A new bird from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Varricchio
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Articular Surface ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Western Montana ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Basal Position

A partial humerus, ulna, and radius compose the type specimen of a new bird, Piksi barbarulna, new genus and species, from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Two Medicine Formation of western Montana. This ornithothoracine taxon differs from all other birds in having an enlarged dorsal epicondyle and a reduced ventral condyle on the humerus with corresponding modifications on the articular surface of the ulna. Among modern birds, Piksi is most similar to galliforms, but the paucity of unambiguous characters and its unusual morphology defy placement within any extant "order" and strongly questions any neornithine affinities. Instead, Piksi appears to have a fairly basal position within Ornithothoraces. Several morphologic features of Piksi occur in phylogenetically diverse but morphologically similar birds, such as galliforms, tinamous, and some columbiforms. The new bird comes from an inland, relatively dry paleo-environment. Atypical for a Cretaceous avian record dominated by waterfowl, Piksi appears to represents a heavy-bodied ground bird. Searching of inland depositional environments may yield new and ecologically distinct avian varieties.

A new family, genus, and species of crab (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) from the upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Manitoba, Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1741-1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney M Feldmann ◽  
Rong-Yu Li ◽  
Carrie E Schweitzer
Keyword(s):  
North Dakota ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Single Specimen ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
New Family ◽  
Extinction Event

Discovery of a single specimen of brachyuran decapod from the Campanian Millwood Member in southern Manitoba, Canada, permits description of a new genus and species, Cretacocarcinus smithi. Comparison of sternal architecture and general carapace morphology with potentially related taxa documents that the new genus, along with Camarocarcinus Holland and Cvancara, form a new family, Camarocarcinidae, tentatively assigned to the Raninoidea. The Camarocarcinidae are interpreted to have originated in the upper Midcontinental Seaway in the Late Cretaceous, survived the K–T extinction event(s), and dispersed into southern North Dakota, USA; Greenland; and Denmark in the Paleocene.

Aldebarania arenitea, a new genus and species of Astropectinidae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) Peedee Formation of North Carolina

1995 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 376-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Blake ◽  
Keith Sturgeon
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Marine Fauna ◽  
Shallow Water Environment

Aldebarania arenitea (Astropectinidae; Asteroidea; Echinodermata) is described from the Rocky Point Member of the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) Peedee Formation of North Carolina. A turbulent, shallow-water environment is suggested by sedimentary features, a diverse marine fauna, and the morphology of Aldebarania. Aldebarania appears to be a partial ecological equivalent of living Astropecten and Luidia; however, phylogenetic relationships within the Astropectinidae are unstudied and the origin of similarities is unknown.

scholarly journals Notes on Cretaceous amber Braconidae (Hymenoptera), with descriptions of two new genera

2016 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Hind Wing ◽  
New Combination ◽  
New Genera ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Incertae Sedis

A new genus and species of basal cyclostome Braconidae is described and figured from a male preserved in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar.  <strong><em>Rhetinorhyssalus morticinus</em></strong> Engel, new genus and species, is interesting for its combination of primitive features such as a minute apical costal cell and anal stubs in the forewing, while lacking 2Cu in the hind wing, a putatively derived trait.  As such, the genus may represent a lineage diverging from the braconid stem subsequent to many protorhyssalines, while remaining basal relative to generalized cyclostome groups such as Rhyssalinae.  In addition, the Late Cretaceous <em>Diospilus allani</em> Brues, in Campanian Canadian amber, is transferred to <strong><em>Diorhyssalus</em></strong> Engel, new genus, and its similarity to <em>Rhetinorhyssalus</em> is discussed.  This transfer results in the new combination, <em>Diorhyssalus allani</em> (Brues).  Both genera are tentatively considered as subfamily <em>incertae sedis</em>.

scholarly journals Two new genera of Cretaceous dustywings in amber from northern Myanmar (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae)

2016 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
New Genera ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Labial Palpus ◽  
Head Form

Two new genera and species are added to the fauna of dustywings (Coniopterygidae) preserved in Upper Cretaceous (earliest Cenomanian) amber of northern Myanmar, doubling the described diversity from this deposit.  One genus is of the subfamily Aleuropteryginae and described as Achlyoconis heptatrichia Engel, new genus and species.  This species is noteworthy for the infumate and patterned wings and unique presence of seven prominent setae positioned on thickenings occurring along the length of the forewing media.  Paranimboa litotes Engel, new genus and species, is representative of the subfamily Coniopteryginae and distinctive among Mesozoic groups for the unbranched Rs, among other traits.  In addition, a peculiar larva preserved alongside the holotype of P. litotes is described.  While having a prothoracic and head form similar to aleuropterygines as well as a labial palpus with only two palpomeres, diagnostic for Coniopterygidae, the antenna bears four articles rather than the two present in crown-group dustywings.  A revised key to the genera of Cretaceous Coniopterygidae is provided.

scholarly journals Zoropelecinus zigrasi, a pelecinid wasp in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)

2013 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Michael S. Engel ◽  
David A. Grimaldi ◽  
Jaime Ortega-Blanco
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
New Synonymy ◽  
First Time

The proctotrupoid wasp family Pelecinidae (Proctotrupomorpha: Proctotrupoidea) is recorded in Early Cretaceous amber for the first time, previous amber inclusions being from the Late Cretaceous or Tertiary. Zoropelecinus zigrasi Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is described and figured from an exquisitely preserved female in Albian-Cenomanian amber from Myanmar. The genus is similar to other fossil pelecinids of the genera Pelecinopteron Brues (Paleogene ambers of the Baltic and Siberia) and Henopelecinus Engel & Grimaldi (Turonian amber, New Jersey). Although two subfamilies have at times been recognized (or even as two families) the Iscopininae are clearly paraphyletic with respect to Pelecininae and therefore of no classificatory value and accordingly synonymized herein (new synonymy).

scholarly journals Late Cretaceous stomatopods (Crustacea, Malacostraca) from Israel and Jordan

1998 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cees H.J. Hof
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Abdominal Tergite ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
New Family ◽  
Original Type

The eryonid decapod Eryon yehoachi Remy & Avnimelech, 1955, from the Late Cretaceous of Israel, is redescribed as a fossil stomatopod species within the new genus Ursquilla. This redescription is based on the original type specimen and two additional records from Israel and Jordan. The material allows a detailed reconstruction of the telson, the sixth abdominal tergite, and part of the uropods. The distinct telson ornamentation of these stomatopods justifies the erection of a new family within the superfamily Squilloidea.

Terlinguachelys fischbecki, a new genus and species of sea turtle (Chelonioidea: Protostegidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Texas

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1163-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Lehman ◽  
Susan L. Tomlinson
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Big Bend National Park ◽  
Big Bend ◽  
Lower Jaw

Remains of a large sea turtle, Terlinguachelys fischbecki n. gen. and sp., were recovered from paralic deposits of the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Aguja Formation in Big Bend National Park, Texas. T. fischbecki is a primitive protostegid that retains a constricted humerus, well ossified plastron and costals, prominent retroarticular process on the lower jaw, and long slender femora; however, it has some features, such as a prominent tubercle at the base of the scapular acromion process, found elsewhere only in derived leatherback sea turtles. The unique combination of primitive and derived traits in T. fischbecki illustrates further diversity among Cretaceous sea turtles and another case of parallelism common in sea turtle phylogeny.

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