Paleo File: Timurlengia

        In Tyrannosaur evolution, there is a 20 million year gap in the early-mid Cretaceous that excludes evidence of how this group of animals achieved its large dominating size. When new organisms are uncovered that shed light on these kinds of ‘dark gaps’, they help to shed new light on the way a group of animals develops over time.

Material referred to Timurlengia

Art and Copyright belongs to Todd Marshall            

              Timurlengia, coined in reference to the emperor Timurleng, became known in 1944. The original material, found in Uzbekistan, consisted of fragmentary bones and would remain in storage until a group of researchers uncovered a braincase in 2004; All of the fossils were again put into storage. Steve Brusatte analyzed the remains in 2014 and determined that the fossils suggested a unique genus. It was not until 2016 that Brusatte et al. coined the type specues Timurlengia euotica, euotica translating to “Well-eared”. In total, the material collected consist of; the right half of a braincase, right maxilla, left frontal bone, left quadrate, piece of a right dentary, a right articular with angular, front neck vertebra, rear neck vertebra, the neural arch of the front back vertebra, middle back vertebra, front tail vertebra, middle tail vertebra, rear tail vertebra, and a toe claw. All of these fossils were uncovered in the Bissekty Formation of the Kyzylkum Desert and date to the Turonian age of the early late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 million years ago.

Art and Copyright belongs to Fabrizio De Rossi

          Timurlengia shows characteristics of both early and later Tyrannosaurs; it had very well-developed sight, smell, hearing, and cognition reminiscent of the later Tyrannosaurs. The evidence of heightened senses but small size and slender snout suggest that Tyrannosaurs evolved their enormous size in a quick period of time. Timurlengia was an animal of around 9 to 12 feet in length with teeth designed for the rendering of flesh and senses developed for pursuit of fast-moving prey, like hadrosaurs. 

Art and Copyright belongs to James Kuether 

References:

Lazaro, Enrico De. "Timurlengia Euotica: New Species of Tyrannosaur Discovered in Uzbekistan." Timurlengia Euotica: New Species of Tyrannosaur Discovered in Uzbekistan. Sic-news, 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/timurlengia-euotica-new-species-tyrannosaur-uzbekistan-03702.html>.

Brusatte, Stephen L., Alexander Averianov, Hans-Dieter Sues, Amy Muir, and Ian B. Butler. "New Tyrannosaur from the Mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan Clarifies Evolution of Giant Body Sizes and Advanced Senses in Tyrant Dinosaurs." New Tyrannosaur from the Mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan Clarifies Evolution of Giant Body Sizes and Advanced Senses in Tyrant Dinosaurs. PNAS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/03/08/1600140113>.

Paleo File: Bagaraatan

         Bagaraatan, which is mongolian for “little hunter”, was a small carnivorous theropod dinosaur. Polish Paleontologist, Halszka Osmólska discovered the remains of the animal in the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia 1996. Although the name might seem odd, it is the phylogenetic categorization that makes this organism an oddity.

Art and Copyright belongs to Robinson Kunz

          Halska Osmólska never pursued her findings to the phylogenetic level and left it to other scientists to decide on the fragmentary remains; A Lower Mandible, the upper legs, pelvis, and caudal vertebrae. Scientists have found three possible groups the animal may belong to; Holtz suggested a Tyrannosauroid, Coria a Troodontid, and Rauhut a Maniraptoran. However, despite the differing opinions and confounding evidence, the phylogenetic grouping so far agreed upon is Tyrannosauroidea. More fossils are needed before a concrete classification can be reached, or an appropriate reconstruction of the animal in life.

Material referred to Bagaraatan

References:

"BAGARAATAN : From DinoChecker's Dinosaur Archive." Dinochecker RSS. Dinochecker, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.dinochecker.com/dinosaurs/BAGARAATAN>.

"Bagaratan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagaraatan>.

Osmolska, H. (1996). "An unusual theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 41; 1-38

"Bagaraatan." Bagaraatan. Prehistoric Wildlife, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/b/bagaraatan.html>.

Paleo File: Aviatyrannis

        Although small organisms tend to fossilize more complete than larger organisms, due to the increase of deterioration by environmental conditions on larger surface areas quicker, there are plenty of fragmentary organisms of a small stature. Take for instance; the theropod dinosaur, Aviatyrannis (Av-Eye-Ah-Tie-Ran-Is).

Material attributed to Aviatyrannis

           Uncovered exclusively, so far as science knows, in Portugal, the material was initially found in a lignitic coal seam within the Alcobaca Formation at Guimarota, which is near Leiria in Central Portugal. The Holotype, for which the specific name, jurassica, was attributed by Paleontologist, Oliver Rauhut, and subsisted of a right ilium. The ilium dated to the early Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic, about 155 million years ago. In 2003, Rauhut assigned a few more pieces to the genus including, a partial right ilium and right ischium.

Approximate Size

          The name, Aviatyrannis jurassica, translates to, “Tyrant Grandmother of the Jurassic” referring to the animal’s phylogenetic placement. Aviatyrannis is a very basal Tyrannosauroid, with the exception of Proceratosaurus, it is the most primitive and likely did not grow very large, with an estimated length of approximately 3-4 feet. Like with the majority of prehistoric flora and fauna, more material is needed before proper identification and visualization of the living organism can be appropriately realized.

Art and Copyright belongs to Frederik Spindler

Works Cited:

Paul, G.S., 2010, The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, Princeton University Press p. 100

"Aviatyrannis." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviatyrannis>.

"Aviatyrannis." Aviatyrannis. Prehistoric Wildlife, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/a/aviatyrannis.html>.

"AVIATYRANNIS : From DinoChecker's Dinosaur Archive." Dinochecker RSS. DinoChecker, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.dinochecker.com/dinosaurs/AVIATYRANNIS>.
"Fossilworks: Aviatyrannis Jurassica." Fossilworks: Aviatyrannis Jurassica. Fossilworks, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://fossilworks.org/?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=68482>.

Paleo File: Alectrosaurus

         The fossil record, although expansive and bursting-from-the-seams with material, is rather fragmentary. This can be observed time and time again with discoveries so fragmentary proper names are impossible to be attributed. The tomb that is Mongolia is a great reservoir of fossils, many quite well-preserved; however, along with the well-preserved specimens comes the fragmentary ones. Alectrosaurus is one of those fragmentary finds that struggles to shed light on the ecosystems of the prehistoric world, and of course Mongolia as well.

Only the right hindlimb was found on April 25th, 1925, by the Third Asiatic Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. This find was not the first nor the last and a week later assistant Paleontologist, George Olsen, (the discoverer of the first specimen) found more material on the fourth of May. Nearly one hundred feet away from the initial specimen, he discovered a right humerus, two incomplete manual digits, and four fragmentary caudal vertebrae. These finds were sent back to the museum and prepared; however, more material was uncovered some time later. Fossils were then found in Outer Mongolia which included skull and shoulder fragments. Enough material to suggest how the animal may have appeared in life (Thanks to the laws of symmetry), still more material is needed to get a better picture of this animal.

Art and Copyright belongs to Sergey Krasovskiy

                 The material that was found suggests a Tyrannosauroid theropod of medium size and moderate build. Alectrosaurus may have reached lengths of up to twenty feet. Unlike other Tyrannosauroids, the superfamily leading to more advanced groups like Tyrannosauridae, the lengths of the tibia and femur are rather similar. The formation in which Alectrosaurus was found, called the Iren Dabasu Formation, suggests it may have lived in an area that also housed animals like Gigantoraptor, Bactrosaurus, and Gilmoreosaurus.

Art and Copyright belongs to Prehistoric Wildlife

Copyright belongs to BBC

Works Cited:

Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. (2011) Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages, Winter 2010 Appendix.

Loewen, M.A.; Irmis, R.B.; Sertich, J.J.W.; Currie, P. J.; Sampson, S. D. (2013). Evans, David C, ed. "Tyrant Dinosaur Evolution Tracks the Rise and Fall of Late Cretaceous Oceans". PLoS ONE 8 (11): e79420. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0079420

Rothschild, B., Tanke, D. H., and Ford, T. L., 2001, Theropod stress fractures and tendon avulsions as a clue to activity: In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, edited by Tanke, D. H., and Carpenter, K., Indiana University Press, p. 331-336.

"Alectrosaurus." Alectrosaurus. Prehistoric Wildlife, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

"Alectrosaurus Olseni - Palaeocritti - a Guide to Prehistoric Animals." Alectrosaurus Olseni - Palaeocritti - a Guide to Prehistoric Animals. Palaeocritti, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

"Alectrosaurus Olseni - Palaeocritti - a Guide to Prehistoric Animals." Alectrosaurus Olseni - Palaeocritti - a Guide to Prehistoric Animals. Palaeocritti, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
"Fossilworks: Alectrosaurus Olseni." Fossilworks: Alectrosaurus Olseni. Fossil Works, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

Paleontological News: Introduction

Museums: Let's take a trip through RMDRC's Catalogue!

                   

                        If any of you do not know what the RMDRC is, it is an acronym that stands for; the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center. This is a museum and casting company that operates in Woodland Park, Colorado. The company, Triebold Paleontology provides skeletal casts for a majority of the museums in the world. They create skeletal casts and life-replicas for educational and private purposes and have done so since 1989. Here I will go through their catalogue of available mounts through a gallery-like format! Enjoy!

Skeletal Mount of Chelosphargis. advena (22 in long)

Albertosaurus. sarcophagus 

Apatosaurus. excelsius

As yet, unnamed, Avaceratops-like centrosaurian

Brachiosaurus. altithorax

Tylosaurus. proriger

Carolinochelys. wilsoni

Champsosaurus. laramiensis

Chelosphargis. advena

Chelosphargis. advena

Cimolichthys. nepaholica

Denversaurus. schlessmani

Clidastes. liodontus 

Latimeria. chalumnae life-Model

Coelodonta. antiquitatis

Mammuthus. columbi

Desmatosuchus. spurensis

Didelphodon. vorax

Dimorphodon. macronyx

Dimorphodon. macronyx

Dolichorhynchops. bonneri Adult skeletal

Dolichorhynchops. bonneri juvenile skeletal

Dorygnathus. banthensis

Dorygnathus. banthensis

Dromaeosaurus. albertensis

Dsungaripterus. weii

Dunkleosteus. terrelli

Edmontosaurus. annectens

Elasmosaurus. platyurus

Enchodus. petrosus

Enchodus. petrosus

Trilophodont Gomphothere, unknown genus and species.

Mammuthus. primigenius

An, as yet, unnamed pterosaur from the Hell Creek Formation

Holmesina. floridanus

Holmesina. floridanus

Appalachiosaurus. montgomeriensis 

Ichthyodectes. ctenodon

Ichthyodectes. ctenodon

Ichthyornis. dispar

Istiodactylus. latidens

Istiodactylus. latidens

Jeholopterus. ninchengensis

An, as yet, unnamed pliosaur from Manitoba, Canada.

Mammut. americanum

Megacephalosaurus. eulerti

Megalocoelacanthus. dobiei

Carcharocles. megalodon

Megalonyx. jeffersonii

Metaxytherium. floridanum

Balanoptera. acutorostrata, Minke Whale

Nanotyrannus. lancensis

Nanotyrannus. lancensis

Nyctosaurus. gracilis (Likely a male)

Nyctosaurus. gracilis (Likely a male)

Orcinus orca, Killer Whale

Anzu. wyliei

Pteranodon. longiceps

Pachyrhizodus. caninus

Pezosiren. portelli

Placerias. hesternus

Platecarpus. tympaniticus

Plesioplatecarpus. planifrons

Plioplatecarpus sp. Skull

Postosuchus. kirkpatricki

Prionochelys. nauta

Protostega. gigas

Pteranodon. longiceps Life-Model

Geosternbergia. sternbergi (Likely a male)

Geosternbergia. sternbergi (Likely a female)

Pteranodon. longiceps

Pterodaustro. guinazu

Pterodaustro. guinazu

Quetzalcoatlus. northropi

Quetzalcoatlus. northropi

Rhamphorynchus. muensteri Life Model

Saurodon. leanus

Saurodon. leanus

Diplodocus, previously referred to Seismosaurus

Smilosuchus. gregorii

Stangerochampsa sp. 

Stangerochampsa sp.

Struthiomimus. altus

Thallasodromeus. sethi Skull

Thescelosaurus. neglectus

Toxochelys. latiremis Juvenile

Triceratops. prorsus

Triceratops. prorsus

Tylosaurus. kansasensis

Tyrannosaurus. rex

Mosasaurus sp.

Xiphactinus. audax

Triebold Paleontology: http://www.trieboldpaleontology.com/platecarpus.html

RMDRC: http://www.rmdrc.com