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Language Spanish journal of palaeontology. 2013. Vol. 28, no. 1
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- European Goniopholididae from the Early Albian Escucha Formation in Ariño (Teruel, Aragón, Spain)(2020) Buscalioni, Ángela D; Alcalá, Luis; Espílez, Eduardo; Mampel, LuisAlthough goniopholidids constitute the most abundant remains of the Lower Cretaceous record of the Iberian Peninsula crocodilians, few specimens have been found complete enough to provide precise taxonomic determinations. The palaeontological site of Mina Santa María in Ariño (Teruel, Early Albian Escucha Formation) has yielded several neosuchian monotaxic concentrations. The skulls discovered at the Ariño Mine show a character combination linking them to the latter European species. The Ariño skulls share apomorphies with Anteophthalmosuchus hooleyi, Goniopholis willetti (e.g., loss of the transverse frontal crest and of the prefrontal-lachrymal crest, supratemporal fossa larger than the orbit and supratemporal fenestra subequal, among other derived characters). The new taxa, Hulkepholis plotos gen. n., sp. n. and Anteophthalmosuchus escuchae sp. n., are herein erected, and they constitute the most recent record of their clade in Europe. These sympatric species lived in a coastal marsh system with barrier islands and lagoon
- New data about the oldest european lagomorpha: Description of the new genus Ephemerolagus nievae gen. nov. et sp. nov.(2020) Vianey-Liaud, Monique; Lebrun, RanaudEarly Oligocene lagomorphs from south-western France were previously known only from one isolated molar (Desmatolagus sp.) from Ravet (Quercy), an early Oligocene fissure-filling (MP21 level, 33 Ma). New material, a left lower jaw bearing P/3 to M/1, allows for the description of a new genus and a new species: Ephemerolagus nievae, on the bases of morphological analysis and micro-computed tomography (μCT) scan sections. It has been compared to the German contemporaneous specimens (“Shamolagus” franconicus from Möhren 19 and Möhren 20, MP21), and to the Asian and North American Palaeogene genera. This species displays peculiar derived characters, like the very short incisor (ending below P/3), not found in Asian or North American early lagomorphs, or in late Palaeogene European genera, or the lack of M/3 and the highly molarized P/4
- On the status of early Eucricetodontinae (Muroidea, Rodentia) with a special focus on the Atavocricetodon vs Eucricetodon issue: morphometrical and microstructural aspects(2020) Gomes Rodrigues, Helder; Marivaux, Laurent; Vianey-Liaud, MoniqueAmong the flourishing Muroidea, the Eucricetodontinae constitute the most diversified subfamily of the Eurasian Palaeogene. Early representatives, such as Atavocricetodon and Eucricetodon, are notably characterized by their simple and primitive dental morphology. As a result, it appears very difficult to discriminate these genera according to their dental morphology, and that is emphasized by their imprecise diagnosis. Here, we aim at challenging the taxonomic validity of Atavocricetodon, frequently considered as a grade of Eucricetodon. We chose to investigate the outline of first upper molars for four species of Atavocricetodon and seven of Eucricetodon, to avoid confusions made by their occlusal dental characters. The outline analysis involves samples of ten molars and was realized by using Elliptic Fourier Transforms. Incisor enamel microstructures were investigated as well in four species. Results revealed that if a significant difference exists between the global dental shape of Atavocricetodon and Eucricetodon, outline morphospaces of the considered species generally overlap as displayed by the multivariate analysis and the hierarchical clustering. This is partly explained by the high intrageneric shape variation, which might correspond to different Oligocene lineages of Eucricetodontinae. Such variation is also due to Atavocricetodon paaliense, which could rather belong to another genus, the pseudocricetontine Kerosinia. More generally, there is no real apomorphy which permits to distinguish these genera, because incisor enamel microstructure patterns are highly variable and a few types are shared by both genera. Atavocricetodon cannot thus be retained neither as a genus, nor as a morphosubgenus of Eucricetodon
- New data on the mammalian systematics and biostratigraphy of the middle Miocene from Húmera (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid)(2020) Cárdaba, Juan A; Presumido, María; Fesharaki, Omid; Casado, Ana I; Perales, Rubén; Muñiz Pérez, MartaThanks to the new micromammal fossil material obtained during the 2010 and 2011 field campaigns from the palaeontological site at Húmera (Madrid Basin, central Spain), we have been able to revise the taxonomic arrangement and increase the number of micromammal taxa recorded and described by Menéndez Gamella et al. (2010). During the last campaigns 182 identifiable remains were recovered, in various states of preservation, belonging to 10 different species of micromammals: Megacricetodon collongensisgersii, Democricetodon larteti, Armantomys tricristatus, Microdyromys aff. monspeliensis, Microdyromys koenigswaldi, Heteroxerus rubricati, Heteroxerus grivensis, Heteroxerus sp., Lagopsis sp. and Galerix sp. This fossil association is correlated with biozone E (MN5), and provides new information in relation to the end of the Middle Aragonian from the Madrid basin
- Artistic reconstruction of the appearance of Prosantorhinus Heissig, 1974, the teleoceratine rhinoceros from the Middle Miocene of Somosaguas(2020) Ansón, Marco; Hernández Fernández, ManuelWe show the methodology used to perform the artistic palaeoreconstruction of the teleoceratine rhinoceros Prosantorhinus, which is found in the middle Miocene fossil site of Somosaguas-Norte (Pozuelo de Alarcón, middle Aragonian). Successive phases within this work involved (1) the interpretation of the fossils in comparative anatomy terms; (2) the use of modern analogues, considering the systematic relationships among the extinct species and their extant relatives, which allows us to infer the condition of unpreserved attributes such as soft tissues; and (3) addition of palaeoecological information in order to establish the palaeoenvironmental framework of the species. Our finished work shows a plausible reconstruction of the inferred life appearance of Prosantorhinus
- Turtles from the middle Miocene (MN5) of Somosaguas (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain)(2020) Pérez-García, AdánThe systematic study of the vertebrate taxa found in the Middle Aragonian fossil sites of Somosaguas (Madrid, Spain) has provided important information on one of the most diverse vertebrate assemblages recognized in the Middle Miocene of the Madrid Basin. Although the mammals are the most abundant and diverse taxa recognized in Somosaguas, other vertebrate groups are also represented there. Several elements assigned to turtles, hitherto unpublished, are recognized. Their analyses allow to identify them as belonging to two terrestrial taxa, both assigned to Testudinidae. One of them is attributed cf. Cheirogaster, taxon very common in the Spanish Aragonian sites, and specifically in the Madrid Basin. The other taxon is identified as cf. Paleotestudo, a genus not previously cited in this basin
- Reconstruction of the internal structure of the pore system of a complex dinosaur eggshell (Megaloolithus siruguei)(2020) Rasskin-Gutman, Diego; Elez, Javier; Esteve-Altava, Borja; López-Martínez, NievesDespite the many reconstructions of fossil material that have recently appeared in the literature, dinosaur eggshells have never been reconstructed using computing techniques. Using the EMAC 3-D modelling methodology, we reconstruct a section of the Late Cretaceous Megaloolithus siruguei eggshell, which has a particularly complex pore system, exhibiting an intricate network of vertical, oblique, and horizontal pores
- New mosasaurid teeth (Reptilia: Squamata) from the Maastrichtian of Albaina (Laño quarry, condado de Treviño)(2020) Bardet, Nathalie; Martin, Gorka; Corral, J Carmelo; Pereda Suberbiola, Xabier; Astibia, HumbertoWe report on new mosasaurid remains, namely isolated teeth, from the Upper Maastrichtian shallow marine environment of Albaina in the Laño quarry (Condado de Treviño). The new specimens belong mostly to mosasaurines, i.e., Mosasaurus hoffmanni, Prognathodon solvayi, Prognathodon sectorius, and to the russellosaurine plioplatecarpine Platecarpus cf. ictericus. Prognathodon solvayi and Platecarpus cf. ictericus were previously known from Albaina. This is the first mention in the site of Mosasaurus hoffmanni, widespread in Maastrichtian outcrops located around palaeolatidude 30- 40ºN, from New Jersey (USA) to Turkey passing through Europe where it is commonly found. Prognathodon sectorius has a comparable palaeobiogeographical distribution, though not so expanded, that M. hoffmanni, being known in the Maastrichtian of New Jersey (USA) and Europe and, since recently, in the Campanian of Navarre. With six different taxa reported here, Albaina is the richest outcrop in specific mosasaurid diversity from the Maastrichtian of southern Europe
- History of two lineages: Comparative analysis of the fossil record in Amiiformes and Pycnodontiformes (Osteischtyes, Actinopterygii)(2020) Poyato-Ariza, Francisco José; Martín-Abad, HugoAmiiformes and pycnodontiformes are two orders of neopterygian fishes that were broadly distributed, and frequently appeared together, during the Mesozoic. Comparison of their fossil record reveals both common traits and significant differences. They both appeared in the Western Tethys and reached maximum diversity during the Cretaceous. The differences in their evolutionary history involve dissimilar patterns of diversity and disparity; pycnodonts are more diversified taxonomically and present larger ecomorphological disparity. This implies that they used different strategies to compete with teleosts, which were unable to displace them from their specialized niches for more than 100 ka. The reasons why this did not happen sooner are difficult to approach, and may include radical environmental changes (i.e., marine transgressions, opening of the Atlantic, closing of the Tethys and opening of the Mediterranean). It is nonetheless clear that the evolutionary novelties of the Teleostei per se were not enough to grant them advantage in the competition for the ichthyofagous and durophagous niches at least during the Late Triassic, the whole Jurassic and the Early Cretaceous
- Conohyus simorrensis (Lartet, 1851) (Suidae, Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of Carpetana (Madrid, Spain)(2020) Pickford, MartinFossil suid remains excavated from Middle Miocene deposits at Carpetana, Madrid, comprise mandibles and isolated teeth of the tetraconodont suid, Conohyus simorrensis (Lartet, 1851). The Carpetana mandible is the most complete specimen known for the genus and throws a great deal of light on the morphology of the anterior dentition. Heavy wear on all the teeth, including deciduous ones in the sample, indicates a diet of abrasive or durable food items such as nuts
