The origin and radiation of mammals are key events in the history life, with fossils placing at 220 million years ago, Late Triassic period. earliest mammals, representing first 50 their evolution including most basal taxa, widely considered to be generalized insectivores. This implies that phase mammalian radiation--associated appearance fossil record important innovations such as heterodont dentition, diphyodonty dentary-squamosal jaw joint--was decoupled from ecomorphological...

All aspects of conodont paleontology rely on the identification and description homologous anatomical units or elements. But current schemes notation terms for orientation were formulated at a time when little was known anatomy skeletal architecture, resulting in some confusion difficulties their application. With improving knowledge conodonts, these problems are becoming increasingly acute.In an attempt to address problems, we introduce new conodonts elements, modified scheme notation. The...

The timing and sequence of events underlying the origin early evolution vertebrates remains poorly understood. palaeontological evidence should shed light on these issues, but difficulties in interpretation non-biomineralized fossil record make this problematic. Here we present an experimental analysis decay vertebrate characters based extant jawless ( Lampetra Myxine ). This provides a framework for anatomy soft-bodied putative cyclostomes, context reading characters. Decay results...

The success of vertebrates is linked to the evolution a camera-style eye and sophisticated visual system. In absence useful data from fossils, scenarios for evolutionary assembly vertebrate have been based necessarily on evidence development, molecular genetics comparative anatomy in living vertebrates. Unfortunately, steps transition light-sensitive 'eye spot' invertebrate chordates an image-forming jawed are constrained only by hagfish lampreys (cyclostomes), which interpreted reflect...

Abstract Areal surface texture analysis is becoming widespread across a diverse range of applications, from engineering to ecology. In many studies silicon based impression media are used replicate surfaces and the fidelity replication defines quality data collected. However, while different investigators have media, has not been subjected quantitative on areal data. Here we present results an accuracy precision with which varying composition viscosity rough smooth surfaces. Both vary...

One of the best records late Paleozoic ecosystems, Mazon Creek Lagerstätte is world famous for its striking flora and fauna preserved within siderite concretions. Distinct from other Carboniferous concretionary Lagerstätten because remarkable fidelity soft tissues pigments that are frequently preserved, has seen a revival in investigations during last 10 years using modern palaeontological techniques. However, many these build upon literature incorrectly interprets palaeoenvironment separate...

Abstract Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to evolve active flight, lived between 210 and 66 million years ago. They were important components of Mesozoic ecosystems, reconstructing pterosaur diets is vital for understanding their origins, roles within food webs impact other flying (i.e. birds) on evolution. However, dietary hypotheses are poorly constrained as most rely morphological-functional analogies. Here we constrain 17 genera by applying dental microwear texture analysis...

Ozarkodinid conodonts were one of the most successful groups agnathan vertebrates. Only oropharyngeal feeding apparatus was mineralized, and skeletal elements generally disarticulated on death decay body. Occasionally, however, they preserved in association as ‘natural assemblages’, fossilized situ after post–mortem collapse apparatus. From analysis element arrangement natural assemblages Idiognathodus from Pennsylvanian Illinois we have produced a precise scale model ozarkodinid conodonts....

Synopsis Little attention has been paid to the suprageneric classification for conodonts and existing schemes have formulated without homology, diagnosis definition. We propose that cladistics providesan appropriate methodology test existingschemes of in which explore evolutionary relationships conodonts. The development a multielement taxonomy concept homology based upon position, not morphology, elements within apparatus provide ideal foundation application In an attempt unravel between...

Understanding the feeding mechanisms and diet of nonavian dinosaurs is fundamental to understanding paleobiology these taxa their role in Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems. Various methods, including biomechanical analysis 3D computer modeling, have been used generate detailed functional hypotheses, but absence either direct observations dinosaur behavior, or close living analogues, testing hypotheses problematic. Microscopic scratches that form on teeth vivo during are known record relative...

Abstract: The anatomy and affinities of Jamoytius kerwoodi White have long been controversial, because its complex taphonomy makes unequivocal interpretation impossible with the methodology used in previous studies. Topological analysis, model reconstruction elemental followed by anatomical interpretation, allow features to be identified more rigorously support hypothesis that is a jawless vertebrate. preserved include W-shaped phosphatic scales, 10 or pairs branchial openings, optic...

Resource polymorphisms and competition for resources are significant factors in speciation. Many examples come from fishes, cichlids of particular importance because their role as model organisms at the interface ecology, development, genetics evolution. However, analysis trophic resource use fishes can be difficult time-consuming, fossil fish species it is particularly problematic. Here, we present evidence that tooth microwear based on high-resolution (sub-micrometre scale)...

Abstract Like many other important evolutionary transitions, our knowledge of the origin vertebrates is limited to windows exceptional preservation soft‐bodied fossils. Unfortunately, these fossils are rare and have been subjected complex taphonomic filters including decay, collapse distortion. To maximize ability utilize crucial reconstruct timing sequence events, we in need a robust framework with which interpret them. Here, report results series experiments designed examine patterns...

Abstract Taphonomic experiments provide important insights into fossils that preserve the remains of decay‐prone soft tissues, tissues are usually degraded and lost prior to fossilization. These among most scientifically valuable evidence ancient life on Earth, giving us a view past is much less biased incomplete than picture provided by skeletal alone. Although value taphonomic beyond doubt, lack clarity regarding their purpose limitations, ambiguity in use terminology, hampering progress....

It has long been thought that environmental perturbations were the key driving force behind succession of three distinct mammal faunas in Pleistocene Ailuropoda-Stegodon faunal complex (sensu lato) South China: lower Gigantopithecus-Sinomastodon fauna, middle fauna stricto) and upper Homo-Elephas fauna. Here, we apply three-dimensional dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) to characteristic fossil proboscideans from these provide preliminary tests for hypotheses trophic ecology. Despite a...

Fossil lobopodians, including animals proposed to have close affinity modern onychophorans, are crucial understanding the evolution of panarthropod body plan and phylum-level relationships between ecdysozoan groups. Unfortunately, key features their anatomy un-mineralized subject biases introduced during death, decay preservation, yet extent which these fossils been affected by processes post-mortem is entirely untested. Recent experimental work on chordates has highlighted a profound bias...

All aspects of conodont paleontology rely on the identification and description homologous anatomical units or elements. But current schemes notation terms for orientation were formulated at a time when little was known anatomy skeletal architecture, resulting in some confusion difficulties their application. With improving knowledge conodonts, these problems are becoming increasingly acute. In an attempt to address problems, we introduce new conodonts elements, modified scheme notation. The...

Abstract Resource exploitation and competition for food are important selective pressures in animal evolution. A number of recent investigations have focused on linkages between diversification, trophic morphology diet bats, partly because their roosting habits mean that many bat species can be quantified relatively easily through faecal analysis. Dietary analysis mammals is otherwise invasive, complicated, time consuming expensive. Here we present evidence from insectivorous bats...