Rapaxavis, Tupandactylus and other new papers

[bh480@scn.org]

From:  Ben Creisler
bh480@scn.org

In case these new online papers have not been mentioned 
yet (sorry for any duplicate postings):


Jingmai K. O'Connor, Luis M. Chiappe, Chunling Gao, and 
Bo Zhao (2011)
Anatomy of the Early Cretaceous bird Rapaxavis pani 
(Aves: Enantiornithes)
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica in press
available online 03 Jan 2011 doi:10.4202/app.2010.0047
http://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20100047.html
(free pdf)
The exquisitely preserved longipterygid enantiornithine 
Rapaxavis pani is redescribed here after more extensive 
preparation. A complete review of its morphology is 
presented based on information gathered before and after 
preparation. Among other features, Rapaxavis pani is 
characterized by having an elongate rostrum (close to 60% 
of the skull length), rostrally restricted dentition, and 
schizorhinal external nares. Yet, the most puzzling 
feature of this bird is the presence of a pair of 
pectoral bones (here termed paracoracoidal ossifications) 
that, with the exception of the enantiornithine Concornis 
lacustris, are unknown within Aves. Particularly notable 
is the presence of a distal tarsal
cap, formed by the fusion of distal tarsal elements, a 
feature that is controversial in nonornithuromorph birds. 
The holotype and only known specimen of Rapaxavis pani 
thus reveals important information for better 
understanding the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships 
of longipterygids, in particular, as well as basal birds 
as a whole.


Felipe L. Pinheiro, Daniel C. Fortier, Cesar L. Schultz, 
José Artur F.G. De Andrade, and Renan A.M. Bantim (2011)
New information on Tupandactylus imperator, with comments 
on the relationships of Tapejaridae (Pterosauria)
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica in press
available online 03 Jan 2011 doi:10.4202/app.2010.0057
http://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20100057.html

A new specimen of Tupandactylus imperator Campos and 
Kellner, 1997, comprising an incomplete skull with 
associated lower jaw, is described. The material provides 
new information on the anatomy of this pterodactyloid 
pterosaur, especially with respect to the morphology of 
the lower jaw, the first one formally described for the 
species. Phylogenetic analysis supports Tapejaridae sensu 
Kellner (2004), as well as monophyly of Tapejarinae and
Thalassodrominae.

Also, I don't recall that this earlier paper was 
mentioned yet:

Ralph E. Molnar (2010)
New morphological information about Cretaceous sauropod 
dinosaurs from the Eromanga Basin, Queensland, 
Australia.  
Alcheringa (advance online publication)
 DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2011.533978 
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a9
31283359~frm=abslink


New observations on various sauropod postcranial elements 
from Queensland provide insights into the taxonomic 
composition of northern Australia's sauropod fauna and 
the structure of sauropod vertebrae. An incomplete 
sauropod humerus from a site near Blackall, Queensland, 
represents the southernmost occurrence of sauropod 
fossils in the Eromanga Basin, and indicates a possibly 
new taxon. The internal architecture of at least one of 
the vertebral centra of Austrosaurus mckillopi comprises 
bony disks parallel to the posterior articular face and 
bony lamellae perpendicular to the anterior articular 
face reinforcing the structure against axial forces. The 
lack of pneumaticity proximally in dorsal ribs indicates 
that A. mckillopi may not be a titanosauriform. Material 
(QM F6737) from the Winton Formation includes probable 
osteoderms, the first known from Australian sauropods, 
and some of the oldest known. Comparison of this specimen 
with named Winton Formation sauropods suggests that it 
represents a distinct taxon.  


=====
For good measure, another news story about the year in 
dinosaurs for Utah:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700096887/2010-was-
banner-year-for-dinosaur-discoveries.html?pg=2