A5028259979- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Geological formations and processes
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Marine and environmental studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Geotechnical and Geomechanical Engineering
- Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Aquatic and Environmental Studies
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
Rowan University
2016-2023
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
2006-2017
Drexel University
2004-2015
Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
2006
Utah Tech University
2006
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
2006
Titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs were the most diverse and abundant large-bodied herbivores in southern continents during final 30 million years of Mesozoic Era. Several titanosaur species are regarded as massive land-living animals yet discovered; nevertheless, nearly all these giant titanosaurs known only from very incomplete fossils, hindering a detailed understanding their anatomy. Here we describe new gigantic titanosaur, Dreadnoughtus schrani, Upper Cretaceous sediments Patagonia,...
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...
Three-dimensional specimens of the volant fossil bird Gansus yumenensis from Early Cretaceous Xiagou Formation northwestern China demonstrate that this taxon possesses advanced anatomical features previously known only in Late and Cenozoic ornithuran birds. Phylogenetic analysis recovers within Ornithurae, making it oldest member clade. The preserves ornithuromorph-dominated avian assemblage. anatomy Gansus, like other non-neornithean (nonmodern) birds, indicates specialization for an...
Microbodies associated with fossil feathers, originally attributed to microbial biofilm, have been reinterpreted as melanosomes: pigment-containing, eukaryotic organelles. This interpretation generated hypotheses regarding coloration in non-avian and avian dinosaurs. Because melanosomes microbes overlap size, distribution morphology, we re-evaluate both hypotheses. We compare within feathers of extant chickens patterns induced by overgrowth on the same using scanning (SEM), field emission...
The postcranial anatomy of giant titanosaurians remains poorly known because a combination preservational and collection biases. Dreadnoughtus schrani, recently described, large titanosaur from the Campanian–Maastrichtian Cerro Fortaleza Formation Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, offers first opportunity for detailed study appendicular truly titanosaurian. entire skeleton is represented except manus portions pes. Comparisons with related titanosauriforms reveal that holotype (MPM-PV 1156)...
Due to their abundance, taxonomic and morphological diversity, wide range of body sizes broad geographical distribution, titanosaurian sauropods were one the most important Cretaceous herbivorous dinosaur groups. Consequently, titanosaurs constitute best samples in which evaluate relationship between bony structures unpreserved soft-tissues within Sauropoda. We reconstruct morphology interpret implications selected associated with caudal skeleton. These tissues, especially M. caudofemoralis...
An associated partial postcranial skeleton is described as the third definitive ornithopod dinosaur record from Upper Cretaceous Bajo Barreal Formation of central Patagonia, Argentina. Specifically, specimen was recovered uppermost (Campanian—?Maastrichtian) Member exposed on an ephemeral island in southeastern portion Lago Colhué Huapi southern Chubut Province. Identifiable elements include four incomplete dorsal vertebrae, three anterior caudal a middle neural arch, posterior vertebra, rib...
Research Article| December 19, 2017 TAPHONOMY OF THE STANDING ROCK HADROSAUR SITE, CORSON COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA PAUL V. ULLMANN; ULLMANN 1Rowan University, Department of Geology, Glassboro, New Jersey, 08028, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ALLEN SHAW; SHAW 2Standing Rock Paleontology Department, Fort Yates, North Dakota, 58538, 3Current address: KLJ Engineering, Bismarck, 58503, RON NELLERMOE; NELLERMOE 4Concordia College, Biology, Moorhead, Minnesota, 56562,...
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;...
Abstract: We herein describe an associated partial postcranial skeleton of a theropod dinosaur discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Xinminpu Group Yujingzi Basin, Jiuquan area Gansu Province, northwestern China. Features its humerus, such as strongly expanded proximal and distal ends, well developed medial tuberosity, condyles expressed on humeral cranial surface, hypertrophied entepicondyle, definitively establish therizinosauroid affinities specimen. It differs from other therizinosauroids...
ABSTRACT Wide‐gauge posture of titanosauriform sauropods remains an enigmatic peculiarity among terrestrial vertebrates. Here, two‐dimensional geometric morphometrics and thin plate splines analyses were used to quantitatively analyze shape differences sauropodomorph humeri femora identify how these elements may differ according body gauge. Results demonstrate that titanosauriforms generally possess proportionately gracile in comparison other sauropods, with relatively more medially oriented...
Degree of bioturbation, Thalassinoides isp. morphology, and diameters were compared across the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary interval at three localities along New Jersey coastal plain. Within this regionally extensive ichnoassemblage, mean burrow decrease abruptly by 26–29% (n = 1767) base Main Fossiliferous Layer (MFL) or laterally equivalent horizons. The MFL has been previously interpreted as K–Pg based on last occurrence Cretaceous marine reptiles, birds, ammonites, well iridium...
Abstract Soft tissues are variably preserved in the fossil record with external tissues, such as skin and feathers, more frequently than internal (e.g. muscles). More commonly, soft leave traces of their locations on bones and, for muscles, these clues can be used to reconstruct musculature extinct vertebrates, thereby enhancing our understanding how organisms moved evolution locomotor patterns. Herein we forelimb shoulder girdle giant titanosaurian sauropod Dreadnoughtus schrani based...
Endogenous biomolecules and soft tissues are known to persist in the fossil record. To date, these discoveries derive from a limited number of preservational environments, (e.g., fluvial channels floodplains), fossils less common depositional environments have been largely unexplored. We conducted paleomolecular analyses shallow marine vertebrate Cretaceous-Paleogene Hornerstown Formation, an 80-90% glauconitic greensand Jean Ric Edelman Fossil Park Mantua Township, NJ. Twelve samples were...
Abstract Osteological correlates preserve more readily than their soft tissue counterparts in the fossil record; therefore, they can often provide insight into anatomy of organism. These insights turn elucidate biology these extinct organisms. In this study, we reconstruct pelvic girdle and hind limb musculature giant titanosaurian sauropod Dreadnoughtus schrani based on observations osteological Extant Phylogenetic Bracket comparisons. Recovered fossils exhibit remarkably well‐preserved,...
Abstract The rare earth element (REE) composition of a fossil bone reflects its chemical alteration during diagenesis. Consequently, fossils presenting low REE concentrations and/or profiles indicative simple diffusion, signifying minimal alteration, have been proposed as ideal candidates for paleomolecular investigation. We directly tested this prediction by conducting multiple biomolecular assays on well-preserved fibula the dinosaur Edmontosaurus from Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation...
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...
ABSTRACT A newly discovered osteichthyan ectopterygoid from the Upper Cretaceous (lower Cenomanian) Bahariya Formation of Oasis, Egypt, is nearly identical to holotypic specimen Polypterus? bartheli same area and geologic unit. The ectopterygoids are referable Polypteridae based on presence a robust, laterally directed process that articulates with maxilla. Additionally, ganoid scales have an isopedine layer, histological character Polypteriformes; but differ those previously described...
Rarity of soft tissue preservation, including articular cartilage, in the fossil record hinders creation biologically-realistic mechanical models. Previous studies cartilage extant taxa have documented important aspects shapes and thicknesses, but these insights remain generalized yet to see systematic implementation biomechanical modeling. Herein, we present a new method for modeling joints that allows testing hypotheses about morphology extinct taxa. Our case study examines left elbow...
The Sundance Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic) of Wyoming is well known for pterosaur footprints. Two new partial trackways from the upper Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (BICA) north-central are enigmatic. preserved in rippled, flaser bedded, glauconitic sand and mud. deposits were laid down tidal flats, behind barrier islands, along mesotidal Sea. best-preserved print primary trackway possesses four impressions: three shorter digits with negative rotation an elongate,...