A parsimony analysis of 'higher' temnospondyls (all descended from the common ancestor Eryops and Parotosuchus) was performed using 37 terminal taxa 121 osteological characters. Bremer support values for each internal node were calculated as a measure clade strength. Additionally, shortest trees that conformed to some alternative hypotheses searched for. The following new are established on basis results: Euskelia (the containing Eryopoidea Dissorophoidea), Limnarchia Trimerorhachidae,...

Aardonyx celestae gen. et sp. nov. is described from the upper Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic) of South Africa. It can be diagnosed by autapomorphies skull, particularly jaws, cervical column, forearm and pes. found to sister group a clade obligatory quadrupedal sauropodomorphs ( Melanorosaurus + Sauropoda) thus lies at heart basal sauropodomorph–sauropod transition. The narrow jaws A. retain pointed symphysis but appear have lacked fleshy cheeks. Broad, U-shaped were previously thought...

Simultaneously analysing morphological, molecular and stratigraphic data suggests a potential resolution to major remaining inconsistency in crocodylian evolution. The ancient, long-snouted thoracosaurs have always been placed near the Indian gharial Gavialis, but their antiquity (ca 72 Ma) is highly incongruous with genomic evidence for young age of Gavialis lineage 40 Ma). We reconcile this contradiction an updated morphological dataset novel analysis, demonstrate that are ancient...

A partial dinosaur skeleton from the Upper Triassic (Norian) sediments of South Africa is described and named Antetonitrus ingenipes. It provides first informative look at a basal sauropod that was beginning to show adaptations towards graviportal quadrupedalism such as an elongated forelimb, modified femoral architecture, shortened metatarsus changed distribution weight across foot. These allowed clade produce largest–ever terrestrial animals. However, A. ingenipes lacked specializations...

Synopsis Juvenile sauropodomorph specimens from a Late Triassic/Early Jurassic fissure fill in Pant‐y‐ffynnon Quarry, South Wales are redescribed and named as new species, Thecodontosaurus caducus. T. caducus can be diagnosed by the presence of pleurocoel‐like pits on neurocentral sutures sixth, seventh eighth cervical vertebrae. It is further distinguished type species genus, antiquus, primitive shape its proximal humerus ilium. Data this specimen incorporated into cladistic analysis basal...

Fossorialism is a beneficial adaptation for brooding, predator avoidance and protection from extreme climate. The abundance of fossilised burrow casts the Early Triassic southern Africa viewed as behavioural response by many tetrapods to harsh conditions following Permo-Triassic mass-extinction event. However, scarcity vertebrate remains associated with these burrows leaves ecological questions unanswered. Synchrotron scanning lithified cast Karoo unveiled unique mixed-species association:...

We present a comprehensive description and phylogenetic analysis of the important transitional sauropodomorph Antetonitrus ingenipes. New information sheds light on stepwise acquisition sauropod-like traits just prior to Triassic/Jurassic boundary. Although forelimb other closely related taxa retains plesiomorphic morphology typical mobile grasping structure, changes in weight-bearing dynamics both musculature architecture hindlimb document progressive shift towards sauropodan form...

A 251 million year old partial burrow cast containing an articulated skeleton of the mammal–like carnivore Thrinaxodon liorhinus is oldest evidence for burrowing by a cynodont synapsid. The comes from terrestrial flood plain sediments close to Permian–Triassic boundary in Karoo South Africa. Together with those later Trirachodon, indicates that burrow–making was broadly distributed basal synapsids and has long history non–mammalian synapsid evolution. reconstruction its appendicular...

Postcranial skeletal pneumaticity (PSP) is present in a range of basal sauropodomorphs spanning the sauropodomorph-sauropod transition.We describe PSP five taxa, Plateosaurus engelhardti, Eucnemesaurus fortis, Aardonyx celestae, Antetonitrus ingenipes, and an unnamed sauropod from Spion Kop, South Africa (hereafter referred to as Kop sauropod).The apparently sporadic its occurrence has only been observed very few specimens, which it limited extent, affecting posterior cervical vertebrae...

Abstract The early evolution of sauropod dinosaurs remains poorly understood, with a paucity unequivocal taxa known from the first twenty million years Jurassic. Recently, Early Jurassic South Africa has yielded an assemblage dental and post-cranial displaying more apomorphic character suite than any other similarly aged sauropodomorph. These are interpreted as new species basal recovered cladistically sister taxon to Vulcanodon +more derived Sauropoda, underscoring its importance for our...

Crocodyliform palaeontology in Australasia has a productive research record that began the late nineteenth century and continues today. In this study, we summarize current understanding on taxonomic diversity phylogenetic relationships of Australasian crocodyliforms based first-hand knowledge relevant fossil material review published literature. The currently known Crocodyliformes spans more than 113 million years, from Early Cretaceous to Holocene, largely consists body fossils discovered...

The species taxonomy of the sauropodomorph dinosaurs from Löwenstein Formation Germany is examined. Previous work has classified these into two taxa: Sellosaurus gracilis a number localities and widespread Plateosaurus engelhardti single monospecific accumulation in Formation, near town Trossingen. current hypodigm found to contain substantial amount variation. This includes differences dentition, structure skull, composition sacrum caudal vertebrae pelvis. variation was analysed using...

One of the ultimate aims systematics is reconstruction tree life. This a huge undertaking that inhibited by existence computational limit to inclusiveness phylogenetic analyses. Supertree methods have been developed overcome, or at least go around this problem combining smaller, partially overlapping cladograms. Here, we present very inclusive generic–level supertree Dinosauria (covering total 277 genera), which remarkably well resolved and provides some clarity in many contentious areas...

Eucnemesaurus fortis Van Hoepen 1920 Hoepen, ECN. 1920. Contributions to the knowledge of reptiles Karroo Formation. 6. Further dinosaurian material in Transvaal Museum. Ann Mus, 7: 7–140. [Google Scholar] from Late Triassic South Africa is demonstrated be senior synonym puzzling dinosaur taxon Aliwalia rex Galton 1985 Galton, PM. 1985. The poposaurid thecodontian Teratosaurus suevicus v. Meyer, plus referred specimens mostly based on prosauropod dinosaurs, Middle Stubensandstein (Upper...

The extensive Early Jurassic continental strata of southern Africa have yielded an exceptional record dinosaurs that includes scores partial to complete skeletons the sauropodomorph Massospondylus , ranging from embryos large adults. In 1976 incomplete egg clutch including in ovo this dinosaur, oldest known example fossil record, was collected a road-cut talus, but its exact provenance uncertain. An excavation program at site started 2006 has multiple situ clutches, documenting dinosaurian...

Abstract: Basal sauropodomorphs from the Upper Triassic Los Colorados Formation of north‐western Argentina have been known for several decades but most them are only briefly described. New postrcanial remains Coloradisaurus brevis , gracile sauropodomorph this unit, described here and evaluated within a phylogenetic context. These materials belong to single individual include elements vertebral column, pectoral girdle, incomplete forelimb, pelvis hindlimb. share an autapomorphic feature with...

Eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs both evolved lineages of huge terrestrial herbivores. Although significantly more were giants than eutherians, the long bones taxa scale similarly suggest that locomotion was dynamically similar. However, articular cartilage is thin in eutherian but thick dinosaurs, differences could have contributed to, or limited, how frequently gigantism evolved. Therefore, we tested hypothesis sub-articular bone, which supports cartilage, changes shape...

The Late Triassic–Early Jurassic Elliot Formation of South Africa is one the most important geological formations worldwide for understanding early evolution sauropodomorph dinosaurs. However, many taxa currently recognized as valid within its lower strata remain either poorly understood, vaguely diagnosed, or both. recent discovery an articulated partial skeleton a single individual enigmatic genus Eucnemesaurus provides opportunity to expand our anatomy and phylogeny this known taxon. A...

Click to increase image sizeClick decrease size ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Field work in the Elliot Formation was funded by DFG RA 1012/8-1 O.W.M.R. We thank J. Desojo, C. Dube, R. Fechner, T. Hübner, S. Lautenschlager, Sithole, and Yates for field assistance, preparation, B. Zipfel facilitating access BP collections, F. Glaw (ZSM) extant crocodilian material, H. Mallison A. Farke discussion. K. Carlson V. Fernandez (both Palaeosciences Centre, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg) conducted CT...

Abstract: The taxonomic status of the sauropodomorph dinosaurs from Newark Supergroup north-eastern USA is reviewed. inclusion three articulated skeletons Wolcott's Quarry, Manchester, Connecticut in a single species supported. Despite claims to contrary Manchester can be referred Anchisaurus polyzelus, which based on fragmentary specimen Massachusetts. Two autapomorphies: dorsoventrally flattened ischial blades set at low angle each other and slender sacral ribs first vertebra, link...

The dromornithids were giant flightless birds endemic to Australia from the late Paleogene Pleistocene. Dromornithids are generally considered be divergent members of Anseriformes, but they display many convergent features with extant ratites. In this study, we investigate Dromornis stirtoni Alcoota Local Fauna, a species for which little is known its biology. We used traditional methods comparative morphology, mass estimation, landmark-based morphometrics, and histological investigations...