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Here's some stuff from SVP to entertain all of you
come Thanksgiving.
Akerson and Trost think cervical and anterior
dorsal air sack diverticula helped support sauropods' necks.
Apparently it works that way in avians and sauropods lack evidence of
mammal-like nuchal ligaments.
Anton presented a hypthesis that ceratopsian frills
were used as an acoustic device to amplify sound waves. Tests indicate low
frequency sounds are amplified three times.
The Japanese hypsilophodont skull includes much of
the left facial region, palatal and skull roof elements and a partial
dentary. It seems more like Atlascopcosaurus and Leaellynasaura than
Hypsilophodon. Other Tetori Group dinosaurs mentioned by Barrett and
Manabe include an iguanodont, a nemegtosaurid, a basal titanosauriform or
euhelopodid, a tyrannosaurid, a velociraptorine ("Kitadanisaurus") and an
segnosaur-oviraptorosaur.
A juvenile Parasaurolophus was described by Bennett
and Sullivan from the Fruitland Formation of New Mexico.
Bertini reports on titanosaurid remains from the
Bauru Group of Brazil. Lots of caudal vertebrae from the various
formations suggests three species were present. Sinks Gondwanatitan into
Aeolosaurus, which I disagree with as can be read here:
Bilbey, Hall and Hall report a new
"haplocanthosaurid" from the Morrison of Utah. 60% complete, including
limbs, old adult but only 2.25 meters at the hip. No news on whether its a
new genus or species.
Lots of new Ceratosaurus stuff by Britt, Chure,
Holtz, Miles and Stadtman. Nick covered most of it. Nasal and
lacrimal horns develop ontogenetically, sacral osified tendons, both gracile and
robust forms are present at Dry Mesa. Phylogenetic analyses still keep it
in Neoceratosauria/Ceratosauroidea and Ceratosauria, but only two steps more
separates coelophysoids from ceratosaurs. Still not as drastic as
separating abelisaurs and ceratosaurids as some have done...
Brochu presents some stuff on Sue. The sex is
unknown, it has a proatlus arch and caudalmost dorsal rib. There's
pneumatophores on most cervical ribs and all vertebrae through the fourth
sacral. Four rows of gastralia are present and many of the anterior medial
segments are fused.
A new brachiosaurid from the Ruby Ranch Member of
the Cedar Mountain Formation (Burge, Bird, Britt, Chure and Scheetz).
Minimum of four individuals, including vertebrae, pelvic elements, long bones
and metapodials. Brachiosaurid characters include- elongate pubic
peduncle, broad puboischial contact, camellate vertebrae, slender cervical
centra, caudal vertebrae with short spines and back-swept ribs.
Calvo has lots of stuff from the Rio Neuquen and
Rio Colorado Formations. Titanosaurids are represented by-
(MUCPv-204) 13 caudals, scapula, humerus,
femur
(MUCPv-274) femur
(MUCPv-300) several dorsals
(MUCPv-302) two dorsals
(MUCPv-303) dorsals, ribs, caudals, scapula
(huge!)
(MUCPv-304) three mid-cervicals (950 mm
long!) (huge!)
Also a couple theropods-
(MUCPv-275) tetanuran humerus
(MUCPv-301) almost complete theropod, not
abelisaurid or carcharodontosaurid
Chure, Britt, Foster, Madsen and Miles report new
specimens of Ceratosaurus, Torvosaurus, Coelurus and Stokesosaurus(!) are
known. Unfortunately no details (arghh!).
Clark, Norell and Barsbold report two new
oviraptorid species. First is represented by the nesting specimen, another
nester, the embryo and a skull. Ascending proces of premaxilla vertical,
anteriorly extending parietal, anterodorsally sloped occiput, elongate
cervicals, epipterygoid and coronoid are present. Other species is based
on three Conchoraptor-like skeletons. Has fused nasals, more horizontal
naris and proximally reduced third metacarpal that does not contact the
carpus(!). Perhaps opposable? The
holotype of Ovirator philoceratops is also redescribed. Can't wait until
this gets into AMN!
That's it for now. More stuff will come on
Sunday, including Gobi ornithurines and Avimimus. Also, expect Details on
Eoenantiornis in the very near future......
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Mickey Mortimer
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