Paleobiology
Research topics
Evolution and functional biology of reptiles, 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 analyzes.
Publications review
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 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 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 Arthropod Structure & Development, 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. |
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 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (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 Historical Biology, 32 (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 Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 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 Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 65 (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 Journal of Anatomy, 236 (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 Historical Biology, 0 (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 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 Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 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 Historical Biology, 32 (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 Lethaia, 53 (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 Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 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 Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 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} } |