dr Mateusz Tałanda
Scientific interests
- Evolution of reptiles
- Triassic ecosystems
- Biogeography
Didactics
- Zoology (classes)
- Biodiversity
- History of Life (classes)
- Field paleobiology
- MSc workshop
Research projects
ongoing projects
- New Miocene land vertebrates from the northwestern Paratethys shores and their implications for Eurasian faunal exchange (principal investigator, NCN OPUS-24)
previous projects
- The early evolution of squamate and rynchocephalian skull (Wczesna ewolucja czaszki jaszczurek i hatterii, PRELUDIUM, NCN)
Internships
- 2018-2019 University College London (MOBILNOŚĆ PLUS)
Collaborators
- Institute of Paleobiology PAS
- Uppsala University
- University College London
- University of Oxford
Selected publications
2024
Jiménez-Mejías, Pedro; Manzano, Saúl; Gowda, Vinita; Krell, Frank-Thorsten; Lin, Mei-Ying; Martín-Bravo, Santiago; Martín-Torrijos, Laura; Nieto Feliner, Gonzalo; Mosyakin, Sergei L; Naczi, Robert F C; Acedo, Carmen; Álvarez, Inés; Crisci, Jorge V; Luceño Garcés, Modesto; Manning, John; Moreno Saiz, Juan Carlos; Muasya, A Muthama; Riina, Ricarda; Sánchez Meseguer, Andrea; Sánchez-Mata, Daniel; additional 1543 coauthors,
Protecting stable biological nomenclatural systems enables universal communication: A collective international appeal Journal Article
In: BioScience, pp. biae043, 2024.
@article{nokey,
title = {Protecting stable biological nomenclatural systems enables universal communication: A collective international appeal},
author = {Pedro Jiménez-Mejías and Saúl Manzano and Vinita Gowda and Frank-Thorsten Krell and Mei-Ying Lin and Santiago Martín-Bravo and Laura Martín-Torrijos and Nieto Feliner, Gonzalo and Sergei L Mosyakin and Robert F C Naczi and Carmen Acedo and Inés Álvarez and Jorge V Crisci and Luceño Garcés, Modesto and John Manning and Moreno Saiz, Juan Carlos and A Muthama Muasya and Ricarda Riina and Sánchez Meseguer, Andrea and Daniel Sánchez-Mata and additional 1543 coauthors},
url = {https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biae043/7696204},
doi = {10.1093/biosci/biae043},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-06-19},
urldate = {2024-06-19},
journal = {BioScience},
pages = {biae043},
abstract = {The fundamental value of universal nomenclatural systems in biology is that they enable unambiguous scientific communication. However, the stability of these systems is threatened by recent discussions asking for a fairer nomenclature, raising the possibility of bulk revision processes for “inappropriate”names. It is evident that such proposals come from very deep feelings, but we show how they can irreparably damage the foundation of biological communication and, in turn, the sciences that depend on it. There are four essential consequences of objective codes of nomenclature: universality, stability, neutrality, and transculturality. These codes provide fair and impartial guides to the principles governing biological nomenclature and allow unambiguous universal communication in biology. Accordingly, no subjective proposals should be allowed to undermine them.},
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The fundamental value of universal nomenclatural systems in biology is that they enable unambiguous scientific communication. However, the stability of these systems is threatened by recent discussions asking for a fairer nomenclature, raising the possibility of bulk revision processes for “inappropriate”names. It is evident that such proposals come from very deep feelings, but we show how they can irreparably damage the foundation of biological communication and, in turn, the sciences that depend on it. There are four essential consequences of objective codes of nomenclature: universality, stability, neutrality, and transculturality. These codes provide fair and impartial guides to the principles governing biological nomenclature and allow unambiguous universal communication in biology. Accordingly, no subjective proposals should be allowed to undermine them.
Rytel, Adam; Böhmer, Christine; Spiekman, Stephan N. F.; Tałanda, Mateusz
In: Royal Society Open Science, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 240233, 2024.
@article{doi:10.1098/rsos.240233,
title = {Extreme neck elongation evolved despite strong developmental constraints in bizarre Triassic reptiles—implications for neck modularity in archosaurs},
author = {Adam Rytel and Christine Böhmer and Stephan N. F. Spiekman and Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rsos.240233},
doi = {10.1098/rsos.240233},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-15},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {240233},
abstract = {The Triassic radiation of vertebrates saw the emergence of the modern vertebrate groups, as well as numerous extinct animals exhibiting conspicuous, unique anatomical characteristics. Among these, members of Tanystropheidae (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) displayed cervical vertebral elongation to an extent unparalleled in any other vertebrate. Tanystropheids were exceptionally ecologically diverse and had a wide spatial and temporal distribution. This may have been related to their neck anatomy, yet its evolution and functional properties remain poorly understood. We used geometric morphometrics to capture the intraspecific variation between the vertebrae comprising the cervical column among early archosauromorphs, to trace the evolutionary history of neck elongation in these animals. Our results show that the cervical series of these reptiles can be divided into modules corresponding to those of extant animals. Tanystropheids achieved neck elongation through somite elongation and a shift between cervical and thoracic regions, without presacral vertebrae count increase—contrary to crown archosaurs. This suggests a peculiar developmental constraint that strongly affected the evolution of tanystropheids. The data obtained just at the base of the archosauromorph phylogenetic tree are crucial for further studies on the modularity of vertebral columns of not only Triassic reptile groups but extant and other extinct animals as well.},
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The Triassic radiation of vertebrates saw the emergence of the modern vertebrate groups, as well as numerous extinct animals exhibiting conspicuous, unique anatomical characteristics. Among these, members of Tanystropheidae (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) displayed cervical vertebral elongation to an extent unparalleled in any other vertebrate. Tanystropheids were exceptionally ecologically diverse and had a wide spatial and temporal distribution. This may have been related to their neck anatomy, yet its evolution and functional properties remain poorly understood. We used geometric morphometrics to capture the intraspecific variation between the vertebrae comprising the cervical column among early archosauromorphs, to trace the evolutionary history of neck elongation in these animals. Our results show that the cervical series of these reptiles can be divided into modules corresponding to those of extant animals. Tanystropheids achieved neck elongation through somite elongation and a shift between cervical and thoracic regions, without presacral vertebrae count increase—contrary to crown archosaurs. This suggests a peculiar developmental constraint that strongly affected the evolution of tanystropheids. The data obtained just at the base of the archosauromorph phylogenetic tree are crucial for further studies on the modularity of vertebral columns of not only Triassic reptile groups but extant and other extinct animals as well.
Sulej, Tomasz; Machalski, Marcin; Tałanda, Mateusz
New finds of Olenekian, Early Triassic, trematosaurid amphibians and prolocophonid reptiles from Poland Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 49–56, 2024.
@article{sulej2024new,
title = {New finds of Olenekian, Early Triassic, trematosaurid amphibians and prolocophonid reptiles from Poland},
author = {Tomasz Sulej and Marcin Machalski and Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app011092023.html},
doi = {10.4202/app.01109.2023},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-08},
urldate = {2024-03-08},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {69},
number = {1},
pages = {49–56},
abstract = {The continental Lower Triassic (Middle Buntsandstein) siliciclastic deposits exposed along the margins of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland, yield locally abundant vertebrate footprints and bones. Although the footprints have been described in a number of studies, providing, for example, new insights into the origin of dinosaurs, there are few studies focusing on the bones. Here, we describe new amphibian and reptile material from the Buntsandstein fluvial sandstones of early Olenekian age exposed at Stryczowice on the north-eastern margin of the Holy Cross Mountains. These finds include fragmentary cranial specimens referred to as Trematosauridae gen. et sp. indet. and Procolophonidae gen. et sp. indet. Faunal differences between Stryczowice and the best-known Polish Olenekian vertebrate-bearing site of Czatkowice 1 near Kraków support heterogeneity in the Early Triassic vertebrate distribution across Pangea.},
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pubstate = {published},
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The continental Lower Triassic (Middle Buntsandstein) siliciclastic deposits exposed along the margins of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland, yield locally abundant vertebrate footprints and bones. Although the footprints have been described in a number of studies, providing, for example, new insights into the origin of dinosaurs, there are few studies focusing on the bones. Here, we describe new amphibian and reptile material from the Buntsandstein fluvial sandstones of early Olenekian age exposed at Stryczowice on the north-eastern margin of the Holy Cross Mountains. These finds include fragmentary cranial specimens referred to as Trematosauridae gen. et sp. indet. and Procolophonidae gen. et sp. indet. Faunal differences between Stryczowice and the best-known Polish Olenekian vertebrate-bearing site of Czatkowice 1 near Kraków support heterogeneity in the Early Triassic vertebrate distribution across Pangea.
2023
Czepiński, Łukasz; Pawlak, Wojciech; Rytel, Adam; Tałanda, Mateusz; Szczygielski, Tomasz; Sulej, Tomasz
A new Middle Triassic vertebrate assemblage from Miedary (southern Poland) Journal Article
In: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 0, no. 0, pp. e2265445, 2023.
@article{doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2265445,
title = {A new Middle Triassic vertebrate assemblage from Miedary (southern Poland)},
author = {Łukasz Czepiński and Wojciech Pawlak and Adam Rytel and Mateusz Tałanda and Tomasz Szczygielski and Tomasz Sulej},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2023.2265445},
doi = {10.1080/02724634.2023.2265445},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-27},
urldate = {2023-10-27},
journal = {Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology},
volume = {0},
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publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
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2022
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.},
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pubstate = {published},
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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.
2021
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}
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2020
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}
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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.},
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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.
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},
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}
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.
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}
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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},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {65},
pages = {561-574},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2019
Qvarnström, Martin; Wernström, Joel Vikberg; Piechowski, Rafał; Tałanda, Mateusz; Ahlberg, Per E; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz
Beetle-bearing coprolites possibly reveal the diet of a Late Triassic dinosauriform Journal Article
In: Royal Society Open Science, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 181042, 2019, (Publisher: The Royal Society).
@article{qvarnstrom_beetle-bearing_2019,
title = {Beetle-bearing coprolites possibly reveal the diet of a Late Triassic dinosauriform},
author = {Martin Qvarnström and Joel Vikberg Wernström and Rafał Piechowski and Mateusz Tałanda and Per E Ahlberg and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frsos.181042},
doi = {10.1098/rsos.181042},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
volume = {6},
number = {3},
pages = {181042},
note = {Publisher: The Royal Society},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Piechowski, Rafał; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Tałanda, Mateusz
Unexpected bird-like features and high intraspecific variation in the braincase of the Triassic relative of dinosaurs Journal Article
In: Historical Biology, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1065–1081, 2019, (Publisher: Taylor & Francis _eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1418339).
@article{piechowski_unexpected_2019,
title = {Unexpected bird-like features and high intraspecific variation in the braincase of the Triassic relative of dinosaurs},
author = {Rafał Piechowski and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1418339},
doi = {10.1080/08912963.2017.1418339},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Historical Biology},
volume = {31},
number = {8},
pages = {1065--1081},
abstract = {Abstract Silesaurus opolensis Dzik, 2003 from the Late Triassic (late Carnian) of Poland is a key taxon for understanding the evolution of early dinosaurs. High intraspecific variation observed in the S. opolensis braincase brings caution in taxonomic and diversity studies of early dinosauromorphs. The external and internal osteology of three almost complete braincases of S. opolensis show that this taxon shares several similarities with other early dinosauriforms, which supports a close relationship among these forms. However, the paroccipital processes of S. opolensis are directed ventrally like in birds, reaching the level of the ventral margin of the basioccipital condyle. In dinosauromorphs, these processes usually have an almost horizontal orientation (presumed to be the plesiomorphic condition). Modifications observed in birds and S. opolensis have resulted in the dorsoventral expansion of M. complexus and M. depressor mandibulae, which occupy the dorsolateral part of the posterior side of the skull. In adult birds, these muscles act strongly on the initial upstroke of the head during drinking. Therefore, the inferred condition of these muscles in S. opolensis may imply that Silesauridae evolved toward bird-like feeding behaviour.},
note = {Publisher: Taylor & Francis
_eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1418339},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract Silesaurus opolensis Dzik, 2003 from the Late Triassic (late Carnian) of Poland is a key taxon for understanding the evolution of early dinosaurs. High intraspecific variation observed in the S. opolensis braincase brings caution in taxonomic and diversity studies of early dinosauromorphs. The external and internal osteology of three almost complete braincases of S. opolensis show that this taxon shares several similarities with other early dinosauriforms, which supports a close relationship among these forms. However, the paroccipital processes of S. opolensis are directed ventrally like in birds, reaching the level of the ventral margin of the basioccipital condyle. In dinosauromorphs, these processes usually have an almost horizontal orientation (presumed to be the plesiomorphic condition). Modifications observed in birds and S. opolensis have resulted in the dorsoventral expansion of M. complexus and M. depressor mandibulae, which occupy the dorsolateral part of the posterior side of the skull. In adult birds, these muscles act strongly on the initial upstroke of the head during drinking. Therefore, the inferred condition of these muscles in S. opolensis may imply that Silesauridae evolved toward bird-like feeding behaviour.
2018
Simões, Tiago R; Caldwell, Michael W; Tałanda, Mateusz; Bernardi, Massimo; Palci, Alessandro; Vernygora, Oksana; Bernardini, Federico; Mancini, Lucia; Nydam, Randall L
X-ray computed microtomography of Megachirella wachtleri Journal Article
In: Scientific Data, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 180244, 2018, ISSN: 2052-4463.
@article{simoes_x-ray_2018,
title = {X-ray computed microtomography of Megachirella wachtleri},
author = {Tiago R Simões and Michael W Caldwell and Mateusz Tałanda and Massimo Bernardi and Alessandro Palci and Oksana Vernygora and Federico Bernardini and Lucia Mancini and Randall L Nydam},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.244},
doi = {10.1038/sdata.2018.244},
issn = {2052-4463},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Scientific Data},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {180244},
abstract = {Understanding the origin and early evolution of squamates has been a considerable challenge given the extremely scarce fossil record of early squamates and their poor degree of preservation. In order to overcome those limitations, we conducted high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) studies on the fossil reptile Megachirella wachtleri (Middle Triassic, northern Italy), which revealed an important set of features indicating this is the oldest known fossil squamate in the world, predating the previous oldest record by ca. 75 million years. We also compiled a new phylogenetic data set comprising a large sample of diapsid reptiles (including morphological and molecular data) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of early squamates and other reptile groups along with the divergence time of those lineages. The re-description of Megachirella and a new phylogenetic hypothesis of diapsid relationships are presented in a separate study. Here we present the data descriptors for the tomographic scans of Megachirella, which holds fundamental information to our understanding on the early evolution of one of the largest vertebrate groups on Earth today.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Understanding the origin and early evolution of squamates has been a considerable challenge given the extremely scarce fossil record of early squamates and their poor degree of preservation. In order to overcome those limitations, we conducted high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) studies on the fossil reptile Megachirella wachtleri (Middle Triassic, northern Italy), which revealed an important set of features indicating this is the oldest known fossil squamate in the world, predating the previous oldest record by ca. 75 million years. We also compiled a new phylogenetic data set comprising a large sample of diapsid reptiles (including morphological and molecular data) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of early squamates and other reptile groups along with the divergence time of those lineages. The re-description of Megachirella and a new phylogenetic hypothesis of diapsid relationships are presented in a separate study. Here we present the data descriptors for the tomographic scans of Megachirella, which holds fundamental information to our understanding on the early evolution of one of the largest vertebrate groups on Earth today.
Tałanda, Mateusz
An exceptionally preserved Jurassic skink suggests lizard diversification preceded fragmentation of Pangaea Journal Article
In: Palaeontology, vol. 61, no. 5, pp. 659–677, 2018, (_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pala.12358).
@article{talanda_exceptionally_2018,
title = {An exceptionally preserved Jurassic skink suggests lizard diversification preceded fragmentation of Pangaea},
author = {Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pala.12358},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12358},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Palaeontology},
volume = {61},
number = {5},
pages = {659--677},
abstract = {Abstract The present distribution of lizards is usually explained as a result of relatively recent global events, i.e. faunal turnovers or exchanges within and between particular continents mostly connected with glaciations and land-bridges. However, today's disjunct distribution of the North American Xantusiidae and African Cordyliformes (close relatives of skinks) does not fit generally accepted biogeographical patterns. A new, exquisitely preserved specimen of the Late Jurassic lizard Ardeosaurus brevipes from the Solnhofen area, Germany sheds some light on the problem. A posterior projection of its parietal is known only in the Dibamidae, Gekkota and Scincoidea, taxa representing first branches on the molecular tree of lizards. The projection of the parietal is proposed to be an apomorphy of the Squamata that was lost in the common ancestor of Lacertoidea and Toxicofera (snakes, anguimorphs and iguanians). This implies a basalmost position of A. brevipes on the Squamata tree. The location of the supratemporal such as in A. brevipes characterizes all the Scincoidea and some geckos, but most geckos lack osteoderms, which are common in Scincoidea. This makes A. brevipes the oldest known crown-member of this lineage. Moreover, this indicates that the main groups of modern lizards were already present in the Jurassic. Ancestors of Cordyliformes migrated to Gondwana in the Late Jurassic together with dinosaurs, prior to the Cretaceous separation of this ancient continent.},
note = {_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pala.12358},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract The present distribution of lizards is usually explained as a result of relatively recent global events, i.e. faunal turnovers or exchanges within and between particular continents mostly connected with glaciations and land-bridges. However, today's disjunct distribution of the North American Xantusiidae and African Cordyliformes (close relatives of skinks) does not fit generally accepted biogeographical patterns. A new, exquisitely preserved specimen of the Late Jurassic lizard Ardeosaurus brevipes from the Solnhofen area, Germany sheds some light on the problem. A posterior projection of its parietal is known only in the Dibamidae, Gekkota and Scincoidea, taxa representing first branches on the molecular tree of lizards. The projection of the parietal is proposed to be an apomorphy of the Squamata that was lost in the common ancestor of Lacertoidea and Toxicofera (snakes, anguimorphs and iguanians). This implies a basalmost position of A. brevipes on the Squamata tree. The location of the supratemporal such as in A. brevipes characterizes all the Scincoidea and some geckos, but most geckos lack osteoderms, which are common in Scincoidea. This makes A. brevipes the oldest known crown-member of this lineage. Moreover, this indicates that the main groups of modern lizards were already present in the Jurassic. Ancestors of Cordyliformes migrated to Gondwana in the Late Jurassic together with dinosaurs, prior to the Cretaceous separation of this ancient continent.
Simões, Tiago R; Caldwell, Michael W; Tałanda, Mateusz; Bernardi, Massimo; Palci, Alessandro; Vernygora, Oksana; Bernardini, Federico; Mancini, Lucia; Nydam, Randall L
The origin of squamates revealed by a Middle Triassic lizard from the Italian Alps Journal Article
In: Nature, vol. 557, no. 7707, pp. 706–709, 2018, ISSN: 1476-4687.
@article{simoes_origin_2018,
title = {The origin of squamates revealed by a Middle Triassic lizard from the Italian Alps},
author = {Tiago R Simões and Michael W Caldwell and Mateusz Tałanda and Massimo Bernardi and Alessandro Palci and Oksana Vernygora and Federico Bernardini and Lucia Mancini and Randall L Nydam},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0093-3},
doi = {10.1038/s41586-018-0093-3},
issn = {1476-4687},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {557},
number = {7707},
pages = {706--709},
abstract = {Modern squamates (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians) are the world's most diverse group of tetrapods along with birds1and have a long evolutionary history, with the oldest known fossils dating from the Middle Jurassic period—168 million years ago2–4. The evolutionary origin of squamates is contentious because of several issues: (1) a fossil gap of approximately 70 million years exists between the oldest known fossils and their estimated origin5–7; (2) limited sampling of squamates in reptile phylogenies; and (3) conflicts between morphological and molecular hypotheses regarding the origin of crown squamates6,8,9. Here we shed light on these problems by using high-resolution microfocus X-ray computed tomography data from the articulated fossil reptile Megachirella wachtleri (Middle Triassic period, Italian Alps10). We also present a phylogenetic dataset, combining fossils and extant taxa, and morphological and molecular data. We analysed this dataset under different optimality criteria to assess diapsid reptile relationships and the origins of squamates. Our results re-shape the diapsid phylogeny and present evidence that M. wachtleri is the oldest known stem squamate. Megachirella is 75 million years older than the previously known oldest squamate fossils, partially filling the fossil gap in the origin of lizards, and indicates a more gradual acquisition of squamatan features in diapsid evolution than previously thought. For the first time, to our knowledge, morphological and molecular data are in agreement regarding early squamate evolution, with geckoes—and not iguanians—as the earliest crown clade squamates. Divergence time estimates using relaxed combined morphological and molecular clocks show that lepidosaurs and most other diapsids originated before the Permian/Triassic extinction event, indicating that the Triassic was a period of radiation, not origin, for several diapsid lineages.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Modern squamates (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians) are the world's most diverse group of tetrapods along with birds1and have a long evolutionary history, with the oldest known fossils dating from the Middle Jurassic period—168 million years ago2–4. The evolutionary origin of squamates is contentious because of several issues: (1) a fossil gap of approximately 70 million years exists between the oldest known fossils and their estimated origin5–7; (2) limited sampling of squamates in reptile phylogenies; and (3) conflicts between morphological and molecular hypotheses regarding the origin of crown squamates6,8,9. Here we shed light on these problems by using high-resolution microfocus X-ray computed tomography data from the articulated fossil reptile Megachirella wachtleri (Middle Triassic period, Italian Alps10). We also present a phylogenetic dataset, combining fossils and extant taxa, and morphological and molecular data. We analysed this dataset under different optimality criteria to assess diapsid reptile relationships and the origins of squamates. Our results re-shape the diapsid phylogeny and present evidence that M. wachtleri is the oldest known stem squamate. Megachirella is 75 million years older than the previously known oldest squamate fossils, partially filling the fossil gap in the origin of lizards, and indicates a more gradual acquisition of squamatan features in diapsid evolution than previously thought. For the first time, to our knowledge, morphological and molecular data are in agreement regarding early squamate evolution, with geckoes—and not iguanians—as the earliest crown clade squamates. Divergence time estimates using relaxed combined morphological and molecular clocks show that lepidosaurs and most other diapsids originated before the Permian/Triassic extinction event, indicating that the Triassic was a period of radiation, not origin, for several diapsid lineages.
Skrzycki, Piotr; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Tałanda, Mateusz
Dipnoan remains from the Lower-Middle Triassic of the Holy Cross Mountains and northeastern Poland, with remarks on dipnoan palaeobiogeography Journal Article
In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 496, pp. 332–345, 2018, ISSN: 0031-0182.
@article{skrzycki_dipnoan_2018,
title = {Dipnoan remains from the Lower-Middle Triassic of the Holy Cross Mountains and northeastern Poland, with remarks on dipnoan palaeobiogeography},
author = {Piotr Skrzycki and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031018217301207},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.01.049},
issn = {0031-0182},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology},
volume = {496},
pages = {332--345},
abstract = {Here we present a revision of dipnoans from the Middle-Upper Buntsandstein and the Lower Muschelkalk (Lower-Middle Triassic) of the Holy Cross Mountains (southeastern Poland) and from the Middle Buntsandstein of northeastern Poland. Two genera are identified: Arganodus and Ptychoceratodus. Specimens resemble synchronous species from the European part of Russia. It is the first Middle Triassic finding of Arganodus worldwide. Ptychoceratodus is reported for the first time from the Lower Triassic of Poland. It is its oldest known occurrence in Europe. The Holy Cross Mountains stands between the area of European Russia and the Central European Basin which were both inhabited by Arganodus and Ptychoceratodus in the Early-Middle Triassic. Resulting from a summary of palaeobiogeographic data of these two genera their distributional patterns are hypothesized herein. In the Early Triassic both genera often co-occurred in many regions. Starting from the Middle Triassic their ranges split into two almost separate ones. They reflect the palaeolatitudinal belts in the Late Triassic with Arganodus in the northern tropic belt and Ptychoceratodus along the palaeolatitudes 30°.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Here we present a revision of dipnoans from the Middle-Upper Buntsandstein and the Lower Muschelkalk (Lower-Middle Triassic) of the Holy Cross Mountains (southeastern Poland) and from the Middle Buntsandstein of northeastern Poland. Two genera are identified: Arganodus and Ptychoceratodus. Specimens resemble synchronous species from the European part of Russia. It is the first Middle Triassic finding of Arganodus worldwide. Ptychoceratodus is reported for the first time from the Lower Triassic of Poland. It is its oldest known occurrence in Europe. The Holy Cross Mountains stands between the area of European Russia and the Central European Basin which were both inhabited by Arganodus and Ptychoceratodus in the Early-Middle Triassic. Resulting from a summary of palaeobiogeographic data of these two genera their distributional patterns are hypothesized herein. In the Early Triassic both genera often co-occurred in many regions. Starting from the Middle Triassic their ranges split into two almost separate ones. They reflect the palaeolatitudinal belts in the Late Triassic with Arganodus in the northern tropic belt and Ptychoceratodus along the palaeolatitudes 30°.
2017
Tałanda, Mateusz; Bajdek, Piotr; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Sulej, Tomasz
Upper Triassic freshwater oncoids from Silesia (southern Poland) and their microfossil biota Journal Article
In: Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, vol. 284, no. 1, pp. 43–56, 2017, (Place: Stuttgart, Germany Publisher: Schweizerbart Science Publishers).
@article{talanda_upper_2017,
title = {Upper Triassic freshwater oncoids from Silesia (southern Poland) and their microfossil biota},
author = {Mateusz Tałanda and Piotr Bajdek and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and Tomasz Sulej},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/njgpa/2017/0649},
doi = {10.1127/njgpa/2017/0649},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen},
volume = {284},
number = {1},
pages = {43--56},
note = {Place: Stuttgart, Germany
Publisher: Schweizerbart Science Publishers},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tałanda, Mateusz
Evolution of postcranial skeleton in worm lizards inferred from its status in the Cretaceous stem-amphisbaenian Slavoia darevskii Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 9–23, 2017, ISSN: 0567-7920.
@article{talanda_evolution_2017,
title = {Evolution of postcranial skeleton in worm lizards inferred from its status in the Cretaceous stem-amphisbaenian Slavoia darevskii},
author = {Mateusz Tałanda},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00294.2016},
issn = {0567-7920},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {62},
number = {1},
pages = {9--23},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Skawiński, Tomasz; Ziegler, Maciej; Czepiński, Łukasz; Szermański, Marcin; Tałanda, Mateusz; Surmik, Dawid; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz
A re-evaluation of the historical ‘dinosaur’ remains from the Middle-Upper Triassic of Poland Journal Article
In: Historical Biology, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 442–472, 2017, (Publisher: Taylor & Francis _eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2016.1188385).
@article{skawinski_re-evaluation_2017,
title = {A re-evaluation of the historical ‘dinosaur’ remains from the Middle-Upper Triassic of Poland},
author = {Tomasz Skawiński and Maciej Ziegler and Łukasz Czepiński and Marcin Szermański and Mateusz Tałanda and Dawid Surmik and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2016.1188385},
doi = {10.1080/08912963.2016.1188385},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Historical Biology},
volume = {29},
number = {4},
pages = {442--472},
abstract = {AbstractThe so-called historical Polish discoveries of Triassic ‘dinosaurs’ have been repeatedly cited in papers and popular science books. Here, we re-evaluate each historical and purported Triassic dinosaur find from Poland. Additionaly, we describe several supposed ‘dinosaur’ bones collected by Polish geologists but only briefly mentioned: in regional geological journals, on collection labels, or in field notes. We attempt to assign all investigated specimens to the least inclusive taxon possible. Our revision indicates that part of this material represents non-dinosaur archosauromorph taxa. Most of the analysed specimens are fragmentary bones or isolated teeth and are indistinguishable from skeletal elements described from other well-known Triassic archosauromorph taxa. We conclude that fossils of dinosauriforms are present in the Upper Triassic of Silesia and Holy Cross Mountains. New analysis of Velocipes guerichi von Huene, 1932 holotype specimen from Kocury shows that it is the proximal part of fibula of a medium-sized theropod (or even neotheropod). Formally undescribed part of dinosauriform limb bone from the Holy Cross Mountains and V. guerichi from Silesia are the only identifiable dinosauromorph skeletal remains recognised in the Polish Triassic discovered prior to the description of Silesaurus opolensis Dzik, 2003 from the Upper Carnian of Krasiejów.},
note = {Publisher: Taylor & Francis
_eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2016.1188385},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
AbstractThe so-called historical Polish discoveries of Triassic ‘dinosaurs’ have been repeatedly cited in papers and popular science books. Here, we re-evaluate each historical and purported Triassic dinosaur find from Poland. Additionaly, we describe several supposed ‘dinosaur’ bones collected by Polish geologists but only briefly mentioned: in regional geological journals, on collection labels, or in field notes. We attempt to assign all investigated specimens to the least inclusive taxon possible. Our revision indicates that part of this material represents non-dinosaur archosauromorph taxa. Most of the analysed specimens are fragmentary bones or isolated teeth and are indistinguishable from skeletal elements described from other well-known Triassic archosauromorph taxa. We conclude that fossils of dinosauriforms are present in the Upper Triassic of Silesia and Holy Cross Mountains. New analysis of Velocipes guerichi von Huene, 1932 holotype specimen from Kocury shows that it is the proximal part of fibula of a medium-sized theropod (or even neotheropod). Formally undescribed part of dinosauriform limb bone from the Holy Cross Mountains and V. guerichi from Silesia are the only identifiable dinosauromorph skeletal remains recognised in the Polish Triassic discovered prior to the description of Silesaurus opolensis Dzik, 2003 from the Upper Carnian of Krasiejów.
Soussi, Mohamed; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Tałanda, Mateusz; Dróżdż, Dawid; Sulej, Tomasz; Boukhalfa, Kamel; Mermer, Janusz; Błażejowski, Błażej
In: Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 79, pp. 222–256, 2017, ISSN: 0264-8172.
@article{soussi_middle_2017,
title = {Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian) Tejra red beds and Late Triassic (Carnian) carbonate sedimentary records of southern Tunisia, Saharan Platform: Biostratigraphy, sedimentology and implication on regional stratigraphic correlations},
author = {Mohamed Soussi and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and Mateusz Tałanda and Dawid Dróżdż and Tomasz Sulej and Kamel Boukhalfa and Janusz Mermer and Błażej Błażejowski},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264817216303580},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.10.019},
issn = {0264-8172},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Marine and Petroleum Geology},
volume = {79},
pages = {222--256},
abstract = {The “red beds” of the Triassic succession outcropping at Tejra-Medenine (southern Tunisia, Saharan Platform) have yielded rich fossil assemblages of both freshwater and brackish-marine invertebrates and vertebrates. The new discovered fauna indicates an Anisian-Lower Ladinian age for the Tejra section. Its lowermost part is considered as equivalent of Ouled Chebbi Formation, while the medium and upper parts are considered as equivalent of the Kirchaou Formation. Both sedimentological characteristics and fossil assemblages indicate the increasing marine influences within the middle part of the section and the migration of brackish and freshwater fauna into the lacustrine/playa environment at the top. The marine fauna-rich interval of the Tejra section correlates well with the well-known Myophoria-rich carbonate stratigraphic marker confirming the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) major transgression well recorded eastward in the Tunisian Jeffara basin and in Libya. The use of this Ladinian stratigraphic event in addition to the Carnian carbonate transgressive events of the Jeffara escarpment outcrops was of great help for regional lithostratigraphic correlations between the Triassic outcropping series and those currently buried in Ghadames and Berkine basins. The age of the sandstones of “Trias Argilo-Gréseux Inférieur” (TAGI) which forms the main oil and gas reservoir in the Saharan domain is attributed to the Anisian-Carnian and considered as coeval of Ouled Chebbi and Kirchaou Formations of the Dahar escarpment. An updated synthetic stratigraphic chart is proposed for the Triassic of Saharan Platform domain on the basis of the compilation of the new obtained results and the subsurface data taken from published literature.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The “red beds” of the Triassic succession outcropping at Tejra-Medenine (southern Tunisia, Saharan Platform) have yielded rich fossil assemblages of both freshwater and brackish-marine invertebrates and vertebrates. The new discovered fauna indicates an Anisian-Lower Ladinian age for the Tejra section. Its lowermost part is considered as equivalent of Ouled Chebbi Formation, while the medium and upper parts are considered as equivalent of the Kirchaou Formation. Both sedimentological characteristics and fossil assemblages indicate the increasing marine influences within the middle part of the section and the migration of brackish and freshwater fauna into the lacustrine/playa environment at the top. The marine fauna-rich interval of the Tejra section correlates well with the well-known Myophoria-rich carbonate stratigraphic marker confirming the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) major transgression well recorded eastward in the Tunisian Jeffara basin and in Libya. The use of this Ladinian stratigraphic event in addition to the Carnian carbonate transgressive events of the Jeffara escarpment outcrops was of great help for regional lithostratigraphic correlations between the Triassic outcropping series and those currently buried in Ghadames and Berkine basins. The age of the sandstones of “Trias Argilo-Gréseux Inférieur” (TAGI) which forms the main oil and gas reservoir in the Saharan domain is attributed to the Anisian-Carnian and considered as coeval of Ouled Chebbi and Kirchaou Formations of the Dahar escarpment. An updated synthetic stratigraphic chart is proposed for the Triassic of Saharan Platform domain on the basis of the compilation of the new obtained results and the subsurface data taken from published literature.
2016
Tałanda, Mateusz
Cretaceous roots of the amphisbaenian lizards Journal Article
In: Zoologica Scripta, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 1–8, 2016, (_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/zsc.12138).
@article{talanda_cretaceous_2016,
title = {Cretaceous roots of the amphisbaenian lizards},
author = {Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/zsc.12138},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12138},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
journal = {Zoologica Scripta},
volume = {45},
number = {1},
pages = {1--8},
abstract = {Amphisbaenians are highly specialized limbless burrowing lizards of controversial relationships. Among fossil lizards, the Eocene (47 Ma) Cryptolacerta is allegedly closest to the amphisbaenian ancestor, but this is put in doubt in this study. Similarities between Cryptolacerta and amphisbaenians, such as limb reduction and expansion of the skull roof, may be a result of parallel evolution. Instead, the Late Cretaceous lizard Slavoia with well-developed limbs and several plesiomorphic skull characters is proposed to be the oldest known stem amphisbaenian. This is supported by two different phylogenetic analyses and observations on numerous specimens together representing almost the whole skeleton. Among the unique features, that Slavoia shares with amphisbaenians, the most significant are vomers strongly underlapping palatines and pterygoid quadrate ramus tightly wrapping around posteromedial surface of quadrate. The anatomy of Slavoia suggests that the reinforcement of the snout in amphisbaenian evolution preceded the elongation of the postorbital part of the skull, and that of the body, as well as modification of the limbs. Reduction of its hindlimbs was more advanced than that of the forelimbs. The ancient geological age of the central Asiatic Slavoia suggests that diversification of the main North American amphisbaenian groups may have resulted from a faunal dispersals from Asia after the Late Cretaceous.},
note = {_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/zsc.12138},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Amphisbaenians are highly specialized limbless burrowing lizards of controversial relationships. Among fossil lizards, the Eocene (47 Ma) Cryptolacerta is allegedly closest to the amphisbaenian ancestor, but this is put in doubt in this study. Similarities between Cryptolacerta and amphisbaenians, such as limb reduction and expansion of the skull roof, may be a result of parallel evolution. Instead, the Late Cretaceous lizard Slavoia with well-developed limbs and several plesiomorphic skull characters is proposed to be the oldest known stem amphisbaenian. This is supported by two different phylogenetic analyses and observations on numerous specimens together representing almost the whole skeleton. Among the unique features, that Slavoia shares with amphisbaenians, the most significant are vomers strongly underlapping palatines and pterygoid quadrate ramus tightly wrapping around posteromedial surface of quadrate. The anatomy of Slavoia suggests that the reinforcement of the snout in amphisbaenian evolution preceded the elongation of the postorbital part of the skull, and that of the body, as well as modification of the limbs. Reduction of its hindlimbs was more advanced than that of the forelimbs. The ancient geological age of the central Asiatic Slavoia suggests that diversification of the main North American amphisbaenian groups may have resulted from a faunal dispersals from Asia after the Late Cretaceous.
2015
Skawiński, Tomasz; Tałanda, Mateusz
Integrating developmental biology and the fossil record of reptiles Journal Article
In: The International journal of developmental biology, vol. 58, no. 10-12, pp. 949–960, 2015, ISSN: 0214-6282.
@article{skawinski_integrating_2015,
title = {Integrating developmental biology and the fossil record of reptiles},
author = {Tomasz Skawiński and Mateusz Tałanda},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.140322mt},
doi = {10.1387/ijdb.140322mt},
issn = {0214-6282},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
journal = {The International journal of developmental biology},
volume = {58},
number = {10-12},
pages = {949--960},
abstract = {Numerous new discoveries and new research techniques have influenced our understanding of reptile development from a palaeontological perspective. They suggest for example that transition from mineralized to leathery eggshells and from oviparity to viviparity appeared much more often in the evolution of reptiles than was previously thought. Most marine reptiles evolved from viviparous terrestrial ancestors and had probably genetic sex determination. Fossil forms often display developmental traits absent or rare among modern ones such as polydactyly, hyperphalangy, the presence of ribcage armour, reduction of head ornamentation during ontogeny, extreme modifications of vertebral count or a wide range of feather-like structures. Thus, they provide an empirical background for many morphogenetic considerations.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Numerous new discoveries and new research techniques have influenced our understanding of reptile development from a palaeontological perspective. They suggest for example that transition from mineralized to leathery eggshells and from oviparity to viviparity appeared much more often in the evolution of reptiles than was previously thought. Most marine reptiles evolved from viviparous terrestrial ancestors and had probably genetic sex determination. Fossil forms often display developmental traits absent or rare among modern ones such as polydactyly, hyperphalangy, the presence of ribcage armour, reduction of head ornamentation during ontogeny, extreme modifications of vertebral count or a wide range of feather-like structures. Thus, they provide an empirical background for many morphogenetic considerations.
2014
Sulej, Tomasz; Wolniewicz, Andrzej; Bonde, Niels; Błażejowski, Błażej; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz; Tałanda, Mateusz
New perspectives on the Late Triassic vertebrates of East Greenland: preliminary results of a Polish−Danish palaeontological expedition Journal Article
In: no. 4, 2014, (Type: Artykuły / Articles).
@article{sulej_new_2014,
title = {New perspectives on the Late Triassic vertebrates of East Greenland: preliminary results of a Polish−Danish palaeontological expedition},
author = {Tomasz Sulej and Andrzej Wolniewicz and Niels Bonde and Błażej Błażejowski and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki and Mateusz Tałanda},
doi = {10.2478/popore−2014−0030},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
number = {4},
publisher = {Committee on Polar Research},
abstract = {The Fleming Fjord Formation (Jameson Land, East Greenland) documents a diverse assemblage of terrestrial vertebrates of Late Triassic age. Expeditions from the turn of the 21st century have discovered many important fossils that form the basis of our current knowledge of Late Triassic Greenlandic faunas. However, due to the scarcity and incompleteness of the fossils and their insufficient study, our understanding of the taxonomic diversity of the Fleming Fjord Formation is hindered. Here, we report the preliminary findings of a Polish−Danish expedition to the Fleming Fjord Formation that took place in 2014. Three areas were visited – the fairly well known MacKnight Bjerg and Wood Bjerg and the virtually unexplored Liasryggen. MacKnigth Bjerg and Liasryggen yielded fossils which promise to significantly broaden our knowledge of vertebrate evolution in the Late Triassic. Stem−mammal remains were discovered at Liasryggen. Other fossils found at both sites include remains of actinopterygians, sarcopterygians, temnospondyl amphibians and various archosaurs (including early dinosaurs). Numerous vertebrate trace fossils, including coprolites, pseudosuchian footprints, theropod and sauropodomorph dinosaur tracks, were also discovered. Newly discovered skeletal remains as well as abundant trace fossils indicate higher tetrapod diversity in the Late Triassic of Greenland than previously thought. Trace fossils also allow inferences of early theropod and sauropodomorph dinosaur behaviour.},
note = {Type: Artykuły / Articles},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Fleming Fjord Formation (Jameson Land, East Greenland) documents a diverse assemblage of terrestrial vertebrates of Late Triassic age. Expeditions from the turn of the 21st century have discovered many important fossils that form the basis of our current knowledge of Late Triassic Greenlandic faunas. However, due to the scarcity and incompleteness of the fossils and their insufficient study, our understanding of the taxonomic diversity of the Fleming Fjord Formation is hindered. Here, we report the preliminary findings of a Polish−Danish expedition to the Fleming Fjord Formation that took place in 2014. Three areas were visited – the fairly well known MacKnight Bjerg and Wood Bjerg and the virtually unexplored Liasryggen. MacKnigth Bjerg and Liasryggen yielded fossils which promise to significantly broaden our knowledge of vertebrate evolution in the Late Triassic. Stem−mammal remains were discovered at Liasryggen. Other fossils found at both sites include remains of actinopterygians, sarcopterygians, temnospondyl amphibians and various archosaurs (including early dinosaurs). Numerous vertebrate trace fossils, including coprolites, pseudosuchian footprints, theropod and sauropodomorph dinosaur tracks, were also discovered. Newly discovered skeletal remains as well as abundant trace fossils indicate higher tetrapod diversity in the Late Triassic of Greenland than previously thought. Trace fossils also allow inferences of early theropod and sauropodomorph dinosaur behaviour.
Piechowski, Rafał; Tałanda, Mateusz; Dzik, Jerzy
Skeletal variation and ontogeny of the Late Triassic Dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis Journal Article
In: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 1383–1393, 2014.
@article{piechowski_skeletal_2014b,
title = {Skeletal variation and ontogeny of the Late Triassic Dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis},
author = {Rafał Piechowski and Mateusz Tałanda and Jerzy Dzik},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology},
volume = {34},
number = {6},
pages = {1383--1393},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2011
Sulej, Tomasz; Bronowicz, Robert; Tałanda, Mateusz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz
A new dicynodont–archosaur assemblage from the Late Triassic (Carnian) of Poland Journal Article
In: Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. 101, no. 3-4, pp. 261–269, 2011, (Publisher: Royal Society of Edinburgh Scotland Foundation).
@article{sulej_new_2011,
title = {A new dicynodont–archosaur assemblage from the Late Triassic (Carnian) of Poland},
author = {Tomasz Sulej and Robert Bronowicz and Mateusz Tałanda and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki},
doi = {10.1017/S1755691011020123},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-01-01},
journal = {Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh},
volume = {101},
number = {3-4},
pages = {261--269},
note = {Publisher: Royal Society of Edinburgh Scotland Foundation},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tałanda, Mateusz; Dzięcioł, Szymon; Sulej, Tomasz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz
Vertebrate burrow system from the Upper Triassic of Poland Journal Article
In: Palaios, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 99 – 105, 2011, (Publisher: Society for Sedimentary Geology).
@article{talanda_vertebrate_2011,
title = {Vertebrate burrow system from the Upper Triassic of Poland},
author = {Mateusz Tałanda and Szymon Dzięcioł and Tomasz Sulej and Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2010.p10-024r},
doi = {10.2110/palo.2010.p10-024r},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-01-01},
journal = {Palaios},
volume = {26},
number = {2},
pages = {99 -- 105},
abstract = {In this paper we report on a rare fossil vertebrate burrow system in Upper Triassic (Norian) fluvial deposits of the Holy Cross Mountains in central Poland. The burrows are preserved mainly by prominent green infillings in red mudstone and claystone exposed in the wall of a clay pit. The mode of occurrence, morphology, and size of the burrows suggests that cynodont therapsids most likely constructed them.},
note = {Publisher: Society for Sedimentary Geology},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this paper we report on a rare fossil vertebrate burrow system in Upper Triassic (Norian) fluvial deposits of the Holy Cross Mountains in central Poland. The burrows are preserved mainly by prominent green infillings in red mudstone and claystone exposed in the wall of a clay pit. The mode of occurrence, morphology, and size of the burrows suggests that cynodont therapsids most likely constructed them.