Paleobiology
Research topics
Evolution and functional biology of reptiles, evolution and functional morphology of mammals, evolution and development of conodonts, triassic ecosystems, origins of animals in the fossil record, origin of molluscs, biogeography, evolution and embryogenesis of water fleas
Specialised equipment
- Critical Point Dryer
- Electromagnetic separator
- Pneumatic needle
- Vacuum evaporator
Methods
Chemical techniques of extracting fossils from various types of sedimentary rocks, electron microscopy, electromagnetic or heavy liquid separation, computed tomography, phylogenetic analyses, dietary reconstructions.
Publications review
Silcox, Mary T; Bertrand, Ornella C; Harrington, Arianna R; Lang, Madlen M; Martin-Flores, Gabriela A San; López-Torres, Sergi
Early Evolution of the Brain in Primates and Their Close Kin Book Chapter
In: Dozo, María Teresa; Paulina-Carabajal, Ariana; Macrini, Thomas E; Walsh, Stig (Ed.): Chapter 12, pp. 457–506, Springer Cham, Switzerland, 2023, ISBN: 978-3-031-13983-3.
@inbook{Silcox_Bertrand_Harrington_Lang_SanMartin-Flores_Lopez-Torres_2023,
title = {Early Evolution of the Brain in Primates and Their Close Kin},
author = {Mary T Silcox and Ornella C Bertrand and Arianna R Harrington and Madlen M Lang and Gabriela A San Martin-Flores and Sergi López-Torres},
editor = {María Teresa Dozo and Ariana Paulina-Carabajal and Thomas E Macrini and Stig Walsh},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-13983-3_12},
isbn = {978-3-031-13983-3},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
pages = {457–506},
publisher = {Springer Cham},
address = {Switzerland},
chapter = {12},
abstract = {The interpretation of early primate endocasts can be framed around four critical questions: (1) What are accurate estimates of endocranial capacity for known euprimate specimens? (2) What does the available data for stem primates tell us with respect to the earliest phases of primate brain evolution? (3) How should relative brain size be assessed? and (4) What is the appropriate comparative context for interpreting fossil primate endocasts? The widespread availability of CT data has allowed for better estimates of endocranial volume (#1), and for more data from stem primates (#2). From these data it is clear that the earliest primates had brains that were little differentiated in terms of form or size from their ancestors, although there might have been some modest increase in the relative size of the neocortex. Major changes in shape occurred at the euprimate node, with expansions in the temporal and occipital lobes (reflected in an expanded neocortex), and a lack of expansion in the olfactory bulbs. The brain of early fossil euprimates nonetheless still displayed primitive features such as narrow frontal lobes. Questions #3 and #4 remain contentious, although a much-expanded comparative sample of fossil endocasts allows for new perspectives on these issues.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
The interpretation of early primate endocasts can be framed around four critical questions: (1) What are accurate estimates of endocranial capacity for known euprimate specimens? (2) What does the available data for stem primates tell us with respect to the earliest phases of primate brain evolution? (3) How should relative brain size be assessed? and (4) What is the appropriate comparative context for interpreting fossil primate endocasts? The widespread availability of CT data has allowed for better estimates of endocranial volume (#1), and for more data from stem primates (#2). From these data it is clear that the earliest primates had brains that were little differentiated in terms of form or size from their ancestors, although there might have been some modest increase in the relative size of the neocortex. Major changes in shape occurred at the euprimate node, with expansions in the temporal and occipital lobes (reflected in an expanded neocortex), and a lack of expansion in the olfactory bulbs. The brain of early fossil euprimates nonetheless still displayed primitive features such as narrow frontal lobes. Questions #3 and #4 remain contentious, although a much-expanded comparative sample of fossil endocasts allows for new perspectives on these issues.
Uhlik, Marcin; Brzeziński, Tomasz
In: Crustaceana, vol. 95, iss. 8-9, pp. 907-923, 2022.
@article{Uhlik_2022,
title = {Embryogeny of Bosmina longirostris (O. F. Müller, 1785) (Bosminidae) confirms a close relationship to the superfamily Eurycercoidea (Branchiopoda, Cladocera, Anomopoda)},
author = {Marcin Uhlik and Tomasz Brzeziński},
doi = {10.1163/15685403-bja10236},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-11-18},
urldate = {2022-11-18},
journal = {Crustaceana},
volume = {95},
issue = {8-9},
pages = {907-923},
abstract = {The embryonic stages of the anomopod Bosmina longirostris of the family Bosminidae were elucidated by scanning electron microscopy. Along with the corresponding stages of Bosmina coregoni described by Kotov (2001), these findings have enabled a comparison to Dunhevedia crassa, as a representative species of the family Chydoridae, and to Eurycercus lamellatus of the family Eurycercidae. In general, the developmental patterns are similar in these four species, particularly from blastulation to the first instar. The principal difference during embryogenesis is that in D. crassa and B. longirostris five thoracopods (six in E. lamellatus) are differentiated already with endo- and exopodites.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The embryonic stages of the anomopod Bosmina longirostris of the family Bosminidae were elucidated by scanning electron microscopy. Along with the corresponding stages of Bosmina coregoni described by Kotov (2001), these findings have enabled a comparison to Dunhevedia crassa, as a representative species of the family Chydoridae, and to Eurycercus lamellatus of the family Eurycercidae. In general, the developmental patterns are similar in these four species, particularly from blastulation to the first instar. The principal difference during embryogenesis is that in D. crassa and B. longirostris five thoracopods (six in E. lamellatus) are differentiated already with endo- and exopodites.
Tałanda, Mateusz; Fernandez, Vincent; Panciroli, Elsa; Evans, Susan E; Benson, Roger J
Synchrotron tomography of a stem lizard elucidates early squamate anatomy Journal Article
In: Nature, vol. 611, no. 7934, pp. 99-104, 2022.
@article{talanda2022synchrotron,
title = {Synchrotron tomography of a stem lizard elucidates early squamate anatomy},
author = {Mateusz Tałanda and Vincent Fernandez and Elsa Panciroli and Susan E Evans and Roger J Benson},
doi = {10.1038/s41586-022-05332-6},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-26},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {611},
number = {7934},
pages = {99-104},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
abstract = {Squamates (lizards and snakes) include more than 10,000 living species, descended from an ancestor that diverged more than 240 million years ago from that of their closest living relative, Sphenodon. However, a deficiency of fossil evidence1,2,3,4,5,6,7, combined with serious conflicts between molecular and morphological accounts of squamate phylogeny8,9,10,11,12,13 (but see ref. 14), has caused uncertainty about the origins and evolutionary assembly of squamate anatomy. Here we report the near-complete skeleton of a stem squamate, Bellairsia gracilis, from the Middle Jurassic epoch of Scotland, documented using high-resolution synchrotron phase-contrast tomography. Bellairsia shares numerous features of the crown group, including traits related to cranial kinesis (an important functional feature of many extant squamates) and those of the braincase and shoulder girdle. Alongside these derived traits, Bellairsia also retains inferred ancestral features including a pterygoid–vomer contact and the presence of both cervical and dorsal intercentra. Phylogenetic analyses return strong support for Bellairsia as a stem squamate, suggesting that several features that it shares with extant gekkotans are plesiomorphies, consistent with the molecular phylogenetic hypothesis that gekkotans are early-diverging squamates. We also provide confident support of stem squamate affinities for the enigmatic Oculudentavis. Our findings indicate that squamate-like functional features of the suspensorium, braincase and shoulder girdle preceded the origin of their palatal and vertebral traits and indicate the presence of advanced stem squamates as persistent components of terrestrial assemblages up to at least the middle of the Cretaceous period.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Squamates (lizards and snakes) include more than 10,000 living species, descended from an ancestor that diverged more than 240 million years ago from that of their closest living relative, Sphenodon. However, a deficiency of fossil evidence1,2,3,4,5,6,7, combined with serious conflicts between molecular and morphological accounts of squamate phylogeny8,9,10,11,12,13 (but see ref. 14), has caused uncertainty about the origins and evolutionary assembly of squamate anatomy. Here we report the near-complete skeleton of a stem squamate, Bellairsia gracilis, from the Middle Jurassic epoch of Scotland, documented using high-resolution synchrotron phase-contrast tomography. Bellairsia shares numerous features of the crown group, including traits related to cranial kinesis (an important functional feature of many extant squamates) and those of the braincase and shoulder girdle. Alongside these derived traits, Bellairsia also retains inferred ancestral features including a pterygoid–vomer contact and the presence of both cervical and dorsal intercentra. Phylogenetic analyses return strong support for Bellairsia as a stem squamate, suggesting that several features that it shares with extant gekkotans are plesiomorphies, consistent with the molecular phylogenetic hypothesis that gekkotans are early-diverging squamates. We also provide confident support of stem squamate affinities for the enigmatic Oculudentavis. Our findings indicate that squamate-like functional features of the suspensorium, braincase and shoulder girdle preceded the origin of their palatal and vertebral traits and indicate the presence of advanced stem squamates as persistent components of terrestrial assemblages up to at least the middle of the Cretaceous period.
López-Torres, Sergi
Primate Evolution and the Emergence of Humans (in Vertebrate Life) Book Chapter
In: Pough, Harvey; Bemis, William E.; McGuire, Betty Anne; Janis, Christine M. (Ed.): Chapter 24, pp. 557-585, Oxford University Press, New York, 11, 2022, ISBN: 978-0197564882.
@inbook{Lopez_primates_2022,
title = {Primate Evolution and the Emergence of Humans (in Vertebrate Life)},
author = {Sergi López-Torres},
editor = { Harvey Pough and William E. Bemis and Betty Anne McGuire and Christine M. Janis },
url = {https://global.oup.com/academic/product/vertebrate-life-9780197564882?cc=us&lang=en#},
isbn = {978-0197564882},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-01},
pages = {557-585},
publisher = {Oxford University Press},
address = {New York},
edition = {11},
chapter = {24},
abstract = {Primates have been a moderately successful group for most of the Cenozoic, although since the end of the Eocene they have been largely confined to tropical latitudes (with the exception of humans). Primates include not only the anthropoids—the group of apes and monkeys to which humans belong—but also the prosimians, animals such as bush babies and lemurs, and earlier less derived forms known only from the fossil record. Molecular techniques show that chimpanzees are the closest extant relatives of humans, and both molecular data and the fossil record indicate that the separation of humans from the African great apes occurred about 6.6 Ma. Fossils of Australopithecus—the sister taxon to our own genus, Homo—clearly show that bipedal walking arose before the appearance of a large brain. A diversity of new fossils has shown that early human evolution was much more complex and diverse than previously thought.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Primates have been a moderately successful group for most of the Cenozoic, although since the end of the Eocene they have been largely confined to tropical latitudes (with the exception of humans). Primates include not only the anthropoids—the group of apes and monkeys to which humans belong—but also the prosimians, animals such as bush babies and lemurs, and earlier less derived forms known only from the fossil record. Molecular techniques show that chimpanzees are the closest extant relatives of humans, and both molecular data and the fossil record indicate that the separation of humans from the African great apes occurred about 6.6 Ma. Fossils of Australopithecus—the sister taxon to our own genus, Homo—clearly show that bipedal walking arose before the appearance of a large brain. A diversity of new fossils has shown that early human evolution was much more complex and diverse than previously thought.
Grau-Camats, Montserrat; Bertrand, Ornella C; Prieto, Jérome; López-Torres, Sergi; Silcox, Mary T; Casanovas-Vilar, Isaac
A Miopetaurista (Rodentia, Sciuridae) cranium from the Middle Miocene of Bavaria (Germany) and brain evolution in flying squirrels Journal Article
In: Papers in Palaeontology, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. e1454, 2022.
@article{grau2022miopetaurista,
title = {A Miopetaurista (Rodentia, Sciuridae) cranium from the Middle Miocene of Bavaria (Germany) and brain evolution in flying squirrels},
author = {Montserrat Grau-Camats and Ornella C Bertrand and Jérome Prieto and Sergi López-Torres and Mary T Silcox and Isaac Casanovas-Vilar},
doi = {10.1002/spp2.1454},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-25},
journal = {Papers in Palaeontology},
volume = {8},
number = {4},
pages = {e1454},
publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
abstract = {Flying squirrels (Sciurinae, Pteromyini) are the most successful group of gliding mammals. However, their fossil record mostly consists of isolated dental remains that provide very limited insights into their palaeobiology and evolution. The first skeleton of a fossil flying squirrel, belonging to the species Miopetaurista neogrivensis, has been described only recently. It presents all the diagnostic gliding-related postcranial features of its extant relatives and shows that this group has undergone very little morphological change for almost 12 myr. However, the associated cranium is badly crushed, and particular details of the cranial morphology cannot be described. Here, we describe a well-preserved cranium of the closely related Miopetaurista crusafonti from 12.5–12.0 Ma from Bavaria (Germany). Its cranial morphology is found to be almost identical to extant large flying squirrels, even in details such as the position of the foramina. The virtual endocast also shows close affinities to living large flying squirrels in morphology and in the relative volume of different brain regions, showing diagnostic features such as the size reduction of petrosal lobules and olfactory bulbs. However, the encephalization quotient (EQ) and neocortical ratio are lower than observed in extant flying squirrels. EQ is known to increase through time in squirrels, but might also be related to locomotion, given that arboreal and gliding squirrels display higher EQs than terrestrial ones. Because Miopetaurista was certainly a glider, its comparatively lower EQ and neocortical size support the existence of an independent trend of increasing EQ and neocortical complexity in this flying squirrel subclade.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Flying squirrels (Sciurinae, Pteromyini) are the most successful group of gliding mammals. However, their fossil record mostly consists of isolated dental remains that provide very limited insights into their palaeobiology and evolution. The first skeleton of a fossil flying squirrel, belonging to the species Miopetaurista neogrivensis, has been described only recently. It presents all the diagnostic gliding-related postcranial features of its extant relatives and shows that this group has undergone very little morphological change for almost 12 myr. However, the associated cranium is badly crushed, and particular details of the cranial morphology cannot be described. Here, we describe a well-preserved cranium of the closely related Miopetaurista crusafonti from 12.5–12.0 Ma from Bavaria (Germany). Its cranial morphology is found to be almost identical to extant large flying squirrels, even in details such as the position of the foramina. The virtual endocast also shows close affinities to living large flying squirrels in morphology and in the relative volume of different brain regions, showing diagnostic features such as the size reduction of petrosal lobules and olfactory bulbs. However, the encephalization quotient (EQ) and neocortical ratio are lower than observed in extant flying squirrels. EQ is known to increase through time in squirrels, but might also be related to locomotion, given that arboreal and gliding squirrels display higher EQs than terrestrial ones. Because Miopetaurista was certainly a glider, its comparatively lower EQ and neocortical size support the existence of an independent trend of increasing EQ and neocortical complexity in this flying squirrel subclade.
Dzik, Jerzy; Phong, Nguyen Duc; Thuy, Nguyen Thi; Swiś, Przemyslaw
Evolution and migration of conodonts and ammonoids near the end of Devonian recorded in distant localities Journal Article
In: Stratigraphy, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 27-50, 2022.
@article{Dzik2022,
title = {Evolution and migration of conodonts and ammonoids near the end of Devonian recorded in distant localities},
author = {Jerzy Dzik and Nguyen Duc Phong and Nguyen Thi Thuy and Przemyslaw Swiś},
url = {https://www.micropress.org/microaccess/check/2272},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-03-15},
journal = {Stratigraphy},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {27-50},
abstract = {The Devonian-Carboniferous boundary is allegedly marked by one of the most catastrophic global extinctions associated with sedimentation of the Hangenberg black shale. A dense sampling of the Kowala section in the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland, challenges this view, showing that the faunal dynamics across the Hangenberg black shalewas not more dramatic than that across the preceding Kowala black shale. Quantitative analysis and biologically meaningful conodont apparatus study of the Kowala material offer probably the most complete record of faunal change in the latest Famennian and earliest Tournaisian among those sampled bed-by-bed for ammonoids and conodonts. It appears that the faunal dynamics of both cephalopods and conodonts was controlled by environmental changes that resulted in numerous immigrations and disappearances of particular lineages. Only a small fraction of lineages persisted long enough at the place, and transformed their morphology fast enough, to leave a record of their evolution. Most of the evolution apparently took place elsewhere. Locations of remote refugia where these lineages evolved in the time span bracketed by the Kowala and Hangenberg black shale events remain to be identified. Conodont apparatus study on geographically distant Vietnamese locality Cat Ba provides evidence that at least in the latest Famennian some conodont species unknown from Poland were present in Vietnam. Moreover, the contribution of species known from both localities to Polish and Vietnamese fossil assemblages was dramatically different.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Devonian-Carboniferous boundary is allegedly marked by one of the most catastrophic global extinctions associated with sedimentation of the Hangenberg black shale. A dense sampling of the Kowala section in the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland, challenges this view, showing that the faunal dynamics across the Hangenberg black shalewas not more dramatic than that across the preceding Kowala black shale. Quantitative analysis and biologically meaningful conodont apparatus study of the Kowala material offer probably the most complete record of faunal change in the latest Famennian and earliest Tournaisian among those sampled bed-by-bed for ammonoids and conodonts. It appears that the faunal dynamics of both cephalopods and conodonts was controlled by environmental changes that resulted in numerous immigrations and disappearances of particular lineages. Only a small fraction of lineages persisted long enough at the place, and transformed their morphology fast enough, to leave a record of their evolution. Most of the evolution apparently took place elsewhere. Locations of remote refugia where these lineages evolved in the time span bracketed by the Kowala and Hangenberg black shale events remain to be identified. Conodont apparatus study on geographically distant Vietnamese locality Cat Ba provides evidence that at least in the latest Famennian some conodont species unknown from Poland were present in Vietnam. Moreover, the contribution of species known from both localities to Polish and Vietnamese fossil assemblages was dramatically different.
Leonhard, Isabella; Shirley, Bryan; Murdock, Duncan J E; Repetski, John; Jarochowska, Emilia
Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts Journal Article
In: PeerJ, vol. 9, pp. e12505, 2021, ISSN: 2167-8359.
@article{Leonhard2021,
title = {Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts},
author = {Isabella Leonhard and Bryan Shirley and Duncan J E Murdock and John Repetski and Emilia Jarochowska},
doi = {10.7717/peerj.12505},
issn = {2167-8359},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-12-15},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {9},
pages = {e12505},
abstract = { Conodonts were the first vertebrates to develop mineralized dental tools, known as elements. Recent research suggests that conodonts were macrophagous predators and/or scavengers but we do not know how this feeding habit emerged in the earliest coniform conodonts, since most studies focus on the derived, ‘complex’ conodonts. Previous modelling of element position and mechanical properties indicate they were capable of food processing. A direct test would be provided through evidence of in vivo element crown tissue damage or through in vivo incorporated chemical proxies for a shift in their trophic position during ontogeny. Here we focus on coniform elements from two conodont taxa, the phylogenetically primitive Proconodontus muelleri Miller, 1969 from the late Cambrian and the more derived Panderodus equicostatus Rhodes, 1954 from the Silurian. Proposing that this extremely small sample is, however, representative for these taxa, we aim to describe in detail the growth of an element from each of these taxa in order to the test the following hypotheses: (1) Panderodus and Proconodontus processed hard food, which led to damage of their elements consistent with prey capture function; and (2) both genera shifted towards higher trophic levels during ontogeny. We employed backscatter electron (BSE) imaging, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) to identify growth increments, wear and damage surfaces, and the Sr/Ca ratio in bioapatite as a proxy for the trophic position. Using these data, we can identify whether they exhibit determinate or indeterminate growth and whether both species followed linear or allometric growth dynamics. Growth increments (27 in Pa. equicostatus and 58 in Pr. muelleri ) were formed in bundles of 4–7 increments in Pa. equicostatus and 7–9 in Pr. muelleri . We interpret the bundles as analogous to Retzius periodicity in vertebrate teeth. Based on applied optimal resource allocation models, internal periodicity might explain indeterminate growth in both species. They also allow us to interpret the almost linear growth of both individuals as an indicator that there was no size-dependent increase in mortality in the ecosystems where they lived e.g ., as would be the case in the presence of larger predators. Our findings show that periodic growth was present in early conodonts and preceded tissue repair in response to wear and damage. We found no microwear and the Sr/Ca ratio, and therefore the trophic position, did not change substantially during the lifetimes of either individual. Trophic ecology of coniform conodonts differed from the predatory and/or scavenger lifestyle documented for “complex” conodonts. We propose that conodonts adapted their life histories to top-down controlled ecosystems during the Nekton Revolution.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<p> Conodonts were the first vertebrates to develop mineralized dental tools, known as elements. Recent research suggests that conodonts were macrophagous predators and/or scavengers but we do not know how this feeding habit emerged in the earliest coniform conodonts, since most studies focus on the derived, ‘complex’ conodonts. Previous modelling of element position and mechanical properties indicate they were capable of food processing. A direct test would be provided through evidence of <italic>in vivo</italic> element crown tissue damage or through <italic>in vivo</italic> incorporated chemical proxies for a shift in their trophic position during ontogeny. Here we focus on coniform elements from two conodont taxa, the phylogenetically primitive <italic>Proconodontus muelleri</italic> Miller, 1969 from the late Cambrian and the more derived <italic>Panderodus equicostatus</italic> Rhodes, 1954 from the Silurian. Proposing that this extremely small sample is, however, representative for these taxa, we aim to describe in detail the growth of an element from each of these taxa in order to the test the following hypotheses: (1) <italic>Panderodus</italic> and <italic>Proconodontus</italic> processed hard food, which led to damage of their elements consistent with prey capture function; and (2) both genera shifted towards higher trophic levels during ontogeny. We employed backscatter electron (BSE) imaging, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) to identify growth increments, wear and damage surfaces, and the Sr/Ca ratio in bioapatite as a proxy for the trophic position. Using these data, we can identify whether they exhibit determinate or indeterminate growth and whether both species followed linear or allometric growth dynamics. Growth increments (27 in <italic>Pa. equicostatus</italic> and 58 in <italic>Pr. muelleri</italic> ) were formed in bundles of 4–7 increments in <italic>Pa. equicostatus</italic> and 7–9 in <italic>Pr. muelleri</italic> . We interpret the bundles as analogous to Retzius periodicity in vertebrate teeth. Based on applied optimal resource allocation models, internal periodicity might explain indeterminate growth in both species. They also allow us to interpret the almost linear growth of both individuals as an indicator that there was no size-dependent increase in mortality in the ecosystems where they lived <italic>e.g</italic> ., as would be the case in the presence of larger predators. Our findings show that periodic growth was present in early conodonts and preceded tissue repair in response to wear and damage. We found no microwear and the Sr/Ca ratio, and therefore the trophic position, did not change substantially during the lifetimes of either individual. Trophic ecology of coniform conodonts differed from the predatory and/or scavenger lifestyle documented for “complex” conodonts. We propose that conodonts adapted their life histories to top-down controlled ecosystems during the Nekton Revolution. </p>
Czepiński, Łukasz; Dróżdż, Dawid; Szczygielski, Tomasz; Tałanda, Mateusz; Pawlak, Wojciech; Lewczuk, Antoni; Rytel, Adam; Sulej, Tomasz
An Upper Triassic Terrestrial Vertebrate Assemblage from the Forgotten Kocury Locality (Poland) with a New Aetosaur Taxon Journal Article
In: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, pp. e1898977, 2021.
@article{Czepinski2021,
title = {An Upper Triassic Terrestrial Vertebrate Assemblage from the Forgotten Kocury Locality (Poland) with a New Aetosaur Taxon},
author = {Łukasz Czepiński and Dawid Dróżdż and Tomasz Szczygielski and Mateusz Tałanda and Wojciech Pawlak and Antoni Lewczuk and Adam Rytel and Tomasz Sulej},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2021.1898977},
doi = {10.1080/02724634.2021.1898977},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-04-14},
journal = {Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology},
pages = {e1898977},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Świś, Przemysław
A new Devonian species of the enigmatic Carboniferous conodont Dollymae Journal Article
In: Palaeoworld, 2021, ISSN: 1871-174X.
@article{SWIS2021,
title = {A new Devonian species of the enigmatic Carboniferous conodont Dollymae},
author = {Przemysław Świś},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871174X21000251},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2021.03.003},
issn = {1871-174X},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-03-30},
journal = {Palaeoworld},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Dzik, Jerzy
Protaspis larva of an aglaspidid-like arthropod from the Ordovician of Siberia and its habitat Journal Article
In: Arthropod Structure & Development, vol. 61, pp. 101026, 2021, ISSN: 1467-8039.
@article{DZIK2021101026,
title = {Protaspis larva of an aglaspidid-like arthropod from the Ordovician of Siberia and its habitat},
author = {Jerzy Dzik},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1467803920301493},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2020.101026},
issn = {1467-8039},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Arthropod Structure & Development},
volume = {61},
pages = {101026},
abstract = {A fossil larva lacking segmentation of the calcified carapace, closely resembling the trilobite protaspis, has been found associated with other skeletal elements of an angarocaridid Girardevia species in the mid Darriwilian of central Siberia. The presence of protaspis larvae in the angarocaridids, generally believed to represent a branch of the Aglaspidida, supports their proximity to trilobites and proves a low position on the arthropod phylogenetic tree but does not necessarily contradict the chelicerate affinity. The cephalic appendages of angarocaridids bore massive gnathobases with detachable spines, closely similar to those known in extant xiphosurans and in their probable Cambrian relatives. The stratigraphic succession of the angarocaridids, their phosphatized cuticle pieces being abundant in the Ordovician strata of Siberia, shows a gradual improvement of mechanical resistance of their carapaces, eventually resulting in a honeycomb structure. The associated benthic mollusc assemblage is dominated with the bellerophontids showing high mortality at metamorphosis and only the limpet-like Pterotheca, infaunal bivalves, and scaphopods being able to survive this in a substantial number. This suggests a strong selective pressure from predators equipped with well-skeletonised oral apparatuses able to crush mineralized body covers of their prey. Possibly, these were some of the associated conodonts of appropriate size and co-evolving towards their ability to crush more and more resistant cuticle. Less likely candidates for durophagy are endoceratid or orthoceratid cephalopods. Also the angarocaridids themselves, equipped with robust gnathobases of cephalic appendages, apparently predated on benthic shelly animals.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A fossil larva lacking segmentation of the calcified carapace, closely resembling the trilobite protaspis, has been found associated with other skeletal elements of an angarocaridid Girardevia species in the mid Darriwilian of central Siberia. The presence of protaspis larvae in the angarocaridids, generally believed to represent a branch of the Aglaspidida, supports their proximity to trilobites and proves a low position on the arthropod phylogenetic tree but does not necessarily contradict the chelicerate affinity. The cephalic appendages of angarocaridids bore massive gnathobases with detachable spines, closely similar to those known in extant xiphosurans and in their probable Cambrian relatives. The stratigraphic succession of the angarocaridids, their phosphatized cuticle pieces being abundant in the Ordovician strata of Siberia, shows a gradual improvement of mechanical resistance of their carapaces, eventually resulting in a honeycomb structure. The associated benthic mollusc assemblage is dominated with the bellerophontids showing high mortality at metamorphosis and only the limpet-like Pterotheca, infaunal bivalves, and scaphopods being able to survive this in a substantial number. This suggests a strong selective pressure from predators equipped with well-skeletonised oral apparatuses able to crush mineralized body covers of their prey. Possibly, these were some of the associated conodonts of appropriate size and co-evolving towards their ability to crush more and more resistant cuticle. Less likely candidates for durophagy are endoceratid or orthoceratid cephalopods. Also the angarocaridids themselves, equipped with robust gnathobases of cephalic appendages, apparently predated on benthic shelly animals.
Schillaci, Michael A; Sutton, Logan D; Wichmann, Søren; López-Torres, Sergi
Linguistic Clues to Kiowa-Tanoan Prehistory Journal Article
In: Journal of the Southwest, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 255–368, 2021.
@article{schillaci2021linguistic,
title = {Linguistic Clues to Kiowa-Tanoan Prehistory},
author = {Michael A Schillaci and Logan D Sutton and Søren Wichmann and Sergi López-Torres},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Journal of the Southwest},
volume = {63},
number = {2},
pages = {255--368},
publisher = {The Southwest Center, University of Arizona},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sulej, Tomasz; Krzesiński, Grzegorz; Tałanda, Mateusz; Wolniewicz, Andrzej S.; Błażejowski, Błażej; Bonde, Niels; Gutowski, Piotr; Sienkiewicz, Maksymilian; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz
The earliest-known mammaliaform fossil from Greenland sheds light on origin of mammals Journal Article
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117, no. 43, pp. 26861-26867, 2020.
@article{Sulej26861,
title = {The earliest-known mammaliaform fossil from Greenland sheds light on origin of mammals},
author = {Tomasz Sulej and Grzegorz Krzesiński and Mateusz Tałanda and Andrzej S. Wolniewicz and Błażej Błażejowski and Niels Bonde and Piotr Gutowski and Maksymilian Sienkiewicz and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki},
url = {https://www.pnas.org/content/117/43/26861},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012437117 },
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-27},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
volume = {117},
number = {43},
pages = {26861-26867},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sulej, Tomasz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Tałanda, Mateusz; Dróżdż, Dawid; Hara, Ewa
A new early Late Triassic non-mammaliaform eucynodont from Poland Journal Article
In: Historical Biology, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 80-92, 2020.
@article{doi:10.1080/08912963.2018.1471477,
title = {A new early Late Triassic non-mammaliaform eucynodont from Poland},
author = {Tomasz Sulej and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and Mateusz Tałanda and Dawid Dróżdż and Ewa Hara},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2018.1471477},
doi = {10.1080/08912963.2018.1471477},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Historical Biology},
volume = {32},
number = {1},
pages = {80-92},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
abstract = {ABSTRACTBicuspid, tricuspid and tetracuspid postcanine teeth of a new non-mammaliaform eucynodont, Polonodon woznikiensis gen. et sp. nov. from the mid-late Carnian (early Late Triassic) of Woźniki clay-pit, Silesia (southern Poland) show incipient root division. They are similar to teeth of Dromatheriidae from the Carnian (early Late Triassic) to the Rhaetian (late Late Triassic) of Europe, India, and USA and the dentition of brasilodontids from the early Norian (mid Late Triassic) of Brazil. The P. woznikiensis teeth differ from those of the latter group mostly in the absence of cingulum. Some of the new fossils from Silesia provide the oldest Laurasian record of eucynodont teeth with the main cusp (a) anterior edge very long as the mesial cusp b is placed much lower than cusp c (distal). The contemporaneous Alemoatherium huebneri, from Gondwana, had similar postcanines. The findings from Poland indicate that this postcanine morphology was present in non-mammaliaform cynodonts from both hemispheres as early as the mid-late Carnian. The distal end of the humerus from the same locality is also described.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
ABSTRACTBicuspid, tricuspid and tetracuspid postcanine teeth of a new non-mammaliaform eucynodont, Polonodon woznikiensis gen. et sp. nov. from the mid-late Carnian (early Late Triassic) of Woźniki clay-pit, Silesia (southern Poland) show incipient root division. They are similar to teeth of Dromatheriidae from the Carnian (early Late Triassic) to the Rhaetian (late Late Triassic) of Europe, India, and USA and the dentition of brasilodontids from the early Norian (mid Late Triassic) of Brazil. The P. woznikiensis teeth differ from those of the latter group mostly in the absence of cingulum. Some of the new fossils from Silesia provide the oldest Laurasian record of eucynodont teeth with the main cusp (a) anterior edge very long as the mesial cusp b is placed much lower than cusp c (distal). The contemporaneous Alemoatherium huebneri, from Gondwana, had similar postcanines. The findings from Poland indicate that this postcanine morphology was present in non-mammaliaform cynodonts from both hemispheres as early as the mid-late Carnian. The distal end of the humerus from the same locality is also described.
Pawlak, Wojciech; Tałanda, Mateusz; Sulej, Tomasz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz
Dipnoan from the Upper Triassic of East Greenland and remarks about palaeobiogeography of Ptychoceratodus Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 65, pp. 561-574, 2020.
@article{Pawlak2020DipnoanFT,
title = {Dipnoan from the Upper Triassic of East Greenland and remarks about palaeobiogeography of Ptychoceratodus},
author = {Wojciech Pawlak and Mateusz Tałanda and Tomasz Sulej and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {65},
pages = {561-574},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pindakiewicz, Maciej; Tałanda, Mateusz; Sulej, Tomasz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Sennikov, A G; Bakayev, A; Bulanov, V V; Golubev, V; Minikh, A V
Feeding convergence among ray-finned fishes: teeth of the herbivorous actinopterygians from the latest Permian of East European Platform, Russia Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 71–79, 2020.
@article{Pindakiewicz2020FeedingCA,
title = {Feeding convergence among ray-finned fishes: teeth of the herbivorous actinopterygians from the latest Permian of East European Platform, Russia},
author = {Maciej Pindakiewicz and Mateusz Tałanda and Tomasz Sulej and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and A G Sennikov and A Bakayev and V V Bulanov and V Golubev and A V Minikh},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {65},
number = {1},
pages = {71--79},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Piechowski, Rafał; Tałanda, Mateusz
The locomotor musculature and posture of the early dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis provides a new look into the evolution of Dinosauromorpha Journal Article
In: Journal of Anatomy, vol. 236, no. 6, pp. 1044-1100, 2020.
@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13155,
title = {The locomotor musculature and posture of the early dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis provides a new look into the evolution of Dinosauromorpha},
author = {Rafał Piechowski and Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/joa.13155},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13155},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Anatomy},
volume = {236},
number = {6},
pages = {1044-1100},
abstract = {Abstract It is widely accepted that ornithodirans (bird lineage) and some pseudosuchians (crocodilian lineage) achieved fully erect limb posture in different ways. Ornithodirans have buttress-erected hindlimbs, while some advanced pseudosuchians have pillar-erected hindlimbs. Analysis of the musculoskeletal apparatus of the early dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis challenges this view. This ornithodiran had pillar-erected hindlimbs like some pseudosuchians. This condition could be autapomorphic or represents a transitional state between adductor-controlled limb posture of early dinosauromorphs and the buttress-erected hindlimbs of dinosaurs. This sequence of changes is supported by Triassic tracks left by animals of the dinosaurian lineage. It was associated with the strong development of knee flexors and extensors. Furthermore, the forelimbs of Silesaurus were fully erect, analogously to those of early sauropods. Members of both lineages reduced the muscles related to the protraction, retraction and bending of the limb. They used forelimbs more as a body support and less for propulsion. A similar scapula and humerus construction can be found in the Lagerpetidae and Lewisuchus, suggesting that long, slender, fully erected forelimbs are primitive for all Dinosauromorpha, not just Silesauridae. Early dinosaurs redeveloped several muscle attachments on the forelimb, probably in relation to bipedality.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract It is widely accepted that ornithodirans (bird lineage) and some pseudosuchians (crocodilian lineage) achieved fully erect limb posture in different ways. Ornithodirans have buttress-erected hindlimbs, while some advanced pseudosuchians have pillar-erected hindlimbs. Analysis of the musculoskeletal apparatus of the early dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis challenges this view. This ornithodiran had pillar-erected hindlimbs like some pseudosuchians. This condition could be autapomorphic or represents a transitional state between adductor-controlled limb posture of early dinosauromorphs and the buttress-erected hindlimbs of dinosaurs. This sequence of changes is supported by Triassic tracks left by animals of the dinosaurian lineage. It was associated with the strong development of knee flexors and extensors. Furthermore, the forelimbs of Silesaurus were fully erect, analogously to those of early sauropods. Members of both lineages reduced the muscles related to the protraction, retraction and bending of the limb. They used forelimbs more as a body support and less for propulsion. A similar scapula and humerus construction can be found in the Lagerpetidae and Lewisuchus, suggesting that long, slender, fully erected forelimbs are primitive for all Dinosauromorpha, not just Silesauridae. Early dinosaurs redeveloped several muscle attachments on the forelimb, probably in relation to bipedality.
Świś, Przemysław; Broda, Krzysztof; Duda, Piotr; Dróżdż, Dawid; Łazuka, Anna
The early Famennian (Late Devonian) conodonts natural assemblages from Holy Cross Mountains (Poland) Journal Article
In: Historical Biology, vol. 0, no. 0, pp. 1-8, 2020.
@article{doi:10.1080/08912963.2020.1719085,
title = {The early Famennian (Late Devonian) conodonts natural assemblages from Holy Cross Mountains (Poland)},
author = {Przemysław Świś and Krzysztof Broda and Piotr Duda and Dawid Dróżdż and Anna Łazuka},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1719085},
doi = {10.1080/08912963.2020.1719085},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Historical Biology},
volume = {0},
number = {0},
pages = {1-8},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Świś, Przemysław; Dzik, Jerzy
The oral apparatus composition of the Early Carboniferous elictognathid conodont 'Siphonodella' Journal Article
In: Lethaia, 2020, (Publisher: Wiley).
@article{swis_oral_2020,
title = {The oral apparatus composition of the Early Carboniferous elictognathid conodont 'Siphonodella'},
author = {Przemysław Świś and Jerzy Dzik},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111%2Flet.12406},
doi = {10.1111/let.12406},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Lethaia},
note = {Publisher: Wiley},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Czepiński, Łukasz
New protoceratopsid specimens improve the age correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Desert strata Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 65, 2020.
@article{Czepiski2020NewPS,
title = {New protoceratopsid specimens improve the age correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Desert strata},
author = {Łukasz Czepiński},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {65},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Czepiński, Łukasz
Ontogeny and variation of a protoceratopsid dinosaur Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert Journal Article
In: Historical Biology, vol. 32, no. 10, pp. 1394–1421, 2020.
@article{doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1593404,
title = {Ontogeny and variation of a protoceratopsid dinosaur Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert},
author = {Łukasz Czepiński},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2019.1593404},
doi = {10.1080/08912963.2019.1593404},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Historical Biology},
volume = {32},
number = {10},
pages = {1394--1421},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
abstract = {Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi is a ceratopsian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Baruungoyot Formation of the Gobi Desert, closely related to Protoceratops spp. Several Bag. rozhdestvenskyi skulls demonstrate a wide range of variation in their morphology and size. Here I argue that the observed variability is most likely of intraspecific nature. Specimens classified in a few allegedly distinct species from the same or near-contemporary sediments, namely Gobiceratops minutus, Lamaceratops tereschenkoi and Platyceratops tatarinovi from Baruungoyot Formation, and Magnirostris dodsoni from Bayan Mandahu, are younger subjective synonyms of Bag. rozhdestvenskyi. They plausibly represent an ontogenetic series within the latter. Breviceratops kozlowskiiis a distinct taxon. The evolutionary relationships within Protoceratopsidae are complicated by the mosaic distribution of plesiomorphic and derived features in distinct species. I suggest that taxa distribution and observed changes in morphology are an evidence for the ancestral position of Protoceratops andrewsi among protoceratopsids. It implies possible temporary separation between the geological formations of the Gobi Desert yielding distinct protoceratopsid species. The novel evolutionary scenario suggests number of convergences that occurred in Protoceratopsidae and Ceratopsoidea (reduction of the premaxillary dentition, fusion of nasals, development of the accessory antorbital fenestra). Present study reveals the significance of the intraspecific and ontogenetic variation in the study of the neoceratopsian taxonomy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi is a ceratopsian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Baruungoyot Formation of the Gobi Desert, closely related to Protoceratops spp. Several Bag. rozhdestvenskyi skulls demonstrate a wide range of variation in their morphology and size. Here I argue that the observed variability is most likely of intraspecific nature. Specimens classified in a few allegedly distinct species from the same or near-contemporary sediments, namely Gobiceratops minutus, Lamaceratops tereschenkoi and Platyceratops tatarinovi from Baruungoyot Formation, and Magnirostris dodsoni from Bayan Mandahu, are younger subjective synonyms of Bag. rozhdestvenskyi. They plausibly represent an ontogenetic series within the latter. Breviceratops kozlowskiiis a distinct taxon. The evolutionary relationships within Protoceratopsidae are complicated by the mosaic distribution of plesiomorphic and derived features in distinct species. I suggest that taxa distribution and observed changes in morphology are an evidence for the ancestral position of Protoceratops andrewsi among protoceratopsids. It implies possible temporary separation between the geological formations of the Gobi Desert yielding distinct protoceratopsid species. The novel evolutionary scenario suggests number of convergences that occurred in Protoceratopsidae and Ceratopsoidea (reduction of the premaxillary dentition, fusion of nasals, development of the accessory antorbital fenestra). Present study reveals the significance of the intraspecific and ontogenetic variation in the study of the neoceratopsian taxonomy.
Dzik, Jerzy
Decline in diversity of early Palaeozoic loosely coiled gastropod protoconchs Journal Article
In: Lethaia, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 32–46, 2020.
@article{dzik_decline_2020,
title = {Decline in diversity of early Palaeozoic loosely coiled gastropod protoconchs},
author = {Jerzy Dzik},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Lethaia},
volume = {53},
number = {1},
pages = {32--46},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Dzik, Jerzy
Ordovician conodonts and the Tornquist Lineament Journal Article
In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 549, 2020.
@article{dzik_ordovician_2020,
title = {Ordovician conodonts and the Tornquist Lineament},
author = {Jerzy Dzik},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology},
volume = {549},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Dzik, Jerzy
Variability of conch morphology in a cephalopod species from the Cambrian to Ordovician transition strata of Siberia Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 65, pp. 149–165, 2020, (Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk Instytut Paleobiologii (Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences)).
@article{dzik_variability_2020,
title = {Variability of conch morphology in a cephalopod species from the Cambrian to Ordovician transition strata of Siberia},
author = {Jerzy Dzik},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4202%2Fapp.00674.2019},
doi = {10.4202/app.00674.2019},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {65},
pages = {149--165},
note = {Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk Instytut Paleobiologii (Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences)},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}