A very large pterosaur (MN 6594-V) from the Romualdo Formation (Aptian/Albian), Santana Group, Araripe Basin, is described. The specimen referred to Tropeognathus cf. T. mesembrinus mainly due presence of a low and blunt frontoparietal crest, comparatively number teeth inclined dorsal part occipital region. Two distinct wingspan measurements for pterosaurs are introduced: maximized (maxws), which essentially consists doubling addition all wing elements length scapula or coracoid (the smaller...

A new species of pterosaur, Maaradactylus kellneri gen. nov., sp. nov. (Archosauria: Pterosauria) from the Romualdo Formation (Aptian/Albian), is herein described. The specimen (MPSC R 2357) was found at Sítio São Gonçalo, Santana do Cariri city (State Ceará, northeast Brazil) and consists skull, atlas axis, represents one largest skulls Anhangueridae Araripe Basin autapomorphies pterosaur include following characters: a premaxillary sagittal crest that relatively long high, beginning...

Abstract: The first pterosaur bone bed from Brazil was reported in 2014 at the outskirts of town Cruzeiro do Oeste, Paraná State, Southern region country. Here named 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site, these outcrops were referred to Goio-Erê Formation (Turonian-Campanian) Caiuá Group (Bauru Basin) and revealed presence hundreds isolated or partially articulated elements tapejarine Caiuajara fewer amounts a theropod dinosaur. we present new tapejaromorph flying reptile this Keresdrakon...

Fossil eggs and embryos that provide unique information about the reproduction early growth of vertebrates are exceedingly rare, particularly for pterosaurs. Here we report on hundreds three-dimensional (3D) species Hamipterus tianshanensis from a Lower Cretaceous site in China, 16 which contain embryonic remains. Computed tomography scanning, osteohistology, micropreparation reveal some bones lack extensive ossification potentially late-term embryos, suggesting hatchlings might have been...

Fossil vertebrates from Antarctica are considerably rare, hampering our understanding of the evolutionary history biota that continent. For several austral summers, PALEOANTAR project has been carrying out fieldwork in Antarctic Peninsula search for fossils, particularly Cretaceous vertebrates. Among specimens recovered so far two bones referable to Pterosauria, more specifically Pterodacyloidea, first volant reptiles be fully described. MN 7800-V (part and counterpart) was a moraine at...

Abstract Most Notosuchia were active terrestrial predators. A few semi-aquatic, or insectivorous, omnivorous herbivorous. question relative to their thermometabolism remains be answered: warm-blooded? Here we use quantitative bone palaeohistology answer this question. Two variables used as proxies infer thermometabolism: resting metabolic rate and red blood cell dimensions. Resting was inferred using primary osteon area osteocyte size, shape density. Blood dimensions harmonic mean canal...

The Wukongopteridae is an important pterosaur clade from the Yanliao Biota, combining features of basal and derived pterosaurs. So far, consists five species divided into three genera: Wukongopterus lii, Darwinopterus modularis, linglongtaensis, robustodens, Kunpengopterus sinensis. Here we report a new species, camposi sp. nov., based on almost complete skeleton (IVPP V 17957). referred to due presence elongated posterior region skull bony premaxillary crest that starts about anterior...

Powered flight has evolved separately in three tetrapod clades: pterosaurs, birds (avian dinosaurs), and bats. To meet the challenges of powered flight, tetrapods acquired structural, mechanical, physiological adaptations. Circumferential vascular canals, forming laminar bone, have been proposed to be an adaptation linked withstanding torsional loading during birds. However, whether laminarity serves as indicator biomechanical torsion remains elucidated. Through a comparative statistical...

Marsola, J.C.A., Grellet-Tinner, G., Montefeltro, F.C., Sayão, J.M., Hsiou, A.S. & Langer, M.C., 2014. The first fossil avian egg from Brazil. Alcheringa 38, 563–567. ISSN 0311-5518.In contrast to the rich record of eggs non-avian dinosaurs, complete attributable Mesozoic birds are relatively scarce. Nevertheless, several well-preserved specimens have been discovered over last three decades revealing functional and phylogenetic characters that shed light on breeding strategies extinct birds....

Because of its fossil abundance and exceptional preservation, the Romualdo Formation Santana Group has become a famous lithostratigraphic unit Araripe Basin. In past decades, much research been conducted on vertebrates this unit, especially fish pterosaurs, based mainly museum collections. Despite importance these finds, no stratigraphic information is known about them, because until recently, locals have collected most fossils. Here we present results third controlled excavation layers. The...

Among the few vertebrates that survived mass extinction event documented at Cretaceous-Paleocene boundary are dyrosaurid crocodylomorphs. Surprisingly, there is little information regarding bone histology of dyrosaurids, despite their relatively common occurrence in fossil record, and potential to gain insight about biology lifestyle. We provide first description long dyrosaurids. Specimens were collected from Maria Farinha Formation, Paraíba Basin northeast Brazil. Thin sections a right...

Júlio C. A. Marsola*ab http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5290-7884, Jonathas S. Bittencourtc http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9229-3565, Richard J. Butlerb http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2136-7541, Átila Da Rosad http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4074-0794, Juliana M. Sayãoe http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3619-0323 & Max Langera http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1009-4605a Laboratório de Paleontologia, FFCLRP, Universidade São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-901, Brazil, b School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences,...

Abstract Despite being known from every continent, the geological record of pterosaurs, first group vertebrates to develop powered flight, is very uneven, with only a few deposits accounting for vast majority specimens and almost half taxonomic diversity. Among regions that stand out greatest gaps knowledge regarding these flying reptiles, Afro-Arabian which has yielded small number fragmentary incomplete materials. Here we fill part gap report on most complete pterosaur recovered this more...

The preservation of delicate structures such as feathers is very rare in the paleontological record, due to fragility their components. Fossil have been reported from approximately 50 deposits around world, Late Jurassic Pleistocene. In Brazil initial findings consisted a primary feather large bird found Tremembé Formation. Other occurrences are preserved Crato Formation, where several symmetrical and one single asymmetrical was found. Based on three new specimens reassessing further we...

The cervical series is poorly known in several pterosaur clades despite the fact that distinct morphotypes of individual elements have been recognised. Among least neck Tapejaridae until recently has received little attention. In order to provide further data on tapejarid anatomy, we describe three specimens from Romualdo Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Brazil): AMNH 22568 comprises last five a large individual, 24445 and MN 4728-V, both including meso-cervical small individuals. Despite size...

Susisuchus anatoceps is a neosuchian crocodylomorph lying outside the clade Eusuchia, and associated with transition between basal advanced neosuchians rise of early eusuchians. The specimen MPSC R1136 comprises partially articulated postcranial skeleton only third fossil assigned to this relevant taxon. Thin sections right rib ulna have been cut for histological studies provide first paleohistological information an non-eusuchian from South America. cross-section shows thick cortex 17 lines...

A Bacia do Araripe conhecida mundialmente pelos seus fósseis apresenta excelente e bem diversificado registro de fauna flora. Com a crescente publicação novos achados paleobotânicos na Araripe, apresenta-se aqui, uma síntese toda paleoflora descrita, até o momento, fornecendo suas informações diagnósticas. da bacia é abundante, variada dominada por coníferas, contém também algumas licopsidas, pteridófitas, gnetaleanas vegetais afinidade desconhecida, incluindo angiospermas. As gimnospermas,...

The counterpart of a previously described non-pterodactyloid pterosaur with an egg revealed the presence second inside body cavity this gravid female. It clearly shows that pterosaurs had two functional oviducts and demonstrates reduction one oviduct was not prerequisite for developing powered flight, at least in group. Compositional analysis suggests lack hard external layer calcium carbonate. Histological sections femur medullary bone further demonstrate reached reproductive maturity...

A presença das lamelas circunferenciais externas (= external fundamental system - EFS ) nos ossos dos tetrápodes, indica uma finalização efetiva de qualquer crescimento periosteal significante. Embora esteja presente em alguns Archosauromorpha, a ideia um contínuo nesse grupo ainda permanece. Aqui são apresentados novos dados sobre Neosuchia, clado composto por crocodilomorfos terrestres, e suas implicações através da história evolutiva arcossauros. Utilizamos costela parcialmente completa,...

Caimaninae is a South American lineage of crocodylians widely distributed in Brazil and composed six species within three genera. Currently, there insufficient information regarding growth strategies, rates, ecology extracted from the bone microstructure. Here we present first osteohistological study both Caiman yacare an unidentified fossil Caiman. Long bones one specimen C. found at Solimões Formation (Acre Basin), were used to prepare histological slides. The microstructure shows...

The Crato Formation paleoflora is one of the few equatorial floras Early Cretaceous. It diverse, with many angiosperms, especially representatives clades magnoliids, monocotyledons and eudicots, which confirms assumption that angiosperm diversity during last part Cretaceous was reasonably high. morphology a new fossil monocot studied compared to all other Smilacaceae genus, in venation. Cratosmilax jacksoni gen. et sp. nov. can be related family, becoming oldest record family so far. single...

Abstract The Romualdo Formation (Araripe Basin) is worldwide known for the large number of well-preserved fossils but dinosaur record rather scarce. Here we describe a new coelurosaur, which first tetrapod recovered from basal layers this stratigraphic unit that consist dark shales. Aratasaurus museunacionali gen. et sp. nov. by an incomplete articulated right hind limb with distal portion femur, proximal half tibia and pes. species differs other coelurosaurs medial fossa in digits II, III...

Abstract Thin sections of pterosaur bones have not been extensively studied so far. Until now mainly isolated were the subject this type analysis. Here we present preliminary results histological analysis two pterodactyloid pterosaurs from Romualdo and Crato Members Santana Formation. The first specimen (Museu Nacional, MN 4809-V) comprises both wings (from humerus to third phalanx fourth digit) one hindlimb (tibia, fibula pes). second (MN 6527-V) consists a partial skeleton with incomplete...