Fossil vertebrate studies in Rhodesia: sphenodontid remains from the upper Trias of Rhodesia

NoneSmall sphenodontid rhynchocephalians are known from the upper Trias in Britain (Robinson, 1973). This paper records for the first time the presence of sphenodontids of very similar age, size, and morphology from the Upper Trias of Rhodesia.Non

The advent of herbivory in certain reptilian lineages during the Triassic

Main articleThe dentitions of several presumed herbivorous Triassic reptiles are described and discussed. Some changes in dentitions with growth suggest that juveniles were insectivorous. The appearance of these forms may have been facilitated by floral changes which took place in the early Triassic.Non

Information seeking in the Humanities: physicality and digitality

This paper presents a brief overview of a research project that is examining the information seeking practices of humanities scholars. The results of this project are being used to develop digital resources to better support these work activities. Initial findings from a recent set of interviews is offered, revealing the importance of physical artefacts in the humanities scholars’ research processes and the limitations of digital resources. Finally, further work that is soon to be undertaken is summarised, and it is hoped that after participation in this workshop these ideas will be refined

Faunal remains from Hot Pot Cave, Bredasdorp

NoneRecent unconsolidated cave deposits can be useful in providing an understanding of how consolidated fossil cave deposits were formed and are far easier and quicker to analyse. This preliminary study describes an extensive, extremely rich bone accumulation in a horizontal cave system linked to the surface by a single verticaI shaft from the middle of a domed chamber. The cave is in Tertiary marine limestone on the southwestern Cape coast. The fauna has two chief components: a macrofauna resulting from entirely fortuitous introductions such as animals falling down the shaft; and an extensive microfauna accumulated by the barn owl, Tyto alba. Between these two groups there is a very small range of possible overlap. The macrofauna contains a mixture of wild and domestic animals, herbivores and predators with sizes ranging from hare to buffalo. The microfauna is closely packed in a black organic-rich soil of predominantly dust sized particles. A feature of this soil is the vast number of tiny terrestrial snail shells it contains. The deposit represents continuous accumulation over several hundred years at least. Seeds, pollen and carbonised wood are present in the undisturbed deposit so that sequential dating will be possible. By contrast, recognisable insect cuticle is virtually absent though dung beetles, for example, are frequently seen in surface solution cavities and must fall into the cave in fair numbers. Alignment of microfauna! longbones within the deposit is horizontal and parallel to the passage walls, so it is clear that the material was distributed by stream action. Much of the fauna has a wide geographic range, but throughout there are elements either endemic to the southern Cape or indicative of the prevailing vegetation type.Non

The anterior of the palate in Euparkeria

Main articleEwer (1965) has given a careful and comprehensive description of the anatomy of the thecodont Euparkeria, but erred if anything on the side of caution in her preparation of the material. This is a commendable approach, but it has meant that certain details remained unknown. Recently Cruickshank (1970) has redescribed and reinterpreted the braincase as being surprisingly primitive. The present author's current interest lies in the origin of the lizards, and this necessarily implies an interest in Archosaur origins. In this regard an important element of the skull is the vomer; this will become apparent when recently completed work on the Millerosauria is published (Gow 1971). The important feature is the nature and disposition of vomerine teeth. Not surprisingly the vomer is not known in detail in any "Eosuchian" or early lepidosaur, as it usually lies hidden by the symphysis of the lower jaws and in any event requires delicate preparation.Non

On a supposed skin impression of Procolophon

Main articleVan Heerden (1974) described and figured what he took to be an impression of the skin of Procolophon found with a typical assemblage of natural moulds of that animal. The stereophotographs in his Plate 4 seemed, however, to show sutures and the impressions of a few tiny sharp pointed teeth. Examination of the original shows that this is indeed the case. The accompanying explanatory sketch (fig. 1), which may be read in conjunction with Van Heerden's published photographs, shows that the pattern of dermal bones is typically amphibian and quite unlike that of Procolophon, as too are the teeth. The conclusion is reached that the specimen (QR 1597) shows normal bones of the skull and is not a skin impression.Non

An articulated skeleton of a small individual of Diademodon (Therapsida; Cynodontia)

Main articleThis paper records a nearly complete, articulated skeleton of Diademodan in undoubted association with a skull of that animal. Previously, only portions of postcranial skeleton have been found in association with cranial remains of this genus. The skeleton is that of a relatively small (ontogenetically young) individual. Skeletal proportions are tabulated, rib and vertebral differentiation is described and discussed. Diademodon is shown to have had a long tail.Non

Cell wall protection by the Candida albicans class I chitin synthases

Open Access funded by Medical Research Council Acknowledgments We thank Kevin Mackenzie in the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility (Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen), and Donna MacCallum for helpful statistical advice. This work was supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust (0868827 and 080088) including a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (097377) and an Investigator Award to NG (101873), an MRC New Investigator Award to ML (MR/J008230/1) and a PhD scholarship awarded to KP from the Ministry of Sciences and Technology and Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Author contributions are as follows: KP constructed strains, performed the majority of the experiments, analyzed the data and contributed to the preparation of the manuscript. JA produced Fig. S1 using the data from the phosphoproteomic analysis conducted by SP and AB. NG conceived and designed experiments, analyzed data and commented on drafts of the manuscript. ML constructed strains, conceived, designed and performed experiments, analyzed data and wrote the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD