A5081013515- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Geological formations and processes
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Plant and animal studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- History of Science and Natural History
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Australian Indigenous Culture and History
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
University of Portsmouth
2015-2024
University of Hong Kong
2020
University of Leicester
1985-1994
The Open University
1988-1992
Field Museum of Natural History
1986
We describe adaptations for a semiaquatic lifestyle in the dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. These include retraction of fleshy nostrils to position near mid-region skull and an elongate neck trunk that shift center body mass anterior knee joint. Unlike terrestrial theropods, pelvic girdle is downsized, hindlimbs are short, all limb bones solid without open medullary cavity, buoyancy control water. The robust femur with hypertrophied flexor attachment low, flat-bottomed pedal claws...
Fossil bones (N = 350) spanning more than 350 million years, and covering a wide range of depositional environments, were studied to compare the distribution microbial destruction features in fossil with previously published data sets archaeological age. The bioerosion is very different from that found bone sites. typically show little or no bioerosion. Under normal conditions, if survive into record, then rapid must be prevented (or halted). This conclusion suggests early post mortem...
Soft-tissues phosphatized in laboratory experiments closely resemble fossil soft-tissues, indicating that similar processes were involved. The smaller the aggregations of calcium phosphate particles precipitated greater fidelity morphological preservation. highest occurs where bacteria themselves are not replicated even though precipitation is bacterially induced. While extensive phosphatization larger carcasses, however, may necessitate build-up concentrations sediment beforehand, this case...
The geological and paleoenvironmental setting the vertebrate taxonomy of fossiliferous, Cenomanian-age deltaic sediments in eastern Morocco, generally referred to as “Kem Kem beds”, are reviewed. These strata recognized here Group, which is composed lower Gara Sbaa upper Douira formations. Both formations have yielded a similar fossil assemblage predominantly isolated elements pertaining cartilaginous bony fishes, turtles, crocodyliforms, pterosaurs, dinosaurs, well invertebrate, plant,...
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight and largest animals ever take wing. The pterosaurs persisted for over 150 million years before disappearing at end of Cretaceous, but patterns processes driving their extinction remain unclear. Only a single family, Azhdarchidae, is definitively known from late Maastrichtian, suggesting gradual decline in diversity Late with Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-Pg) eliminating few late-surviving species. However, this apparent pattern may...
Snakes are a remarkably diverse and successful group today, but their evolutionary origins obscure. The discovery of snakes with two legs has shed light on the transition from lizards to snakes, no snake been described four limbs, ecology early is poorly known. We describe four-limbed Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation Brazil. serpentiform body plan an elongate trunk, short tail, large ventral scales suggesting characteristic serpentine locomotion, yet retains small prehensile limbs....
ABSTRACT The holotype of Irritator challengeri Martill et al., 1996 from the Romualdo Member Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous) in northeastern Brazil represents most complete skull a spinosaurid known to date. now fully prepared specimen provides much new information on cranial structure these enigmatic predatory dinosaurs. is remarkably narrow, especially region elongated snout. maxillae are broad contact along midline, forming an extensive secondary bony palate. maxillary teeth have...
The laminated limestones of the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation Araripe Basin (North-eastern Brazil) are world-famous for their exceptionally well-preserved and taxonomically diverse fossil fauna flora. Whereas biota has received considerable attention, only a few studies have focused on sedimentary characteristics palaeoenvironmental conditions which prevailed during formation Fossil Lagerstätte. Nova Olinda Member represents lowermost thickest unit (up to 10 m) is characterized by...
A new genus and species of non-hadrosaurid hadrosauriform dinosaur, Brighstoneus simmondsi gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation Isle Wight. The taxon has two autapomorphies, a nasal having modest bulla with convex sides, primary accessory ridges on lingual aspect maxillary crown. dentary at least 28 alveolar positions, which highest number recorded in an ornithopod non-parallel sided alveoli, creating character combination that unique within Iguanodontia....
Abstract New specimens of pterosaurs with soft-part preservation from the Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone (S Germany) and Crato Formation (northeastern Brazil) yield hitherto unknown unexpected details pterosaur anatomy: presence internal anatomy softtissue crests, brachiopatagium, including a blood vessel system structural foot hand. Some consequences for pterosaurian flight, thermoregulation aspects evolution are discussed.
The Peterborough Member of the Oxford Clay Formation is organic-rich and contains an abundance well-preserved vertebrate invertebrate fossils. A high nutrient input supported a diverse biota. Phytoplankton was exceptionally abundant in surface water, formed basis for intricate food web both bottom waters. Top predators include some largest known Mesozoic marine reptiles. giant teleost fish analogous to modern filter feeding whales sharks. Benthic faunas depended on organic matter sinking...
The function of the exaggerated structures that adorn many fossil vertebrates remains largely unresolved. One recurrent hypothesis is these elaborated traits had a role in thermoregulation. This orthodoxy persists despite observation to point impracticality extant organisms are almost invariably sexually selected. We use allometric scaling investigate sexual selection and thermoregulation evolution crested pterosaur Pteranodon longiceps sail-backed eupelycosaurs Dimetrodon Edaphosaurus....
We describe an extensive ichnofossil assemblage from the likely Cenomanian-age 'lower' and 'upper' units of 'Kem Kem beds' in southeastern Morocco. In lower unit, trace fossils include narrow vertical burrows cross-bedded sandstones borings dinosaur bone, with latter identified as insect ichnotaxon Cubiculum ornatus. upper several horizons preserve abundant footprints theropod dinosaurs. Sauropod ornithischian are much rarer, similar to record for fossil bone teeth assemblage. The unit also...