The collection of type fossils of the Natural Science Museum of the University of Zaragoza (Spain)

The Natural Science Museum of the University of Zaragoza houses one of the most important collections in Spain of fossils published in scientific journals. It is a new museum, which has brought together the fossil collections of the Palaeontological Museum of the University of Zaragoza with the university’s historical collections. It harbours 33, 561 fossils, which have been studied in 524 scientific publications (dissertations, books and journals), and of which 243 are holotypes. All the material is inventoried in a FileMaker database and is available for consultation by any researcher who applies to do so. The type fossil collection is mainly from the Autonomous Region of Aragón in Spain (comprising the provinces of Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel), with a small proportion from other Spanish regions (less than 10%) and from other countries (less than 1%). The collection is diverse on what concerns taxonomic groups, with arthropods, brachiopods, echinoderms and vertebrates standing out in terms of the number of specimens and of holotypes. The fossils date from the Upper Proterozoic to the Pleistocene, the Carboniferous-Triassic being the least-represented period. Particularly noteworthy are the collections of invertebrates from the Cambrian and of mammals from the Aragonian (Tertiary)

Palaeontology research and its application as cultural tourism in Aragon (Spain)

[ES] El grupo de investigación Aragosaurus-IUCA de la Universidad de Zaragoza desarrolla su labor sobre vertebrados fósiles, entre los que destacan dinosaurios y grandes vertebrados del Pleistoceno de Aragón (España). Estos fósiles son muy atractivos para el gran público, por lo que ha existido un gran interés por parte de los lugares donde se han encontrado para rentabilizarlos turísticamente. Se relatan tres actuaciones distintas en las que el grupo ha participado aportando información científica para la puesta en valor en las localidades donde se han encontrado los fósiles: Últimos dinosaurios de Europa en Arén (Huesca), El oso de las Cavernas de Tella (Huesca) y los centros satélites de Dinópolis (Teruel). En cada actuación de puesta en valor se ha destacado la singularidad de los fósiles de cada localidad.[EN] The focus of the work undertaken by the research group Aragosaurus-IUCA of the University of Zaragoza is on fossil vertebrates, including in particular dinosaurs and large vertebrates from the Pleistocene of Aragon (Spain). These fossils are very attractive for the general public, and the localities where they have been found have thus shown great interest in exploiting them for the purposes of tourism. An account is given of three distinct projects in which the group has taken part, providing scientific information to draw attention to the localities where the fossils were found: the “Last Dinosaurs of Europe” at Arén (Huesca), the “Tella Cave Bear” (Huesca), and the Satellite Centres of Dinópolis (Teruel). In each case the uniqueness of the fossils from the locality in question has been highlighted.The research of the group Aragosaurus-IUCA is subsidized by project CGL2010-16447/BTE of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, by ERDF funds and the Government of Aragon (“Financiación de Grupos Consolidados” and “Dirección General de Patrimonio”).Canudo, JI. (2012). Palaeontology research and its application as cultural tourism in Aragon (Spain). Virtual Archaeology Review. 3(5):28-32. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2012.4493OJS283235CANUDO, José Ignacio et al. (2008): "A new sauropod: Tastavinsaurus sanzi gen. et sp. nov. from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of Spain". In Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, nº 28(3), pp. 712-731.CANUDO, José Ignacio et al. (2010): "20 años ayudando a diseñar museos por Aragón". In La Paleontología y los Museos. Institución Fernando el Católico, pp. 109-132.CANUDO, José Ignacio & CUENCA-BESCÓS, Gloria (2006): "El Museo del Oso de las Cavernas de Tella (Huesca)". in Naturaleza Aragonesa, nº 16, pp. 74-79.CRUZADO-CABALLERO, Penélope, et al. (2010): "Blasisaurus canudoi gen. et sp. nov., a new lambeosaurine dinosaur (Hadrosauridae) from the latest Cretaceous of Arén (Huesca, Spain)". In Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, nº 47(12), pp. 1507-1517.PEREDA-SUBERBIOLA, Xabier et al. (2009): "The last hadrosaurid dinosaurs of Europe: A new lambeosaurine from the Uppermost Cretaceous of Aren (Huesca, Spain)". In Comptes Rendus Palevol, nº 8, pp. 559-572. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2009.05.002RABAL-GARCÉS, Raquel, et al. (2011): "Was the European cave bear an occasional scavenger?". In Lethaia. In press.de TORRES, Trinidad, et al. (2004): "El oso de las cavernas de la Cueva de Coro Tracito (Tella-Sin, Huesca)". In Sobrarbe. Revista del Centro de Estudios de Sobrarbe, nº 10, pp. 207-238

La extinción de los dinosaurios en los Pirineos de Huesca

Los pirineos oscenses conservan un registro de vertebrados continentales del Cretácico más moderno y del comienzo del Paleógeno único en el mundo. Hemos descrito restos de dinosaurios hadrosauridos, titanosaurios y terópodos. Son relativamente abundantes en el magnetocron C29R para desaparecer de manera brusca en el garumniense rojo inferior, muy cerca o coincidente con el límite Cretácico-Paleógeno.Huesca Pyrenees provides an expanded continental record of the uppermost Cretaceous and lowermost Palaeogene. In the sites with dinosaur remains have been identified hadrosaurid ornithopods, titanosaurid sauropods and theropods. Fossil remains of dinosaurs are abundant in magnetochron C29R, disappearing abruptly near the top of the “Lower Red Garumnian” unit of the Tremp Formation, very close or coinciding with K-Pg Boundary.Esta publicación forma parte del proyecto CGL2014-53548-P, financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, el fondo europeo de desarrollo, el fondo social europeo, la Universidad de Zaragoza y el Gobierno de Aragón (Grupos Consolidados y Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural)

Andanzas de un paleontólogo aragonés investigando dinosaurios en la Patagonia

El grupo de investigación Aragosaurus-IUCA de la Universidad de Zaragoza desarrolla un proyecto de investigación desde el año 2004 en diferentes localidades del norte de la Patagonia (provincias de Neuquén y Río Negro). Esto ha permitido aportar nueva información sobre las relaciones paleobiogeográficas de los dinosaurios en el Cretácico de Europa, África y Suramérica. Se ha descrito el nuevo titanosaurio Petrobrasaurus en la localidad de Rincón de los Sauces. Además se ha recuperado la carcasa parcialmente articulada de un saurópodo rebaquisáurido en Agrio del Medio. En el actual estado de conocimiento, se puede afirmar que en el Santoniense no existía relación paleobiogeográfica de los dinosaurios entre África y Suramérica. Sin embargo, al final del Cretácico Inferior podría permanecer la conexión terrestre entre los dos continentes.The research group IUCA Aragosaurus-University of Zaragoza develop a research project since 2004 in various locations in northern Patagonia (the provinces of Neuquen and Rio Negro). This has allowed research on palaeobiogeographic relationships of dinosaurs in the Cretaceous of Europe, Africa and South America. We have described the new titanosaur Petrobrasaurus in the town of Rincon de los Sauces. It has also excavated the bones of a sauropod rebachisaurid partially articulated from Agrio del Medio. In the current state of knowledge, we can say that in the Santonian palaeobiogeographic no relationship of dinosaurs between Africa and South America. However, at the end of Cretaceous terrestrial connection may remain between the two continents.La financiación ha sido aportada por diferentes proyectos del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad financiados por los fondos FEDER (CGL2010-16447). También han contribuido Repsol-YPF, Endemás, Municipalidad de Rincón de los Sauces, Museo Profesor Doctor Juan Olsacher de Zapala y el Gobierno de Aragón (Grupos Consolidados)

Abre la exposición permanente de Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la UZ

La Universidad de Zaragoza tiene una amplia tradición en la investigación y docencia de las Ciencias Naturales, como consecuencia atesora colecciones de gran interés científico y patrimonial. El nuevo Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad de Zaragoza fue creado el 24 de Junio del 2013 por acuerdo unánime del Consejo de Gobierno de la Universidad. El rector Manuel López en su calidad de máximo responsable de la institución daba respuesta a una antigua aspiración tanto de la Universidad, como de un parte de la sociedad. Muchos universitarios han dedicado su esfuerzo desinteresado para que el proyecto saliera adelante. Además, la sociedad civil, personalizada en La Sociedad de Amigos del Museo Paleontológico (SAMPUZ), ha mantenido viva la reivindicación de un Museo de la Vida, con importante papel de la Paleontología

«Pleurocoelus» valdensis Lydekker, 1889 (Saurischia, Sauropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) of the Iberian Peninsula

One fragmentary sauropod isolated tooth from the Upper Barremian-Lower Aptian (Artoles Formation) of Vallipón (Castellote, Teruel province, Spain) is described. It has a «parallel-sided» crown and a «compressed cone-chisellike » general form. This tooth resembles the teeth from the Lower Barremian of Boca do Chapin (Estremadura province, Portugal) and Galve (Teruel province) described as Pleurocoelus valdensis/Astrodon valdensis and cf. Astrodon sp., respectively. The Portuguese and Spanish teeth are compared with the teeth of Pleurocoelusvaldensis from England, and Astrodon johnstoni and Pleurocoelus nanus from Maryland (USA), and they show similarities with the English species. Due to P. valdensis and P. nanus could not be congeneric, «Pleurocoelus» valdensis is put with quotation marks. «P.» valdensis is based on several isolated teeth from the Berriasian-Valanginian of Sussex and the Barremian of the Isle of Wight, but no holotype was designated, and all those teeth could represent two or more different sauropods species. The specific name is reserved to compressed cone-chisel-like teeth with enamel ornamented with irregular longitudinal ridges, probably pertaining to brachiosaurid sauropod

Los holotipos del Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad de Zaragoza

El Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad de Zaragoza conserva una de las colecciones de fósiles más significativas de España, teniendo en cuenta el número de ejemplares, la diversidad de grupos y edades. La Tipoteca del Museo es donde se guardan más de 30.000 ejemplares publicados en revistas científicas, entre los que se incluyen los holotipos de casi 200 especies e icnoespecies diferentes. Todos estos ejemplares están inventariados en una base de datos con más de 30 campos diferentes que permite hacer búsquedas cruzadas. Los invertebrados del Paleozoico, especialmente del intervalo Cámbrico-Devónico son los que están mejor representado en cuanto al número de holotipos. La mayoría provienen de la provincia de Zaragoza (casi un centenar). The Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Zaragoza holds one of the most significant fossil collections of Spain, considering the number of specimens, the diversity of groups and ages represented. The “Tipoteca” of Museum is where more than 30,000 copies published in scientific journals are stored, amongst which the holotype of nearly 200 species and different icnoespecies are stored. All these specimens are inventoried in a database with more than 30 different fields. Most holotypes are Paleozoic invertebrates, especially of Cambrian, Ordovician and Devonian. The majority have been collected in the province of Zaragoza (almost a hundred

Bringing together research, geoconservation and reaching a broad public in the form of a geotourism project: the Ichnite Route of Soria (Spain)

A detailed evaluation of the palaeoichnological work carried out in the Highlands (“Tierras Altas”) of Soria (Spain) over the last 35 years is provided. The scientific research performed by different teams on the vertebrate tracksites of the Early Cretaceous deposits of the Huérteles Fm. has engendered and fostered the “Ruta de las icnitas de Soria” (Ichnite Route of Soria) project, which consists both of geoconservation work on the main vertebrate tracksites and of drawing public attention to their existence. The ichnite route represents a good example of how scientific research may help to promote projects based on geotourism. Further, the research has also led to the recovery of a significant collection of vertebrate footprints that are currently housed in the Numantine Museum (“Museo Numantino”) in Soria. This collection is one of the finest from the beginning of the Early Cretaceous both in terms of the number and quality of the tracks and in terms of their ichnodiversity (footprint types). Drawing increased attention to this collection by putting it on public display would be an exceptional complement to the ichnite route, as it would mean that visitors could also see other tracks. 2018, Volume 10, Issue 3, pp 393–403 | Cite a

Nuevos datos sobre los dinosaurios terópodos (Saurischia: Theropoda) del Cretácico superior de los Pirineos Sur-Centrales (Huesca y Lleida)

Six new theropod teeth recovered trom the Blasi 1-3 sites (Upper Maastrichtian) in Arén (Huesca province, Spain) are described and added to the twenty six teeth already known from these and other five localities of Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian age from the Arén and Tremp formations (Figuero1a 2, Fontllonga 6, L'Abeller, Montrebei and Vicari 4, Lleida province). Eleven theropod teeth morphotypes are recognised: one belonging to a big size theropod of indeterminate family (Theropoda indet.), one small Coelurosauria indet. with unserrated teeth, the enigmatic Euronychodon sp, and eight morphotypes of cf. Dromaesauridae indet. with different denticle morphology and serration density (which would represent four five different taxa). The tooth previously described in the Upper Campanian of Lleida as "Richardoestesia Like" could also be assigned to cf. Dromaeosauridae indet. Theropod diversity in our sites is apparently similar to that of the rest of Europe, and increases through the Campanian-Maastrichtian transition, although our small samples is biased towards the youngest sites