Postcranial elements of "Maledictosuchus riclaensis" (Thalattosuchia) from the Middle Jurassic of Spain

Maledictosuchus riclaensis is a metriorhynchid crocodylomorph from the Callovian (Middle Jurassic) of Ricla (Spain). It is the most basal member of the Rhacheosaurini Tribe; it has recently been described and defined by its cranial elements (an almost complete skull and part of the lower jaw), but there were no data on the postcranial elements. Associated with the skull three vertebrae were collected. These vertebrae were preserved in black calcite nodules, and they have recently been prepared. The postcranial elements of the metriorhynchids are poorly documented, and usually badly preserved or included in the matrix. Herein we describe the three vertebrae (part of the holotype) of M. riclaensis. These comprise one cervical, one dorsal and one caudal vertebra, which, like the skull, are well preserved and lack postmortem distortion or deformation.Maledictosuchus riclaensis es un crocodilomorfo metriorrínquido del Calloviense (Jurásico medio) de Ricla (España). Es el miembro más basal de la tribu de los raqueosaurinos, y ha sido definido a partir de sus elementos craneales (un cráneo prácticamente completo y parte de la mandíbula inferior). Sin embargo no había datos de los elementos poscraneales. Durante la campaña de prospección en la que se recuperó el holotipo, se recuperaron tres vértebras asociadas al cráneo. Las vértebras estaban preservadas en nódulos de calcita, y han sido preparadas recientemente. Los elementos poscraneales de los metriorrínquidos están poco documentados, y normalmente, mal preservados o incluidos en la matriz. En este trabajo se hace descripción de tres vértebras, cervical, dorsal y caudal, del ejemplar tipo de M. riclaensis

Unusual theropod eggshells from the early cretaceous blesa formation of the Iberian Range, Spain

Trigonoolithus amoae oogen. et oosp. nov. is described on the basis of abundant eggshell fragments from the La Cantalera 1 site in the Early Cretaceous (early Barremian) Blesa Formation, Teruel Province, northern Spain. The surface ornamentation, the most diagnostic feature of the new oogenus, consists of closely spaced sub-triangular or rounded protuberances that have not previously been reported in any other ootaxon. The eggshells present three distinct layers, with a gradual transition between prismatic and mammillary layers, and a poorly developed external layer with progressive prismatic to external layer transition, a combination of characters that allows them to be assigned to Prismatoolithidae. Phylogenetic analyses based on oological characters place Trigonoolithus at the base of Prismatoolithidae

New material and phylogenetic position of the basal iguanodont dinosaur Delapparentia turolensis from the Barremian (Early Cretaceous) of Spain

a partial postcranial skeleton discovered in the 1950s near the village of Galve (Teruel Province), within the Camarillas Formation. Recently, new remains from the same individual have been recovered, and these are described here. Furthermore, after first-hand examinations of the holotype, the phylogenetic position of this taxon has been analysed for the first time, and its diagnosis is emended. Delapparentia turolensis is a large-sized, basal iguanodont which presents an autapomorphic, unusually high axial neural spine and a unique combination of postcranial characters. The ilium morphology differs from that of other basal iguanodonts and relates Delapparentia to the Valanginian Barilium dawsoni from England, with whom it shares two synapomorphies. In our phylogenetic analysis Delapparentia is recovered in a polytomy with Kukufeldia, Lanzhousaurus, Barilium and the clade equivalent to Iguanodontoidea. Delapparentia turolensis Ruiz-Omeñaca, 2011 es el único taxón iguanodonte definido en el Barremiense de España. Está descrito a partir de un esqueleto postcraneal parcial descubierto en la década de 1950 próximo al pueblo de Galve (provincia de Teruel), dentro de la Formación Camarillas. Recientemente, se han recuperado nuevos restos del mismo individuo que se describen aquí. Además, tras examinar de primera mano el holotipo, se ha analizado la posición filogenética de este taxón por primera vez además de enmendar su diagnosis. Delapparentia turolensis es un iguanodonte basal de gran tamaño, que presenta una espina neural axial autapomórfica, al ser inusualmente alta, y una combinación única de caracteres postcraneales. La forma del ilion es diferente de la de otros iguanodontes basales y relaciona a Delapparentia con Barilium dawsoni del Valanginiense de Inglaterra, al compartir de forma exclusiva dos sinapomorfías. En nuestro análisis filogenético Delapparentia se sitúa en una politomía con Kukufeldia, Lanzhousaurus, Barilium y el clado equivalente a Iguanodontoide

New material and phylogenetic position of the basal iguanodont dinosaur Delapparentia turolensis from the Barremian (Early Cretaceous) of Spain

Delapparentia turolensis Ruiz-Omeñaca, 2011 is the only iguanodont taxon erected in the Barremian of Spain. It is described on the basis of a partial postcranial skeleton discovered in the 1950s near the village of Galve (Teruel Province), within the Camarillas Formation. Recently, new remains from the same individual have been recovered, and these are described here. Furthermore, after first-hand examinations of the holotype, the phylogenetic position of this taxon has been analysed for the first time, and its diagnosis is emended. Delapparentia turolensis is a large-sized, basal iguanodont which presents an autapomorphic, unusually high axial neural spine and a unique combination of postcranial characters. The ilium morphology differs from that of other basal iguanodonts and relates Delapparentia to the Valanginian Barilium dawsoni from England, with whom it shares two synapomorphies. In our phylogenetic analysis Delapparentia is recovered in a polytomy with Kukufeldia, Lanzhousaurus, Barilium and the clade equivalent to Iguanodontoidea.Delapparentia turolensis Ruiz-Omeñaca, 2011 es el único taxón iguanodonte definido en el Barremiense de España. Está descrito a partir de un esqueleto postcraneal parcial descubierto en la década de 1950 próximo al pueblo de Galve (provincia de Teruel), dentro de la Formación Camarillas. Recientemente, se han recuperado nuevos restos del mismo individuo que se describen aquí. Además, tras examinar de primera mano el holotipo, se ha analizado la posición filogenética de este taxón por primera vez además de enmendar su diagnosis. Delapparentia turolensis es un iguanodonte basal de gran tamaño, que presenta una espina neural axial autapomórfica, al ser inusualmente alta, y una combinación única de caracteres postcraneales. La forma del ilion es diferente de la de otros iguanodontes basales y relaciona a Delapparentia con Barilium dawsoni del Valanginiense de Inglaterra, al compartir de forma exclusiva dos sinapomorfías. En nuestro análisis filogenético Delapparentia se sitúa en una politomía con Kukufeldia, Lanzhousaurus, Barilium y el clado equivalente a Iguanodontoidea

Exceptional crocodylomorph biodiversity of “La Cantalera” site (Lower barremian; lower cretaceous) in Teruel, Spain

The palaeontological site of La Cantalera in Teruel, Spain (Blesa Formation, Lower Cretaceous) can be characterized as the site with the greatest biodiversity of vertebrates (32 taxa) from the lower Barremian of the Iberian Peninsula. Remains of amphibians, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, pterosaurs, dinosaurs and mammals have been recovered. The most common taxa are crocodylomorphs, and their most abundant remains are small isolated teeth. Six morphotypes have been identified, which may correspond to at least four different sympatric crocodylomorph taxa. This site presents a similar assemblage to other European Lower Cretaceous sites, with morphotypes that may correspond to the families Goniopholididae, Bernissartiidae, Atoposauridae and multiple ziphodont crocodylomorphs. The crocodylomorph assemblage of La Cantalera is characterized by the absence of large individuals and presents a wide variety of dental morphologies adapted to diets ranging from generalist to highly specialized. This rich biodiversity could be due to concentration of vertebrates into restricted flooded areas during dry seasons within a marsh ecosystem. Furthermore, La Cantalera could also be close to a nesting area, which would explain the abundance of small-sized individuals and the presence of fossil crocodiloid eggshells

Bio y cronoestratigrafia con mamíferos en la Cuenca Terciaria del Ebro: ensayo de síntesis

The Ebro Tertiary Basin provides a nearly ininterrupted Middle Eocene to Pliocene sequence of non-marine strata, containing numerous mammal-bearing fossiliferous levels. This study is a report on the information from old and new collections. The fauna1 list of 123 localities is given, their biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic position. The Upper Oligocene and the lower Miocene are dominant in number of mammal-bearing localities. The rodents are the taxon more numerous

A cave occupied by cave bears for thousands of years in the Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark (Huesca, Aragon, Spain)

The Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark shows an extremely well-developed underground karst relief as a result of the great abundance and thickness of its limestone formations. The most important Pleistocene vertebrate site within the Geopark is Coro Tracito Cave at Tella. The fossil association is made up exclusively of bones belonging to Ursus spelaeus from the upper Pleistocene, accumulated over several thousand years. Based on scientific analysis of the fossil bones, an interesting public outreach project has been organized, involving the refurbishment of the site within the cave and the creation of a permanent exhibition called the Tella Cave Bear Museum. These two infrastructures are visited by thousands of tourists each year and constitute the main geoscientific tourist attraction of the Sobrarbe-Pirineos Geopark

New data on sauropod palaeobiodiversity at the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition of Spain (Burgos)

The present paper studies a humerus (MDS-VPCR, 214) recovered from the site of Valdepalazuelos-Tenadas del Carrascal (Burgos, Spain). Geologically, it is located at the base of the Rupelo Formation (Cameros Basin), which is Tithonian-Berriasian in age. This formation is interpreted as shallow lacustrine/palustrine deposits with low-gradient margins and periodic changes in the water level. MDS-VPCR, 214 is gracile and straight, and has a larger mediolateral expansion at its proximal end than at the distal end. The deltopectoral crest is well expanded anteroposteriorly and extends towards the midline of the shaft. The distal articular head has radial and ulnar condyles similar in degree of development and there is a narrow groove between them. The distal articular surface is not divided between the ulnar and radial condyles; this surface extends towards the anterior and posterior surfaces of the humerus. MDS-VPCR, 214 shows significant morphological differences with respect to the humeri of the Iberian sauropods of the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition such as the turiasaurians Losillasaurus, Zby and Turiasaurus, the basal macronarians Lourinhasaurus and Aragosaurus, and the titanosauriforms Lusotitan, Galvesaurus.A phylogenetic analysis of MDS-VPCR, 214 relates it to Titanosauriformes probably a basal brachiosaurid related with the english genus of Kimmeridgian Duriatitan. Therefore MDS-VPCR, 214 is assigned provisionally to aff. Duriatitan

New material from a huge specimen of "Anteophthalmosuchus" cf. "escuchae" (Goniopholididae) from the Albian of Andorra (Teruel, Spain): Phylogenetic implications

In 2011 the partial skeleton of a goniopholidid crocodylomorph was recovered in the ENDESA coal mine Mina Corta Barrabasa (Escucha Formation, lower Albian), located in the municipality of Andorra (Teruel, Spain). This new goniopholidid material is represented by abundant postcranial and fragmentary cranial bones. The study of these remains coincides with a recent description in 2013 of at least two new species of goniopholidids in the palaeontological site of Mina Santa María in Ariño (Teruel), also in the Escucha Formation. These species are Anteophthalmosuchus escuchae, Hulkepholis plotos and an undetermined goniopholidid, AR-1-3422. In the present paper, we describe the postcranial and cranial bones of the goniopholidid from Mina Corta Barrabasa and compare it with the species from Mina Santa María. For the first time, we include the taxa from the Escucha Formation in a phylogenetic analysis to establish their relationships within Goniopholididae, adding to what is known of the goniopholidid fossil assemblages from this time interval. The results indicate that the specimen from Mina Corta Barrabasa is closely related to Anteophthalmosuchus escuchae and may be the same species. Together with Hulkepholis plotos and other taxa from England and Belgium, these taxa form an endemic European clade. The Escucha Fm. goniopholidids are the youngest Eurasian members of the group and may be the youngest globally, depending on how North American taxa are eventually resolved.En 2011 se recuperó parte de un esqueleto de crocodilomorfo goniofolídido en la mina de carbón Mina Corta Barrabasa (Formación Escucha, Albiense inferior). Esta mina pertenece a la compañía ENDESA, y está localizada en Andorra (Teruel, España). Este nuevo ejemplar de crocodilomorfo está representado por abundante material postcraneal y restos craneales fragmentarios. Nuestro estudio coincide con la reciente descripción en 2013 de las nuevas especies de goniofolídidos Anteophthalmosuchus escuchae y Hulkepholis plotos en la Formación Escucha (Mina Santa María en Ariño, Teruel). En este trabajo se describen los restos postcraneales y craneales del goniofolídido de Mina Corta Barrabasa y se comparan con las nuevas especies de Mina Santa María, además se propone por primera vez una codificación cladística para los taxones de la Formación Escucha. Esta información se ha incorporado a un análisis filogenético para establecer las relaciones filogenéticas de estos taxones dentro de Goniopholididae ayudando a comprender las asociaciones fósiles de los goniofolídidos dentro de este intervalo temporal. Los resultados indican que el espécimen de Mina Corta Barrabasa está estrechamente relacionado con Anteophthalmosuchus escuchae y podría pertenecer a la misma especie. Ambos taxones, junto a Hulkepholis plotos y otros taxones de Inglaterra y Bélgica, forman un clado endémico europeo. Los goniofolídidos de la Fm. Escucha son los miembros más jóvenes de Goniopholididae en Eurasia, y podrían ser los más modernos del mundo dependiendo de cómo se resuelvan finalmente la posición de los taxones norteamericanos

Theropod dinosaurs from the upper cretaceous of the south pyrenees basin of Spain

The dinosaur record in the South Pyrenees Basin is diverse and rich. A total of 142 theropod teeth were studied for this paper, which constitutes one of the richest samples for these remains in Europe. Eight upper Campanian to upper Maastrichtian outcrops from the Pyrenees produced six non-avian theropod taxa (Theropoda indet., Coelurosauria indet., ?Richardoestesia, ?Dromaeosauridae indet., ?Pyroraptor olympius, ?Paronychodon). These six taxa are added to two previously described theropods (a Richardoestesia-like form and a possible ornithomimosaurid), indicating that there was considerable theropod diversity on the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Cretaceous. © 2015 L. Xing et al