V
Zanno, L.E. 2010. Osteology of Falcarius utahensis (Dinosauria: Theropoda):
characterizing the anatomy of basal therizinosaurs. Zoological Journal of
the Linnean Society 158(1):196-230.
La belle continue à faire du Falcarius... vraiment une belle bête
The pectoral girdle and forelimb of the primitive therizinosauroid Falcarius utahensis (Theropoda, Maniraptora): analyzing evolutionary trends within Therizinosauroidea LINDSAY E. ZANNO, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2006, 26(3):636–650
The recent discovery of a dense, paucispecific bonebed from the Early Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, central Utah, has yielded new information on the morphology and evolution of therizinosaurs. Detailed description of the pectoral girdle and forelimb of Falcarius utahensis—the predominant taxon recovered from this site— provides the basis for a species-level, phylogenetic investigation of this enigmatic group. The analysis, consisting of 32 characters arrayed among 13 taxa, supports previous assertions that Falcarius represents the basal-most known member of the clade. The analysis further supports a monophyletic Therizinosauroidea on the basis of seven unambiguous synapomorphies of the pectoral girdle and forelimb. Contrary to previous hypotheses, analysis of the pectoral girdle and forelimb suggests that Therizinosauridae is more appropriately defined as a derived clade including Nothronychus,Erlicosaurus, Neimongosaurus, Therizinosaurus, and Segnosaurus. Equally strong support is recovered for a clade containing these five genera plus “Alectrosaurus” and Erliansaurus. The morphology of primitive therizinosauroids—characterized by Falcarius, Beipiaosaurus, and Alxasaurus—suggests that Early Cretaceous taxa already exhibited the beginnings of a trend toward increased robustness and altered range of motion of the pectoral girdle and forelimb. Derived therizinosaurs exhibit an amplification of these evolutionary trends as well as increased dorsal reach, increased wrist flexibility, and severe reduction in manual digit length. The functional reorganization of the pectoral girdle and forelimb throughout the evolutionary history of therizinosaurs can be reasonably attributed to a shift from obligatory predation to a novel paleoecological role that reached its pinnacle in derived Late Cretaceous members.
http://download.yousendit.com/D0DF53F037E744CC
Revision of the Tendaguru sauropod dinosaur Tornieria africana (Fraas) and its relevance for sauropod paleobiogeography
KRISTIAN REMES, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2006, 26(3):651–669
The incompletely known sauropod Tornieria africana from the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) of Tendaguru, Tanzania, has for over 80 years been regarded to represent a Gondwanan species of the North American genus Barosaurus Marsh (Morrison Formation: Kimmeridgian-Tithonian), but this identification has recently been questioned. The holotype and referred specimens are redescribed here, and the characters present are reevaluated in light of current knowledge of sauropod phylogeny. Synapomorphies of the skull (prefrontal with triangular posterior process) and anterior caudal vertebrae (procoelous centra, presence of diapophyseal laminae, and presence of a pleurocoel) indicate that the Tendaguru material represents a member of the Diplodocinae (Diplodocoidea, Diplodocidae) and is therefore very closely related to Barosaurus and Diplodocus. It differs from all other diplodocine genera in several characters, such as robust anterior caudals with pleurocoels located in the upper third of the centrum and ventral excavations, and stout hind limb proportions similar to Apatosaurus (tibia:femur length ratio less than 0.64). In a phylogenetic analysis, the African form consistently emerges as the sister taxon to Barosaurus+Diplodocus. Therefore, previous suggestions that Tornieria africana is the available name for this taxon are supported by this analysis. The existence of this form in Gondwana contradicts the idea of Laurentian endemism of the diplodocid clade, and is best explained by a vicariance model of diplodocoid paleobiogeography. This implies an extensive ghost lineage of this group, extending back at least as far as the upper Middle Jurassic.
- Mongolie:
# Omnogov:
a) Bayanshiree - CEN/SAN = Erlikosaurus andrewsi, Segnosaurus galbinensis
b) Nemegt - MAA = Therizinosaurus cheloniformis
c) White Beds - MAA = Therizinosaurus cheloniformis
Soudan:
# Province du Nord:
a) Wadi Milk formation (ALB/CEN): Dromaeosauridae indet.
IV- Europe: Angleterre:
# Wight:
a) Wessex formation (BAR): Ornithodesmus cluniculus, Dromaeosauridae indet., Velociraptorinae non nommé
Danemark:
# Bornholm Amt:
a) Jyddegaard formation (VAL/BAR): Dromaeosauroides bornholmensis
Espagne:
# La Rioja:
a) Castellar formation (HAU/BAR): Dromaeosauridae indet.
b) Camarillas formation (BAR): Dromaeosauridae indet.
c) Artoles formation (BAR): Dromaeosauridae indet.
# Cuenca:
a) Calizas de la Huergina formation (BAR): Dromaeosauridae indet ?
# Burgos:
a) Unit S3U1 (CAM): Dromaeosauridae indet.
b) Calizas de Lychnus formation (MAA): Dromaeosaurus indet.
# Huesca:
a) Tremp formation (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet.
France:
# Aude:
a) Grès de saint-Chinian (CAM/MAA): Variraptor mechinorum
b) Marnes rouges inférieures (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet.
c) Marnes rouges de Roquelongue (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet.
# Bouches-du-Rhône:
a) Grès à reptiles (MAA): Variraptor mechinorum, Pyroraptor olympius
# Gard:
a) formation sans nom (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet ?
b) formation sans nom (CS): Dromaeosauridae indet ?
# Haute-Garonne:
a) Lestaillats Marls (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet ?
# Hérault:
a) formation sans nom (CAM): Dromaeosauridae indet.
b) Grès de Saint-Chinian (CAM/MAA): Variraptor mechinorum
# Var:
a) Grès à reptiles (MAA): Variraptor mechinorum
Portugal:
# Coimbra:
a) formation sans nom (CAM/MAA): Euronychodon portucalensis
# Leiria:
a) Camadas de Guimarota (KIM): Dromaeosauridae indet.
Roumanie:
# Hunedoara:
a) Sanpetru formation (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet.
b) Densus Ciula formation (MAA): Dromaeosauridae indet.