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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Jul 31

D, Tropeognathus mesembrinus holotype (BSPG 1987 I 46). E, Uktenadactylus wadleighi (SMU 73058; modified from Holgado and Pêgas, 2020). F, Anhanguera sp. (SMNK PAL 2302). Scale bars equal 20 mm.

Author: R. V. Pêgas

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/20

palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Jul 31

Image: Modified from Figure 4 from the paper. Rostra (in right lateral view) of the main ornithocheiriform lineages. A, Ornithocheirus simus holotype (CAMSM B54428). B, Cimoliopterus cuvieri holotype (NHMUK PV 39409). C, Hamipterus tianshensis (MN 7538-V, cast).

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Jul 31

The classification of Ornithocheiriformes has been up in the air since the early days of #pterosaur research. This new paper offers an updated framework that aligns definitions and stabilizes nomenclature for various proposed systems of evolutionary relationships.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Jul 23

Image: Representatives of ten taxa of holoplanktonic gastropods identified from the Toukoshan Formation of northern Taiwan.

Authors: Diana Osipova and Chien-Hsiang Lin

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/1535

palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Jul 23

Holoplanktonic mollusks provide valuable insights into past environments, and their distribution has expanded with the discovery of a Late Pleistocene assemblage of holoplanktonic gastropods, including the first-ever report of a heteropod from Taiwanese deposits.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 16

Authors: Valerian J.P. Jésus, Octávio Mateus, Jesper Milàn, and Lars B. Clemmensen
Full #OpenAccess Paper: doi.org/10.26879/1423

doi.org

palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 16

Image: Figure 4 from the paper. Remains of ray-finned fish described in the paper. A-C, Saurichthys teeth; D, Gyrolepis tooth; E-H, Gyrolepis scales; I-P, unidentified actinopterygian remains.

doi.org

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 16

Triassic age rocks from central East #Greenland preserve bountiful vertebrate fossils. A new study has described 950 specimens collected from these rocks in a single expedition. These specimens line up well with European faunas, confirming their influence in #Triassic Greenland.

Remains of ray-finned fish described in the paper. A-C, Saurichthys teeth; D, Gyrolepis tooth; E-H, Gyrolepis scales; I-P, unidentified actinopterygian remains.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 11

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/1351
palaeo-electronica.org/content/2025...

Ordovician reef sponges

Heteractinid, hexactinellid and sphaeroclonid sponges as rare components of anthaspidellid-dominated reefs from the Ordovician of the Precordillera, western Arg

palaeo-electronica.org

palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 11

Image: Modified from Figure 4 from the paper. Detailed views of thin sections of Niquivilispongia asteria gen. et sp. nov. For A, B, and D, the scale bar equals 0.5 mm. For C, E, and F, the scale bar equals .2 mm.

Authors: Marcelo G Carrera, Joseph Botting, and Fernando Cañas

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 11

Three new #Ordovician sponges, including a new #species, have been discovered in the reef mounds of western Argentina!

This new paper details the first attempt of these groups to invade reef environments, setting the stage for future success in the Mesozoic.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 10

Image: Figure 1 from the paper. Comparison of the number of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils collected by commercial outfits with those collected by public trusts (as of October 2024).

Author: Thomas D Carr

Full #OpenAccess Paper: doi.org/10.26879/1337

palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Apr 10

How much is a #Trex skeleton really worth?

As the commercial value of these fossils continues to rise, a new study examines the ethical cost of the fossil trade, finding that the practice has effectively halved the sample size of #Tyrannosaurusrex available to scientists.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 10

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/1502

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 10

Authors (2/2): David J Ward, Harry M Maisch IV, Victor J Perez, Iris Feichtinger, Gavin J P Naylor, Joshua K Moyer, Timothy E Higham, João Paulo C B da Silva, Hugo Bornatowski, Gerardo Gonzalez-Barba, Michael L Griffiths, Martin A Becker, and Mikael Siversson

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 10

Authors (1/2): Kenshu Shimada, Ryosuke Motani, Jake J Wood, Phillip C Sternes, Taketeru Tomita, Mohamad Bazzi, Alberto Collareta, Joel H Gayford, Julia Türtscher, Patrick L Jambura, Jürgen Kriwet, Romain Vullo, Douglas J Long, Adam P Summers, John G Maisey, Charlie Underwood

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 10

Image: Revised tentative body outline of 24.3 meters (80 feet) for Otodus megalodon.
1) The exact shape, size, and position of most fins remain unknown based on the present fossil record
2) An adult human is depicted for size comparison, but it must be emphasized that the two species never coexisted

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 10

We’re going to need a bigger boat…

A new study estimates that the iconic #Neogene shark Otodus #megalodon may have reached lengths of up to 24.3 meters—nearly 19% larger than previous estimates–and was more slender than earlier comparisons with modern white sharks suggest.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 3

Image: Figure 2 from the paper. Digital elevation model (DEM) of avian tracks from JODA 1536. Scale bar equals ~20mm.

Authors: Conner J Bennett, Nicholas A Famoso, and Daniel I Hembree

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/1413

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Mar 3

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA) preserves a fantastic record of Oregon's #Eocene and #Oligocene environments. A new study examines several JODA trackways to further understand fauna and their behaviors in these changing ecosystems.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Feb 28

Image: Figure 2 from the paper. A close-up of the hexagonal surface sculpturing of the egg inclusion. Scale bar equals 0.5mm.

Authors: Thilo C Fischer and Axel Hausmann

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/1407

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Feb 28

Insects in amber, a #paleo classic! A new paper reports the first reliable fossil record of butterflies in #Eocene Baltic amber. This uniquely patterned egg resembles those of modern admiral butterflies, suggesting that their relatives are at least 35 million years old.

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Feb 25

Full #OpenAccess Paper:
doi.org/10.26879/1441
palaeo-electronica.org/content/curr...

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Feb 25

Image: Figure 5 from the paper. Several species of the genus Menispermites from Northern Asia.

Authors: Anastasia A Zolina, Lina B Golovneva, and Alexander A Grabovskiy

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palaeo-electronica.bsky.social @palaeo-electronica.bsky.social · Feb 25

This new study turns over a new leaf in the #fossil record of the #Cretaceous of Northern Asia! Explore the morphological diversity and distribution of the #Menispermites, a genus of fossil leaves comprised of many short-lived species with limited ranges.

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