A5066392069- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Plant and animal studies
- Optics and Image Analysis
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Marine animal studies overview
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Nuclear materials and radiation effects
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Avian ecology and behavior
Queen Mary University of London
2016-2025
University of Exeter
2020
University of Algarve
2020
University of Bristol
2004-2015
Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
2008-2014
University College Dublin
2011-2013
Chinese Academy of Sciences
2008-2011
Yahoo (United Kingdom)
2010
Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie
2007-2008
The observed diversity of dinosaurs reached its highest peak during the mid- and Late Cretaceous, 50 Myr that preceded their extinction, yet this explosion dinosaur may be explained largely by sampling bias. It has long been debated whether were part Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution (KTR), from 125–80 ago, when flowering plants, herbivorous social insects, squamates, birds mammals all underwent a rapid expansion. Although an apparent occurred in mid-Cretaceous, coinciding with emergence new...
ABSTRACT The Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of northeastern China has become famous over the last two decades as a source feathered avialan and non-avialan theropods, preserved alongside an array other fossil vertebrates, invertebrates, plants. Still more recently, rich assemblage referred to in this paper Daohugou begun emerge from Jurassic strata same region. Like their counterparts Biota, vertebrate specimens are typically fine-grained lacustrine beds often retain feathers soft-tissue...
Cranial ornamentation is widespread throughout the extinct non-avialian Ornithodira, being present Pterosauria, Ornithischia and Saurischia. Ornaments take many forms, can be composed of at least a dozen different skull bones, indicating multiple origins. Many these crests serve no clear survival function it has been suggested that their primary use was for species recognition or sexual display. The distribution within Ornithodira form position suggest selection as key factor, although role...
Hone, D.W.E. & Rauhut, O.W.M. 2009: Feeding behaviour and bone utilization by theropod dinosaurs. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 232–244. Examples of exploitation carnivorous dinosaurs are relatively rare, representing an apparent waste both mineral energetic resources. A review the known incidences possible ecological implications use concludes that there is currently no definitive evidence supporting regular deliberate ingestion these predators. However, further investigation required as small...
The soft tissue preserved in the holotype (IVPP V12705) of Jeholopterus ningchengensis from Daohugou Bed (Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous) China is described detail. plagiopatagium can be divided into distal, comparatively more rigid actinopagatium and a proximal, tensile tenopatagium. actinopatagium extends wing finger to articulation between humerus forearm, shows presence at least three layers containing actinofibrils. In each layer, actinofibrils are parallel subparallel, but this...
The distribution of species body size is critically important for determining resource use within a group or clade. It widely known that non-avian dinosaurs were the largest creatures to roam Earth. There is, however, little understanding how maximum was distributed among dinosaurs. Do they share similar modern day vertebrate groups in spite their large size, did exhibit fundamentally different distributions due unique evolutionary pressures and adaptations? Here, we address this question by...
Pedal claw geometry can be used to predict behaviour in extant tetrapods and has frequently been as an indicator of lifestyle ecology Mesozoic birds other fossil reptiles, sometimes without acknowledgement the caveat that data from aspects morphology proportions also need considered. Variation styles measurement (both inner outer curvature angles) made it difficult compare results across studies, have over-simplified ecological categories. We sought increase sample size a new analysis...
The giant theropod Spinosaurus was an unusual animal and highly derived in many ways, interpretations of its ecology remain controversial.Recent papers have added considerable knowledge the anatomy genus with discovery a new much more complete specimen, but this has also brought dramatic as specialised semi-aquatic that actively pursued aquatic prey.Here we assess arguments about functional morphology available data on possible habits light these finds.We conclude based data, degree...
Spinosaurids are among the most distinctive and yet poorly-known of large-bodied theropod dinosaurs, a situation exacerbated by their mostly fragmentary fossil record competing views regarding palaeobiology. Here, we report two new Early Cretaceous spinosaurid specimens from Wessex Formation (Barremian) Isle Wight. Large-scale phylogenetic analyses using parsimony Bayesian techniques recover pair in clade within Baryonychinae that also includes hypodigm African Suchomimus. Both represent...
Rhamphorhynchus is one of the best-known pterosaurs, with well over 100 specimens being held in public collections. Most these represent juvenile animals, and adults known are typically around 1 m wingspan. Here we describe a near complete skeleton, preserved partially 3D, an animal wingspan 1.8 m, that considerably larger than other specimens, among largest non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs. This shows differences anatomy not seen smaller revealing details late-stage ontogeny this genus. The...
We describe a new dromaeosaurid theropod from the Upper Cretaceous Wulansuhai Formation of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia. The taxon, Linheraptor exquisitus gen. et sp. nov., is based on an exceptionally well-preserved, nearly complete skeleton. This specimen represents fifth taxon recovered Djadokhta and its laterally equivalent strata, which include Formation, adds to known diversity Late dromaeosaurids. closely resembles recently reported Tsaagan mangas. Uniquely among dromaeosaurids, two...
Digital reduction is a striking evolutionary phenomenon that clearly exemplified in theropod dinosaurs by the functionally didactyl manus of tyrannosaurids, flight-adapted birds (Aves), and tridactyl but digit II-dominated alvarezsauroids. The enlargement manual II alvarezsauroids concurrent lateral digits have been interpreted as adaptations for digging, although no detailed biomechanical analysis hand function has so far carried out this group. In derived alvarezsauroid clade...
Background The holotype of the theropod non-avian dinosaur Microraptor gui from Early Cretaceous China shows extensive preservation feathers in a halo around body and with flight associated both fore hindlimbs. It has been questioned as to whether or not did extend into reach body, had disassociated moved before preservation. This taxon important implications for origin birds possibility four-winged gliding phase. Methodology/Principal Findings Examination specimen under ultraviolet light...
The shape and extent of the membranous brachioptagium in pterosaurs remains a controversial topic for those attempting to determine aerodynamic performance first vertebrate fliers.Various arguments favour trailing edge terminating against either torso or hip, femur, ankle, different locations various taxa, has resulted several published reconstructions.Uncertainty over correct model is detrimental both palaeoecological studies that are forced simultaneously consider multiple highly variable...
Southwestern Henan Province in central China contains many down-faulted basins, including the Xixia Basin where Upper Cretaceous continental sediments are well exposed. The Majiacun Formation is a major dinosaur-bearing stratigraphic unit that occurs this basin.A new basal hadrosauroid dinosaur, Zhanghenglong yangchengensis gen. et sp. nov., named based on newly collected specimens from middle Santonian of Zhoujiagou Village, Basin. Two transitional features between hadrosauroids and...