Reassessment of the enigmatic ruminant Miocene genus Amphimoschus Bourgeois, 1873 (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Pecora)

Amphimoschus is an extinct Eurasian ruminant genus, mostly recorded in Europe, without a close living relative and, hence, an unknown systematic position. This genus is known from around 50 localities from the late early to the middle Miocene. Two species were described during 180 years, but since their first description during the late 19th century and early 20th century, hardly any detailed taxonomic work has been done on the genus. Over the years, extensive collecting and excavating activities have enriched collections with more and more complete material of this still rare and enigmatic animal. Most interestingly, a number of skull remains have been unearthed and are promising in terms of providing phylogenetic information. In the present paper, we describe cranial material, the bony labyrinth, the dentition through 780 teeth and five skulls from different ontogenetic stages. We cannot find a clear morphometric distinction between the supposedly smaller and older species Amphimoschus artenensis and the supposedly younger and larger species A. ponteleviensis. Accordingly, we have no reason to retain the two species and propose, following the principle of priority (ICZN chapter 6 article 23), that only A. ponteleviensis Bourgeois, 1873 is valid. Our studies on the ontogenetic variation of Amphimoschus does reveal that the sagittal crest may increase in size and a supraorbital ridge may appear with age. Despite the abundant material, the family affiliation is still uncertain.

The structural features of the sculls of animals of a series of Carnivore

Predators is medium-sized and large mammal leading a terrestrial way of life. They are mostly carnivorous animals, the nature of nutrition of which indicate certain devices are reflected in the structure of the scull. The aim of the work is to conduct a comparative anatomical study of the structure of the scull and to determine the craniometric indicators in animals of families Feline (Domestic cat), Canine (Domestic dog, Wolf, Fox ordinary) and Mustelidae (stone marten, forest polecat, badger ordinary) a squad of Carnivore. Comparative anatomical, craniological and statistical methods of research were used. It was found that the scull of test animals is of a General anatomical structure (wide temporal fossa, a deep masseteric fossa, well-defined nuchal and external sagittal crests, the presence of angular process on mandible, relatively large tympanic bullas, underdeveloped lacrimal bone) and species differences (topography of split of the external sagittal crest, shape of mandibular angular process, the presence of intratympanical part of the temporal bone). Absolute craniometrical indices of badger more of indicators of marten, since they directly depend on the weight and body size of these animals. There are most vary the overall length of the scull (1.69 times; P < 0.001), length of bony palate (1.82 times; P < 0.001), length of the external sagittal crest (3.67 times; P < 0.001), width of bony palate at the level of the first premolar and the last molar (2.33 times; P < 0.001), width of choans on the level of hook-shaped processes of pterygoid bone (1.75 times; P < 0.01), width of choans at the level of the caudal edge of the Palatine bone (2 times; P < 0.05), the total height of the scull (2.36 times; P < 0.001). Most of the relative craniometric indicators of the badger scull, compared with such in martens, are almost the same, due to the close specificity of nutrition and environmental characteristics in natural biocenosis. Due to the well-developed external sagittal crest, the height of the brain relative to the total height of the scull in badger (61.02 ± 4.73%) is 1.51 times less (P < 0.001) than in marten (92 ± 6.12%). The relative length of the external sagittal crest to the total length of the badger scull is 2.17 times longer (P < 0.001) (53.1 ± 3.09 versus 24.42 ± 1.41%), compared with marten, due to the more powerful development of masticatory muscles, temporal in particular.

RELIABILITY OF DETERMINING STONE MARTEN'S (MARTES FOINA) AGE BY TWO DIFFERENT SKULL FEATURES

Based on skulls from Central Bulgaria, the possibilities of aging stone martens were considered and compared. Two different skull morphological criteria methods were compared to more precise method – counting of annuli in dentin. Precise aging of stone martens was only possible by counting of annuli in dentin. It is not recommended using methods by development of sagittal crest and maxillary teeth attrition separately for aging stone martens. A combination of several methods is considered to be reliable.

A unique exceptionally well-preserved pterosaur skull from the Crato Formation of Brazil

The posterior part of a skull from a tapejarid pterosaur was studied for the exceptional preservation of its soft-tissues. The specimen comes from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of northeastern Brazil. It shows a peculiar soft sagittal crest that gives new information about the anatomy and the diversity of tapejarids. The specimen lies on five limestone slabs. The bony part comprised the posterior part of the skull, with the braincase and one complex of three dorsally oriented and associated bony crests. The crest consists of a huge and elongated parietal crest, a trabecular frontal crest, and an occipital spine. The specimen preserves the posterior parts of the nasoantorbital fenestra and orbit. The soft cranial crest is characterized by a multilinear dorsal crest with almost parallel fibres, which curve posteriorly. Pigment organelles – melanosomes – were observed in the crest as well as ‘hair-like’ fibres (pycnofibres). They present diverse shapes and sizes, suggesting diverse colorations for the soft tissues. The new tapejarid shares certain features with the tapejarids Tupandactylus imperator and “Huaxiapterus” benxiensis, which include an elongated parieto-occipital crest. Nonetheless, it differs from Tupandactylus imperator and Ingridia navigans by the following characteristics: absence of a suprapremaxillary spine, very dorsally oriented posterior crests, as well as a specific morphology for the soft crest. Our specimen can therefore be assigned to a new taxon of Tapejaridae, a group previously reported from the Crato Formation.

A unique exceptionally well-preserved pterosaur skull from the Crato Formation of Brazil

The posterior part of a skull from a tapejarid pterosaur was studied for the exceptional preservation of its soft-tissues. The specimen comes from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of northeastern Brazil. It shows a peculiar soft sagittal crest that gives new information about the anatomy and the diversity of tapejarids. The specimen lies on five limestone slabs. The bony part comprised the posterior part of the skull, with the braincase and one complex of three dorsally oriented and associated bony crests. The crest consists of a huge and elongated parietal crest, a trabecular frontal crest, and an occipital spine. The specimen preserves the posterior parts of the nasoantorbital fenestra and orbit. The soft cranial crest is characterized by a multilinear dorsal crest with almost parallel fibres, which curve posteriorly. Pigment organelles – melanosomes – were observed in the crest as well as ‘hair-like’ fibres (pycnofibres). They present diverse shapes and sizes, suggesting diverse colorations for the soft tissues. The new tapejarid shares certain features with the tapejarids Tupandactylus imperator and “Huaxiapterus” benxiensis, which include an elongated parieto-occipital crest. Nonetheless, it differs from Tupandactylus imperator and Ingridia navigans by the following characteristics: absence of a suprapremaxillary spine, very dorsally oriented posterior crests, as well as a specific morphology for the soft crest. Our specimen can therefore be assigned to a new taxon of Tapejaridae, a group previously reported from the Crato Formation.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF BATS OF GENUS LASIURUS (VESPERTILIONIDAE) IN COLOMBIA, WITH NOTES ON TAXONOMY, MORPHOLOGY AND ECOLOGY

<p>In order to clarify the distribution of bats of the genus Lasiurus in Colombia, we performed a morphological study of 49 specimens from four Colombian collections. Our review confirms the presence of three species in Colombia (L. blossevillii, L. cinereus, and L. ega) with distribution in all natural regions that include six of the nine biogeographic provinces. These species can be easily differentiated based on external and cranial characters. Lasiurus cinereus is the largest species (forearm length &gt; 52 mm) and L. blossevillii is the smallest (forearm &lt; 42 mm); L. ega has a distinctive skull shape with a developed sagittal crest. While previous literature make claims that L. egregius and L. castaneus occur in Colombia, our analysis found no support for this and even contradicts the evidence cited for their presence in the country. We demonstrate that one specimen attributed to L. egregius in literature corresponds to a misidentified L. blossevillii. Furthermore, we found that there are not any specimens of L. castaneus from the Department of Cundinamarca despite several reports in the literature. The status of subspecies in Colombia remains controversial and more specimens are needed to determine whether there are clear distinctions between forms in any geographical region. Most of the specimens examined were males and in some cases, were collected opportunistically from dead individuals found in cities in the Andean region.</p>

A new unusual tapejarid (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Early Cretaceous Romualdo Formation, Araripe Basin, Brazil

ABSTRACTA new unusual tapejarid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (Araripe Basin, Brazil) is described, based on a skull, lower jaw and some postcranial elements.Caupedactylus ybakagen. et sp. shows the typical high nasoantorbital fenestra of the Thalassodrominae but lacks a palatal ridge, and shares with the Tapejarinae several features, including a downturned rostral end, allowing its allocation to that clade. Furthermore, the new species differs in having an anteriorly and posteriorly expanded premaxillary sagittal crest, the lacrimal process of the jugal strongly inclined, and a slit-like postpalatine fenestra, among other characters. The region of the left jugal-quadratojugal-quadrate shows a pathology that is likely the result of an infection. The lateral surface of the premaxillary crest presents grooves that were interpreted in other pterosaurs as impressions of blood vessels, corroborating growing evidence that cranial crests could have been involved in thermoregulation. Also, the new species has a well-preserved palate with a large palatine forming the anterior region of the choanae and the postpalatine fenestra and a secondary subtemporal fenestra. Since the latter has been regarded as unique to non-pterodactyloids, its occurrence inCaupedactylusdemonstrates that the evolution of palatal region in pterosaurs is more complex than previously thought.