New Refs #14

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

And here comes some more...

I've decided to add croc and fossil bird papers at my discretion, since
they tend to have some interest to lots. I've always added in early 
tetrapod stuff and synapsids and will also continue to do so.

The March, 1998 Geotimes has a short blurb (43(3):7-8) on work by Eric
Buffetaut and Jean La Loeuff on a giant Cretaceous bird, Gargatuavis
philoinos published in the January, 1998 Journal of the Geological Society
of London. I don't recall if the paper has come in yet, or is in the stack of
stuff I'm working on. The bird is flightless and is the oldest bird of any
significant size (>>Archie). They state it has to be a bird because the
vertebrae of the synsacrum and ilia are fused. There seems to be 10
vertebrae there, similar to other Cretaceous birds and more than any
theropod dinosaur. They suggest that this suggests caution in auto-
matically assuming that large eggs from the Cretaceous are dinosaur
in origin. The bird seems to be about ostrich sized.


Molnar, R.E. & M. Pole. 1997. A Miocene crocodilian from new Zealand.
   Alcheringa, 21:65-70.

First new Zealand croc within what seems like a temperate climate. Just
an angular bone.

And now a biggie from a host of guys..

Kirkland, J.I., B. Britt, D.L. Burge, K. Carpenter, R. Cifelli, F. Decourten,
   J. Eaton, S. Hasiotis & T. Lawton. 1997. Lower to Middle Cretaceous
   dinosaur faunas of the Central Colorado Plateau: A Key to under-
   standing  35 million years of tectonics, sedimentology, evolution and
   biogeography. Pp. 69-103 in Link, P.K. & B.J. Kowallis. Mesozoic to
   Recent Geology  Of Utah. Brigham Young University Geology Studies,
  42(2).

An important review article of the faunas and localities.


Baird, R.F. & P. Vickers-Rich. 1997. Eutreptodactylus itaboraiensis gen.
   et sp. Nov., an early cuckoo (Aves: Cuculidae) from the Late
   Paleocene of Brazil. Alcheringa, 21:123-127.

An early fossil from a modern bird family. Starts setting upper times for
divergence of some bird groups.


Gubin, Y.M. 1997. Skull morphology of Archegosaurus decheni Goldfuss
   (Amphibia, Temnospondyli) from the Early Permian of Germany.
   Alcheringa, 21:103-121.

Redescription of the skull of this form based on 13 specimens. Shows a
nice shape change with size.


Worthy, T.H. 1997. A mid-Pleistocene rail from New Zealand.
   Alcheringa, 21:71-78.

First described terrestrial carinate from deposits >100,000 years
old from New Zealand. Pleistorallus flemengi is described.


Li, J. & Z. Cheng. 1997. First discovery of eotitanosuchian (Therapsida,
   Synapsida) of China. Vertebrate PalAsiatica, 35(4):268-282.

New taxon Biseridens, from the Upper Permian Xidagou Fm, is
described.


And as already mentioned somewhere...

Norell, M.A. & P.J. Makovicky. Importany features of the dromaeosaur
   skeleton: information from a new specimen. American Museum
   Novitates, #3215:1-28.

Nice detailed description of a new Gobi specimen. Detailed work.


That's enough for now..

Ralph Chapman