A new short-snouted Rhinesuchid from the permian of southern Brazil

A new basal stereospondyl taxon from the Permian is described. The material used to erect the new taxon consists of a series of mandibles and some postcranial elements. A single badly preserved short-snouted skull is considered as referred material. Rastosuchus hammeri gen. et sp. nov. presents conical teeth along all coronoid bones, the prearticular extending anteriorly at the level of the precoronoid and enlarged anterior meckelian foramina. Based on the referred material, R. hammeri gen. et sp. nov. also presents posterior premaxillary teeth larger than anterior ones, the cultriform process of the parasphenoid compressed laterally forming a medial ventral keel, posterolateral ramus of the vomer extends posterior to the palatine tusks, and rounded orbit with flat orbital bones at the same level of the skull roof, features shared with Australerpeton cosgriffi and other rhinesuchids. Australerpeton cosgriffi and Rastosuchus hammeri gen. et sp. nov. are from the upper layers of the Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin) in the Paraná State, southern Brazil, and its deposition in freshwater continental environments is reinforced by the presence of temnospodyls amphibians

First 'Rauisuchian' archosaur (Pseudosuchia, Loricata) for theMiddle Triassic Santacruzodon Assemblage Zone (SantaMaria Supersequence), Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

The ‘Rauisuchia’ are a group of Triassic pseudosuchian archosaurs that displayed a near worldwide distribution. In Brazil, their fossils are found only in the Santa Maria Formation (Paraná Basin) of the Rio Grande do Sul State, specifically in the Middle Triassic Dinodontosaurus assemblage zone (AZ) and the Late Triassic Hyperodapedon AZ (Rauisuchus tiradentes). Between these two cenozones is the Santacruzodon AZ (Middle Triassic), whose record was, until now, restricted to non-mammalian cynodonts and the proterochampsian Chanaresuchus bonapartei. Here we present the first occurrence of a rauisuchian archosaur for this cenozone, from the Schoenstatt outcrop, located near the city of Santa Cruz do Sul and propose a new species, based on biostratigraphical evidence and a comparative osteological analysis

New insights on Prestosuchus chiniquensis Huene, 1942 (Pseudosuchia, Loricata) based on new specimens from the “Tree Sanga” Outcrop, Chiniqua´ Region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The 'rauisuchians' are a group of Triassic pseudosuchian archosaurs that displayed a near global distribution. Their problematic taxonomic resolution comes from the fact that most taxa are represented only by a few and/or mostly incomplete specimens. In the last few decades, renewed interest in early archosaur evolution has helped to clarify some of these problems, but further studies on the taxonomic and paleobiological aspects are still needed. In the present work, we describe new material attributed to the 'rauisuchian' taxon Prestosuchus chiniquensis, of the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone, Middle Triassic (Ladinian) of the Santa Maria Supersequence of southern Brazil, based on a comparative osteologic analysis. Additionally, we present well supported evidence that these represent juvenile forms, due to differences in osteological features (i.e., a subnarial fenestra) that when compared to previously described specimens can be attributed to ontogeny and indicate variation within a single taxon of a problematic but important osteological structure in the study of 'rauisuchians.'

The skull anatomy and cranial endocast of the pseudosuchid archosaur Prestosuchus chiniquensis from the Triassic of Brazil

Prestosuchus chiniquensis is the most famous “rauisuchian” described by Friedrich von Huene, eight decades ago, and several specimens have been assigned to this taxon since then. In the present contribution, we provide the first detailed description of a complete and very well preserved skull (including the braincase) assigned to Prestosuchus chiniquensis from the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Santa Maria Supersequence of southern Brazil. The detailed description of the skull of Prestosuchus chiniquensis, besides increasing the knowledge about this taxon, may help elucidate the taxonomic relationships of pseudosuchians even further, since most of the characters used in phylogenetic analyzes are cranial. The presence of the subnarial fenestra, a controvertial extra opening on the skull of “rauisuchians”, is thoroughly discussed considering the evidence provided by this new specimen. We consider that the small slit-opening between the premaxilla and the maxilla in Prestosuchus chiniquensis, can not safely be considered a true fenestra, but indicates more likely the existence of some degree of cranial kinesis between these elements which can result in different relative positions of the bones after definitive burial and fossilization, so that the size and shape of this opening is taphonomically controlled. Complementarily, the digital reconstruction of its cranial endocast was developed both from the observation of the preserved braincase and from CT scan images, which resulted in obtaining the first endocast known for a “rauisuchian”. The endocast of Prestosuchus chiniquensis exhibited some remarkable convergences with that of theropod dinosaurs, which could be a reflection of the similar niches they occupied, since “rauisuchians” were the top predators at the end of the Late Triassic, before the extinction of all non-crocodylomorph pseudosuchians.Fil: Mastrantonio, Bianca Martins. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Von Baczko, Belen. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Desojo, Julia Brenda. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Schultz, Cesar Leandro. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Paleoclimatic inferences based on wood growth interruptions in Late Triassic flood deposits from the southernmost Brazilian Gondwana

The goals of this study were to establish patterns in a silicified wood assemblage to depict the evolution patterns of the Triassic paleoclimate in southern Brazilian Gondwana during an interval of global arid to semi-arid climatic context, and the taphonomic process that led to the preservation of the so-called “Petrified Forest”, which is preserved in the central area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Analyses were developed with an assemblage of 13 permineralized conifer wood, using standard thin sections, whose anatomical details were studied in transmitted light. Ground-Penetrating Radar was used to obtain information about the depositional characteristics of the site. Main results are: true growth rings are absent in all samples, and the boundaries of the interruption zones are marked by an abrupt decline in cell diameter, but they are not accompanied by a reduction of cell wall thickness. The subsequent reversion to normal tracheid diameter is also abrupt, revealing the return of the previous growing conditions. Ground-penetrating Radar analyses confirmed that the Mata Sequence deposits correspond to a river. The identification of growth interruption zones in a Late Triassic wood assemblage in southernmost Brazilian Gondwana (Paleobotanic Garden of the city of Mata, RS) indicates the presence of tropical, temporarily dry climate conditions, characterized by irregular, short-term environmental disturbances to growth. The taphonomic process was related to a river-channel infilling depositional process, under the influence of high-energy flood events that dragged and buried the trees.O objetivo do presente trabalho foi obter assinaturas climáticas por meio da análise de padrões de crescimento em uma associação de lenhos silicificados a fim de retratar os padrões de evolução do paleoclima no Triássico no Gondwana sul-brasileiro durante um intervalo de condições climáticas globais áridas-semiáridas e esclarecer o contexto sedimentar e o processo tafonômico relacionado a preservação da “Floresta Petrificada”, preservada na área central do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Seções delgadas foram elaboradas a partir de 13 amostras de lenhos permineralizados, sendo os detalhes anatômicos estudados em microscopia óptica sob luz transmitida. A técnica de Penetração do Solo por Radar (Ground Penetrating Radar - GPR) foi utilizada para obter informações sobre as características deposicionais. Os principais resultados foram: ausência de verdadeiros anéis de crescimento nas amostras e todos os espécimes são caracterizados por interrupções de crescimento concêntricas. Os limites das zonas de interrupção são marcados por um declínio abrupto no diâmetro da célula, mas não são acompanhados por uma redução da espessura da parede celular. A reversão subsequente para o diâmetro traqueídeo normal também é abrupta, revelando o retorno das condições de crescimento anteriores. As análises de GPR confirmaram que os depósitos da Sequência Mata correspondem claramente ao preenchimento de canais fluviais. A identificação de zonas de interrupção de crescimento em uma associação de madeira do Triássico Superior no extremo sul do Gondwana brasileiro indica a presença de condições de clima tropical caracterizado por distúrbios ambientais irregulares de curto prazo ao crescimento das plantas, que foram atribuídos principalmente a estresse hídrico temporário. A história tafonômica esteve relacionada a processos de preenchimento de canais fluviais, sob a influência de inundações de alta energia que arrastaram e soterraram as árvores

Função das presas caniniformes no dicinodonte Dinodontosaurus Romer, 1943 (Synapsida, Anomodontia)

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Ação da musculatura adutora da mandíbula em dicinodontes triássicos do Sul do Brasil

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Reconstituição da morfologia facial de Dinodontosaurus Romer, 1943 (Synapsida, Dicynodontia), Mesotriássico do Sul do Brasil

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The skull anatomy and cranial endocast of the pseudosuchid archosaur Prestosuchus chiniquensis from the Triassic of Brazil

Prestosuchus chiniquensis is the most famous “rauisuchian” described by Friedrich von Huene, eight decades ago, and several specimens have been assigned to this taxon since then. In the present contribution, we provide the first detailed description of a complete and very well preserved skull (including the braincase) assigned to Prestosuchus chiniquensis from the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Santa Maria Supersequence of southern Brazil. The detailed description of the skull of Prestosuchus chiniquensis, besides increasing the knowledge about this taxon, may help elucidate the taxonomic relationships of pseudosuchians even further, since most of the characters used in phylogenetic analyzes are cranial. The presence of the subnarial fenestra, a controvertial extra opening on the skull of “rauisuchians”, is thoroughly discussed considering the evidence provided by this new specimen. We consider that the small slit-opening between the premaxilla and the maxilla in Prestosuchus chiniquensis, can not safely be considered a true fenestra, but indicates more likely the existence of some degree of cranial kinesis between these elements which can result in different relative positions of the bones after definitive burial and fossilization, so that the size and shape of this opening is taphonomically controlled. Complementarily, the digital reconstruction of its cranial endocast was developed both from the observation of the preserved braincase and from CT scan images, which resulted in obtaining the first endocast known for a “rauisuchian”. The endocast of Prestosuchus chiniquensis exhibited some remarkable convergences with that of theropod dinosaurs, which could be a reflection of the similar niches they occupied, since “rauisuchians” were the top predators at the end of the Late Triassic, before the extinction of all non-crocodylomorph pseudosuchians