Two new small tridactyl dinosaur tracks are found in the Middle Jurassic Bagà Formation of Bornholm and are interpreted as ornithopodian in origin. A skeletal fragment is identified as a crocodilian skull fragment. Previous finds of dinosaur tracks from the locality consist of two sizes of sauropods, a medium sized theropod and thyreophorans.
The addition of tracks from ornithopod dinosaurs and skeletal evidence of crocodilians now give a broader picture of a diverse Middle Jurassic vertebrate fauna. This is an important addition to the understanding of the terres-trial Mesozoic ecosystem of Denmark, and a valuable addition to the scarce Middle Jurassic vertebrate record of Europe.
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Antczak, M., RuciÅski, M. R., Stachacz, M., Matysik, M. & KrÃl, J. J., 202x.
Diversity of vertebrate remains from the Lower Gogolin Beds (Anisian) of southern Poland.
Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae (advance online publication)
doi:
https://doi.org/10.14241/asgp.2020.22
Middle Triassic (Muschelkalk) limestones and dolostones of southern Poland contain vertebrate remains, which can be used for palaeoecological and palaeogeographical analyses. The results presented concern vertebrate remains uncovered at four localities in Upper Silesia and one on Opole Silesia, a region representing the south-eastern margin of the Germanic Basin in Middle Triassic times. The most abundant remains in this assemblage are fish remains, comprising mostly actinopterygian teeth and scales. Chondrichthyan and sauropsid remains are less common. Reptilian finds include vertebrae, teeth and fragments of long bones, belonging to aquatic or semi-aquatic reptiles, such as nothosaurids, pachypleusorosaurids, and ichthyosaurids. Also, coprolites of possibly durophagous and predacious reptiles occur. In the stratigraphic column of MikoÅÃw, actinopterygian remains are the most numerous and no distinct changes of the taxonomic composition occur. Although this assemblage differs from those described at other localities (ZÄbkowice with numerous chondrichthyans, Åyglin, and PÅaza with common sauropsid fossils), sampling bias has to be considered.Â
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The material historically referred to Chelytherium obscurum is exceptional for a number of reasons. It is the first described Triassic turtle, the oldest testudinate among the British palaeontological collections, and it is one of the oldest testudinates in the world. Nevertheless, after its establishment in 1863, the taxon remained in a taxonomic limbo and was eventually almost forgotten. However, the recent reconsideration of proterochersid turtles, with improved understanding of their anatomy, allows reassessment of Chelytherium obscurum as a member of the Proterochersidae, subjectively synonymous with Proterochersis robusta. Despite nomenclatural priority, in accordance with the suggestions of previous authors, the name Proterochersis robusta is endorsed to be upheld.
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Junki Yoshida & Kenneth Carpenter (2020)
Vertebrate burrows from the Mesozoic of North America have been scarcely known. We report two different burrows (burrows A and B) produced by small animals in the Lower Cretaceous (AlbianâCenomanian) Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA. The burrow-bearing bed of the Mussentuchit Member consists of poorly-drained paleosols, and the burrows are infilled with light-colored carbonate probably due to a rise in a regional water table. Both burrows were found in-situ and inclined downwards. The burrow A is 60 cm long, and terminated in an expanded distal chamber, whereas the burrow B is 100 cm long and branched, with some small expanded chambers in the middle of the tunnel. Both tunnels have the width to height ratio larger than 1.3. In the burrows, the external walls lack scratch marks, but do show localized, prominent bulges in the burrow A and divots at local expansions of the tunnel in the burrow B. These are unlike those reported from Triassic and Jurassic vertebrate burrows. The estimated weight of the excavators is 3.1 g for the burrow A and 6.8â17.8 g for the burrow B based on the area of each tunnel, indicating that both tracemakers were small animals. A bulge in the burrow B was possibly left by tip of the excavatorâs head, as seen in the burrows of modern fossorial squamates. The discovery of a potential squamate burrow from the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah is consistent with the oldest body fossils of skinks and snakes from the Early Cretaceous.
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The holotype of Taniwhasaurus mikasaensis (Squamata: Mosasauria) (MCM-M0009) is a partial skull and is registered as a Japanâs National Monument (JNM). Even though this specimen is one of the most famous vertebrate fossils in Japan, its JNM status renders it is very difficult to be handled by researchers, let alone museum visitors. At the same time, âheritage tourismâ has attracted attention in museum activities in recent years. Consequently, we have worked on utilization of multimedia data of MCM-M0009 as a new way to introduce this iconic specimen to the public in a much more interactive setting. Of particular importance to be considered is the production cost of such multimedia data, for one, local museums typically operate on a tight budget. As such, this project was carried out with low-cost, readily available tools. The digital 3D model of MCM-M0009 was first generated using a movie application for a smart phone. With the resultant digital 3D model, a total of two downsized plastic models were then produced by a 3D printer for hands-on. Finally, an AR system was built. Anyone with a smart phone and/or an electronic tablet was able to use this system by connecting to the html site provided. We assessed an educational effect of the new multimedia components of Taniwhasaurus mikasaensis in a workshop in July 2019. Questionnaire results gathered from 11 examinees of hands-on models and AR viewing of T. mikasaensis indicated that the new multimedia applications garnered usersâ interest only in paleontological aspects of the specimen, but also in most advanced imaging technology. Our result hence revealed that incorporation of multimedia technologies in museum activities had unexpected an interdisciplinary effects. Digital 3D data are deemed effective in preventing total losses of important specimens by disasters, for example, the locality of Utatsusaurus hataii damaged by 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.