New Records of Proteid Salamanders (Amphibia, Caudata) from the Pliocene of Ukraine and Lower Pleistocene of Moldavia

Two isolated proteid vertebrae are described: the first is from the Pliocene Kotlovina locality, Ukraine, and is referred to Mioproteus sp., whereas the second is from the lower Pleistocene Chishmikioi locality in Moldavia (former USSR) and is referred to “Mioproteus” wezei. This problematic species is distinct from the Miocene M. caucasicus and may pertain to a distinct genus that includes aquatic ancestors for the modern troglobitic Proteus.Описаны два позвонка, отнесенные к Mioproteus sp. и «Mioproteus» wezei и происходящие из соответственно плиоценового местонахождения Котловина в Украине и раннеплейстоценового местонахождения Чишмикиой в Молдавии. Последний вид отличен от миоценового M. caucasicus и, возможно, его следует выделить в особый род, объединяющий речных предков современных пещерных Proteus

A review of the fossil record of turtles of the clade Pan-Carettochelys

Turtles of the total clade Pan-Carettochelys have a relatively poor fossil record that extends from the Early Cretaceous. The clade is only found in Asia during the Cretaceous, but spreads to Europe and North America during the Eocene. Neogene finds are restricted to Europe, Africa and Australia, whereas the only surviving species, Carettochelys insculpta, lives in New Guinea and the Northern Territories of Australia. The ecology of fossil pan-carettochelyids appears similar to that of the extant C. insculpta, although more primitive representatives were likely less adapted to brackish water. Current phylogenies only recognize three internested clades: Pan- Carettochelys, Carettochelyidae and Carettochelyinae. A taxonomic review of the group concludes that of 25 named taxa, 13 are nomina valida, 7 are nomina invalida, 3 are nomina dubia, and 2 are nomina nuda

Phylogeny and Classification of Leporidae (Mammalia, Lagomorpha)

New phylogenetic analysis of 28 genera of Neogene-Recent Leporidae based on 30 morphological characters is provided. Five new suprageneric taxa are established: Neolagomorpha, suborder n., Ochotonida, order-group taxon n., Leporida, order-group taxon n., Notolagini, triba n., Bunolagini, triba n.Проведен новый филогенетический анализ 28 родов неоген-современных Leporidae, основанный на 30 морфологических признаках. Установлено 5 надродовых групп: Neolagomorpha, suborder n., Ochotonida, order-group taxon n., Leporida, order-group taxon n., Notolagini, triba n., Bunolagini, triba n

Reappraisal of arctostylopid mammal Kazachostylops occidentalis from the late Paleocene of Kazakhstan and phylogenetic relationships within Arctostylopida

© Copyright 2019, The Paleontological Society. Kazachostylops occidentalis Nesov, 1987b, based on partial maxilla and dentary from the upper Paleocene Zhylga locality in South Kazakhstan, is redescribed. A new phylogenetic hypothesis of Arctostylopida is proposed based on phylogenetic analysis of 26 characters and 17 taxa. Kazachostylops is recovered as a sister taxon to the Arctostylopinae, the advanced clade of Asian and North American arctostylopids characterized by pseudohypocone on upper molars and reduced trigonid of lower molars, with the ectolophid being attached labial on the trigonid. Kazachostylops differs from more basal arctostylopids (Asiostylops, Allostylops, Bothriostylops, and Wanostylops) by higher-crowned molars, M1-3 metaconule absent, m1-3 entoconid connected with ectolophid by entolophid, and m2 wider than m1 and m3. Principal component analyses of the upper and lower dentition of arctostylopids show great distinctness of Kazachostylops from other members of the group. The arctostylopid taxa are reviewed, and the new genus Enantiostylops is erected for 'Sinostylops' progressus Tang and Yan, 1976 from the lower Eocene of China, because of uniquely concave parastylar area on upper molars. UUID: http://zoobank.org/a46d8f29-fd73-4e59-88dc-fcc55b12d1d

An unusual new sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia

© 2020, © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London 2020. All rights reserved. A new sauropod, Abdarainurus barsboldi gen. et sp. nov., is described based on several anterior and one middle caudal vertebrae and chevrons from the Late Cretaceous Alagteeg Formation at Abdrant Nuru, northern Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The new taxon is characterized by 16 unique or rare characters of the caudal skeleton, including opisthocoelous centra, longitudinal ridges on the neural canal walls, postprezygapophyseal processes, a hypertrophied postspinal fossa, mediolaterally constricted neural spines, and a deep pocket-like spinodiapophyseal fossa covered laterally by high postzygodiapophyseal lamina. Our preferred phylogenetic analysis places Abdarainurus as a basal titanosaurian sauropod, but this result could be affected by inadequate knowledge of basal titanosaurs. The new taxon likely represents a highly specialized lineage of Asian macronarian sauropods that was unknown previously. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub::87174FD4-0616-4BD6-9209-C40C0455D2DA

New material and reinterpretation of the Late Cretaceous eutherian mammal Paranyctoides from Uzbekistan

Paranyctoides aralensis, based on a partially known set of lower postcanines from the Turonian Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan, is proposed to be a junior subjective synonym of Sailestes quadrans, itself based on an M1 from the same stratigraphic unit. As a result, the latter taxon is recombined as Paranyctoides quadrans comb. nov. Based on newly col− lected or recognized specimens, we show that this species has four lower incisors, including a procumbent i1 and a rela− tively small i4, as well as five double−rooted premolars, the smallest of which (p3) can be lost ontogenetically. The p5 of this species is premolariform, rather than molariform as previously thought based on an erroneous identification, and re− sembles North American species of Paranyctoides in the presence of a small, cingulid−like paraconid and a distal talonid cusp, as well as the absence of a metaconid. The lower molars of Paranyctoides are unique among Late Cretaceous eutherians in having a larger, lingually placed paraconid. Paranycoides probably is the sister taxon of the Late Cretaceous Zhelestidae

Late Cretaceous asioryctitherian eutherian mammals from Uzbekistan and phylogenetic analysis of Asioryctitheria

Four small asioryctitheres at Dzharakuduk (Turonian), Uzbekistan are Daulestes kulbeckensis (= Kumlestes olzha), D. inobservabilis (= Kennalestes? uzbekistanensis), Uchkudukodon (gen. nov.) nessovi and Bulaklestes kezbe. Uchkudukodon nessovi is one of the smallest therians (molars about 1 mm long). Lower canine is two−rooted in Uchkudukodon gen. nov. and Bulaklestes(uncertain in Daulestes). All lower premolars in all four species are double−rooted. Teeth identified as dp1, p2 and dp2 in holotype of Uchkudukodon nessovi (McKenna et al. 2000) are here identified c, p1, and p2. A phylogenetic analysis weakly supported Asioryctitheria by four synapomorphies: conular basins become distinct, the number of roots reverts to two on the lower canine, the p5 becomes longer than p4, and the metaconid on p5 is reduced and lost. Other characters diagnostic of asioryctitheres are four upper and lower premolars (arguably five upper premolars in juvenile Kennalestes), P4 has a protocone swelling or protocone, some asymmetry of the stylar shelf on M1–2, the paraconule on M1–3 is distinctly closer to the protocone than is the metaconule, protocone is of moderate height on M1–3 (70–80% of paracone or metacone height), Meckel’s groove is absent, and the mandibular foramen opens into a smaller depression on lingual side of mandibular ascending ramus. Asioryctes and Ukhaatherium are placed in Asioryctinae and along with Kennalestes are placed in Asioryctidae. Kennalestidae Kielan−Jaworowska, 1981 is a junior subjective synonym for Asioryctidae Kielan−Jaworowska, 1981. Because of uncertainties in the analysis, the positions of Daulestes, Uchkudukodon gen. nov., and Bulaklestes cannot be determined beyond referral to Asioryctitheria

Femur of a morganucodontid mammal from the Middle Jurassic of Central Russia

We describe a nearly complete mammalian femur from the Middle Jurassic (upper Bathonian) from Peski quarry, situated some 100 km south east of Moscow, central Russia. It is similar to the femora of Morganucodontidae in having a globular femoral head, separated from the greater trochanter and reflected dorsally, fovea capitis present, both trochanters triangular and located on the same plane, distal end flat, mediolaterally expanded, and somewhat bent ventrally, and in the shape and proportions of distal condyles. It is referred to as Morganucodontidae gen. et sp. indet. It is the first representative of this group of mammals in Eastern Europe from the third Mesozoic mammal locality discovered in Russia. Exquisite preservation of the bone surface allowed us to reconstruct partial hind limb musculature. We reconstruct m. iliopsoas as inserting on the ridge, which starts at the lesser trochanter and extends along the medial femoral margin for more than half of the femur length. On this basis we conclude that the mode of locomotion of the Peski morganucodontid was similar to that of modern echidnas. During the propulsive phase the femur did not retract and the step elongation was provided by pronation of the femur