On page 329, in Figure 19, the names of the following countries, Mozambique, Zambia, Australia an... more On page 329, in Figure 19, the names of the following countries, Mozambique, Zambia, Australia and Antarctica, did not appear. Figure 19 is reproduced here, and the country names have been added. Appendix 15 has also been included in the article, to represent the phylogenetic matrix.
The shell of the oldest true turtle (Testudinata) branch (Proterochersidae) from the Late Triassi... more The shell of the oldest true turtle (Testudinata) branch (Proterochersidae) from the Late Triassic (Norian) of Poland and Germany was built in its anterior and posterior part from an osteodermal mosaic which developed several million years after the plastron, neurals, and costal bones. The most detailed description of the shell composition in proterochersids thus far is provided together with a review of the shell composition in other Triassic pantestudinates, the scenario of early evolution of the turtle shell is proposed based on new data, and the possible adaptive meaning of the observed evolutionary changes is discussed. These observations are consistent with the trend of shell simplification previously reported in turtles. Several aspects of proterochersid shell anatomy are intermediate between O. semitestacea and more derived turtles, supporting their stem phylogenetic position. Three additional ossifications were sutured to xiphiplastra and pelvis in Proterochersis spp. and at least in some individuals the nuchal bone was paired. The peripherals, suprapygals, and pygal bone are most likely of osteodermal origin and homologous to the proterochersid shell mosaic
Despite nearly two centuries of intensive research of dicynodont diversity and distribution, the ... more Despite nearly two centuries of intensive research of dicynodont diversity and distribution, the progress of the last two decades makes the early 21st century a dicynodont renaissance. Here we introduce Woznikella triradiata n. gen., n. sp., a Late Triassic European kannemeyeriiform with stahleckeriid affinities that may represent an early diverging lineage of that family, preceding its split into Placeriinae King, 1988 and Stahleckeriinae Lehman, 1961. Woznikella triradiata n. gen., n. sp. is distinguished from other dicynodonts by its autapomorphic, slender scapula with distinctly expanded dorsal and ventral parts, acromion directed anterodorsally, and inconspicuous scapular spine. Furthermore, we review reported global occurrences of Triassic dicynodonts, including fragmentary, indeterminate finds that may capture cryptic diversity, and analyze the biogeography of the Permian and Triassic Dicynodontia. According to our results, the region of southeastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambiqu...
Since 1990, several localities within the Keuper (upper Middle to Upper Triassic) strata in south... more Since 1990, several localities within the Keuper (upper Middle to Upper Triassic) strata in southern Poland have yielded remains of numerous terrestrial vertebrate species. Here we report a new Upper Triassic vertebrate assemblage from the rediscovered Kocury locality. An incomplete theropod dinosaur fibula named Velocipes guerichi described in 1932 was found there. The site was then forgotten and not explored until our excavations began in 2012, that yielded material of a lungfish, a proterochersid turtle, and a new typothoracin aetosaur Kocurypelta silvestris gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by autapomorphies of the maxilla: an elongated edentulous posterior portion longer than 80% of the posterior maxillary process, a short medial shelf restricted to the posterior portion of the bone, an anteriorly unroofed maxillary accessory cavity, and lack of a distinct groove for choanal recess on the anteromedial surface of the bone. These new finds improve our knowledge on t...
Figure 1. The skull roof with braincase ZPAL AbIII/466/17 of Stagonolepis olenkae sp. nov. from K... more Figure 1. The skull roof with braincase ZPAL AbIII/466/17 of Stagonolepis olenkae sp. nov. from Krasiejów, in dorsal (A), lateral (D), posterior (E), and ventral (F) views. Endocranial cavity in dorsal (B) and ventral (C) views.
Fig. 3. Phylogeny of kannemeyeriiform dicynodonts and its relationship with the changes in femur ... more Fig. 3. Phylogeny of kannemeyeriiform dicynodonts and its relationship with the changes in femur length of dicynodonts and sauropodomorphs. (A) Time-calibrated phylogeny of the Triassic dicynodonts simplified after (22) (numerical ages for the base and top of Norian are based on the Chronostratigraphic Chart of the ICS v. 2018/8) with position of L. bojani. (B) Femur length (body size proxy) of sauropodomorph (black squares) and dicynodont (gray circles) taxa from the Middle to Late Triassic plotted at the stratigraphic range midpoints for each taxon. (C) Comparison of dicynodont femur bones (1, 2, ZPAL V.33/763, Lisowicia; 3, UCMP 32394, Placerias; 4, MCZ 378 58M, Ischigualastia; 5, MCN PV 3600, Dinodontosaurus; 6, GPIT/ RE/8002, Stahleckeria).
Fig. 1. The skeleton restoration of Lisowicia bojani. (A) Left humerus (ZPAL V.33/96) in ventral ... more Fig. 1. The skeleton restoration of Lisowicia bojani. (A) Left humerus (ZPAL V.33/96) in ventral view. (B) Left radius (ZPAL V.33/665) in lateral view. (C) Cervical vertebrae (ZPAL V.33/720) in posterior view. (D) Dorsal vertebrae (ZPAL V.33/720) in lateral view. (E) Left pelvis (ZPAL V.33/720; ilium, pubis, and ischium) in lateral view. (F) Left femur (ZPAL V.33/75) in anterior view. (G) Left tibia (ZPAL V.33/75) in lateral view. (H) Left fibula (ZPAL V.33/75) in medial view. (I) Left ulna (ZPAL V.33/470) in lateral view. (J) Left scapulocoracoid (ZPAL V.33/468) in lateral view. (K) Fused quadrate and quadratojugal (ZPAL V.33/735) in posterior view. Scale bars, 10 cm (A) to (K); 1 m for the skeleton. (L) Light gray bones represent missing elements. il, ilium; pu, pubis; is, ischium.
Recent Triassic discoveries have extended the record of near-mammals (Mammaliaformes) back to the... more Recent Triassic discoveries have extended the record of near-mammals (Mammaliaformes) back to the Norian, about 215 Ma, and reveal a significant diversity of Late Tri-assic (Norian-Rhaetian) forms. We now add to this Late Tri-assic diversity a nearly complete double-rooted right lower molariform tooth (ZPAL V.33/734) from the Polish Upper Triassic that is significant because it comes from uppermost Norian–lower Rhaetian rocks and is the first discovery of a mammal-like tooth in the Mesozoic of Poland. The de-scribed tooth shows transitional dental morphology between advanced cynodonts and mammaliaforms and it appears to represent a basal mammaliaform (genus Hallautherium), probably belonging to Morganucodonta.
The Early Triassic record of the large capitosaurid amphibian genus Parotosuchus is supplemented ... more The Early Triassic record of the large capitosaurid amphibian genus Parotosuchus is supplemented by new material from fluvial deposits of Wióry, southern Poland, corresponding in age to the Detfurth Formation (Spathian, Late Olenekian) of the Germanic Basin. The skull of the new capitosaurid shows an “intermediate ” morphology between that of Paroto− suchus helgolandicus from the Volpriehausen−Detfurth Formation (Smithian, Early Olenekian) of Germany and the slightly younger Parotosuchus orenburgensis from European Russia. These three species may represent an evolutionary lineage that underwent a progressive shifting of the jaw articulation anteriorly. The morphology of the Polish form is dis− tinct enough from other species of Parotosuchus to warrant erection of a new species. The very large mandible of Parot− osuchus ptaszynskii sp. nov. indicates that this was one of the largest tetrapod of the Early Triassic. Its prominent anatomi− cal features include a triangular retroarticula...
On page 329, in Figure 19, the names of the following countries, Mozambique, Zambia, Australia an... more On page 329, in Figure 19, the names of the following countries, Mozambique, Zambia, Australia and Antarctica, did not appear. Figure 19 is reproduced here, and the country names have been added. Appendix 15 has also been included in the article, to represent the phylogenetic matrix.
The shell of the oldest true turtle (Testudinata) branch (Proterochersidae) from the Late Triassi... more The shell of the oldest true turtle (Testudinata) branch (Proterochersidae) from the Late Triassic (Norian) of Poland and Germany was built in its anterior and posterior part from an osteodermal mosaic which developed several million years after the plastron, neurals, and costal bones. The most detailed description of the shell composition in proterochersids thus far is provided together with a review of the shell composition in other Triassic pantestudinates, the scenario of early evolution of the turtle shell is proposed based on new data, and the possible adaptive meaning of the observed evolutionary changes is discussed. These observations are consistent with the trend of shell simplification previously reported in turtles. Several aspects of proterochersid shell anatomy are intermediate between O. semitestacea and more derived turtles, supporting their stem phylogenetic position. Three additional ossifications were sutured to xiphiplastra and pelvis in Proterochersis spp. and at least in some individuals the nuchal bone was paired. The peripherals, suprapygals, and pygal bone are most likely of osteodermal origin and homologous to the proterochersid shell mosaic
Despite nearly two centuries of intensive research of dicynodont diversity and distribution, the ... more Despite nearly two centuries of intensive research of dicynodont diversity and distribution, the progress of the last two decades makes the early 21st century a dicynodont renaissance. Here we introduce Woznikella triradiata n. gen., n. sp., a Late Triassic European kannemeyeriiform with stahleckeriid affinities that may represent an early diverging lineage of that family, preceding its split into Placeriinae King, 1988 and Stahleckeriinae Lehman, 1961. Woznikella triradiata n. gen., n. sp. is distinguished from other dicynodonts by its autapomorphic, slender scapula with distinctly expanded dorsal and ventral parts, acromion directed anterodorsally, and inconspicuous scapular spine. Furthermore, we review reported global occurrences of Triassic dicynodonts, including fragmentary, indeterminate finds that may capture cryptic diversity, and analyze the biogeography of the Permian and Triassic Dicynodontia. According to our results, the region of southeastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambiqu...
Since 1990, several localities within the Keuper (upper Middle to Upper Triassic) strata in south... more Since 1990, several localities within the Keuper (upper Middle to Upper Triassic) strata in southern Poland have yielded remains of numerous terrestrial vertebrate species. Here we report a new Upper Triassic vertebrate assemblage from the rediscovered Kocury locality. An incomplete theropod dinosaur fibula named Velocipes guerichi described in 1932 was found there. The site was then forgotten and not explored until our excavations began in 2012, that yielded material of a lungfish, a proterochersid turtle, and a new typothoracin aetosaur Kocurypelta silvestris gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by autapomorphies of the maxilla: an elongated edentulous posterior portion longer than 80% of the posterior maxillary process, a short medial shelf restricted to the posterior portion of the bone, an anteriorly unroofed maxillary accessory cavity, and lack of a distinct groove for choanal recess on the anteromedial surface of the bone. These new finds improve our knowledge on t...
Figure 1. The skull roof with braincase ZPAL AbIII/466/17 of Stagonolepis olenkae sp. nov. from K... more Figure 1. The skull roof with braincase ZPAL AbIII/466/17 of Stagonolepis olenkae sp. nov. from Krasiejów, in dorsal (A), lateral (D), posterior (E), and ventral (F) views. Endocranial cavity in dorsal (B) and ventral (C) views.
Fig. 3. Phylogeny of kannemeyeriiform dicynodonts and its relationship with the changes in femur ... more Fig. 3. Phylogeny of kannemeyeriiform dicynodonts and its relationship with the changes in femur length of dicynodonts and sauropodomorphs. (A) Time-calibrated phylogeny of the Triassic dicynodonts simplified after (22) (numerical ages for the base and top of Norian are based on the Chronostratigraphic Chart of the ICS v. 2018/8) with position of L. bojani. (B) Femur length (body size proxy) of sauropodomorph (black squares) and dicynodont (gray circles) taxa from the Middle to Late Triassic plotted at the stratigraphic range midpoints for each taxon. (C) Comparison of dicynodont femur bones (1, 2, ZPAL V.33/763, Lisowicia; 3, UCMP 32394, Placerias; 4, MCZ 378 58M, Ischigualastia; 5, MCN PV 3600, Dinodontosaurus; 6, GPIT/ RE/8002, Stahleckeria).
Fig. 1. The skeleton restoration of Lisowicia bojani. (A) Left humerus (ZPAL V.33/96) in ventral ... more Fig. 1. The skeleton restoration of Lisowicia bojani. (A) Left humerus (ZPAL V.33/96) in ventral view. (B) Left radius (ZPAL V.33/665) in lateral view. (C) Cervical vertebrae (ZPAL V.33/720) in posterior view. (D) Dorsal vertebrae (ZPAL V.33/720) in lateral view. (E) Left pelvis (ZPAL V.33/720; ilium, pubis, and ischium) in lateral view. (F) Left femur (ZPAL V.33/75) in anterior view. (G) Left tibia (ZPAL V.33/75) in lateral view. (H) Left fibula (ZPAL V.33/75) in medial view. (I) Left ulna (ZPAL V.33/470) in lateral view. (J) Left scapulocoracoid (ZPAL V.33/468) in lateral view. (K) Fused quadrate and quadratojugal (ZPAL V.33/735) in posterior view. Scale bars, 10 cm (A) to (K); 1 m for the skeleton. (L) Light gray bones represent missing elements. il, ilium; pu, pubis; is, ischium.
Recent Triassic discoveries have extended the record of near-mammals (Mammaliaformes) back to the... more Recent Triassic discoveries have extended the record of near-mammals (Mammaliaformes) back to the Norian, about 215 Ma, and reveal a significant diversity of Late Tri-assic (Norian-Rhaetian) forms. We now add to this Late Tri-assic diversity a nearly complete double-rooted right lower molariform tooth (ZPAL V.33/734) from the Polish Upper Triassic that is significant because it comes from uppermost Norian–lower Rhaetian rocks and is the first discovery of a mammal-like tooth in the Mesozoic of Poland. The de-scribed tooth shows transitional dental morphology between advanced cynodonts and mammaliaforms and it appears to represent a basal mammaliaform (genus Hallautherium), probably belonging to Morganucodonta.
The Early Triassic record of the large capitosaurid amphibian genus Parotosuchus is supplemented ... more The Early Triassic record of the large capitosaurid amphibian genus Parotosuchus is supplemented by new material from fluvial deposits of Wióry, southern Poland, corresponding in age to the Detfurth Formation (Spathian, Late Olenekian) of the Germanic Basin. The skull of the new capitosaurid shows an “intermediate ” morphology between that of Paroto− suchus helgolandicus from the Volpriehausen−Detfurth Formation (Smithian, Early Olenekian) of Germany and the slightly younger Parotosuchus orenburgensis from European Russia. These three species may represent an evolutionary lineage that underwent a progressive shifting of the jaw articulation anteriorly. The morphology of the Polish form is dis− tinct enough from other species of Parotosuchus to warrant erection of a new species. The very large mandible of Parot− osuchus ptaszynskii sp. nov. indicates that this was one of the largest tetrapod of the Early Triassic. Its prominent anatomi− cal features include a triangular retroarticula...
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