cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.20352688
title: Fossil frogs from the upper Miocene of southwestern Brazilian Amazonia (Solimões Formation, Acre Basin).

description: Much of what we know about late Miocene vertebrates from the Brazilian Amazonia is based on the fossil record from several sites in the Solimões Formation. The Talismã site, one of the most important for vertebrate fossils in the formation, has produced an abundant and diverse fauna dominated by crocodylians, mammals, and turtles, but small vertebrates are still underrepresented. We report some isolated bones recovered from this site, providing the first Neogene records of anurans in Brazil. Two taxa are recognized, a distinct species of <i>Pipa</i>, and an unidentified species of the <i>Rhinella</i> clade, both of which are members of the extant Amazonian batrachofauna. These new fossils expand our knowledge of the late Miocene anuran assemblages from the region and contribute to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19519389
title: When did hyenas start transporting carrion? Tracing back the origins of scavenging durophagous hyenas

description: When did hyenas start transporting carrion? Tracing back the origins of scavenging durophagous hyenas
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.20352688.v2
title: Fossil frogs from the upper Miocene of southwestern Brazilian Amazonia (Solimões Formation, Acre Basin).

description: Much of what we know about late Miocene vertebrates from the Brazilian Amazonia is based on the fossil record from several sites in the Solimões Formation. The Talismã site, one of the most important for vertebrate fossils in the formation, has produced an abundant and diverse fauna dominated by crocodylians, mammals, and turtles, but small vertebrates are still underrepresented. We report some isolated bones recovered from this site, providing the first Neogene records of anurans in Brazil. Two taxa are recognized, a distinct species of <i>Pipa</i>, and an unidentified species of the <i>Rhinella</i> clade, both of which are members of the extant Amazonian batrachofauna. These new fossils expand our knowledge of the late Miocene anuran assemblages from the region and contribute to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19291203
title: Vertebrate paleontology of the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), III: a new species of <i>Albanerpeton</i>, with biogeographic and paleoecological implications

description: We describe a new species of the albanerpetontid amphibian <i>Albanerpeton</i> from three localities in the Lower Cretaceous Cloverly Formation of Wyoming, U.S.A. Radiometric dates between ∼111–112 Ma indicate it is slightly younger than <i>A. arthridion</i> from the Antlers Formation. The new species is diagnosed on a pair of fused frontals that possess a unique combination of characters, mixing plesiomorphic features of the internasal process with a more derived overall shape and proportions. Referred material includes premaxillae, maxillae, dentaries, atlantes, ‘axes,’ trunk vertebrae, humeri, and an ilium. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species near the base of <i>Albanerpeton</i> sensu lato but without fully resolving its position. The inclusion of <i>Shirerpeton</i> and <i>Wesserpeton</i> within this clade opens up the possibility that these genera might be incorporated into <i>Albanerpeton</i>, or that a number of species formerly assigned to <i>Albanerpeton</i> might receive new generic assignments. By including several informal species in our analysis, it becomes clear that character distributions are more homoplastic and that past genus typologies are probably less secure. We assign the new species to <i>Albanerpeton</i> conservatively, pending further phylogenetic study. The Cloverly <i>Albanerpeton</i> is found in unambiguously aquatic deposits, suggesting that the animal lived near these settings for at least part of its life. This is a common habitat for Mesozoic albanerpetontids, unlike the karst-dominated, often drier, deposits in which Cenozoic species are typically found. Despite the recent discovery of a probable arboreal species, it is likely that albanerpetontids inhabited a range of habitats throughout their evolutionary history.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19291203.v1
title: Vertebrate paleontology of the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), III: a new species of <i>Albanerpeton</i>, with biogeographic and paleoecological implications

description: We describe a new species of the albanerpetontid amphibian <i>Albanerpeton</i> from three localities in the Lower Cretaceous Cloverly Formation of Wyoming, U.S.A. Radiometric dates between ∼111–112 Ma indicate it is slightly younger than <i>A. arthridion</i> from the Antlers Formation. The new species is diagnosed on a pair of fused frontals that possess a unique combination of characters, mixing plesiomorphic features of the internasal process with a more derived overall shape and proportions. Referred material includes premaxillae, maxillae, dentaries, atlantes, ‘axes,’ trunk vertebrae, humeri, and an ilium. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species near the base of <i>Albanerpeton</i> sensu lato but without fully resolving its position. The inclusion of <i>Shirerpeton</i> and <i>Wesserpeton</i> within this clade opens up the possibility that these genera might be incorporated into <i>Albanerpeton</i>, or that a number of species formerly assigned to <i>Albanerpeton</i> might receive new generic assignments. By including several informal species in our analysis, it becomes clear that character distributions are more homoplastic and that past genus typologies are probably less secure. We assign the new species to <i>Albanerpeton</i> conservatively, pending further phylogenetic study. The Cloverly <i>Albanerpeton</i> is found in unambiguously aquatic deposits, suggesting that the animal lived near these settings for at least part of its life. This is a common habitat for Mesozoic albanerpetontids, unlike the karst-dominated, often drier, deposits in which Cenozoic species are typically found. Despite the recent discovery of a probable arboreal species, it is likely that albanerpetontids inhabited a range of habitats throughout their evolutionary history.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19304114
title: New stegosaurs from the Middle Jurassic Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation of Chongqing, China

description: Stegosaurs are a major clade of ornithischian dinosaurs, yet because of their fragmentary fossil record, their interrelationships and early evolution are poorly understood. Here, we describe a new stegosaur, <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i>, gen. et sp. nov., and some other indeterminate stegosaur materials. We provide new U-Pb detrital zircon ages for horizons bounding the holotypic quarry in the Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation, Yunyang, Chongqing Municipality, China, which indicate a Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) age. <i>Bashanosaurus</i> represents the earliest record of stegosaurs in Asia and one of the earliest records of this clade in the world. The dorsal vertebrae, scapula, coracoid, femur, and plates of <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i> possess several unique characters among Stegosauria, including the elevation of the parapophyses of dorsal vertebrae on stalks at the base of the transverse processes, a flared distal end of the scapula, and a small acromial process. Among armored dinosaurs (thyreophorans), these features are reminiscent of the basally branching taxon <i>Scelidosaurus</i>, indicating that <i>Bashanosaurus</i> possesses a unique mosaic of plesiomorphic thyreophoran and derived stegosaur features. Phylogenetic analysis shows that <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i> is the earliest-diverging stegosaur, along with <i>Chungkingosaurus</i>, from the Upper Member of the Shaximiao Formation, consistent with the early age of the taxon.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19304114.v2
title: New stegosaurs from the Middle Jurassic Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation of Chongqing, China

description: Stegosaurs are a major clade of ornithischian dinosaurs, yet because of their fragmentary fossil record, their interrelationships and early evolution are poorly understood. Here, we describe a new stegosaur, <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i>, gen. et sp. nov., and some other indeterminate stegosaur materials. We provide new U-Pb detrital zircon ages for horizons bounding the holotypic quarry in the Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation, Yunyang, Chongqing Municipality, China, which indicate a Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) age. <i>Bashanosaurus</i> represents the earliest record of stegosaurs in Asia and one of the earliest records of this clade in the world. The dorsal vertebrae, scapula, coracoid, femur, and plates of <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i> possess several unique characters among Stegosauria, including the elevation of the parapophyses of dorsal vertebrae on stalks at the base of the transverse processes, a flared distal end of the scapula, and a small acromial process. Among armored dinosaurs (thyreophorans), these features are reminiscent of the basally branching taxon <i>Scelidosaurus</i>, indicating that <i>Bashanosaurus</i> possesses a unique mosaic of plesiomorphic thyreophoran and derived stegosaur features. Phylogenetic analysis shows that <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i> is the earliest-diverging stegosaur, along with <i>Chungkingosaurus</i>, from the Upper Member of the Shaximiao Formation, consistent with the early age of the taxon.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19519389.v1
title: When did hyenas start transporting carrion? Tracing back the origins of scavenging durophagous hyenas

description: When did hyenas start transporting carrion? Tracing back the origins of scavenging durophagous hyenas
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19304114.v1
title: New Stegosaurs from the Middle Jurassic Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation of Chongqing, China

description: Stegosaurs are a major clade of ornithischian dinosaurs, yet because of their fragmentary fossil record, their interrelationships and early evolution are poorly understood. Here, we describe a new stegosaur, <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i>, gen. et sp. nov., and some other indeterminate stegosaur materials. We provide new U-Pb detrital zircon ages for horizons bounding the holotypic quarry in the Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation, Yunyang, Chongqing Municipality, China, which indicate a Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) age. <i>Bashanosaurus</i> represents the earliest record of stegosaurs in Asia and one of the earliest records of this clade in the world. The dorsal vertebrae, scapula, coracoid, femur, and plates of <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i> possess several unique characters among Stegosauria, including the elevation of the parapophyses of dorsal vertebrae on stalks at the base of the transverse processes, a flared distal end of the scapula, and a small acromial process. Among armored dinosaurs (thyreophorans), these features are reminiscent of the basally branching taxon <i>Scelidosaurus</i>, indicating that <i>Bashanosaurus</i> possesses a unique mosaic of plesiomorphic thyreophoran and derived stegosaur features. Phylogenetic analysis shows that <i>Bashanosaurus primitivus</i> is the earliest-diverging stegosaur, along with <i>Chungkingosaurus</i>, from the Upper Member of the Shaximiao Formation, consistent with the early age of the taxon.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.20352688.v1
title: Fossil frogs from the upper Miocene of southwestern Brazilian Amazonia (Solimões Formation, Acre Basin)

description: Much of what we know about late Miocene vertebrates from the Brazilian Amazonia is based on the fossil record from several sites in the Solimões Formation. The Talismã site, one of the most important for vertebrate fossils in the formation, has produced an abundant and diverse fauna dominated by crocodylians, mammals, and turtles, but small vertebrates are still underrepresented. We report some isolated bones recovered from this site, providing the first Neogene records of anurans in Brazil. Two taxa are recognized, a distinct species of <i>Pipa</i>, and an unidentified species of the <i>Rhinella</i> clade, both of which are members of the extant Amazonian batrachofauna. These new fossils expand our knowledge of the late Miocene anuran assemblages from the region and contribute to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.20200057
title: Archosauriform remains from the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation of Brazil

description: Early Triassic archosauriform remains are often related to the Proterosuchidae and the Erythrosuchidae, common stem-archosaurs in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction event. South American proterosuchid remains are rare, with only a few specimens from the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation briefly mentioned in literature. The Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation has a growing fossil record, thus far composed of procolophonids, temnospondyls, and early-branching archosauromorphs. In this work, new materials referred to cf. <i>Chasmatosuchus</i> and cf. <i>Proterosuchus</i> (Archosauriformes) are described, representing the first conclusive archosauriform records from the Lower Triassic of Brazil. Proterosuchids are among the stratigraphically oldest Archosauriformes, with their earliest unambiguous occurrences coming from the uppermost Permian of Russia. This clade is widely spread among well-explored Lower Triassic formations, flourishing during the recovery phase from the end-Permian mass extinction. The presence of non-archosaurian archosauriforms in southwestern Gondwana reinforces the rapid diversification of archosauromorphs during the Early Triassic. The Sanga do Cabral Formation fossil assemblage is becoming important for understanding how the initial adaptive radiation of archosauromorphs took place.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.20200057.v2
title: Archosauriform remains from the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation of Brazil

description: Early Triassic archosauriform remains are often related to the Proterosuchidae and the Erythrosuchidae, common stem-archosaurs in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction event. South American proterosuchid remains are rare, with only a few specimens from the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation briefly mentioned in literature. The Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation has a growing fossil record, thus far composed of procolophonids, temnospondyls, and early-branching archosauromorphs. In this work, new materials referred to cf. <i>Chasmatosuchus</i> and cf. <i>Proterosuchus</i> (Archosauriformes) are described, representing the first conclusive archosauriform records from the Lower Triassic of Brazil. Proterosuchids are among the stratigraphically oldest Archosauriformes, with their earliest unambiguous occurrences coming from the uppermost Permian of Russia. This clade is widely spread among well-explored Lower Triassic formations, flourishing during the recovery phase from the end-Permian mass extinction. The presence of non-archosaurian archosauriforms in southwestern Gondwana reinforces the rapid diversification of archosauromorphs during the Early Triassic. The Sanga do Cabral Formation fossil assemblage is becoming important for understanding how the initial adaptive radiation of archosauromorphs took place.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19207552
title: The osteology of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i>, an archosauromorph from the Middle Triassic Denwa Formation, Satpura Gondwana Basin, Central India

description: Archosauromorpha originated in the middle–late Permian and started to diversify in both non-marine and marine ecosystems dominating the world by the Triassic. The evolution of this group is poorly documented because the fossil record is limited. A detailed osteological description of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i>, a non-archosaurian archosauromorph, from the Middle Triassic Satpura Basin, Central India, is provided here. The collection includes cranial bones, namely the nasal, frontals with and without horns, postfrontal, parietal, maxilla, premaxilla, quadrate, vomer, dentary, and braincase. The collection also comprises postcranial bones such as cervical, dorsal, sacral and caudal vertebrae, and girdle and limb bones. The phylogenetic study incorporates the character states from cranial as well as postcranial elements of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i>. Furthermore, <i>Malerisaurus robinsonae</i>, another non-archosaurian archosauromorph from India, has been included in the phylogenetic analysis. The analysis reveals that both <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i> and <i>Malerisaurus robinsonae</i> are azendohsaurid allokotosaurs and <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i> is the sister taxon to both the species of <i>Azendohsaurus</i>. The detailed description of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i> elucidates that the animal had a pair of supraorbital horns, was a large herbivore, and has an incongruous mixture of basal archosauromorph and dinosaurian-like character-states. Hence, the present study helps to fill the gap, to a large extent, in understanding the nature of the morphological diversity of basal archosauromorphs after the Permian–Triassic mass extinction. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA–Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19207552.v1
title: The osteology of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i>, an archosauromorph from the Middle Triassic Denwa Formation, Satpura Gondwana Basin, Central India

description: Archosauromorpha originated in the middle–late Permian and started to diversify in both non-marine and marine ecosystems dominating the world by the Triassic. The evolution of this group is poorly documented because the fossil record is limited. A detailed osteological description of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i>, a non-archosaurian archosauromorph, from the Middle Triassic Satpura Basin, Central India, is provided here. The collection includes cranial bones, namely the nasal, frontals with and without horns, postfrontal, parietal, maxilla, premaxilla, quadrate, vomer, dentary, and braincase. The collection also comprises postcranial bones such as cervical, dorsal, sacral and caudal vertebrae, and girdle and limb bones. The phylogenetic study incorporates the character states from cranial as well as postcranial elements of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i>. Furthermore, <i>Malerisaurus robinsonae</i>, another non-archosaurian archosauromorph from India, has been included in the phylogenetic analysis. The analysis reveals that both <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i> and <i>Malerisaurus robinsonae</i> are azendohsaurid allokotosaurs and <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i> is the sister taxon to both the species of <i>Azendohsaurus</i>. The detailed description of <i>Shringasaurus indicus</i> elucidates that the animal had a pair of supraorbital horns, was a large herbivore, and has an incongruous mixture of basal archosauromorph and dinosaurian-like character-states. Hence, the present study helps to fill the gap, to a large extent, in understanding the nature of the morphological diversity of basal archosauromorphs after the Permian–Triassic mass extinction. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA–Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19322549
title: The vertebrate fauna of the upper Permian of Niger—XI. Cranial material of a juvenile <i>Moradisaurus grandis</i> (Reptilia: Captorhinidae)

description: We describe two partial skulls of juvenile individuals of <i>Moradisaurus grandis</i>, a moradisaurine captorhinid from the upper Permian Moradi Formation of northern Niger. The juvenile skulls are less than half the length of the largest known skull of <i>M. grandis</i>, and differ in featuring a transversely narrow mandible, only five rows of maxillary teeth, a relatively larger orbit, a relatively taller skull, a cultriform process of the parasphenoid angled upwards at 20–30° from the basal plate, and reduced ossification of the braincase. Most of these features have been considered characteristic of the less derived members of the family (e.g., <i>Protocaptorhinus pricei</i>, <i>Captorhinus laticeps</i>). Data from juvenile <i>Moradisaurus</i> allow us to amend a previous inference that the braincase of the holotype and largest known skull of the moradisaurine <i>Labidosaurikos meachami</i> is characterized by poor ossification: we infer instead that this skull is not skeletally mature and that the braincase would have fully ossified in larger, ontogenetically older individuals of this moradisaurine. An updated cladistic analysis of captorhinids yields <i>Moradisaurus</i> as the sister taxon to <i>Gansurhinus </i>+ <i>Rothianiscus</i>, replicating the results of several previous analyses, but improving slightly the robustness of Moradisaurinae and the clade of <i>Labidosaurus </i>+ Moradisaurinae with respect to previous work.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.19519387.v2
title: Postcrania and paleobiology of <i>Patriofelis ulta</i> (Mammalia, Oxyaenodonta) of the Bridgerian (lower–middle Eocene) of North America

description: Oxyaenodonta is one of several groups of early carnivorous placental mammals that are now extinct. <i>Patriofelis</i> is a genus of Bridgerian oxyaenodont, one of the last known from North America. We describe two partial skeletons of <i>Patriofelis ulta</i> to reevaluate hypotheses about the locomotion of <i>Patriofelis</i>. <i>Patriofelis ulta</i> had short limbs relative to a longer body, similar in proportion to other oxyaenodonts. The forelimb shows a wide capitulum of the humerus, indicative of the ability to pronate and supinate the hand. Likewise, the hindlimb shows features associated with flexibility such as a shallow acetabulum, and shallowly grooved astragulus. In contrast, the lumbar vertebrae are inflexible with interlocking zygapophyses. We performed a 2D geometric morphometric analysis of lumbar vertebrae from modern mammals and <i>P. ulta</i> to identify a close functional match. We found that while the lumbar shape in anterior view of <i>P. ulta</i> fell closest to carnivorans, the interlocking zygapophyses matched most closely to modern artiodactyls. We confirmed the occurrence of interlocking zygapophyses in other oxyaenodonts, as well as hyaenodonts and mesonychids, and infer that this is a plesiomorphic feature. Based on this information, we rule out the previously proposed semiaquatic hypothesis for locomotion, as well as the scansorial hypothesis based on the large size of <i>P. ulta</i>. We interpret <i>P. ulta</i>, one of the largest carnivores in its ecosystem, as an ambush predator capable of grappling prey with its flexible forearms.