Brooklyn's Finest New Papers

["Jerry D. Harris" <jharris@dixie.edu>]

Lee, Y.-N., Azuma, Y., Lee, H.-J., Shibata, M., and LÃ, J. 2009. The first 
pterosaur trackways from Japan. Cretaceous Research. doi: 
10.1016/j.cretres.2009.11.001.

ABSTRACT: In 1990, five well-preserved pterosaur trackways were discovered in 
the Kitadani Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, 
Fukui Prefecture, Japan. They occur on the surface of an isolated dark grey 
siltstone slab (70 Ã 50 cm) along with amphibian and bird tracks as well as 
feeding marks. All pterosaur trackways (a total of 64 imprints) show a clear 
quadrupedal gait pattern comprising manus and pes prints which reflect their 
detailed anatomy of the feet. Manus and pes imprint is very small, average 22.6 
mm and 21.9 mm long, respectively. The manus has an anteriorly oriented digit I 
imprint with a medially oriented hook-like sharp claw mark, which makes a high 
divarication (average 155.4Â) between the posteriorly oriented digit III 
imprint. The high digital abduction clearly shows that digit I of the manus 
could be more hyper-extended anteriorly than previously thought: spreading the 
digits as much as possible would provide a more stable contact with substrate 
as well as better support the center of pterosaur body mass displaced 
anteriorly. The interdigital webbing of the pes imprint extends from the 
metatarso-phalangeal joint near to the bases of four claws. As these features 
clearly distinguish the Kitadani pterosaur trackways from five known 
ichnospecies of Pteraichnus, we assign them to a new ichnospecies, Pteraichnus 
nipponensis. Abundant small pterosaur ichnotaxa from Spain, Korea, and Japan 
indicate that many small pterodactyloid pterosaur species existed in the Early 
Cretaceous although there is no single skeletal datum yet.





Fox, R.C., and Scott, C.S. 2009. Comment on âA high latitude vertebrate fossil 
assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, Canada: Evidence 
for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradientâ by F. Fanti and T. 
Miyashita [Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 275 (2009) 37-53]. 
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. doi: 
10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.10.030.

ABSTRACT: A recent paper by Fanti and Miyashita (2009. A high latitude 
vertebrate fossil assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, 
Canada: evidence for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradient. 
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 275, 37-53) reports on a new 
assemblage of terrestrial vertebrate fossils from the Campanian (Late 
Cretaceous) of northern Alberta. In addition to the several dinosaur and 
microvertebrate specimens reported by Fanti and Miyashita (2009), the new 
assemblage also contains two mammalian teeth, identified by the authors as 
pertaining to âCimolodon sp.â and âDidelphodon sp.â The taxonomic 
identifications of these teeth are either highly questionable or simply 
incorrect, and the accompanying descriptions are replete with errors; as a 
result of these lapses, at least part of the biogeographic conclusions drawn by 
the authors about the Kleskun Hills Park area is also rendered incorrect. While 
the discovery of a Late Cretaceous high latitude vertebrate fauna in Alberta is 
unquestionably important, the significance of the Kleskun Hills mammalian taxa, 
both taxonomically and biogeographically, should be reconsidered.





Mayr, G. 2009. Response to Lingham-Soliar: dinosaur protofeathers: pushing back 
the origin of feathers into the Middle Triassic? Journal of Ornithology. doi: 
10.1007/s10336-009-0476-1.

ABSTRACT: Theagarten Lingham-Soliar, feather, dermal structure, integument, 
skin, Theropoda, theropod, Aves, Avialae, avian, bird, evolution, phylogeny, 
phylogenetics, origin, Lower Cretaceous, Early Cretaceous, Jehol, Yixian 
Formation, China, Liaoning, Ceratopsia, ceratopsian, Psittacosauridae, 
psittacosaurid, psittacosaur, Psittacosaurus,





Heimhofer, U., Ariztegui, D., Lenniger, M., Hesselbo, S.P., Martill, D.M., and 
Rios-Netto, A.M. 2009. Deciphering the depositional environment of the 
laminated Crato fossil beds (Early Cretaceous, Araripe Basin, North-eastern 
Brazil). Sedimentology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2009.01114.x.

ABSTRACT: The laminated limestones of the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of 
the Araripe Basin (North-eastern Brazil) are world-famous for their 
exceptionally well-preserved and taxonomically diverse fossil fauna and flora. 
Whereas the fossil biota has received considerable attention, only a few 
studies have focused on the sedimentary characteristics and palaeoenvironmental 
conditions which prevailed during formation of the Crato Fossil LagerstÃtte. 
The Nova Olinda Member represents the lowermost and thickest unit (up to 10 m) 
of the Crato Formation and is characterized by a pronounced rhythmically 
bedded, pale to dark lamination. To obtain information on palaeoenvironmental 
conditions, sample slabs derived from three local stratigraphic sections within 
the Araripe Basin were studied using high-resolution multiproxy techniques 
including detailed logging, petrography, Î-XRF scanning and stable isotope 
geochemistry. Integration of lithological and petrographic evidence indicates 
that the bulk of the Nova Olinda limestone formed via authigenic precipitation 
of calcite from within the upper water column, most probably induced and/or 
mediated by phytoplankton and picoplankton activity. A significant contribution 
from a benthonic, carbonate-secreting microbial mat community is not supported 
by these results. Deposition took place under anoxic and, at least during 
certain episodes, hypersaline bottom water conditions, as evidenced by the 
virtually undisturbed lamination pattern, the absence of a benthonic fauna and 
by the occurrence of halite pseudomorphs. Input of allochthonous, 
catchment-derived siliciclastics to the basin during times of laminite 
formation was strongly reduced. The Î18O values of authigenic carbonate 
precipitates (between â7Â1 and â5Â1â) point to a 18O-poor meteoric water source 
and support a continental freshwater setting for the Nova Olinda Member. The 
Î13C values, which are comparatively rich in 13C (between â0Â1 and +1Â9â), are 
interpreted to reflect reduced throughflo!
w of wate
CO2, probably in concert with stagnant conditions and low input of soil-derived 
carbon. Integration of lithological and isotopic evidence indicates a shift 
from closed to semi-closed conditions towards a more open lake system during 
the onset of laminite deposition in the Crato Formation.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry D. Harris
Director of Paleontology
Dixie State College
Science Building
225 South 700 East
St. George, UT  84770   USA
Phone: (435) 652-7758
Fax: (435) 656-4022
E-mail: jharris@dixie.edu
 and     dinogami@gmail.com
http://cactus.dixie.edu/jharris/


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