New Refs #19

[Ralph Chapman <CHAPMAN.RALPH@NMNH.SI.EDU>]

OK Some more have come in....

First an article from one of my favorite journals, Palaios

Brinkman, D.B., M.J.Ryan & D.A. Eberth. 1998. The paleogeographic
   And stratigraphic distribution of ceratopsids (Ornithischia) in the
   Upper Judith River Group of Western Canada. Palaios, 13(2):160-169.

Detailed analysis of abundance patterns in ceratopsids, especially
related to ankylosaur and pachycephalosaurid material. The latter
are more abundant in the north (e.g. Dinosaur Provincial Park) and
the former more abundant in the South Saskatchewan River Area,
which is closer to the shoreline at the time. Ceratopids also increase
going up section. Nice attempt to use data from both articulated
skeletons and vertebrate microfossil assemblages.


Next we have yet another classic Rieppel-esque study of an odd
extinct herp...

Lin, K. & O. Rieppel. 1998. Functional morphology and ontogeny
   of Keichousaurus hui (Reptilia, Sauropterygia).
   Fieldiana: Geology, N.S., No. 39:1-35

It's a Middle Triassic form from Guizhou, China. Long, flexible
neck. Nice functional analysis of swimming (drag-based rather
than subaquatic flyer) and allometric discussion. Typical
amazing Olivier stuff.


Next we have an interesting Pleistocene DNA study that is one
of the most interesting and convincing ancient DNA studies I
have seen. Of Proboscideans and Mammuthus comes out next
to Elephas with Loxodonta chaining in next, and then Mammut.
Finally, the other mammals pop in.

Yang, H. 1997. Ancient DNA from Pleistocene fossils: preservation
   Recovery, and utility of ancient genetic information for
   Quaternary research. Quaternary Science Reviews, 16:1145-1161.


Next we have a couple papers from Neues Jahrbuch, Abh.

Martill, D.M., E. Frey, R.M. Sadaqah & H.N. Khoury. 1998. Discovery
   Of the holotype of the giant pterosaur Titanopteryx philadelphiae
   Arambourg 1959, and the status of Arambourgiania and
   Quetzalcoatlus. Neues Jarhbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie,
   Abh.   207(1):57-76.

Part of the type of T.p. that had been missing have been found and
match up with the illustrations, although they were not labeled. They
were at the collections of the University of Jordan in Amman. They are
parts of the cervical vertebrae, although the middle part is still missing
and is presumed destroyed. They note that the genus name, Titanopteryx
was preoccupied by a small fly (sound familiar - some fly!) And
recognize the genus name Arambourgiania as the valid one. The also
note significant differences with Q., allowing it to be a still valid genus
name. They also give some discussion of the function of the neck (really
long neck here!) In Q. And A. And note the lack of dorso-ventral flexibility
probably removes scavanging and picking invertebrates out of burrows -
two suggestions for Q. - as a reasonable habit and, instead, they
suggest they picked things off the ground as they swooped down, if I
read their discussion correctly. They also suggest these big boys didn't
have crests because of the instability they would give during flying
becasue of their long necks. Yow.


Brinkmann, W. 1998. Sangiorgiosaurus n.g. - a new mixosaur genus
   (Mixosauridae, Ichthyosauria) with crushing teeth from the
   Grenzbitumenzone (Middle Triassic) of Montes San Giorgio
   (Switzerland, Canton Ticino).  Neues Jarhbuch fur Geologie 
   und Palaontologie, Abh.   207(1):125-144.

Two new specimens of a mixosaur with crushing teeth are described.
The large is the new species S. Kuhnschnyderi. The smaller one is
probably different but with affinities to the new genus.


A huge volume of the Zoological J. Of the Linnean Society just came
out with a bunch of vert papers. For most I'll wait until I get it from the
library but it includes a new paper by David Norman that I've been
waiting for:

Norman, D.B. 1998. On Asian ornithopods (Dinosauria: Ornithischia).
   3. A new species of iguanodontid dinosaur. Zoological Journal of the
   Linnean Society, 122:291-348.

David has been saying for a while that the current view of Iguanodon
orientalis is an error and he is indeed correct. He describes the type
material of I.o. as non-diagnostic and probably I. bernissartensis. As
a result the big nosed (Jimmy Durante-esque) ornithopod generally
thought of as I.o. is free to go to a new genus and species and does
here - Altirhinus kurzanovi. It's part similarities and part differences with
other iguanodonts suggests and interesting paleobiogeographic history
of connection (and isolation) among the northern land masses during the
Barremian/Aptian interval. Suggests and Asian center of origin for the
Hadrosauridae during Middle Cretaceous - anti a vicariance model.
Describes the extensive cranial/narial modifications in this beast -
vertical expansion of the dorsal nasal cavity, laterial expansion and
lowering of the cropping beak relative to the jaw line, increase in the
number of replacement teeth with no miniaturization of the crowns
accompanying it, and a trend towards a more integrated battery of
cheek teeth are seen as a trend that ends up in the high point of
skull evolution, from a complexity stand-point,the Hadrosauridae.
Some of these changes relate to better food getting and processing,
perhaps even some niche partitioning or response to tougher food.
Suggests the Durante nose may reflect a house for a nasal turbinal
system for moisture conservation, reflecting the apparently higher
level of seasonality in the middle of the Cretaceous and the floral
changes. Whew - that's the first pass. Have to get the whole thing
and read in detail now.

More later after Dinofest....


Ralph Chapman