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Niedźwiedzki, G., Brusatte, S. L., Sulej, T., and R. J. Butler. 2014. Basal dinosauriform and theropod dinosaurs from the mid–late Norian (Late Triassic) of Poland: implications for Triassic dinosaur evolution and distribution. Palaeontology 57(6): 1121–1142 DOI: 10.1111/pala.12107
Abstract - The rise of dinosaurs during the Triassic is a widely studied evolutionary radiation, but there are still many unanswered questions about early dinosaur evolution and biogeography that are hampered by an unevenly sampled Late Triassic fossil record. Although very common in western North America and parts of South America, dinosaur (and more basal dinosauriform) remains are relatively rare in the Upper Triassic deposits of Europe, making any new discoveries critically important. One of the most diverse dinosauriform assemblages from Europe comes from the Poręba site in Poland, a recently described locality with exposures of the Zbąszynek Beds, which have a palynomorph assemblage characteristic for the mid–late Norian in the biostratigraphic schemes of the Germanic Basin. Using a synapomorphy-based approach, we evaluate several isolated dinosauriform specimens from Poręba. This assemblage includes a silesaurid, a herrerasaurid and remains of another type of theropod (potentially a neotheropod). The Poręba herrerasaurid is the first record of this rare group of primitive dinosaurs from Europe and one of the youngest records worldwide, whereas the silesaurid is the youngest record of a silesaurid from Europe. These findings indicate that silesaurids persisted alongside true dinosaurs into the mid–late Norian of Europe and that silesaurid–herrerasaurid–neotheropod assemblages (which are also known from the Norian of North America, at low latitudes) were more widespread geographically and latitudinally than previously thought. Silesaurid–herrerasaurid–neotheropod assemblages may have been a common ecological structuring of dinosaurs during their early evolution, and their widespread distribution may indicate weak palaeolatitudinal controls on early dinosaur biogeography during the latest Triassic.
Showing posts with label Poland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poland. Show all posts
Mammal-like Tooth from the Upper Triassic of Poland
Świło, M., Niedźwiedzki, G., and T. Sulej. 2013. Mammal-like tooth from the Upper Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica Accepted Manuscript doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4202/
Abstract - Triassic discoveries have extended the record of near-mammals (Mammaliaformes) back to the Norian, about 215 Ma, and reveal a significant diversity of Late Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) forms. We now add to this Late Triassic diversity a nearly complete double-rooted right lower molariform tooth (ZPAL V.33/734) from the Polish Upper Triassic that is significant because it comes from uppermost Norian–lower Rhaetian rocks and is the first discovery of a mammal-like tooth in the Mesozoic of Poland. The described tooth shows transitional dental morphology between advanced cynodonts and mammaliaforms and it appears to represent a basal mammaliaform (Hallautherium genus), probably belonging to Morganucodonta.
Abstract - Triassic discoveries have extended the record of near-mammals (Mammaliaformes) back to the Norian, about 215 Ma, and reveal a significant diversity of Late Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) forms. We now add to this Late Triassic diversity a nearly complete double-rooted right lower molariform tooth (ZPAL V.33/734) from the Polish Upper Triassic that is significant because it comes from uppermost Norian–lower Rhaetian rocks and is the first discovery of a mammal-like tooth in the Mesozoic of Poland. The described tooth shows transitional dental morphology between advanced cynodonts and mammaliaforms and it appears to represent a basal mammaliaform (Hallautherium genus), probably belonging to Morganucodonta.
A New Turtle Dominated Fossil Biota from the Late Triassic (Norian) of Poland
This paper documents a newly discovered fauna from the Norian of Poland that is important because it is dominated by fossils of what is most likely a new taxon of turtle. Of course Late Triassic terrestrial turtles are very rare so we will watch further research from this site with interest. The locality also includes other vertebrate taxa including a coelophysoid dinosaur and an aetosaur. The aetosaur is of interest because the dorsal vertebra possesses a distinct hyposphene, a character previously only found in Desmatosuchus from North America and Aetobarbakinoides from Brazil. This new site is also significant because it preserves micro and macrofloral fossils, which are generally uncommonly associated with vertebrate remains. Large temnospondyls are also rare in the Norian, but this site has one as well.
Sulej, T., Niedźwiedzki, G., and R. Bronowicz. 2012. A new Late Triassic vertebrate fauna from Poland with turtles, aetosaurs, and coelophysoid dinosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23: 1033-1041. DOI:10.1080/02724634.2012.694384
Abstract - We report a new site with an occurrence of isolated bones of a Palaeochersis-like turtle in Norian-Rhaetian fluvial sediments from southern Poland. The turtle remains are associated with bones of a medium-sized aetosaur, a coelophysoid dinosaur, and a larger carnivorous archosaur, as well as a hybodontid shark, ganoid and dipnoan fishes, and a large temnospondyl.
New Capitosaur from the Early Triassic of Poland
Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. in press. A new large capitosaur temnospondyl amphibian from the Early Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica available online 09 Sep 2011 doi:10.4202/app.2011.0025
Smok wawelski, a New Late Triassic Archosaur from Poland
Interesting critter if all the material belongs to the same animal (and I can't see any reason right now why it wouldn't). The broadly expanded basisphenoid appears to be particularily autapomorphic. Taxonomically I'm going to put my bet on a fairly derived paracrocodylomorph, especially because the supratemporal fossa incises the posterior margin of the frontal; however, the presence of a postfrontal suggests it is not a crocodylomorph. I'll refrain from plugging this taxon into the Nesbitt (2011) matrix as the authors clearly state that the phylogenetic relationships are part of Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki's PhD project.
I do have a question regarding the specific name. If the specific name intends "from Wawel Hill" should the correct name be Smok wawelensis or maybe S. wawelhillensis? As I have stated before I don't think it is the best idea for new taxon names to be published online in accepted manuscript form because the authors may decide to change the name or modify it before final publication.
Niedźwiedzki, G., Sulej, T., and J. Dzik. in press A large predatory archosaur from the Late Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. doi:10.4202/app.2010.0045
Abstract - We describe a new large predatory archosaur, Smok wawelski gen. et sp. nov., from the latest Triassic (latest Norian-early Rhaetian; approximately 205-200 Ma) of Lisowice (Lipie Śląskie clay-pit) in southern Poland. The length of the reconstructed skeleton is 5-6 m and that of the skull 50-60 cm, making S. wawelski larger than any other known predatory archosaur from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic of central Europe (including theropod dinosaurs and rauisuchian crurotarsans). The holotype braincase is associated with skull, pelvic and isolated limb-bones found in close proximity (within 30 m), and we regard them as belonging to the same individual. Large, apparently tridactyl tracks that occur in the same rock unit may have been left by animals of the same species. The highly autapomorphic braincase shows large attachment areas for hypertrophied protractor pterygoideus muscles on the lateral surface and a wide, funnel-like region between the basal tubera and basipterygoid processes on the ventral surface. The skeleton (cranial and postcranial) possesses some features similar to those in theropod dinosaurs and others to those in large crocodile-line archosaurs (rauisuchians), rendering phylogenetic placement of S. wawelski difficult at this time.
Cynodont Burrows from the Upper Triassic of Poland
Tałanda, M., Dzieçioł, S., Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. 2011. Vertebrate burrow system from the Upper Triassic of Poland. Palaios 26:99-105. DOI: 10.2110/palo.2010.p10-024r
Abstract - In this paper we report on a rare fossil vertebrate burrow system in Upper Triassic (Norian) fluvial deposits of the Holy Cross Mountains in central Poland. The burrows are preserved mainly by prominent green infillings in red mudstone and claystone exposed in the wall of a clay pit. The mode of occurrence, morphology, and size of the burrows suggests that cynodont therapsids most likely constructed them.
Evidence for an Early Triassic Origin for the Dinosaur Stem Lineage
Brusatte, S. L., Niedźwiedzki, G., and R. J. Butler. 2010. Footprints pull origin and diversification of dinosaur stem lineage deep into Early Triassic. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1746
Abstract - The ascent of dinosaurs in the Triassic is an exemplary evolutionary radiation, but the earliest phase of dinosaur history remains poorly understood. Body fossils of close dinosaur relatives are rare, but indicate that the dinosaur stem lineage (Dinosauromorpha) originated by the latest Anisian (ca 242–244 Ma). Here, we report footprints from the Early–Middle Triassic of Poland, stratigraphically well constrained and identified using a conservative synapomorphy-based approach, which shifts the origin of the dinosaur stem lineage back to the Early Olenekian (ca 249–251 Ma), approximately 5–9 Myr earlier than indicated by body fossils, earlier than demonstrated by previous footprint records, and just a few million years after the Permian/Triassic mass extinction (252.3 Ma). Dinosauromorph tracks are rare in all Polish assemblages, suggesting that these animals were minor faunal components. The oldest tracks are quadrupedal, a morphology uncommon among the earliest dinosauromorph body fossils, but bipedality and moderately large body size had arisen by the Early Anisian (ca 246 Ma). Integrating trace fossils and body fossils demonstrates that the rise of dinosaurs was a drawn-out affair, perhaps initiated during recovery from the Permo-Triassic extinction.
Popular news story here with a horrible title as they are not true dinosaur footprints.
Abstract - The ascent of dinosaurs in the Triassic is an exemplary evolutionary radiation, but the earliest phase of dinosaur history remains poorly understood. Body fossils of close dinosaur relatives are rare, but indicate that the dinosaur stem lineage (Dinosauromorpha) originated by the latest Anisian (ca 242–244 Ma). Here, we report footprints from the Early–Middle Triassic of Poland, stratigraphically well constrained and identified using a conservative synapomorphy-based approach, which shifts the origin of the dinosaur stem lineage back to the Early Olenekian (ca 249–251 Ma), approximately 5–9 Myr earlier than indicated by body fossils, earlier than demonstrated by previous footprint records, and just a few million years after the Permian/Triassic mass extinction (252.3 Ma). Dinosauromorph tracks are rare in all Polish assemblages, suggesting that these animals were minor faunal components. The oldest tracks are quadrupedal, a morphology uncommon among the earliest dinosauromorph body fossils, but bipedality and moderately large body size had arisen by the Early Anisian (ca 246 Ma). Integrating trace fossils and body fossils demonstrates that the rise of dinosaurs was a drawn-out affair, perhaps initiated during recovery from the Permo-Triassic extinction.
Popular news story here with a horrible title as they are not true dinosaur footprints.
New Volume on the Early Triassic Vertebrates from Karst Deposits at Czatkowice, Poland
The most recent issue (10 papers) of Palaeontologia Polonica (Volume 65, dated 2009) is dedicated to describing the vertebrate faunal assemblage a Czatkowice Poland. The issue is open access and available at the Palaeontologia Polonica website.
MARIUSZ PASZKOWSKI
The Early Triassic karst of Czatkowice 1, southern Poland
ELIZABETH COOK and CLIVE TRUEMAN
Taphonomy and geochemistry of a vertebrate microremains assemblage from the Early Triassic karst deposits at Czatkowice 1, southern Poland
MIKHAIL A. SHISHKIN and TOMASZ SULEJ
The Early Triassic temnospondyls of the Czatkowice 1 tetrapod assemblage
SUSAN E. EVANS and MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA
The Early Triassic stem−frog Czatkobatrachus from Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and MARIUSZ LUBKA
Procolophonids from the Early Triassic of Poland
SUSAN E. EVANS
An early kuehneosaurid reptile (Reptilia: Diapsida) from the Early Triassic of Poland
SUSAN E. EVANS and MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA
A small lepidosauromorph reptile from the Early Triassic of Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and SUSAN E. EVANS
A long−necked archosauromorph from the Early Triassic of Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and SUSAN E. EVANS
Cranial and mandibular osteology of the Early Triassic archosauriform Osmolskina czatkowicensis from Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and ANDRIEJ G. SENNIKOV
Archosauriform postcranial remains from the Early Triassic karst deposits of southern Poland
MARIUSZ PASZKOWSKI
The Early Triassic karst of Czatkowice 1, southern Poland
ELIZABETH COOK and CLIVE TRUEMAN
Taphonomy and geochemistry of a vertebrate microremains assemblage from the Early Triassic karst deposits at Czatkowice 1, southern Poland
MIKHAIL A. SHISHKIN and TOMASZ SULEJ
The Early Triassic temnospondyls of the Czatkowice 1 tetrapod assemblage
SUSAN E. EVANS and MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA
The Early Triassic stem−frog Czatkobatrachus from Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and MARIUSZ LUBKA
Procolophonids from the Early Triassic of Poland
SUSAN E. EVANS
An early kuehneosaurid reptile (Reptilia: Diapsida) from the Early Triassic of Poland
SUSAN E. EVANS and MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA
A small lepidosauromorph reptile from the Early Triassic of Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and SUSAN E. EVANS
A long−necked archosauromorph from the Early Triassic of Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and SUSAN E. EVANS
Cranial and mandibular osteology of the Early Triassic archosauriform Osmolskina czatkowicensis from Poland
MAGDALENA BORSUK−BIAŁYNICKA and ANDRIEJ G. SENNIKOV
Archosauriform postcranial remains from the Early Triassic karst deposits of southern Poland
Polonosuchus silesiacus, a New Name for the 'Rauisuchian' Archosaur Teratosaurus silesiacus from the Upper Triassic of Poland
Brusatte, S.L., Butler, R.J., Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. 2009. The taxonomy and anatomy of rauisuchian archosaurs from the Late Triassic of Germany and Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54: 221–230.
http://app.pan.pl/acta54/app54−221.pdf
Abstract - The German Late Triassic archosaur Teratosaurus suevicus is a historically important taxon, being the first described rauisuchian. Unfortunately the holotype is a single element, a maxilla, which is poorly preserved and incomplete. We redescribe this maxilla and identify a single potential autapomorphy. The fragmentary type specimen complicates attempts to refer additional material to this taxon, and other unassociated archosaur and rauisuchian specimens from the Mittlerer Stubensandstein of Germany cannot be referred to T. suevicus with any degree of confidence. The stratigraphically older T. silesiacus, from the upper Carnian of Poland, is represented by a much more complete and better preserved specimen. Comparison of the maxillae of T. suevicus and T. silesiacus reveals that the two are distinct taxa, contra recent suggestions, but also that they do not share any synapomorphies or a unique combination of characters relative to Postosuchus kirkpatricki and other rauisuchians. Thus, the Polish material must be transferred to a new genus, Polonosuchus gen. nov. Both Polonosuchus and Teratosaurus are very similar to Postosuchus kirkpatricki, and the three taxa are likely closely related.
http://app.pan.pl/acta54/app54−221.pdf
Abstract - The German Late Triassic archosaur Teratosaurus suevicus is a historically important taxon, being the first described rauisuchian. Unfortunately the holotype is a single element, a maxilla, which is poorly preserved and incomplete. We redescribe this maxilla and identify a single potential autapomorphy. The fragmentary type specimen complicates attempts to refer additional material to this taxon, and other unassociated archosaur and rauisuchian specimens from the Mittlerer Stubensandstein of Germany cannot be referred to T. suevicus with any degree of confidence. The stratigraphically older T. silesiacus, from the upper Carnian of Poland, is represented by a much more complete and better preserved specimen. Comparison of the maxillae of T. suevicus and T. silesiacus reveals that the two are distinct taxa, contra recent suggestions, but also that they do not share any synapomorphies or a unique combination of characters relative to Postosuchus kirkpatricki and other rauisuchians. Thus, the Polish material must be transferred to a new genus, Polonosuchus gen. nov. Both Polonosuchus and Teratosaurus are very similar to Postosuchus kirkpatricki, and the three taxa are likely closely related.
Polish Dragon - Revisited
Back in August I briefly discussed the find of a large theropod and dicynodont from a quarry in Lisowice in southern Poland. This find is significant because it represents the latest stratigraphical unambiguous occurrence of a dicynodont in the Late Triassic, as well as the possible earliest occurrence of a tetnuran theropod. The peer-reviewed article detailing this find is now out in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
I still need to read through the paper to comment some more but in the meantime here is the abstract:
It is generally accepted that during the Triassic the composition of tetrapod faunas underwent a series of fundamental transformations, mainly as a result of diversification of
archosaurs and decline of therapsids (Benton 1994, 2004, 2006). The last herbivorous basal synapsids, dicynodonts, disappeared from the record in the early Norian of the
Americas, about 220 Ma (Langer et al. 2007), being unknown from the Late Triassic of Europe. Here, we report a partially articulated skeleton and isolated bones of a giant
rhino−size dicynodont in the Upper Triassic fluvial sediments at Lisowice (Lipie Śląskie clay−pit) in southern Poland. Paleobotanical data indicate an early Rhaetian age for
the fauna (Dzik et al. 2008; Niedźwiedzki and Sulej 2008). The dicynodont bones are associated with bones of carnivorous dinosaurs, pterosaurs, as well as capitosaur and plagiosaur amphibians. Dicynodonts were represented in the Germanic Basin throughout the Late Triassic, as proven by findings of smaller dicynodonts in older deposits in the same area, associated there with temnospondyl amphibians. It appears, thus, that the fossil record of tetrapod succession in the Late Triassic was strongly controlled by ecological factors and biased by uneven representation of particular environments. The Lisowice assemblage proves that faunas dominated by dicynodonts did not entirely disappear at least until the end of the Triassic.
REFERENCE
Dzik, J., Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. 2008. A dicynodont−theropod association in the latest Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:733–738.
I still need to read through the paper to comment some more but in the meantime here is the abstract:
It is generally accepted that during the Triassic the composition of tetrapod faunas underwent a series of fundamental transformations, mainly as a result of diversification of
archosaurs and decline of therapsids (Benton 1994, 2004, 2006). The last herbivorous basal synapsids, dicynodonts, disappeared from the record in the early Norian of the
Americas, about 220 Ma (Langer et al. 2007), being unknown from the Late Triassic of Europe. Here, we report a partially articulated skeleton and isolated bones of a giant
rhino−size dicynodont in the Upper Triassic fluvial sediments at Lisowice (Lipie Śląskie clay−pit) in southern Poland. Paleobotanical data indicate an early Rhaetian age for
the fauna (Dzik et al. 2008; Niedźwiedzki and Sulej 2008). The dicynodont bones are associated with bones of carnivorous dinosaurs, pterosaurs, as well as capitosaur and plagiosaur amphibians. Dicynodonts were represented in the Germanic Basin throughout the Late Triassic, as proven by findings of smaller dicynodonts in older deposits in the same area, associated there with temnospondyl amphibians. It appears, thus, that the fossil record of tetrapod succession in the Late Triassic was strongly controlled by ecological factors and biased by uneven representation of particular environments. The Lisowice assemblage proves that faunas dominated by dicynodonts did not entirely disappear at least until the end of the Triassic.
REFERENCE
Dzik, J., Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. 2008. A dicynodont−theropod association in the latest Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:733–738.
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