2012 In Archosaur Paleontology
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The year 2012 in Archosaur paleontology was eventful.
Archosaurs Archosauria () is a clade of diapsids, with birds and crocodilians as the only living representatives. Archosaurs are broadly classified as reptiles, in the cladistic sense of the term which includes birds. Extinct archosaurs include non-avia ...
include the only living dinosaur group — birds — and the reptile
crocodilia Crocodilia (or Crocodylia, both ) is an order of mostly large, predatory, semiaquatic reptiles, known as crocodilians. They first appeared 95 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period ( Cenomanian stage) and are the closest livi ...
ns, plus all extinct
dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is t ...
s, extinct crocodilian relatives, and
pterosaur Pterosaurs (; from Greek ''pteron'' and ''sauros'', meaning "wing lizard") is an extinct clade of flying reptiles in the order, Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 ...
s. Archosaur palaeontology is the scientific study of those animals, especially as they existed before the
Holocene The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togeth ...
Epoch began about 11,700 years ago. The year
2012 in paleontology Note: In 2012, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature was amended, with new regulations allowing the publication of new names and nomenclatural acts in zoology after 2011, in works "produced in an edition containing simultaneously ob ...
included various significant developments regarding archosaurs. This article records new
taxa In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...
of
fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
archosaurs of every kind that have been described during the year 2012, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to
paleontology Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fossi ...
of archosaurs that occurred in the year 2012.


Pseudosuchians


Research

* The postcranial skeleton of ''
Sebecus icaeorhinus ''Sebecus'' (meaning "Sebek" in Latin) is an extinct genus of sebecid crocodylomorph from Eocene of South America. Like other sebecosuchians, it was entirely terrestrial and carnivorous. The genus is currently represented by two species, the typ ...
'' is described by Diego Pol ''et al.'' (2012). * Skull anatomy of ''
Dakosaurus ''Dakosaurus'' is an extinct genus of crocodylomorph within the family Metriorhynchidae that lived during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. It was large, with teeth that were serrated and compressed lateromedially (flattened from side to ...
'' and ''
Plesiosuchus ''Plesiosuchus'' is an extinct genus of geosaurine metriorhynchid crocodyliform known from the Late Jurassic (late Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian stage) of Dorset, England and possibly also Spain. It contains a single species, ''Plesiosuchus ...
'' is described by Mark T. Young ''et al.'' (2012). * '' Kemkemia auditorei'', previously thought to be a theropod dinosaur, is reinterpreted as a member of
Crocodyliformes Crocodyliformes is a clade of crurotarsan archosaurs, the group often traditionally referred to as "crocodilians". They are the first members of Crocodylomorpha to possess many of the features that define later relatives. They are the only pse ...
by Gabriel Lio ''et al.'' (2012). * A study including a supertree of Crocodyliformes is published by Mario Bronzati, Felipe Chinaglia Montefeltro and Max C. Langer (2012). * Skull remains of a member of the genus ''
Gavialis ''Gavialis'' is a genus of crocodylians that includes the living gharial ''Gavialis gangeticus'' and one known extinct species, '' Gavialis bengawanicus.'' ''G. gangeticus'' comes from the Indian Subcontinent, while ''G. bengawanicus'' is known ...
'' belonging or related to the species '' Gavialis bengawanicus'' are described from the Early
Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was finally confirmed in ...
of
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
by Martin ''et al.'' (2012).


New taxa


Newly named basal dinosauriforms


Non-avian dinosaurs


Research

* A study including a large phylogenetic analysis of non-
coelurosauria Coelurosauria (; from Greek, meaning "hollow tailed lizards") is the clade containing all theropod dinosaurs more closely related to birds than to carnosaurs. Coelurosauria is a subgroup of theropod dinosaurs that includes compsognathids, t ...
n
tetanuran Tetanurae (/ˌtɛtəˈnjuːriː/ or "stiff tails") is a clade that includes most theropod dinosaurs, including megalosauroids, allosauroids, tyrannosauroids, ornithomimosaurs, compsognathids and maniraptorans (including birds). Tetanurans ar ...
theropod Theropoda (; ), whose members are known as theropods, is a dinosaur clade that is characterized by hollow bones and three toes and claws on each limb. Theropods are generally classed as a group of saurischian dinosaurs. They were ancestrally c ...
dinosaurs is published by Matthew T. Carrano, Roger B. J. Benson and Scott D. Sampson (2012). * A study including a systematic revision of the family
Dromaeosauridae Dromaeosauridae () is a family of feathered theropod dinosaurs. They were generally small to medium-sized feathered carnivores that flourished in the Cretaceous Period. The name Dromaeosauridae means 'running lizards', from Greek ('), meaning ...
and a large phylogenetic analysis of paravian theropod dinosaurs (both avian and non-avian) is published by Alan Turner, Peter Makovicky and Mark Norell (2012). * A specimen of ''
Microraptor ''Microraptor'' (Greek, μικρός, ''mīkros'': "small"; Latin, ''raptor'': "one who seizes") is a genus of small, four-winged dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. Numerous well-preserved fossil specimens have been recovered from Liaoning, China. They ...
'' is described by Quanguo Li ''et al.'' (2012), with melanosome imprints making it possible to determine the plumage coloration and iridescence in the plumage. * A new specimen of '' Austroraptor cabazai'' is described by Philip J. Currie and Ariana Paulina Carabajal (2012). * A specimen of ''
Mei long ''Mei'' (from Chinese 寐 mèi ''Sleepy'') is a genus of duck-sized troodontid dinosaur first unearthed by paleontologists from the Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China in 2004. ''Mei'' lived during the Early Cretaceous period. The binomial nam ...
'' is described by Chunling Gao ''et al.'' (2012). * A study of '' Khaan mckennai'' was published by Amy M. Balanoff and Mark Norell (2012). * A new information on '' Yixianosaurus longimanus'' is published by T. Alexander Dececchi, Hans C. E. Larsson and David W. E. Hone (2012). * Three specimens of ''
Ornithomimus ''Ornithomimus'' (; "bird mimic") is a genus of ornithomimid dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now North America. ''Ornithomimus'' was a swift bipedal theropod which fossil evidence indicates was covered in feathers, equippe ...
'' with evidence of feathers are described by Darla K. Zelenitsky ''et al.'' (2012). * A new information on the anatomy of the holotype specimen of '' Nqwebasaurus thwazi'' is published by Jonah N. Choiniere, Catherine A. Forster and William J. de Klerk (2012). * A study of ''
Alioramus ''Alioramus'' (; meaning 'different branch') is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period of Asia. It currently contains two species. The type species, ''A. remotus'' is known from a partial skull and thre ...
'' was published by Stephen Brusatte, Thomas D. Carr and Mark Norell (2012). * Abdominal contents of two specimens of '' Sinocalliopteryx gigas'' are described by Lida Xing ''et al.'' (2012). * A study of musculoskeletal anatomy, three-dimensional body proportions and body mass evolution in
allosauroid Allosauroidea is a superfamily or clade of theropod dinosaurs which contains four families — the Metriacanthosauridae, Allosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae, and Neovenatoridae. Allosauroids, alongside the family Megalosauroidea, were among ...
theropod dinosaurs is published by Karl T. Bates, Roger B. J. Benson, and Peter L. Falkingham  (2012). * A study of the braincase of '' Sinraptor dongi'' is published by Ariana Paulina Carabajal and Philip J. Currie (2012). * A study of '' Kelmayisaurus petrolicus'', interpreting it as likely to be a member of
Carcharodontosauridae Carcharodontosauridae (carcharodontosaurids; from the Greek καρχαροδοντόσαυρος, ''carcharodontósauros'': "shark-toothed lizards") is a group of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. In 1931, Ernst Stromer named Carcharodontosauridae ...
, is published by Stephen L. Brusatte, Roger B.J. Benson and Xing Xu (2012). * Description of pectoral girdle and forelimb of ''
Majungasaurus crenatissimus ''Majungasaurus'' (; ) is a genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in Madagascar from 70 to 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period, making it one of the last known non-avian dinosaurs that went extinct during the ...
'' is published by Sara H. Burch and Matthew T. Carrano (2012). * A study of Early Cretaceous Australian theropod dinosaurs was published by Roger B. J. Benson ''et al.'' (2012). * A study including a phylogenetic analysis of
titanosauriform Macronaria is a clade of sauropod dinosaurs. Macronarians are named after the large diameter of the nasal opening of their skull, known as the external naris, which exceeded the size of the orbit, the skull opening where the eye is located (hence ...
sauropod dinosaurs is published by Michael D'Emic (2012). * The postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in the skeletons of five taxa of early
sauropodomorph Sauropodomorpha ( ; from Greek, meaning "lizard-footed forms") is an extinct clade of long-necked, herbivorous, saurischian dinosaurs that includes the sauropods and their ancestral relatives. Sauropods generally grew to very large sizes, had lon ...
dinosaurs is described by Adam M. Yates, Mathew J. Wedel and Matthew F. Bonnan (2012). * The study on the presumed course of the
recurrent laryngeal nerve The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is a branch of the vagus nerve ( cranial nerve X) that supplies all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, with the exception of the cricothyroid muscles. There are two recurrent laryngeal nerves, right and ...
in sauropod dinosaurs is published by Mathew J. Wedel (2012). * '' Pachysuchus'', previously thought to be an
Early Jurassic The Early Jurassic Epoch (geology), Epoch (in chronostratigraphy corresponding to the Lower Jurassic series (stratigraphy), Series) is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic Period. The Early Jurassic starts immediately after the Triassic-J ...
phytosaur Phytosaurs (Φυτόσαυροι in greek) are an extinct group of large, mostly semiaquatic Late Triassic archosauriform reptiles. Phytosaurs belong to the order Phytosauria. Phytosauria and Phytosauridae are often considered to be equivalent g ...
, is reinterpreted as a sauropodomorph dinosaur by Paul M. Barrett and Xu Xing (2012). * A study of vertebral laminae of sauropod dinosaurs is published by Jeffrey A. Wilson (2012). * A study on the neural spine bifurcation in
diplodocoid Diplodocoidea is a superfamily of sauropod dinosaurs, which included some of the longest animals of all time, including slender giants like ''Supersaurus'', ''Diplodocus'', ''Apatosaurus'', and ''Amphicoelias''. Most had very long necks and long, ...
sauropod dinosaurs is published by D. Cary Woodruff and Denver W. Fowler (2012). * A study of the postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in the skeletons of ''
Saltasaurus ''Saltasaurus'' (which means "lizard from Salta") is a genus of saltasaurid dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous period of Argentina. Small among sauropods, though still heavy by the standards of modern creatures, ''Saltasaurus'' was characterized by ...
'', '' Neuquensaurus'' and '' Rocasaurus'' is published by Ignacio A. Cerda, Leonardo Salgado and Jaime E. Powell  (2012). * A study of Early Cretaceous sauropod dinosaurs from North America is published by Michael D. D’Emic and Brady Z. Foreman (2012). Among other findings, additional sauropod material from the
Cloverly Formation The Cloverly Formation is a geological formation of Early and Late Cretaceous age (Valanginian to Cenomanian stage) that is present in parts of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah in the western United States. It was named for a post office on th ...
of Wyoming was referred to ''
Sauroposeidon ''Sauroposeidon'' ( ; meaning "lizard earthquake god", after the Greek god Poseidon) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur known from several incomplete specimens including a bone bed and fossilized trackways that have been found in the U.S. states of ...
'', ''
Paluxysaurus ''Sauroposeidon'' ( ; meaning "lizard earthquake god", after the Greek god Poseidon) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur known from several incomplete specimens including a bone bed and fossilized trackways that have been found in the U.S. states of ...
'' was synonymized with ''Sauroposeidon'', '' Rugocaudia'' was considered a '' nomen dubium'' and the cause of the North American sauropod extinction in the middle of the Cretaceous period was discussed. * The first sauropod dinosaur (a member of
Titanosauria Titanosaurs (or titanosaurians; members of the group Titanosauria) were a diverse group of sauropod dinosaurs, including genera from all seven continents. The titanosaurs were the last surviving group of long-necked sauropods, with taxa still thr ...
) from Antarctica described by Ignacio A. Cerda ''et al.''  (2012). * A study of biomechanics, pectoral girdle articulation and body mass of the Triassic dinosaurs from Brazil ('' Staurikosaurus'', '' Saturnalia'', ''
Pampadromaeus ''Pampadromaeus'' is an extinct genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs known from the Late Triassic (Carnian) Santa Maria Formation of the Paraná Basin in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil.Cabreira et al., 2011 Discovery ''Pampadromaeus'' ...
'', '' Guaibasaurus'' and ''
Unaysaurus ''Unaysaurus'' is a genus of unaysauridae, unaysaurid sauropodomorpha, sauropodomorph herbivore dinosaur. Discovered in southern Brazil, in the geopark of Paleorrota, in 1998, and announced in a press conference on Thursday, December 3, 2004, it ...
'') is published by Rafael Delcourt, Sergio A. K. de Azevedo, Orlando N. Grillo and Fernanda O. Deantoni (2012). * Anatomy of '' Fruitadens haagarorum'' is described by Richard J. Butler ''et al.'' (2012). * A study including a phylogenetic analysis of
ankylosauria Ankylosauria is a group of herbivorous dinosaurs of the order Ornithischia. It includes the great majority of dinosaurs with armor in the form of bony osteoderms, similar to turtles. Ankylosaurs were bulky quadrupeds, with short, powerful limbs. ...
n dinosaurs is published by Richard S. Thompson ''et al.'' (2012). * A study including a phylogenetic analysis of
iguanodontia Iguanodontia (the iguanodonts) is a clade of herbivorous dinosaurs that lived from the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. Some members include ''Camptosaurus'', ''Dryosaurus'', ''Iguanodon'', '' Tenontosaurus'', and the hadrosaurids or "duck-bil ...
n
ornithopod Ornithopoda () is a clade of ornithischian dinosaurs, called ornithopods (), that started out as small, bipedal running grazers and grew in size and numbers until they became one of the most successful groups of herbivores in the Cretaceous wo ...
dinosaurs is published by Andrew T. McDonald (2012). * A study of the forearm orientation in hadrosaurids is published by Phil Senter (2012). * Skin impressions of two different species of '' Saurolophus'' are described by Phil Bell (2012). * A new description of '' Eolambia caroljonesa'' is published by Andrew T. McDonald ''et al.'' (2012). * A study of anatomy and relationships of '' Bolong yixianensis'' is published by Wu Wenhao and
Pascal Godefroit Pascal Godefroit is a Belgian paleontologist. He discovered dinosaurs like '' Olorotitan'' in 2003. Godefroit is the director of earth and life sciences This list of life sciences comprises the branches of science that involve the scientific st ...
(2012). * An overview of Early Cretaceous iguanodontian ornithopod dinosaurs of England and Belgium is published by David B. Norman (2012). * A study of the bone histology of '' Tenontosaurus tilletti'' is published by Sarah Werning (2012). * A study of the bone histology of '' Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki'' is published by Tom R. Hübner (2012). * A study questioning the interpretation of ''
Torosaurus ''Torosaurus'' ("perforated lizard", in reference to the large openings in its frill) is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Cretaceous period, between 68 and 66 million years ago, th ...
'' as a junior synonym and a growth stage of ''
Triceratops ''Triceratops'' ( ; ) is a genus of herbivorous chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago in what is now North America. It is one ...
'' was published by Nicholas R. Longrich and Daniel J. Field (2012). * A study of some of the earliest known dinosaur assemblages is published by Martín D. Ezcurra (2012). Among other findings, '' Teyuwasu'' is interpreted as a member of the clade Dinosauriformes of uncertain phylogenetic placement and a ''nomen dubium''. * A study of anatomical variability exhibited by major dinosaur groups living during the latest Cretaceous is published by Stephen L. Brusatte ''et al.'' (2012). * A study of biodiversity of late Maastrichtian non-avian dinosaurs is published by Jean Le Loeuff (2012).


New taxa


Newly named birds


Pterosaurs


Research

* A study on the bone
histology Histology, also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology which studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at larger structures vi ...
of ''
Rhamphorhynchus ''Rhamphorhynchus'' (, from Ancient Greek ''rhamphos'' meaning "beak" and ''rhynchus'' meaning "snout") is a genus of long-tailed pterosaurs in the Jurassic period. Less specialized than contemporary, short-tailed pterodactyloid pterosaurs such ...
'' and its implications for inferring life history of members of the genus is published by Prondvai ''et al.'' (2012).


New taxa


Archosauria ''

incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''


Newly named archosaurs with uncertain affinities


References

{{Reflist 2010s in paleontology
Paleontology Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fossi ...
2012 in paleontology