs (3.21, 2.65 and 2.03 respectively). Conclusions Improvement in Health in Poland has been observed since 1990. In 2017 the country outperformed CE as a whole for YLLs, YLDs and DALYs. While the health gap between Poland and Western Europe has diminished, it remains substantial. IHD is still the leading cause of disease burden in Poland, but DALYs from IHD are declining. Key messages In the light of dramatic shortage/aging of the workforce and low public health expenditure, the observed rise in NCDs and between-gender inequalities pose a challenge for the Polish health-care system. To minimize the gap between Poland and Western Europe, an integrated response, which addresses the causes of death and ill-health, particularly those for which rates have increased, is urgently needed.

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