bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hyolitha from the Early Paleozoic glacial erratic boulders (Geschiebe) of Germany and Poland
Authors: Malinky J. M.
Published: June 2014

Hyoliths from glacial erratic boulders, or Geschiebe, from northern Germany and Poland include representatives of Hyolithes acutus Eichwald, 1840, the type of the genus. Geschiebe individuals of that taxon reinforce and augment the revised generic concept of Hyolithes of Malinky (2006), and extend the range of morphologic variation in terms of longitudinal sculptural elements and apical curvature. Occurrences in the Geschiebe of Crispatella Malinky, 2002 and Dorsolinevitus Syssoiev, 1958, reinforce the notion of distinct hyolith paleobiogeographic provinces in the Ordovician, with these forms belonging to the Baltic province of Marek (1976). Operculum A is the first operculum identified to possess an epibiont on the exterior. Hyolithes esthonus Koken, 1889 is herein transferred to Dorsolinevitus with question, and several other specimens are assigned to that genus but left in open nomenclature at the species level. Nevadotheca ? sp. and Holmitheca ? sp. are both recognized from Early Cambrian erratic sandstone boulders, suggesting that these forms lived in shallower, more nearshore environments than their occurrences elsewhere would suggest. "Hyolithes" vaginati (Quenstedt, 1852), the first hyolith species recognized from a boulder, is deemed unrecognizable due to inadequate preservation. The supposed Silurian hyolith Ceratotheca erratica (Koken, 1889) is herein transferred to the Gastropoda.

 Hyolithen aus Geschieben Norddeutschlands und Polens umfassen Exemplare von Hyolithes acutus Eichwald, 1840, der Typusart der Gattung. Die aus den Geschieben stammenden Exemplare dieser Art unterstützen und erweitern das Konzept der Gattung Hyolithes nach Malinky (2006) und führen weitere morphologische Variationen der longitudinalen Strukturelemente sowie der Krümmung des Apex ein. Das Vorkommen von Crispatella Malinky, 2002 und Dorsolinevitus Syssoiev, 1958 in Geschieben erweitert die bisherigen Kenntnisse der paläobiogeographischen Provinzen im Ordovizium. Diese Formen gehören zu der baltischen Provinz nach Marek (1976). Operculum A ist das erste Operculum mit einem Epibionten auf der Außenseite. Hyolithes esthonus Koken, 1889 wird in dieser Arbeit unter Vorbehalt Dorsolinevitus angeschlossen. Weitere Exemplare werden ebenfalls dieser Gattung zugeordnet, verbleiben aber auf der Artebene in offener Nomenklatur. Nevadotheca ? sp. und Holmitheca sp. wurden aus unterkambrischen Sandstein-Geschieben bekannt. Das lässt vermuten, dass diese Formen in flachen, küstennahen Gewässern lebten, und steht damit im Widerspruch zu bisherigen Funden. Pugiunculus vaginati Quenstedt, 1852, der erste jemals aus einem Geschiebeblock bekannt gewordene Hyolith, ist für eine Bestimmung nicht ausreichend erhalten.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200600020
A new body mass estimation of Brachiosaurus brancai Janensch, 1914 mounted and exhibited at the Museum of Natural History (Berlin, Germany)
Authors: Gunga H.-C. , Suthau T. , Bellmann A. , Stoinski S. , Friedrich A. , Trippel T. , Kirsch K. , Hellwich O.
Published: June 2014

Body mass and surface areas are important in several aspects for an organism living today. Therefore, mass and surface determinations for extinct dinosaurs could be important for paleo-biological aspects as well. Based on photogrammetrical measurement the body mass and body surface area of the Late Jurassic Brachiosaurus brancai Janensch, 1914 from Tendaguru (East Africa), a skeleton mounted and exhibited at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin (Germany), has been re-evaluated. We determined for a slim type of 3D reconstruction of Brachiosaurus brancai a total volume of 47.9 m3 which represents, assuming a mean tissue density of 0.8 kg per 1,000 cm3, a total body mass of 38,000 kg. The volume distributions from the head to the tail were as follows: 0.2 m3 for the head, neck 7.3 m3, fore limbs 2.9 m3, hind limbs 2.6 m3, thoracic-abdominal cavity 32.4 m3, tail 2.2 m3. The total body surface area was calculated to be 119.1 m2, specifically 1.5 m2 for the head, 26 m2 neck, fore limbs 18.8 m2, hind limbs 16.4 m2, 44.2 m2 thoracic-abdominal cavity, and finally the tail 12.2 m2. Finally, allometric equations were used to estimate presumable organ sizes of this extinct dinosaur and to test whether their dimensions really fit into the thoracic and abdominal cavity of Brachiosaurus brancai if a slim body shape of this sauropod is assumed.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200700011
First record of the archaeocete whale family Protocetidae from Europe
Authors: Uhen M. D. , Berndt H.-J.
Published: June 2014

We describe a specimen of Eocetus sp. from the middle Eocene Stockletten Formation of Rohrdorf, Bavaria, Germany, consisting of a lumbar vertebral body and transverse processes. This specimen constitutes the first record of Eocetus, and the first confirmed record of the family Protocetidae from Europe. This new observation further supports the hypothesis that protocetids were highly aquatic and that their method of aquatic locomotion was sufficient for them to spread far from their center of origin in Indo-Pakistan.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200800001
Plio-Pleistocene aardvarks (Mammalia, Tubulidentata) from East Africa
Authors: Lehmann T.
Published: June 2014

The Tubulidentata are unique among mammals for being the only order represented nowadays by a single living species, Orycteropus afer: the aardvark. Nevertheless, it is one of the least studied mammalian orders. Aardvarks are currently distributed all over sub-Saharan Africa, but the fossil record extends their spatial range to Europe and Asia. The earliest known Tubulidentata are ca. 20 million years old. About 14 species and three to four genera have been recognised so far, but since the late Pliocene, aardvarks have only been represented by a single genus and are restricted to Africa. The extant aardvark is the only species of Tubulidentata with a large distribution area, i.e. the African continent. There are three known Plio-Pleistocene African species of aardvark: Orycteropus afer (Pallas, 1766), O. crassidens MacInnes, 1956, and O. djourabensis Lehmann et al., 2004. Fossils of these species have been discovered in North-Africa, Kenya, and Chad respectively. The present study is focused on the aardvark material found in the Plio-Pleistocene of East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya). New specimens from Asa Issie (Ethiopia) and East Turkana (Kenya) are described, and published ones are re-examined in the light of the latest discoveries. This study demonstrates that Kenyan specimens identified as O. crassidens are in fact representatives of the Chadian O. djourabensis. Moreover, additional material from Ethiopia and Kenya shows a close relationship with the latter species too. The presence of specimens of O. djourabensis in Chad and in Kenya during the Plio-Pleistocene implies that this taxon is the oldest-known species of aardvark to have experienced a continental dispersal. It also shows that Tubulidentates were able to cross Africa from east-west during Plio-Pleistocene times, despite the presence of the Rift Valley. It is however not possible to infer the centre of origin of O. djourabensis. Finally, this study suggests that two species of aardvark might have co-existed in Kenya during the early Pleistocene.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200800003
The Early Carboniferous (Mississippian) ammonoids from the Chebket el Hamra (Jerada Basin, Morocco)
Authors: Korn D. , Ebbighausen V.
Published: June 2014

Five Late Viséan ammonoid assemblages of North Variscan provenance are described from the locality Chebket el Hamra (Jerada Basin, north-eastern Morocco). These assemblages are composed of 27 species of the genera Eoglyphioceras, Girtyoceras, Sulcogirtyoceras, Metadimorphoceras, Goniatites, Arnsbergites, Hibernicoceras, Paraglyphioceras, Lusitanoceras, Sudeticeras, Neoglyphioceras, Lusitanites, Ferganoceras, Praedaraelites, and Pronorites. The new subfamily Arnsbergitinae is described, as well as the thirteen new species Eoglyphioceras minutum n. sp., Girtyoceras ibnkhaldouni n. sp., Metadimorphoceras anguinosum n. sp., Arnsbergites ferrus n. sp., Arnsbergites proiecturus n. sp., Arnsbergites rufus n. sp., Hibernicoceras touissitense n. sp., Hibernicoceras artilobatum n. sp., Paraglyphioceras celeris n. sp., Lusitanoceras zirari n. sp., Sudeticeras ibnbajjahi n. sp., Sudeticeras horoni n. sp., and Pronorites owodenkoi n. sp.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200800004
The Permotriassic branchiosaurid Tungussogyrinus Efremov, 1939 (Temnospondyli, Dissorophoidea) from Siberia restudied
Authors: Werneburg R.
Published: June 2014

The enigmatic temnospondyl amphibian Tungussogyrinus bergi Efremov, 1939 shares clear synapomorphies with other branchiosaurids indicated by an anteriorly elongated infratemporal fossa and small branchial denticles. Therefore Tungussogyrinus clearly belongs to the dissorophoid family Branchiosauridae. This species is characterized by a number of derived features among temnospondyls: (1) an unusually elongated anterodorsal process of the ilium; (2) the character complex concerning the tricuspid dentition. Tungussogyrinus differs from all other branchiosaurids in these two autapomorphic characters. Herein, Tungussogyrinus is thought to represent the closest relative of a clade including all other branchiosaurids with its placement outside of this clade associated with a new feeding strategy to scrape algae with the tricuspid anterior dentition and the gracile built snout region. The subfamily Tungussogyrininae Kuhn, 1962 is newly defined here by the two derived characters of Tungussogyrinus bergi. All other branchiosaurid genera and species are included in a second subfamily Branchiosaurinae Fritsch, 1879.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200900001
Notes on the osteology and phylogenetic affinities of the Oligocene Diomedeoididae (Aves, Procellariiformes)
Authors: Mayr G.
Published: June 2014

New specimens of the procellariiform taxon Diomedeoididae are reported from the early Oligocene (Rupelian) deposits of Wiesloch-Frauenweiler in southern Germany. Two skeletons belong to Diomedeoides brodkorbi, whereas isolated legs of larger individuals are tentatively assigned to D. lipsiensis, a species which has not yet been reported from the locality. The fossils allow the recognition of some previously unknown osteological features of the Diomedeoididae, including the presence of a vestige of the hallux. Diomedeoidids are characterized by extremely wide phalanges of the third and fourth toes, which also occur in some species of the extant procellariiform Oceanitinae (southern storm-petrels). The poorly developed processus supracondylaris dorsalis of the humerus supports a position of these Oligocene tubenoses outside a clade including the Diomedeidae (albatrosses), Procellariidae (shearwaters and allies), and Pelecanoididae (diving-petrels). It is hypothesized that like modern Oceanitinae, which have an equally short supracondylar process, diomedeoidids probably employed flap-gliding and used their immersed feet to remain stationary.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200900003
Preface: Fossil Record 1/2009
Authors: Witzmann F. , Müller J.
Published: June 2014

No abstract is available for this article.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200800005
A simulated bird gastric mill and its implications for fossil gastrolith authenticity
Authors: Wings O.
Published: June 2014

A rock tumbler, stones, water, plant material, hydrochloric acid, and pepsin were used to simulate a bird gizzard in order to study abrasion rate and influence of stomach juices and foodstuff on gastrolith surface development. The experiment lasted for six months. Each week, the "stomach" was supplied with fresh grass and stomach juices. After the end of the experiment, the set of stones had a combined weight loss of 22.4%, with softer rock types showing higher abrasion rates. The combination of stomach juices and silica phytoliths within the grass had no visible effect on stone surface development: polish or pitting did not occur. A second experiment combined only pebbles with water in the tumbler. Results indicate that rock abrasion is mainly caused by contacts between moving stones. A comparison with authentic ostrich gastroliths showed that abrasion in the artificial stomach must have been lower than in a real gizzard, but still too high to maintain or develop surface polish. If high polish occasionally seen on sauropodomorph dinosaur gastroliths was indeed caused in a stomach environment, it implies digestive processes different from those of extant birds and the "artificial gizzard". Geologic origins of polish, such as transport in hyperconcentrated flows, wind blasting, or tectonic movements must be considered for polished fossil gastroliths and isolated clasts in fine-grained sediments (exoliths).

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200800013
The ammonoids from the Dalle à Merocanites of Timimoun (Late Tournaisian–Early Viséan; Gourara, Algeria)
Authors: Ebbighausen V. , Korn D. , Bockwinkel J.
Published: June 2014

The ammonoids from the Early Carboniferous (Mississippian) Dalle à Merocanites of Timimoun (Gourara, Algeria) are described. The following new ammonoid taxa are introduced: subfamily Hammatocyclinae n. subfam., Hammatocyclus pollex n. sp., Hammatocyclus corrugatus n. sp., Neopericyclus arenosus n. sp., Ammonellipsites pareyni n. sp., Ammonellipsites menchikoffi n. sp., Ammonellipsites conradae n. sp., Muensteroceras fabrei n. sp., Eurites commutatus n. sp., Eurites pondus n. sp., subfamily Trimorphoceratinae n. subfam., Trimorphoceras n. gen., Trimorphoceras crassilens n. sp., Trimorphoceras absolutum n. sp., Trimorphoceras molestum n. sp., Obturgites n. gen., Obturgites polysarcus n. sp., Obturgites oligosarcus n. sp., Dzhaprakoceras dzhazairense n. sp., and Merocanites merocanites n. sp. These species occur in one very prolific horizon and can be attributed to the North African Ammonellipsites-Merocanites Assemblage (Fascipericyclus -Ammonellipsites Genus Zone; Late Tournaisian to Early Viséan). They represent one of the most diverse ammonoid faunas known from this time interval.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.200900011
Fore limb bones of late Pleistocene dwarf hippopotamuses (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla) from Madagascar previously determined as belonging to the crocodylid Voay Brochu, 2007
Authors: Hampe O. , Schwarz-Wings D. , Bickelmann C. , Klein N.
Published: June 2014

A humerus and two radii of juvenile dwarf hippopotamuses are redescribed. The subfossil bones from the collection of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin were erroneously assigned to the horned crocodile Voay robustus (Grandidier & Vaillant, 1872) by Bickelmann & Klein (2009). All three limb bones presented here belong to immature animals. The epiphyses are not fused, except the proximal extremity of the right radius; and the radius and ulna are also unfused. The two radii are from individuals of different size, whereas the left radius and the humerus are from animals of similar size. Morphologically, the limb bones cannot be identified to species level. A tentative assignment to Hippopotamus madagascariensis is discussed based on the knowledge of the geographic origin on the island.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201000003
The first record of Late Jurassic crossognathiform fishes from Europe and their phylogenetic importance for teleostean phylogeny
Authors: Arratia G. , Tischlinger H.
Published: June 2014

The Late Jurassic Bavarichthys incognitus, n. gen. n. sp. from Ettling, Bavaria, is described. The new species represents the oldest record of a crossognathiform in Europe and together with Chongichthys from the Oxfordian of South America stands at the basal levels of a clade including crossognathids and pachyrhizodontoids. In addition, the new fish represents the first record of a crossognathiform in the Solnhofen Limestones. The new genus is characterized by numerous features such as the presence of infraorbitals 1–3 independent and 4 + 5 fused; two supramaxillary bones present; supramaxilla 2 considerably shorter than supramaxilla 1 and lacking an antero-dorsal process; well-developed series of epineural, epicentral and epipleural intermuscular bones; parhypural and hypurals 1 and 2 partially fused to each other; a series of epaxial basal fulcra; and a few, elongate fringing fulcra associated with the dorsal leading margin of caudal fin.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201000005
Size matters – Analysis of shell repair scars in endocerid cephalopods
Authors: Kröger B.
Published: June 2014

Nearly one third of all conchs of Anthoceras buchi (Lesnikowa, 1949) from Baltoscandia display healed apertural breakages. Often multiple of these repair scars can be found in single conchs. Most of the scars are less than 2 mm deep, but deeper slit-like repaired breakages occasionally occur. Small injuries are usually around the entire apertural circumference, but the larger scars are concentrated at the ventral side of the conch, which is interpreted as result of a protection from a hood. The adult diameter of Anthoceras buchi is > 40 mm. Conch regions that exceed 30 mm in diameter rarely contain evidence of multiple repair scars. The relative frequency of deep healed breakages is highest at regions with diameters of 25–30 mm. This pattern is interpreted as evidence for a size limitation of the predator: large specimens with conch diameters above 30 mm had a considerably lower risk to get injured and the preserved injuries were less severe. This potentially explains the strong evolutionary trend of size increase in endocerids during the Lower to Middle Ordovician as escalation between them and shell breaking predators. Additionally, a specimen of Anthoceras buchi is described and figured, which displays colour marks with a mottled pattern.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201100001
A trematosauroid temnospondyl from the Middle Triassic of Jordan
Authors: Schoch R. R.
Published: June 2014

A well-preserved mandible from the Lower Anisian Mukheiris Formation from near the Dead Sea (Jordan) proves the presence of tetrapods in the region. It is identified as a stereospondyl lower jaw sharing synapomorphies with the Trematosauroidea. It has the following combination of features: (1) Meckelian fenestra almost one-third the length of the ramus, (2) postglenoid area posterodorsally rising and robust, as long as glenoid facet, (3) preglenoid process substantially higher than medial margin of adductor chamber, (4) all teeth anteriorly and posteriorly carinate, and (5) symphysis without additional tooth rows, with a pair of unequal fangs as part of the dentary arcade, which contains unusually large teeth. The Jordan specimen shares most character-states with South African Microposaurus (size of teeth, bicarinate structure) and the Russian Inflectosaurus (preglenoid process, PGA). Phylogenetic analysis finds it to nest with Microposaurus, whereas Inflectosaurus forms an unresolved polytomy with other trematosauroids.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201100002
Mass concentration of Hirnantian cephalopods from the Siljan District, Sweden; taxonomy, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeographic relationships
Authors: Kröger B. , Ebbestad J. O. R. , Högström A. E. S. , Frisk Å. M.
Published: June 2014

The Hirnantian Glisstjärn Formation (Normalograptus persculptus graptolite Biozone) is a succession of limestones and shales onlapping the Katian Boda Limestone in the Siljan District, Sweden. It contains a conspicuous, up to several decimeter thick bed densely packed with bipolarly oriented, orthoconic cephalopod conchs that can reach lengths of more than 120 cm. Conch fragmentation, bioereosion and the generally poor preservation of the conchs indicate time averaging and the conchs are tentatively interpreted as beached, and a result of winnowing. Ten nautiloid species were collected from the Glisstjärn Formation of which five are new: Dawsonoceras gregarium n. sp., Discoceras siljanense n. sp., Isorthoceras dalecarlense n. sp., Retizitteloceras rarum gen. et sp. n., and Transorthoceras osmundsbergense gen. et sp. n. The non-endemic taxa in most cases are known from elsewhere in Baltoscandia, except one species which is known from Siberia, and North America respectively. Proteocerid orthoceridans dominate the association, of which T. osmundsbergense is the predominant species. Oncocerids are diverse but together with tarphycerids very rare. Notable is the lack of many higher taxa, that are typical for other Late Ordovician shallow water depositional settings. Based on the taxonomical composition of the cephalopod mass occurrence it is interpreted as an indicator of eutrophication of the water masses in the area.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201000014
Review and palaeoecological analysis of the late Tremadocian – early Floian (Early Ordovician) cephalopod fauna of the Montagne Noire, France
Authors: Kröger B. , Evans D. H.
Published: June 2014

The Early Ordovician successions of the southern Montagne Noire consist of a thick sequence of predominantly siliciclastic sediments of which the late Tremadocian St. Chinian Formation and the earliest Floian La Maurerie Formation contain a comparatively rich and abundant cephalopod association. The cephalopods of the St. Chinian and La Maurerie Formation are interpreted as generally authochthonous, representing a fauna which originally lived in the open water above the sediments or related to the sea bottom. The cephalopod associations of the St. Chinian and La Maurerie formations are similar to other contemporaneous assemblages known from higher palaeolatitudes and associated with deeper depositional settings. They are composed almost exclusively of longiconic orthocones, in this case predominantly of eothinoceratids and baltocerids. The occurrences of Annbactrocera, and Bactroceras in the St. Chinian Formation are at present the earliest unambiguous reports of the Orthocerida. The available data suggest an initial expansion of orthoceroid cephalopod faunas from open water habitats of high paleo-latitudes, and a subsequent expansion on the carbonate platforms during the Floian. The presence of the eothinoceratid Saloceras in abundance demonstrates the Gondwanan affinity of the assemblage whilst adding further support for the presence of a "Saloceras realm" that may have extended along the margins of East and West Gondwana at least into intermediate latitudes. The following new taxa are proposed: Annbactroceras n. gen., Annbactroceras felinense n. sp., Cyclostomiceras thorali n. sp., Felinoceras n. gen., Felinoceras constrictum n. sp., Lobendoceras undulatum n. sp., Rioceratidae n. fam., Saloceras murvielense n. sp., Thoraloceras n. gen., Thoraloceras bactroceroides n. sp.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201000013
Miamia maimai n. sp., a new Pennsylvanian stem-orthopteran insect, and a case study on the application of cladotypic nomenclature
Authors: Béthoux O. , Gu J. , Yue Y. , Ren D.
Published: June 2014

A new stem-orthopteran insect assignable to the – traditional – genus and the – cladotypic-defined – taxon Miamia Dana, 1864 is described based on abundant material collected from the Xiaheyan locality (Ningxia, China; Early Pennsylvanian). Intra-specific wing venation variability in Miamia maimai n. sp. is appreciated based on wing pairs of single individuals, and on a complete series of conditions. Rare variants are reported. Details of head and leg morphology are documented: the new species possesses a five-segmented tarsus provided with paired claws and arolium, and labial palps with at least four segments, probably five. The nomenclatural section is conducted under the cladotypic nomenclatural procedure, but in a way largely consistent with the traditional usage. This experiment demonstrates that a combination composed of a "genus level-taxon" name previously associated with a definition and type material (e.g. Miamia), a specific epithet (e.g. maimai), and authorship information (e.g. Béthoux et al. 2012), with further mention to "Miamia maimai" or "M. maimai", provides a suitable reference to the species under all nomenclatural procedures, including the traditional one.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201200008
The Ordovician ostracodes established by Aurel Krause, Part II
Authors: Schallreuter R. , Hinz-Schallreuter I.
Published: June 2014

The revision of ostracodes originally established by Aurel Krause is continued and finished with the description of the following species: Primitia distans, P. elongata, P. cincta, P. excavata, P. papillata, P. plicata, P. schmidtii, Strepula limbata, S. simplex, Entomis obliqua, E. plicata, E. sigma, E. sigma ornata, E. simplex, E. trilobata, Beyrichia erratica, B. erratica granulosa, B. erratica acuta, B. harpa, and B. marchica lata. Three of these species are younger primary homonyms. For Beyrichia erratica granulosa Krause, 1891 a respective decision of the ICZN according to art. 23.9.5 is presently unnecessary, because it has an older synonym (Beyrichia grewingkii Bock, 1867), and Primitia excavata Krause, 1892 has a younger synonym (Laccochilina paucigranosa Jaanusson, 1957). The third homonym, Beyrichia marchica lata Krause, 1891, is considered as a nomen protectum. Entomis sigma ornata, and E. plicata are presently considered as nomina dubia. Since the type material of the three species P. distans, E. sigma, and E. simplex is apparently lost, neotypes are designated.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201300007
New remains of <i.Machimosaurus hugii von Meyer, 1837 (Crocodilia, Thalattosuchia) from the Kimmeridgian of Germany
Authors: Martin J. E. , Vincent P.
Published: June 2014

The fourth complete skull of the marine crocodilian Machimosaurus von Meyer, 1837 is hereby described together with an associated complete mandible and disarticulated postcranial elements from the Kimmeridgian of Neuffen, Germany. Although the genus has been described fairly recently on the basis of two nearly complete skulls, their state of preservation did not allow a thorough examination of the entire skull anatomy. Here, we add new information with the description of nicely preserved cranial and mandibular elements of a single individual attributable to Machimosaurus hugii von Meyer, 1837. The diagnosis is updated for the genus and for the species M. hugii and challenges the validity of the second species M. mosae (Liénard, 1876). Moreover, previous assumption that Steneosaurus obtusidens Andrews, 1913 is a junior synonym of Machimosaurus hugii is not supported by our observations. Notably, M. hugii differs from S. obtusidens by a lower tooth count, the morphology of the dentition, the shape of the supratemporal fenestrae and the absence of an antorbital fenestra. Comparative anatomy and a phylogenetic analysis show that Machimosaurus is more closely related to the genus Steneosaurus than to Teleosaurus cadomensis (Lamouroux, 1820).

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201300009
Corrigendum: Early Pennsylvanian Odonatoptera from the Xiaheyan locality (Ningxia, China): new material, taxa, and perspectives
Authors: Li Y. , Béthoux O. , Pang H. , Ren D.
Published: June 2014

No abstract is available for this article.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201390000
Late Givetian ammonoids from Hassi Nebech (Tafilalt Basin, Anti-Atlas, southern Morocco)
Authors: Bockwinkel J. , Becker R. T. , Ebbighausen V.
Published: June 2014

The Hassi Nebech area of the SE Tafilalt (Tafilalt Basin, Anti-Atlas, Morocco) yielded the richest and most diverse late Givetian ammonoid fauna on a global scale. Above the distinctive regional "Lower Marker Bed" (Synpharciceras clavilobum Zone), abundant loosely collected limonitic specimens derive from hypoxic shales of the Taouzites taouzensis to Petteroceras errans zones. The ontogenetic morphometry and intraspecific variability of a total of 30 species representing five families, the Acanthoclymeniidae, Taouzitidae, Pharciceratidae, Petteroceratidae, and Tornoceratidae, are documented. New taxa are: Pseudoprobeloceras praecox n. sp., Scaturites minutus n. gen. n. sp., Darkaoceras velox n. sp., Pharciceras decoratum n. sp., Ph. fornix n. sp., Ph. subconstans n. sp., Ph. involutum n. sp., Lunupharciceras incisum n. sp., Transpharciceras procedens n. gen. n. sp., Stenopharciceras progressum n. sp., Pluripharciceras n. gen. (type species: Synpharciceras plurilobatum Petter, 1959), Plu. orbis n. sp., Synpharciceras frequens n. sp., Lobotornoceras bensaidi n. sp., Nebechoceras eccentricum n. gen. n. sp., and Phoenixites lenticulus n. sp. The documentation of conch and particularly suture ontogeny and intraspecific variability necessitates a revised diagnosis for ten taxa. Manticoceras pontiformis Termier & Termier, 1950, Probeloceras costulatum Petter, 1959, and Pseudoprobeloceras nebechense Bensaïd, 1974 are regarded as subjective junior synonyms of Ps. pernai (Wedekind, 1918). Sandbergeroceras acutum Termier & Termier, 1950 is a subjective synonym of Taouzites taouzensis (Termier & Termier, 1950). Pharciceras applanatum Bensaïd, 1974 is transferred to Extropharciceras. Other forms (Ph. aff. tridens, Ph. cf. subconstans n. sp., Extropharciceras n. sp. 2, Ex. cf. arenicum, Ex. cf. applanatum, Synpharciceras sp., Plu. cf. plurilobatum) are described in open nomenclature.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201300001
A new Cretaceous family of enigmatic two-winged lacewings (Neuroptera)
Authors: Makarkin V. N. , Yang Q. , Ren D.
Published: June 2014

Lacewings (Neuroptera) normally bear four well-developed wings. There are a few brachypterous, micropterous or apterous species, found in several extant families; this wing reduction is usually associated with flightlessness. The only documented fossil neuropteran with reduced hind wings (modified to small haltere-like structures) is the enigmatic minute genus Mantispidiptera Grimaldi from the Late Cretaceous amber of New Jersey. In this paper, we report a new genus and species from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China (Dipteromantispa brevisubcosta n. gen. et n. sp.) resembling Mantispidiptera. We place these two genera in the new family Dipteromantispidae, n. fam. They bear well-developed forewings with reduced venation, and hind wings that are extremely modified as small structures resembling the halteres of Diptera. Dipteromantispidae n. fam. might be specialized descendants of some early Berothidae or of stem group Mantispidae + Berothidae. We presume that dipteromantispids were active fliers. This is a remarkable example of parallel evolution of wing structures in this neuropteran family and Diptera.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.201300002
Do tracks yield reliable information on gaits? – Part 1: The case of horses
Authors: Kienapfel K. , Läbe S. , Preuschoft H.
Published: June 2014

Abstract. During their lifetime animals leave many tracks and traces behind, which can provide insights into the animals' behaviour. Single footprints of extant vertebrates are frequently found in sediments all over the world, often arranged into trackways. The study of footprints and trackways lead to interpretations about the mode of locomotion of the trackmaker. Here we show an approach to identify gaits from tracks. A series of experiments with horses was performed to determine whether gaits could be identified on the basis of fossil trackways, e.g. those left behind by sauropod dinosaurs of the Mesozoic era or Tertiary mammals, to unveil their locomotor abilities. The generally valid rules for quadrupedal locomotion were taken into consideration. Symmetrical gaits result in very similar trackways; a further differentiation can be made by application of statistics on step lengths, excursion angles and overstepping. A clear difference exists between the trot and the pace. These rapid, symmetric gaits imply high ground reaction forces (GRF) because of their long phases of aerial suspension at higher speeds. The resulting GRF seem to be too high to be sustained by the limb bones of huge graviportal animals like sauropods. Unfortunately, most of these factors are rarely available in the case of fossil tracks. Likewise, the asymmetrical, springing gaits can be excluded for sauropods because of the enormous GRF. Provided that limb length as well as trunk length can be approximated, and left and right, as well as forefoot and hindfoot imprints can be discriminated, the symmetrical gaits (walk, amble, pace, trot) used when making a trackway can be discerned.
Photogrammetric survey of dinosaur skeletons
Authors: Wiedemann A. , Suthau T. , Albertz J.
Published: June 2014

To derive physiological data of dinosaurs, it is necessary to determine the volume and the surface area of this animals. For this purpose, a detailed survey of reconstructed skeletons is required. The skeletons of three dinosaurs in the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin and two skeletons in the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris have been surveyed using stereo photogrammetry. Two of the Berlin skeletons were also surveyed with the close range laser scanners of the Institut für Navigation of the Universität Stuttgart. Both data acquisition techniques require a geodetic control network as a geometric reference system. The surveying methods used, together with results of mathematical approaches for the determination of the volume and surface of the animals are presented in this paper.

 Zur Herleitung physiologischer Daten der Dinosaurier ist es erforderlich, zunächst Volumen und Oberfläche ihres Körpers zu bestimmen. Dazu wurde eine detaillierte Vermessung rekonstruierter Skelette durchgeführt. Die Skelette dreier Saurier im Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin und zweier im Museum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris wurden stereophotogrammetrisch vermessen. Bei zwei der Berliner Skelette wurden zusätzlich die Laserscanner des Instituts für Navigation der Universität Stuttgart eingesetzt. Beide Datenerfassungstechniken benötigen ein Paßpunktfeld als geometrisches Referenzsystem. Die verwendeten Vermessungsmethoden, die mathematischen Ansätze für die Berechnung von Volumina und Oberflächen und die Ergebnisse werden in diesem Aufsatz vorgestellt.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.1999.4860020108
Some charophytes from the middle dinosaur member of the Tendaguru formation (Upper Jurassic of Tanzania)
Authors: Schudack M. E.
Published: June 2014

Biostratigraphy and paleoecology of the famous dinosaur beds of Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania, East Africa are still under discussion. Calcareous microfossils have not yet contributed to this question. Four samples from the Middle Dinosaur Member have now yielded charophyte gyrogonites of the species Aclistochara cf. bransonii, Aclistochara cf. minor, Mesochara canellata, and Mesochara harrisi. Considering ammonite datations in under- and overlying members, even their long stratigrapical ranges point to a Kimmeridgian age for the Middle Dinosaur Member of Tendaguru Formation. Salinity tolerances of the species (if autochthonous) suggest a variable environment with partly brackish, partly freshwater influences.

 Biostratigraphie und Paläoökologie der berühmten Dinosaurier-Fundschichten am Tendaguru Hill in Tansania (Ostafrika) sind bis heute umstritten. Kalkige Mikrofossilien hatten zu dieser Diskussion bisher nicht beigetragen. In vier Proben aus dem Mittleren Dinosauriermergel fanden sich nun Charophyten-Gyrogonite der Arten Aclistochara cf. bransonii, Aclistochara cf. minor, Mesochara canellata und Mesochara harrisi. Trotz generell langer stratigraphischer Reichweiten dieser Arten macht ihr Vorkommen im Zusammenhang mit Ammonitenfunden in unter- und überlagernden Schichten ein Kimmeridgium-Alter des Mittleren Dinosauriermergels wahrscheinlich, während ihre Salinitätstoleranzen (autochthones Vorkommen vorausgesetzt) auf ein wechselhaftes Milieu mit teils schwach brackischen, teils Süßwassereinflüssen hindeuten.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.1999.4860020115
First record of Ephemeropsis, Coptoclava, Coleoptera inc. sed. and Turfanograpta from Lower Cretaceous paper-shales of the western-most site of Mongolia
Authors: Jähnichen H. , Kahlert E.
Published: June 2014

Nymph-fragments (and detached cerci) of the may-fly Ephemeropsis trisetalis Eichwald and the water-beetle Coptoclava longipoda Ping, a coleopteran and a shell-fragment of the conchostracan Turfanograpta sp. are described for the first time from Lower Cretaceous paper-shales of Bajan-Khongor, Mongolia. The assemblage Lycoptera (fishes included in the Order Osteoglossiformes, Fam. Lycopteridae)-Ephemeropsis-Coptoclava correlates with Lower Cretaceous deposits in Transbaikalia, Mongolia and North-Eastern China. The fern-species Adiantopteris sewardi (Yabe) Vassiljevskaja and Adiantopteris toyoraënsis (Oishi) Vassiljevskaja occur in fine-sandstones of Bajan-Khongor (Jähnichen & Kahlert 1972). Their importance as Early Cretaceous flora-elements is discussed.

 Larvenfragmente und isolierte Cerci der Eintagsfliege Ephemeropsis trisetalis Eichwald und vom Wasserkäfer Coptoclava longipoda Ping, und ein Schalenfragment der Conchostrake Turfanograpta sp. werden erstmalig aus unterkretazischen Dysodilen von Bajan-Khongor in der Mongolei beschrieben. Die Faunengemeinschaft Lycoptera (Fische der Ordnung Osteoglossiformes, Fam. Lycopteridae)-Ephemeropsis-Coptoclava tritt gleichzeitig in unterkretazischen Ablagerungen von Transbaikalien, Mongolei, und im nordöstlichen China auf. Das Vorkommen der Farnspezies Adiantopteris sewardi (Yabe) Vassil-jevskaja und Adiantopteris toyoraënsis (Oishi) Vassiljevskaja in Feinsandsteinen von Bajan-Khongor (Jähnichen & Kahlert 1972) und deren Wichtigkeit als unterkretazische Florenelemente werden diskutiert.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.20000030104
Zur Palökologie der Euproopiden im Nordwestdeutschen Oberkarbon
Authors: Schultka S.
Published: June 2014

Tierische Fossilien aus dem Westfal D des Piesbergs bei Osnabrück sind seit 1860 vereinzelt immer wieder beschrieben worden. Doch erst durch die Funde der letzten 30 Jahre zählt der Piesberg zu den bedeutendsten Fundorten terrestrischer Fauna im Karbon. Erstmals werden 45 stratifiziert aufgesammelte Individuen von Euproops untersucht. Einige Details der Morphologie sowie eine dichte Behaarung werden beschrieben. Auf der Basis dieser Merkmale sowie der Verteilung juveniler und adulter Individuen im geologischen Profil wird eine Deutung des Lebensraumes der Euproopiden versucht. Danach hielten sich die juvenilen Individuen dieser Tiergruppe als Laubstreubewohner in feuchten Spülsäumen flacher ruhiger Gewässer und Laubstreuhorizonten auf. Die adulten Formen lebten vornehmlich benthisch in ufernahen Gewässern und verließen wohl nur noch gelegentlich das Wasser.

 Since 1860 articulated fossils of terrestrial taxa have been described from lower Westfalian D sediments of the Piesberg section near Osnabrück (northwestern Germany). In this paper 45 individuals of the genus Euproops, sampled from particular levels in the profile, are reported on for the first time. Analysis of the fossil material reveals new morphological details – especially setae densely covering the ventral side – that, combined with the geological setting of the profile, gives novel insights into the palaeoenvironment and to the hypothesis of subaerial activity. Young individuals of Euproops may have been "litter dwellers" inhabiting forest-litter and partly decayed plant material that had washed ashore. By contrast, adults formed a principal component of the nearshore benthic fauna. They were able to leave the water, but only for short periods. This is proved by the occurence of adults and juveniles in different lithologies.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.20000030105
Selachians and actinopterygians from the Upper Jurassic of Tendaguru, Tanzania
Authors: Arratia G. , Kriwet J. , Heinrich W.-D.
Published: June 2014

The first Late Jurassic selachian and actinopterygian fishes of Tendaguru in Tanzania were collected by the German-Tendaguru expedition in 1909–1913. They are represented mainly by occasional teeth of a neoselachian (Sphenodus) and several specimens of a neopterygian (Lepidotes). New material collected by the German-Tanzanian Tendaguru expedition in 2000 includes additional selachians recovered from clay stones at site Dwa 5a and isolated actinopterygian remains. At least three hybodonts (Hybodus sp., Hybodontidae indet., Lonchidion sp.) and a new neoselachian batoid are presented here. This assemblage is endemic to Tendaguru. A new batoid genus and species, Engaibatis schultzei, is described, which is the oldest record of a ray from Gondwana. The actinopterygians are represented by scarce and disarticulated scales of Lepidotes, "pholidophoriform"-like scales, and teleostean vertebrae. This material includes new biogeographic records for Africa. In addition, a synopsis of Jurassic fishes from Africa is presented.

 Die Fischfauna aus dem Oberjura von Tendaguru ist bisher nur unzureichend bekannt. Das erste Material, das von der Deutschen Tendaguru-Expedition (1909–1913) gesammelt wurde, besteht fast nur aus einigen wenigen isolierten Zähne des Haies Sphenodus und mehreren Exemplaren des Actinopterygiers Lepidotes. Neue Funde, die während der Deutsch-Tansanischen-Tendaguru-Expedition im Jahre 2000 geborgen wurden, erlauben es, mehrere Taxa zu beschreiben, die aus dem Oberjura Afrikas noch nicht bekannt waren. Anhand von Zähnen konnten mindestens drei zu den ursprünglichen Hybodontiern zählende Taxa (Hybodus sp., Hybodontidae indet., Lonchidion sp.) nachgewiesen sowie ein für Tendaguru neuer Rochen (Engaibatis schultzei n. gen. and n. sp.) festgestellt werden. Actinopterygier sind durch wenige und disartikulierte Schuppen von Lepidotes und einer "pholidophoriden"-ähnlichen Form sowie durch Wirbel von Teleosteern vertreten. Das neue Material gibt wichtige Hinweise auf die paläobiogeographische Verbreitung der spätjurassischen Fische. Es wird ein Überblick über die bisher bekannten jurassischen Fischfaunen Afrikas gegeben.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.20020050112x
The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) Cervidae, Mammalia, from Bilshausen (Lower Saxony, Germany): description and phylogenetic implications
Authors: Pfeiffer T.
Published: June 2014

The first well preserved, articulated skeleton of a young male deer of Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) was excavated from early Middle Pleistocene sediments of the clay pit of Bilshausen (Unter-Eichsfeld, Lower Saxony). This find made it possible, for the first time, to establish, using cladistic techniques, the systematic position of Megaloceros verticornis among Pleistocene and Holocene plesiometacarpal and telemetacarpal cervids. By contrast to the antler and tooth characters, the postcranial characters, in particular, are suitable for phylogeny reconstruction. Megaloceros verticornis from Bilshausen shows great similarity with M. giganteus of the Upper Pleistocene of Europe in its skeletal morphology, and bootstrap values (BP = 100) show strong support for the monophyly of M. giganteus and M. verticornis.

 The analysis yields no evidence, however, of a close relationship between Dama and Megaloceros, which has been widely discussed in the literature because of the presence of large, palmated antlers in both genera.

 Aus der Tongrube von Bilshausen (Unter-Eichsfeld, Niedersachsen) konnte das erste, vollständige Skelett eines jugen Hirsches von Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) aus mittelpleistozänen Sedimentablagerungen geborgen werden. Dieser Fund ermöglichte es erstmalig, die systematische Stellung von Megaloceros verticornis im System plesiometacarpaler und telemetacarpaler Hirsche des Pleistozäns und Holozäns auf breiter Basis zu untersuchen. Im Gegensatz zu den Geweih- und Zahnmerkmalen eignen sich die postcranialen Merkmale des Skelettes besonders gut für eine phylogenetische Rekonstruktion der Hirsche.

 Die Gemeinsamkeit Großer Schaufelgeweihe bei Dama dama und dem Riesenhirsch Megaloceros giganteus hat dazu geführt, beide in eine enge phylogenetische Beziehung zu setzen, was in der Literatur zu einer anhaltenden Kontroverse geführt hat. Die Analyse der Morphologie der postcranialen Elemente zeigt jedoch, dass es keine enge Verwandtschaft zwischen Dama und Megaloceros gibt.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.20020050118
Trifurcatia flabellata n. gen. n. sp., a putative monocotyledon angiosperm from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation (Brazil)
Authors: Mohr B. , Rydin C.
Published: June 2014

The Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation (northeast Brazil) contains plant remains, here described as Trifurcatia flabellata n. gen. and n. sp., consisting of shoot fragments with jointed trifurcate axes, each axis bearing a single amplexicaul serrate leaf at the apex. The leaves show a flabellate acrodromous to parallelodromous venation pattern, with several primary, secondary and higher order cross-veins. This very unique fossil taxon shares many characters with monocots. However, this fossil taxon exhibits additional features which point to a partly reduced, and specialized plant, which probably enabled this plant to grow in (seasonally) dry, even salty environments.

 In der unterkretazischen Cratoformation (Nordostbrasilien) sind Pflanzenfossilien erhalten, die hier als Trifurcatia flabellata n. gen. n. sp. beschrieben werden. Sie bestehen aus trifurcaten Achsen, mit einem apikalen amplexicaulen fächerförmigen serraten Blatt. Diese Blätter zeigen eine flabellate bis acrodrome-paralellodrome Aderung mit Haupt- und Nebenadern und transversale Adern 3. Ordnung. Diese Merkmale sind typisch für Monocotyledone. Allerdings weist dieses Taxon einige Merkmale auf, die weder bei rezenten noch fossilen Monocotyledonen beobachtet werden. Sie müssen als besondere Anpassungen an einen (saisonal) trockenen und vielleicht übersalzenen Lebensraum dieser Pflanze interpretiert werden.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.20020050121
Hans-Peter Schultze, a great paleoichthyologist for whom work is synonymous with enjoyment
Authors: Cloutier R.
Published: June 2014

In the summer of 1982, Hans-Peter Schultze and Gloria Arratia were invited to a small museum located on a fossiliferous site of the Devonian Escuminac Formation in Miguasha, Quebec, eastern Canada, Hans-Peter was to work with Marius Arsenault, the director of the Miguasha Museum, on the skull of the elpistostegalid Elpistostege watsoni, a species closely related to basal tetrapod. In addition, he went through the collections to describe and measure numerous juvenile specimens of the osteolepiform. Eusthenopteran foordi. As expected, there two projects turned out to be important contributions in lower vertebrate paleontology and systematics: one on the origin of tetrapods (1985), and the second one on growth patterns of a Late Devonian fish (1984). During his visit to Miguasha, Hans-Peter also spent time digging for fossils and drawing numerous specimens in the collection. In addition, in order to help the personnel of the museum to identify some of the Escuminac fished, he created an identification key based on the gross morphology of the scales. For a small group of undergraduate students, hired at the museum during the summer as naturalists, it was a unique opportunity to discuss paleontology with a leading researcher. We were amazed by his willingness to talk to us, even if then most of us only spoke French! For the first time, we were exposed to Hennigian methodology and its usage in vertebrate paleontology during and evening lecture that Hans-Peter prepared for us. His lecture was delightful; it was an intensive course in lower vertebrate anatomy, and an intellectual journey among the philosophers Karl Marx and Karl Popper, the entomologists Willy Hennig and Lars Brundin, and "The Band of Four" (Rosen et al., 1981). It was for most of us our first exposure to science, as it should be done. We were all impressed by his knowledge and above all by his simplicity and friendliness. Two years later I started my Ph.D. at The University of Kansas, under the supervision of Hans-Peter.

 Compared to his long career, these two weeks that Hans-Peter spent in Miguasha represent an extremely shourt period of time. Some might say that this little anecdote is insignificant when introducing a vertebrate paleontologist (Fig. 1A) who published 132 paper and books (a total of 2977 published pages) in addition to more than 80 abstracts, book reviews and obituaries. However, this brief story is representative of Hans-Peter's personality and contributions. He is a great scientist with numerous interests in science, art, and history. Hans-Peter enjoys digging for fossils, looking at fossils and describing fossils, and he loves sharing his knowledge and experiences with people, independent of their academic training.

 doi:10.1002/mmng.20020050102