scholarly journals A new early-branching armoured dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic of southwestern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Yao ◽  
Paul Barrett ◽  
Lei Yang ◽  
Xing Xu ◽  
Shundong Bi
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Geographic Spread ◽  
History Of

The early evolutionary history of the armoured dinosaurs (Thyreophora) is obscured by its patchily distributed fossil record and by conflicting views on the relationships of its Early Jurassic representatives. Here, we describe an early-diverging thyreophoran from the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation of Yunnan Province, China, on the basis of an associated partial skeleton that includes skull, axial, limb and armour elements. It can be diagnosed as a new taxon based on numerous cranial and postcranial autapomorphies and is further distinguished from all other thyreophorans by a unique combination of character states. Although the robust postcranium is similar to that of more deeply nested ankylosaurs and stegosaurs, phylogenetic analysis recovers it as either the sister taxon of Emausaurus or of the clade Scelidosaurus and Eurypoda. This new taxon, Yuxisaurus kopchicki, represents the first valid thyreophoran dinosaur to be described from the Early Jurassic of Asia and confirms the rapid geographic spread and diversification of the clade after its first appearance in the Hettangian. Its heavy build and distinctive armour also hint at previously unrealised morphological diversity early in the clade history.

The first potential fossil record of a dibamid reptile (Squamata: Dibamidae): a new taxon from the early Oligocene of Central Mongolia

2019 ◽  
Vol 187 (3) ◽  
pp. 782-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrej Čerňanský
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Central Mongolia ◽  
Squamate Reptiles ◽  
The Past ◽  
Early Oligocene ◽  
Fossil Material

Abstract Dibamid reptiles have a known current distribution on two continents (Asia and North America). Although this clade represents an early-diverging group in the Squamata and thus should have a long evolutionary history, no fossil record of these peculiar burrowing squamate reptiles has been documented so far. The fossil material described here comes from the early Oligocene of the Valley of Lakes in Central Mongolia. This material consists of jaws and is placed in the clade Dibamidae on the basis of its morphology, which is further confirmed by phylogenetic analyses. In spite of the fragmentary nature of this material, it thus forms the first, but putative, fossil evidence of this clade. If correctly interpreted, this material demonstrates the occurrence of Dibamidae in East Asia in the Palaeogene, indicating its distribution in higher latitudes than today. The preserved elements possess a unique combination of character states, and a new taxon name is therefore erected: Hoeckosaurus mongoliensis sp. nov. The dentary of Hoeckosaurus exhibits some characters of the two extant dibamid taxa. However, the open Meckel’s groove, together with other characters, show that this group was morphologically much more diverse in the past.

scholarly journals Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction as trigger for the Mesozoic radiation of crocodylomorphs

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 20130095 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olja Toljagić ◽  
Richard J. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
History Of ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Lineage Diversity

Pseudosuchia, one of the two main clades of Archosauria (Reptilia: Diapsida), suffered a major decline in lineage diversity during the Triassic–Jurassic (TJ) mass extinction (approx. 201 Ma). Crocodylomorpha, including living crocodilians and their extinct relatives, is the only group of pseudosuchians that survived into the Jurassic. We reassess changes in pseudosuchian morphological diversity (disparity) across this time interval, using considerably larger sample sizes than in previous analyses. Our results show that metrics of pseudosuchian disparity did not change significantly across the TJ boundary, contrasting with previous work suggesting low pseudosuchian disparity in the Early Jurassic following the TJ mass extinction. However, a significant shift in morphospace occupation between Late Triassic and Early Jurassic taxa is recognized, suggesting that the TJ extinction of many pseudosuchian lineages was followed by a major and geologically rapid adaptive radiation of crocodylomorphs. This marks the onset of the spectacularly successful evolutionary history of crocodylomorphs in Jurassic and Cretaceous ecosystems.

The first metriorhynchoid crocodyliform from the Aalenian (Middle Jurassic) of Germany, with implications for the evolution of Metriorhynchoidea

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Aiglstorfer ◽  
Philipe Havlik ◽  
Yanina Herrera
Keyword(s):  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Southern Germany ◽  
Puzzle Piece ◽  
Character Distribution ◽  
History Of

Abstract Thalattosuchia, a clade of Mesozoic aquatic crocodyliforms, were the only archosaurs that ever became fully adapted to marine ecosystems. They are represented by two clades, the semiaquatic teleosauroids and the metriorhynchoids, which include fully pelagic forms. So far, little is known on the early evolutionary history of Metriorhynchoidea and data are sparse, especially from the early Middle Jurassic. Opisuchus meieri gen. et sp. nov. a metriorhynchoid crocodyliform from the early Aalenian (early Middle Jurassic) of southern Germany, is described here. It is one of the most complete specimens of a non-metriorhynchid metriorhynchoid, and the best-preserved thalattosuchian described from the Aalenian. The new taxon is represented by a nearly complete skull, which has a unique combination of characters distinguishing it from other species of Metriorhynchoidea. It displays a mosaic of plesiomorphic and apomorphic morphological features that sheds new light on early metriorhynchoid evolution. This taxon is an important puzzle piece, which will help to better track the mosaic character distribution in Thalattosuchia.

scholarly journals A new phosphatized ophiuroid from the lower Triassic of Nevada and its position in the evolutionary history of the Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5071 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-383
Author(s):  
BEN THUY ◽  
VIVIENNE MAXWELL ◽  
SARA B. PRUSS
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Lower Triassic ◽  
Phylogenetic Inference ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Early Triassic ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
History Of ◽  
Bayesian Phylogenetic Inference

The Lower Triassic fossil record of brittle stars is relatively rich, yet most records published to date are based on poorly preserved or insufficiently known fossils. This hampers exhaustive morphological analyses, comparison with recent relatives or inclusion of Early Triassic ophiuroid taxa in phylogenetic estimates. Here, we describe a new ophiuroid from the Lower Triassic of Nevada, preserved as phosphatized skeletal parts and assigned to the new taxon Ophiosuperstes praeparvus gen. et sp. nov Maxwell, V. & Pruss. S.B. This unusual preservation of the fossils allowed for acid-extraction of an entire suite of dissociated skeletal parts, including lateral arm plates, ventral arm plates, vertebrae and various disk plates, thus unlocking sufficient morphological information to explore the phylogenetic position of the new taxon. Bayesian phylogenetic inference suggests a basalmost position of O. praeparvus within the Ophintegrida, sister to all other sampled members of that superorder. The existence of coeval but more derived ophiuroids suggests that O. praeparvus probably represents a member of a more ancient stem ophintegrid group persisting into the Early Triassic.  

scholarly journals Xiphosurid from the Tournaisian (Carboniferous) of Scotland confirms deep origin of Limuloidea

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell D. C. Bicknell ◽  
Stephen Pates
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Horseshoe Crab ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Morphometric Analyses ◽  
Lower Ordovician ◽  
Horseshoe Crabs ◽  
History Of

AbstractHorseshoe crabs are archetypal marine chelicerates with a fossil record extending from the Lower Ordovician to today. The major horseshoe crab groups are thought to have arisen in the middle to late Palaeozoic. Here we present the oldest known limuloid from the lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian stage, c. 350 million years ago) of Scotland: Albalimulus bottoni gen. et sp. nov. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis supports the placement of A. bottoni as a representative of the extant family Limulidae and 100 million years older than any other limulid taxon. The use of geometric morphometric analyses corroborate the erection of the new taxon and illustrates the exploitation of morphospace by xiphosurids. This new taxon highlights the complex evolutionary history of xiphosurids and the importance of documenting these unique Palaeozoic individuals.

scholarly journals The insights into the evolutionary history of Translucidithyrium: based on a newly-discovered species

MycoKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Xinhao Li ◽  
Hai-Xia Wu ◽  
Jinchen Li ◽  
Hang Chen ◽  
Wei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Lsu Rdna ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Geological Time Scale ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tectonic Movements

During the field studies, a Translucidithyrium-like taxon was collected in Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province, during an investigation into the diversity of microfungi in the southwest of China. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU and ITS sequences revealed that the new taxon is a member of the genus Translucidithyrium and it is distinct from other species. Therefore, Translucidithyrium chinensesp. nov. is introduced here. The Maximum Clade Credibility (MCC) tree from LSU rDNA of Translucidithyrium and related species indicated the divergence time of existing and new species of Translucidithyrium was crown age at 16 (4–33) Mya. Combining the estimated divergence time, paleoecology and plate tectonic movements with the corresponding geological time scale, we proposed a hypothesis that the speciation (estimated divergence time) of T. chinense was earlier than T. thailandicum. Our findings provided new insights into the species of Translucidithyrium about ecological adaptation and speciation in two separate areas.

scholarly journals New fossils of Jurassic ophiurid brittle stars (Ophiuroidea; Ophiurida) provide evidence for early clade evolution in the deep sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Thuy ◽  
Lea D. Numberger-Thuy ◽  
Tania Pineda-Enriquez
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
Brittle Stars ◽  
Family Level ◽  
History Of ◽  
Basal Position

Understanding of the evolutionary history of the ophiuroids, or brittle stars, is hampered by a patchy knowledge of the fossil record. Especially the stem members of the living clades are poorly known, resulting in blurry concepts of the early clade evolution and imprecise estimates of divergence ages. Here, we describe new ophiuroid fossil from the Lower Jurassic of France, Luxembourg, and Austria and introduce the new taxa Ophiogojira labadiei gen. et sp. nov. from lower Pliensbachian shallow sublittoral deposits, Ophiogojira andreui gen. et sp. nov. from lower Toarcian shallow sublittoral deposits, and Ophioduplantiera noctiluca gen. et sp. nov. from late Sinemurian to lower Pliensbachian bathyal deposits. A Bayesian morphological phylogenetic analysis shows that Ophiogojira holds a basal position within the order Ophiurida, whereas Ophioduplantiera has a more crownward position within the ophiurid family Ophiuridae. The position of Ophioduplantiera in the evolutionary tree suggests that family-level divergences within the Ophiurida must have occurred before the late Sinemurian, and that ancient slope environments played an important role in fostering early clade evolution.

scholarly journals New fossils of Jurassic ophiurid brittle stars (Ophiuroidea; Ophiurida) provide evidence for early clade evolution in the deep sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 210643
Author(s):  
Ben Thuy ◽  
Lea D. Numberger-Thuy ◽  
Tania Pineda-Enríquez
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
Brittle Stars ◽  
Family Level ◽  
History Of ◽  
Basal Position

Understanding of the evolutionary history of the ophiuroids, or brittle stars, is hampered by a patchy knowledge of the fossil record. Especially, the stem members of the living clades are poorly known, resulting in blurry concepts of the early clade evolution and imprecise estimates of divergence ages. Here, we describe new ophiuroid fossil from the Lower Jurassic of France, Luxembourg and Austria and introduce the new taxa Ophiogojira labadiei gen. et sp. nov. from lower Pliensbachian shallow sublittoral deposits, Ophiogojira andreui gen. et sp. nov. from lower Toarcian shallow sublittoral deposits and Ophioduplantiera noctiluca gen. et sp. nov. from late Sinemurian to lower Pliensbachian bathyal deposits. A Bayesian morphological phylogenetic analysis shows that Ophiogojira holds a basal position within the order Ophiurida, whereas Ophioduplantiera has a more crownward position within the ophiurid family Ophiuridae. The position of Ophioduplantiera in the evolutionary tree suggests that family-level divergences within the Ophiurida must have occurred before the late Sinemurian, and that ancient slope environments played an important role in fostering early clade evolution.

scholarly journals High resolution integrated microbiostratigraphy of the Lower Jurassic (late Pliensbachian–early Toarcian) of central Italy

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaella Bucefalo Palliani ◽  
Emanuela Mattioli
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Calcareous Nannofossils ◽  
Calcareous Nannofossil ◽  
Dinoflagellate Cyst ◽  
History Of ◽  
Global Events

Abstract. The integrated use of calcareous nannofossil and dinoflagellate cyst events in a study of the late Pliensbachian–early Toarcian interval in central Italy has yielded a high resolution biostratigraphy. The use of both the first and last occurrences of selected taxa belonging to the two phytoplankton groups allows the dating of the sediments with a very refined detail, even when lithologies are unfavourable to the preservation of one fossil group. The evolutionary history of calcareous nannofossils and dinoflagellate cysts during the early Jurassic and its links with global events are responsible for the high potential of this integrated biostratigraphy.

Provenance of Jurassic sedimentary rocks of south-central Quesnellia, British Columbia: implications for paleogeography

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan T Petersen ◽  
Paul L Smith ◽  
James K Mortensen ◽  
Robert A Creaser ◽  
Howard W Tipper
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Nd Isotopes ◽  
South Central ◽  
History Of

Jurassic sedimentary rocks of southern to central Quesnellia record the history of the Quesnellian magmatic arc and reflect increasing continental influence throughout the Jurassic history of the terrane. Standard petrographic point counts, geochemistry, Sm–Nd isotopes and detrital zircon geochronology, were employed to study provenance of rocks obtained from three areas of the terrane. Lower Jurassic sedimentary rocks, classified by inferred proximity to their source areas as proximal or proximal basin are derived from an arc source area. Sandstones of this age are immature. The rocks are geochemically and isotopically primitive. Detrital zircon populations, based on a limited number of analyses, have homogeneous Late Triassic or Early Jurassic ages, reflecting local derivation from Quesnellian arc sources. Middle Jurassic proximal and proximal basin sedimentary rocks show a trend toward more evolved mature sediments and evolved geochemical characteristics. The sandstones show a change to more mature grain components when compared with Lower Jurassic sedimentary rocks. There is a decrease in εNdT values of the sedimentary rocks and Proterozoic detrital zircon grains are present. This change is probably due to a combination of two factors: (1) pre-Middle Jurassic erosion of the Late Triassic – Early Jurassic arc of Quesnellia, making it a less dominant source, and (2) the increase in importance of the eastern parts of Quesnellia and the pericratonic terranes, such as Kootenay Terrane, both with characteristically more evolved isotopic values. Basin shale environments throughout the Jurassic show continental influence that is reflected in the evolved geochemistry and Sm–Nd isotopes of the sedimentary rocks. The data suggest southern Quesnellia received material from the North American continent throughout the Jurassic but that this continental influence was diluted by proximal arc sources in the rocks of proximal derivation. The presence of continent-derived material in the distal sedimentary rocks of this study suggests that southern Quesnellia is comparable to known pericratonic terranes.

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