The body masses of sixteen species of amphicyonids (Mammalia, Carnivora, Amphicyonidae) from the New and Old World were estimated on the basis of 86 osteological variables measured from the craniodental (N = 44) and postcranial (N = 42) skeleton of living species of Canidae and Ursidae. Given the absence of complete and well preserved skeletons of amphicyonids in the fossil record, multiple regression functions were derived separately from measurements taken from the mandible, the cranium and the major limb bones. The accuracy of the regression functions was evaluated using the percentage prediction error and the percentage standard error of the estimates. Mass values were calculated with these equations using measurements taken in adult individuals from a number of daphoenine and amphicyonine species. Results obtained show that three distinct size classes of amphicyonids emerged through the evolutionary history of the “beardog” family and that these size classes correlate with presumably different ecomorphs. Quantitative estimates of body size of amphicyonids are critical for deciphering the paleobiology of this poorly understood family of large fissiped carnivorans and can be used for placing it within a broader ecological context.

Isolated cheek teeth from the late Puercan (early Paleocene) Split Lip Flats local fauna, from the head of Willow Wash, Nacimiento Formation, San Juan Basin, represent a new genus and species of hyopsodontid “condylarth”, Chacomylus sladei. The teeth are small, bunodont, and are remarkable for the enlargement of the protocone, pronounced exodaenodonty, and high degree of attritional wear caused by transverse shearing or grinding. Although C. sladei bears a superficial resemblance to the apheliscine apheliscid Gingerichia, a preliminary phylogenetic analysis confirms that it is a hyopsodontid, closely related to the Puercan hyopsodontids Valenia wilsoni and Litomylus orthronepius.

Cuenca-Bescós, G., Badiola, A., Canudo, J.I., Gasca, J.M., and Moreno-Azanza, M. 2011. New dryolestidan mammal from the Hauterivian—Barremian transition of the Iberian Peninsula. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (2): 257–267.

Crusafontia amoae sp. nov. (Dryolestida, Stem Cladotheria) is represented by two isolated upper molars (M4 or M5 and M6 or M7) from the terminal Hauterivian—basal Barremian (Early Cretaceous) of the El Castellar Formation (Galve, Spain). The molars have a deep ectoflexus, a distinct metacone, a continuous metacrista, and an antero-lingually placed paracone. They differ from the molars of the other species of the genus, Crusafontia cuencana, by their larger size, by their outsized parastyle, by the pointed lingual slope of the paracone, their more symmetrical appearance with a deep ectoflexus in occlusal view, and the well-developed metacone. Revision of three isolated teeth previously attributed to Crusafontia cuencana suggests that instead of being upper premolars belonging to Crusafontia cuencana they in fact belong to Pocamus pepelui, of the stem cladotherian superorder Zatheria, probably “peramuran”. As such, the stem Cladotheria record from the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula is composed of two dryolestids (Crusafontia amoae and Crusafontia cuencana) and one zatherian (Pocamus pepelui).Key words: Mammalia, Cladotheria, Dryolestida, Crusafontia, systematics, Cretaceous, Iberian Peninsula.

Penguin bones from the Eocene La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula) constitute the only extensive fossil record of Antarctic Sphenisciformes. Here, we synonymize some of the recognized genera (Anthropornis with Orthopteryx, Delphinornis with Ichtyopteryx) and species (Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi with Orthopteryx gigas, Delphinornis gracilis with Ichtyopteryx gracilis). Moreover, we suggest that Antarctic species of Anthropornis and Palaeeudyptes, so-called giant penguins, may in fact comprise only one species each instead of two, based on evidence of well-marked sexual dimorphism. We also present new estimates of body mass based on femora testifying to the impressive scope of interspecific body-size variation in Eocene Antarctic penguins.

Gianechini, F.A., Makovicky, P.J., and Apesteguía, S. 2011. The teeth of the unenlagiine theropod Buitreraptor from the Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina, and the unusual dentition of the Gondwanan dromaeosaurids. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (2): 279–290.

The Unenlagiinae is a clade of Gondwanan dromaeosaurid theropods mainly known from incomplete skeletal material. The group includes two recently discovered theropods, Buitreraptor and Austroraptor, from which cranial remains are available with in situ maxillary and dentary teeth, thus allowing the study of tooth morphology. Among the derived traits that diagnose the dentition of unenlagiines are: (i) high tooth count, (ii) small size of individual teeth when compared with skull height, (iii) absence of denticles and carinae, and (iv) presence of longitudinal grooves on the tooth crown. This suite of dental characteristics, shared between Buitreraptor and Austroraptor, can be considered as diagnostic of the Unenlagiinae or, at least, a more exclusive clade within the group. The teeth of Buitreraptor exhibit a remarkable labiolingual compression, whereas Austroraptor possesses more conical teeth, probably respective autapomorphic features. On one hand, these dental morphologies differ from those observed in most Laurasian dromaeosaurids and, for instance, could be considered as further proof of the purported vicariant evolution of the lineage on the southern continents. On the other hand, the morphological similarities (e.g., absence of denticles) between the teeth of unenlagiines and other theropod lineages, including Mesozoic birds and ornithomimosaurs, can be considered as the result of parallel trends related to dental reduction.

Osteological fossils of dinosaurs are relatively rare in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. Thus, ichnofossils are a critical source of information on Late Triassic terrestrial vertebrate communities. The outcrops of the Tomanová Formation (?late Norian—Rhaetian) in the Tatra Mountains of Poland and Slovakia have yielded a diverse ichnofauna. Seven more or less distinct morphotypes of dinosaur tracks have been recognized and are discussed. Most tracks are partly eroded or deformed, but are preserved well enough to be assigned to a range of trackmakers, including early ornithischians, small and large theropods (coelophysoids and/or possibly early tetanurans), and probably basal sauropodomorphs (“prosauropods”) or first true sauropods.

The affinities of the Early Permian synapsid Tetraceratops insignis have been reevaluated several times since the early 20^th century, being considered as an eothyridid, a sphenacodontid, or a therapsid. This controversy continues into the 21^st century, with recently raised doubts about the interpretation of Tetraceratops as the oldest known therapsid, a hypothesis supported by the only redescription of this fossil in the second half of the 20^th century. Our study examines the arguments proposed to refute therapsid affinities, and concludes that Tetraceratops indeed is the sister-group of all other known therapsids. The most recently published phylogenetic data matrix that includes Tetraceratops fails to confirm its therapsid affinities. However, adding seven characters to that matrix leads to the conclusion that Tetraceratops is the basal-most and oldest therapsid. The recent suggestion of a Laurasian origin of therapsids appears poorly supported; too few data are available on the distribution of Permian synapsids to settle this question.

Slavík, L. 2011. Lanea carlsi conodont apparatus reconstruction and its significance for subdivision of the Lochkovian. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (2): 313–327.

A cosmopolitan spathognathodontid taxon “Ancyrodelloides carlsi” is not regarded in this paper as one of the earliest known representatives of Ancyrodelloides according to former concepts, but is considered as conspicuous member of the genus Lanea. The taxon shows distinct morphological innovation of the upper surface of the Pa element within the Lanea lineage which makes it easily recognizable worldwide and suitable for global correlation. Presented stratigraphic correlation using conodonts and other faunal groups qualifies a short-lived Lanea carlsi as probably the best marker of the middle Lochkovian base. This paper presents reconstruction of the apparatus of L. carlsi which is the first complete reconstruction in the genus Lanea. The comparison of the Lanea apparatus and assumed apparatus of early Ancyrodelloides from the Požáry Quarries (Barrandian, Czech Republic) resulted to proposal of an alternative concept of evolution of these two genera. The relatively short-lived genus Ancyrodelloides is considered to split off from the Lanea clade in the late middle Lochkovian by the entry of Ancncyrodelloides transitons.

Caze, B., Merle, D., Le Meur, M., Pacaud, J.-M., Ledon, D., and Saint Martin, J.-P. 2011. Taxonomic implications of the residual colour patterns of ampullinid gastropods and their contribution to the discrimination from naticids. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (2): 329–347.

The diversity of residual colour patterns is revealed for the first time in the European fossil Ampullinidae. The colour patterns were studied under Ultraviolet (UV) light in approximately 3100 specimens belonging to 83 species, 12 genera (Ampullina, Globularia, Crommium, Amaurellina, Pachycrommium, Amauropsina, Ampullonatica, Eocernina, Ampullinopsis, Vanikoropsis, Pictavia, and Ampullospira) and three subgenera (Globularia, Deshayesia, and Cernina within the genus Globularia). Forty-six Cainozoic species revealed residual colour patterns and 29 of them, belonging to six genera (Ampullina, Globularia, Crommium, Amaurellina, Pachycrommium, Amauropsina), are described herein as examples representing the entire diversity of the encountered colour patterns. These patterns are most diverse during the Middle Eocene coincident with the period of highest taxonomic diversity of the Ampullinidae. Four basic classes, regarded as containing possible homologous colour patterns in terms of pigments incorporation modalities, are proposed. Class I, a fluorescent wide diffuse area or spiral stripes, occurs in most of the species, while the three others are more peculiar. Class II, fluorescent axial zigzagging stripes, Class III, fluorescent axial to slightly opisthocline stripes or segments, and Class IV, fluorescent patches forming axial segments by coalescence, allow an easy distinction between the genera Globularia, Pachycrommium, and three peculiar species of Ampullina. The bauplan of the colour patterns revealed in Globularia is very similar to that of the single extant species, Globularia (Cernina) fluctuata. This supports the view of previous authors who classified them in the same genus. Furthermore, at the family level, the peculiar residual patterns belonging to classes II, III, and IV have not been observed in naticid gastropods. Thus our results for the Cainozoic fossil record are consistent with the conclusions based on anatomy and feeding habits, namely that ampullinid gastropods, regarded for a long time as belonging to the family Naticidae, constitute a family apart.

The Hettangian to earliest Sinemurian Vetigastropoda, Patellogastropoda, and Neritimorpha housed in the National Museum of Natural History of Luxembourg are studied. Most of the species comes from the Luxembourg Sandstone Formation. This deposit formed along the southern margin of the London-Brabant-Ardennes Landmass, in a region that during the earliest Jurassic constituted a seaway connecting the Paris Basin with the epicontinental seas of the Netherlands and northern Germany. The systematic analysis revealed high diversity of the studied fauna; we identified twenty-two species, eleven genera, nine families, and six superfamilies. A new genus, Meiersia gen. nov., and three new species, Anodomaria schroederi sp. nov., Meiersia disarmata sp. nov., and Spirocirrus weisi sp. nov. are described. The fauna is dominated by pleurotomarioideans representing the genera Ptychomphalus, Pleurotomaria, and Trochotoma, and by the patellogastropod genus Scurriopsis both in number of species and specimens. The neritimorph genus Neridomus is also well represented. Among the accessory taxa, Anodomaria and Spirocirrus first appeared in the Late Hettangian of the Luxembourg area. Most of these genera show a species radiation in the Early Jurassic and are distributed over the western European epicontinental shelf, probably favoured by an east to west marine transgression which influenced wide areas from the basins of the northern Germany to the Paris Basin through the Luxembourg seaway. The evolutionary and palaeobiogeographical data demonstrate that this radiation was already considerably advanced in the Late Hettangian. This suggests that the recovery of the gastropod diversity after the end-Triassic crisis was relatively fast in western Europe.

The Leanchoiliidae is well-known from abundant material of Leanchoilia, from the Burgess Shale and Chengjiang Konservat-Lagerstätten. The first Australian member of the group is Oestokerkus megacholix gen. et sp. nov., described from the Emu Bay Shale (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4), at Buck Quarry, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and is intermediate in age between the well known leanchoiliid species from the Burgess Shale and Chengjiang. Phylogenetic analysis of “short great appendage” arthropods (Megacheira) in the context of the chelicerate stem group resolves the Australian species as sister to Burgess Shale, Utah, and Chengjiang Leanchoilia species, but most readily distinguished from Leanchoilia and Alalcomenaeus by a different telson shape, interpreted as being forked, widening distally, and with a few dorsally curved spines at the posterior angle. Leanchoiliid interrelationships are stable to alternative character weights, and Megacheira corresponds to a clade in most analyses.

The first description of early Norian coral fauna from the Northern Calcareous Alps (Dachstein Plateau and Gosaukamm), Austria, is presented: 31 scleractinian species from 24 genera (including three corals not formally determined), and three hexanthiniarian species belonging to two genera. The stratigraphical position of the main part of the fauna discovered in the South Dachstein Plateau at the Feisterscharte is determined by means of the conodont Epigondolella quadrata (Lacian 1); single finds are from the horizons with Epigondolella triangularis and Norigondolella navicula (Lacian 3), and one close to the horizon with Epigondolella cf. multidentata (Alaunian 1). Rare corals from the Gosaukamm are from the Lacian 1 and Alaunian. Five species are described as new: Retiophyllia vesicularis, Retiophyllia aranea, Margarosmilia adhios, Hydrasmilia laciana; one new genus and species from the family Coryphylliidae, Margarogyra hirsuta; one new genus and species, Thamnasterites astreoides, cannot be assigned to a family. Two hexanthiniarian species, Pachysolenia cylindrica and Pachydendron microthallos, known exclusively from the Tethyan lower Norian, represent stratigraphically valuable species. A regularly porous coral from the family Microsolenidae, Eocomoseris, which up to now has only been known from the Jurassic and Cretaceous, is here identified from the Triassic strata (originally described as Spongiomorpha [Hexastylopsis] ramosa). Predominant taxa show solitary and phaceloid (pseudocolonial) growth forms and an epithecal wall; pennules-bearing corals are common. Carnian genera and genera typical of the Lacian and Lacian—early Alaunian prevail; a hydrozoan genus Cassianastraea has also been encountered as well as a scleractiamorph coral, Furcophyllia septafindens). The faunal composition contrasts with that of well known late Norian—Rhaetian ones, the difference being observed not only at the generic but also at the family level. The post-early Norian change in coral spectrum documents the turnover of the coral fauna preceding that at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary.

Renphasma sinica gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning. It has the general habitus of the Mesozoic “stick-insects”, with a short thorax, and broad and long tegmina, as long as the hindwings. Its pattern of tegmina venation is typical of the Mesozoic Phasmatodea, also present in the Eocene stick insect family Gallophasmatidae, viz. archaeorthopteran organisation of median and cubital veins. On the other side it has a vomer typical of modern Phasmatodea, both supporting the hypothesis that the Mesozoic, Cainozoic, and modern stick insects belong to the same clade. The pattern of dark and hyaline spots on the wings of Renphasma is probably related to mimicry with plants.

New records of extremely rare late Turonian belemnites are described from the Úpohlavy working quarry in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. These specimens are referred to Praeactinocamax bohemicus (Stolley, 1916). An alveolar fragment possibly represents Praeactinocamax strehlensis (Fritsch, 1872) and would be the third find of this species ever recorded. All finds derive from a thin horizon in the uppermost part of the Hudcov limestone (Teplice Formation, uppermost Subprionocyclus neptuni Ammonite Zone). The small faunule most likely had its origin in a taxon from the Praeactinocamax manitobensis/walkeri/sternbergi group of the North American Province, and its occurrence in Europe can be seen in the context of a southward shift of Boreal taxa in the course of a late Turonian cooling event.

The ability to see and understand the three-dimensional structure of an investigated object plays a key role in studying fossil remains. All living organisms are formed in three-dimensions, but unfortunately fossilization processes often reduce overall shape, making it difficult to gather information about real overall appearance, functionality, and inner structure. Here, using a specimen of the brachiopod Tere bratula terebratula we demonstrate a non-destructive technique for exploring the 3-D internal structure of fossil remains. The use of tomography allows the construction of a set of transverse serial sections in the manner used by brachiopod researchers for decades.