Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

Dinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here, we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer mainly composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeontological data—charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods— are provided. Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one known where the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial transport. This has unlocked unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of two complementary windows of preservation—the bonebed and the amber—from the same site.European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)/FEDERMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)/FEDERGeneralitat de CatalunyaGeneralitat de Catalunya/FEDERMMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)Oxford UniversityAustrian Academy of SciencesUniversité de TunisGeneralitat ValencianaDepto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

[EN] Dinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here, we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer mainly composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeontological data-charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods- are provided. Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one known where the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial transport. This has unlocked unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of two complementary windows of preservation-the bonebed and the amber-from the same site.Funding Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades: CGL2017-84419 (Eduardo Barrón, Xavier Delclòs); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades: PGC2018-094034-B-C22 (Luis Alcalá) ; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad: CGL2015-69805-P (Carles Martín-Closas) ; Generalitat de Catalunya: 2017SGR-824 (Carles Martín-Closas, Xavier Delclòs) ; Generalitat de Catalunya: 2020FI_B1 00002 (Sergio Álvarez-Parra) ; Oxford University Museum: Research Fellowship (Ricardo Pérez-de la Fuente) ; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades: BES-2016-076469 (Jordi Pérez-Cano) ; Austrian Academy of Sciences: Project 661 (Khaled Trabelsi) ; Université de Tunis: LR18 ES07 (Khaled Trabelsi) ; Generalitat Valenciana: APOSTD2019 (Alba Sánchez-García) ; European Regional Development Fund: IGME13-4E-1518 (Rafael P Lozano)Peer reviewe

New dinosaur tracksites from Formiche Alto (Teruel)

Three new dinosaur tracksites found in Formiche Alto (Teruel) are described in this paper: El Molino, Camino de Cabra y Barranco de los Arcos. These sites are near Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary in age (Villar del Arzobispo Formation, ranging from Tithonian to Berriasian). The outcrops show higher number of manus prints than pes. The footprints are attributed both to small and large sauropod dinosaurs but there are some tridactyl tracks too. The presence of sauropod footprints from the Villar del Arzobispo Formation is also common in other sites recorded in the province of Terue

Nuevos yacimientos de icnitas de dinosaurio en Formiche Alto (Teruel)

Three new dinosaur tracksites found in Formiche Alto (Teruel) are described in this paper: El Molino, Camino de Cabra y Barranco de los Arcos. These sites are near Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary in age (Villar del Arzobispo Formation, ranging from Tithonian to Berriasian). The outcrops show higher number of manus prints than pes. The footprints are attributed both to small and large sauropod dinosaurs but there are some tridactyl tracks too. The presence of sauropod footprints from the Villar del Arzobispo Formation is also common in other sites recorded in the province of Teruel

Dinosaur bearing sedimentary deposits of Riodeva (Teruel, Spain)

Recent discoveries of dinosaur fossils in Riodeva led us to carry out a systematic study of the geology of the area. The calcareous-siliciclastic facies rich in fossil bones are attributed to the Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Tithonian-Berriasian). These transitional facies have been divided into three different units; A) Marine-influenced siliceous-calcareous deposits, spanning 50 m., conformable over the underlying calcareous Jurassic marine unit, B) A 170 m detritical alluvial unit, including more than 35 recorded dinosaur sites (Royo-Torres y Cobos, 2004), and C) A 15-0 m detritical-calcareous unit unconformable below the erosive overlying formation (Arenas y Arcillas del Collado Formation). We also suggest a chronological explanation for taxonomical divergences between dinosaur sites previously attributed to Arenas y Arcillas del Collado formatio

FIGURE 2 in An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain

FIGURE 2. Quadrate of Proa valdearinnoensis. Left quadrate of AR-1-2012 (holotype) in lateral (A), tracing in lateral (B), medial (C), dorsal (D), and ventral (E) views. Abbreviations: bf, bone fragment; dc, dorsal condyle; lcs, lateral condylar surface; mw, medial wing; qjn, quadratojugal notch; vc, ventral condyle. Scale bars equal 10 cm.Published as part of <i>Mcdonald, Andrew T., Espílez, Eduardo, Mampel, Luis, Kirkland, James I. & Alcalá, Luis, 2012, An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain, pp. 61-76 in Zootaxa 3595 (1)</i> on page 65, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3595.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10096874">http://zenodo.org/record/10096874</a&gt

FIGURE 6 in An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain

FIGURE 6. Dentary of Proa valdearinnoensis (AR-1-1365, AR-1-1366, paratype) in dorsal (A), lateral (B), and medial (C) views. Abbreviations: cma, caudal-most alveolus; cp, coronoid process; cvr, convex tooth row; sym, symphysis. Scale bars equal 10 cm.Published as part of <i>Mcdonald, Andrew T., Espílez, Eduardo, Mampel, Luis, Kirkland, James I. & Alcalá, Luis, 2012, An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain, pp. 61-76 in Zootaxa 3595 (1)</i> on page 69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3595.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10096874">http://zenodo.org/record/10096874</a&gt

FIGURE 10 in An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain

FIGURE 10. Adams consensus of 24,460 MPTs showing the phylogenetic relationships of Proa valdearinnoensis (highlighted in blue). Placement of clade names at certain nodes follows the definitions of Sereno (2005).Published as part of <i>Mcdonald, Andrew T., Espílez, Eduardo, Mampel, Luis, Kirkland, James I. & Alcalá, Luis, 2012, An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain, pp. 61-76 in Zootaxa 3595 (1)</i> on page 73, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3595.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10096874">http://zenodo.org/record/10096874</a&gt

FIGURE 7 in An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain

FIGURE 7. Dentition of Proa valdearinnoensis. Maxillary teeth in left maxilla of AR-1-2012 (holotype) in labial (A) view. Dentary teeth in right dentary AR-1-2013 (holotype) in lingual (B) view. Abbreviations: dar, distal accessory ridge; mar, mesial accessory ridge; prr, primary ridge; sr, secondary ridge. Scale bars equal 1 cm.Published as part of <i>Mcdonald, Andrew T., Espílez, Eduardo, Mampel, Luis, Kirkland, James I. & Alcalá, Luis, 2012, An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain, pp. 61-76 in Zootaxa 3595 (1)</i> on page 70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3595.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10096874">http://zenodo.org/record/10096874</a&gt

FIGURE 5 in An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain

FIGURE 5. Predentary of Proa valdearinnoensis (AR-1-2012, holotype) in rostral (A), ventral (B), caudal (C), and right lateral (D) views. Abbreviations: dm, dorsomedial process; md, marginal denticle; mmd, median marginal denticle; rg, rostral groove; vm, ventromedial process. Scale bar equals 1 cm.Published as part of <i>Mcdonald, Andrew T., Espílez, Eduardo, Mampel, Luis, Kirkland, James I. & Alcalá, Luis, 2012, An unusual new basal iguanodont (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Teruel, Spain, pp. 61-76 in Zootaxa 3595 (1)</i> on page 68, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3595.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10096874">http://zenodo.org/record/10096874</a&gt