ABSTRACT There is little consistency in the notation and orientation terminology used discussions of non-mammalian fossil venebrate dentitions. The standardization this terminology, as done medical dental sciences, would facilitate all future research on teeth. For mammals, we recommend following convention, where incisors, canines, premolare, molars are abbreviated In, Cn, Pn, Mn (n = tooth number) upper jaws in, cn, pn, mn lower jaws. Right, left, deciduous teeth indicated by R, L, D...

ABSTRACT The classic Early Jurassic age theropod footprints Eubrontes giganteus, Anchisauripus sillimani, and Grallator parallelus were established by Edward Hitchcock in 1836–1847 are the type ichnospecies of their respective ichnogenera. We identify, describe, figure specimens detail for first time since they named. also describe other elements series as well mistakenly thought to be types. All tracks come from cyclical lacustrine marginal fluvial strata an interval spanning about one...

Abstract Isolated theropod teeth are common Mesozoic fossils and would be an important data source for paleoecology biogeography if they could reliably identified as having come from particular taxa. However, obtaining identifications is confounded by a paucity of easily identifiable characters. Here we discuss quantitative methodology designed to provide defensible isolated using Tyrannosaurus comparison taxon. We created standard set based much possible on known taxonomic affinity against...

We describe a giant titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur discovered in coastal deposits the Upper Cretaceous Bahariya Formation of Egypt, unit that has produced three Tyrannosaurus -sized theropods and numerous other vertebrate taxa. Paralititan stromeri is first tetrapod reported from since 1935. Its 1.69-meter-long humerus longer than any known sauropod. The autochthonous scavenged skeleton was preserved mangrove deposits, raising possibility titanosaurids their predators habitually entered such...

Epizootic pneumonia of bighorn sheep is a devastating disease uncertain etiology. To help clarify the etiology, we used culture and culture-independent methods to compare prevalence bacterial respiratory pathogens Mannheimia haemolytica, Bibersteinia trehalosi, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in lung tissue from 44 herds affected by 8 outbreaks western United States. M. ovipneumoniae, only agent detected at significantly higher animals (95%) than unaffected healthy...

Significance An incomplete understanding of the total influence competitively dominant predators exert on subordinate species hinders our ability to anticipate effects that changing carnivore populations will have ecological communities. Here, we show cougars are architects a complex behavioral game risk and reward, because or cooccurring carnivores both provisioned preyed by predators. Each considered here employed different strategy approach risk–reward tradeoff, suggesting there multiple...

ABSTRACT Tyrannosaurus rex possesses a heterodont dentition composed of three classes (premaxillary, maxillary, and dentary) several sets. The maxilla contains mesial distal sets the dentary first tooth (d1), mesial, Teeth were described with four size two shape variables describing crown curvature denticle size. premaxillary teeth are derived structures labiolingually oriented long axes, moderate curvature, mesiolingually distolingually placed carinae that extend down lingual faces....

ABSTRACT Despite the known diversity of abelisaurid theropod dinosaurs, their dental anatomy remains poorly understood. Discoveries elements preserving in situ dentition Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Malagasy taxon Majungasaurus crenatissimus, coupled with recent progress morphometric analysis teeth, provide an opportunity to document morphology and quantitatively evaluate positional variation dentition. possesses unusually static formula 4/17/17 a relatively even pattern tooth...

ABSTRACT A nearly complete, well-preserved maxilla of an abelisaurid theropod from the early Late Cretaceous (middle Cenomanian-Turonian) Lower Member Bajo Barreal Formation Chubut, Argentina represents first definitive member clade pre-Senonian (Coniacian–Maastrichtian) deposits. The new shares derived characters with maxillae Carnotaurus and Majungatholus, AMNH 1955, a previously referred to Indosuchus, suggesting that it pertains subclade Carnotaurinae. Abelisaurus apomorphic...

Estimating survival and documenting causes timing of mortality events in neonate bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) improves understanding population ecology factors influencing recruitment. During 2010–2012, we captured radiocollared 74 neonates the Black Hills, South Dakota, which 95% (70) died before 52 weeks age. Pneumonia (36%) was leading cause followed by predation (30%). We used known fate analysis Program MARK to estimate weekly rates investigate influence intrinsic variables on...

Abstract To successfully establish itself in a novel environment, an animal must make inherent trade-off between knowledge accumulation and exploitation of gained (i.e., the exploration–exploitation dilemma). evaluate how habitat quality affects spatio-temporal scale switching exploration during home range establishment, we conducted experimental trials comparing resource selection space-use translocated animals to those reference individuals using reciprocal translocations types differing...

Scavenging plays an important role in shaping communities through inter- and intra-specific interactions. Although vertebrate scavenger efficiency species composition is likely influenced by the spatial complexity of environments, heterogeneity carrion distribution has largely been disregarded scavenging studies. We tested this hypothesis experimentally placing juvenile bird carcasses on ground nests trees to simulate scenarios nestling availability. used cameras record scavengers removing...

Abstract The life‐and‐death stakes of predator–prey encounters justify the high price many anti‐predator behaviors. In adopting these behaviors, prey incur substantial non‐consumptive costs that can have population‐level consequences. Because knowledge risk is imperfect, individuals may even adopt costly behaviors in absence a real threat. For example, rather than only avoid hunters, species categorically all anthropogenic activity. Although hunting seasons increase for specific (e.g.,...

ABSTRACT Mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) are widely hunted throughout western North America and experiencing population declines across much of their range. Consequently, understanding the direct indirect effects hunting is important for management mule populations. Managers can influence mortality rates through changes in season length or authorized tag numbers. Little known, however, about how affect site fidelity patterns subsequent habitat use movement deer. Understanding these...

In the autumn of 1912, fossil collector Richard Markgraf, with financial support and direction from Bavarian paleontologist Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach Academy Sciences, discovered partial skeleton a bizarre predatory dinosaur in Upper Cretaceous (early Cenomanian, ∼97 Ma, see Ismail et al., 1989; Barakat 1993; El Beialy, 1994, 1995; Nabil Hussein, 1994; Soliman, 2001; Ibrahim, 2002; Gradstein 2005) rocks Bahariya Formation exposed Oasis western Egypt (Fig. 1, also Sereno 1998;...

Despite increasingly intensive paleontological sampling, Cretaceous terrestrial vertebrates from continental Africa remain relatively poorly known, frustrating efforts to characterize paleoecosystems in the region, as well paleobiogeography of southern continents during this interval. Here we describe partial skeleton a large-bodied theropod dinosaur Early (early Aptian, ~125-120 Ma) Libya. The specimen consists associated elements (two incomplete dorsal vertebrae, proximal caudal centrum,...

Abstract Recent recolonization of mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) into the Little Missouri Badlands North Dakota has led to questions regarding potential impacts predation on prey populations in region. From 2012 2013, we deployed 9 real-time GPS collars investigate lion feeding habits. We monitored for 1,845 telemetry-days, investigated 506 clusters, and identified 292 events. Deer Odocoileus spp.) were most prevalent item diets (76.9%). used logistic regression predict events size...

Selection of parturition sites by wild ungulates involves trade-offs between maximizing forage quality or availability and minimizing predation risk. Previous studies documenting critical lambing habitat bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) have relied on visual observations that can lead to biased results. We used vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) intensely monitored radiocollared females 1) accurately identify events for sheep; 2) quantify selection at the macro- microhabitat scales; 3)...

Abstract BACKGROUND Lethal removal of invasive species, such as wild pigs ( Sus scrofa ), is often the most efficient approach for reducing their negative impacts. Wild are one widespread and destructive mammals in USA. management techniques a key can alter pig spatial behavior, but it unclear how respond to common technique, trapping. We investigated behavior following intensive conspecifics via trapping at three sites within Savannah River Site, SC, evaluated changes densities, estimated...

ABSTRACT Low lamb recruitment is a major challenge facing managers attempting to mitigate the decline of bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ), and investigations into underlying mechanisms are limited because inability readily capture monitor lambs. We evaluated 4 techniques for lambs: 1) hand‐capture lambs from radiocollared adult females fitted with vaginal implant transmitters (VITs), 2) intensively monitored females, 3) helicopter net‐gunning, 4) helicopters. During 2010–2012, we...

Brachyuran decapods (crabs) are rarely preserved in coastal environments and have not been documented close association with dinosaur fossils. A crab referable to the Necrocarcinidae Förster, 1968, is here described from Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Oasis, Egypt. The occurrence of a mangrove setting terrestrial vertebrates extremely unusual fossil record. Review decapod occurrences region has resulted placement Portunus sp. Roger (1946) within Raninidae de Haan, 1839, Lophoraninella...

Ornithischian dinosaurs are uncommon elements in Late Cretaceous faunal assemblages of many Gondwanan landmasses, particularly Africa.The best-documented post-Cenomanian record purported ornithischian body fossils from Africa consists a left humerus, with associated cranial and costal fragments, the Santonian-Campanian Quseir Formation Kharga Oasis, Egypt (Fig. 1) (Awad Ghobrial, 1966).We show that this specimen pertains instead to dyrosaurid crocodyliform, restrict known African...