73 research outputs found
Is open access tarnished?
No full textAs open access terms have split into colour-coded brands, not all allow totally unrestricted access and reuse. Among these, “bronze OA” stands out as a potentially damaging misnomer, writes Steven Vidovi
Cladistic revision of Cretaceous Brachylepadomorpha and Verrucomorpha dataset
No full textThis dataset supports the publication by Andy S. Gale & S U. Vidovic "The origins of major sessile cirripede groups; a revision of Cretaceous Brachylepadomorpha and Verrucomorpha" in Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2023.2258370
This dataset comprises the TNT script to run a cladistic analysis of sessile cirripede groups and bootstrap resampling with 1000 replicates; the output files from TNT; the supporting Nexus file; and an R script for post-analysis of the tree to calculate the Gap Excess Ratio (GER).
The cladistic analysis comprises 48 characters, one of which is continuous, all others were treated as unordered with equal weights. The TNT script also contains instructions to run an implied weights analysis.
To successfully execute the TNT script, the user will need to include the correct file path to their own copy of Stats.run, a TNT script for calculating the ensemble consistency index and retention index.
TNT scripts can be given a .tnt extension and can be read by TNT and Mesquite. Nexus files can be given a .nex extension and can be read by Mesquite and TNT. R files can be given a .r extension and can be run in RStudio. The output log can be read in plain text, .tre and .nex output files can be opened by all the software used in this study.
Contributions to this dataset:
Gale made intellectual contributions with respect to the anatomy, systematics and stratigraphic occurrence of sessile cirripede groups. Gale: co-designed the analysis; wrote the characters; coded the matrix.
Vidovic made intellectual contributions with respect to cladistic analysis and post-analysis. Vidovic: wrote the dataset; co-designed and executed the analysis; wrote the scripts and functions; created the files; edited the characters; coded the matrix.</span
Pterodactylus scolopaciceps Meyer, 1860 (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Upper Jurassic of Bavaria, Germany:the problem of Cryptic Pterosaur Taxa in early ontogeny
No full textThe taxonomy of the Late Jurassic pterodactyloid pterosaur Pterodactylus scolopaciceps Meyer, 1860 from the Solnhofen Limestone Formation of Bavaria, Germany is reviewed. Its nomenclatural history is long and complex, having been synonymised with both P. kochi (Wagner, 1837), and P. antiquus (Sömmerring, 1812). The majority of pterosaur species from the Solnhofen Limestone, including P. scolopaciceps are represented by juveniles. Consequently, specimens can appear remarkably similar due to juvenile characteristics detracting from taxonomic differences that are exaggerated in later ontogeny. Previous morphological and morphometric analyses have failed to separate species or even genera due to this problem, and as a result many species have been subsumed into a single taxon. A hypodigm for P. scolopaciceps, comprising of the holotype (BSP AS V 29 a/b) and material Broili referred to the taxon is described. P. scolopaciceps is found to be a valid taxon, but placement within Pterodactylus is inappropriate. Consequently, the new genus Aerodactylus is erected to accommodate it. Aerodactylus can be diagnosed on account of a unique suite of characters including jaws containing 16 teeth per-jaw, per-side, which are more sparsely distributed caudally and terminate rostral to the nasoantorbital fenestra; dorsal surface of the skull is subtly depressed rostral of the cranial table; rostrum very elongate (RI = ∼7), terminating in a point; orbits correspondingly low and elongate; elongate cervical vertebrae (approximately three times the length of their width); wing-metacarpal elongate, but still shorter than the ulna and first wing-phalanx; and pteroid approximately 65% of the total length of the ulna, straight and extremely thin (less than one third the width of the ulna). A cladistic analysis demonstrates that Aerodactylus is distinct from Pterodactylus, but close to Cycnorhamphus Seeley, 1870, Ardeadactylus Bennett, 2013a and Aurorazhdarcho Frey, Meyer and Tischlinger, 2011, consequently we erect the inclusive taxon Aurorazhdarchidae for their reception
University of Southampton Reproducible and Transparent Practices Map
No full textThe University of Southampton has numerous pockets of excellence practicing reproducible and transparent research best practices, broadly contributing to Open Research, Research Integrity, and Research Culture. Here we attempt to "map" those pockets of excellence, considering tools, training, activities, infrastructure, networks etc. which create, promote, and enable these practices
A new bernissartiid crocodyliform from the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation (Wealden Group, Barremian) of the Isle of Wight, southern England
No full textA substantially complete skull of a small crocodyliform recently found on the foreshore near Yaverland on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, southern England is described. The locality, mode of preservation and associated matrix indicate that it is derived from one of the plant debris beds of the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation (Barremian, Wealden Group). The dentition, unique among crocodyliforms, serves to confirm that the specimen is referable to the, until now, monotypic family Bernissartiidae. Apomorphies, including placement of the choana entirely within the pterygoids and disposition of cranial sutures demonstrate that the Isle of Wight skull cannot be referred to Bernissartia fagesii, known from contemporaneous strata. Furthermore, these characters indicate that the specimen should not be referred to a new species of Bernissartia. It is therefore placed in a new genus and species, Koumpiodontosuchus aprosdokiti. The systematic position of Bernissartiidae, and characters used to diagnose Eusuchia, including placement of the choana(e) within the prerygoids, are discussed. Until recently this condition was thought to be restricted to Eusuchia with all non-eusuchian neosuchian crorocdiliforms possessing choanae bounded posteriorly by the pterygoids and anteriorly by the palatines. While the choana of Koumpiodontosuchus aprosdokiti gen. et sp. nov. is entirely bounded by the pterygoids it differs from the choanae of eusuchians in lacking a median septum, being anteroposteriorly elongate and in its anterior placement.</p
The taxonomy and phylogeny of <i>Diopecephalus kochi</i> (Wagner, 1837) and “<i>Germanodactylus rhamphastinus</i>” (Wagner, 1851): Taxonomy of <i>Diopecephalus</i> and <i>Germanodactylus</i>
No full textThe Solnhofen pterosaurs Pterodactylus antiquus, Aerodactylusscolopaciceps, Diopecephalus kochi, Germanodactylus cristatus and Germanodactylus rhamphastinus all have complicated taxonomic histories. Species originally placed in the genus Pterodactylus, such as Aerodactylus scolopaciceps, Ardeadactylus longicollum, Cycnorhamphus suevicus and Germanodactylus cristatus possess apomorphies not observed in the type species of Pterodactylus, and consequently have been placed in new genera. The affinities of another Solnhofen pterosaur previously placed in Pterodactylus, Diopecephalus kochi, are less clear. It has been proposed that D. kochi is a juvenile specimen of Pterodactylus antiquus, or perhaps “Germanodactylus rhamphastinus” specimens are mature examples of D. kochi. Furthermore, studies have suggested that “Germanodactylus rhamphastinus” is not congeneric with the type species of Germanodactylus. Geometric morphometric analysis of prepubes and a cladistic analysis of the Pterosauria elucidate plesiomorphic and apomorphic conditions for basal Jurassic pterodactyloids. Germanodactylus is found to be a monotypic genus and Pterodactylus, Diopecephalus, and “G. rhamphastinus” are found as distinct taxa belonging in individual genera, diagnosable using a combination of characters. Thus, Diopecephalus kochi is not demonstrated to be congeneric with Germanodactylus or Pterodactylus and is maintained as a valid taxon. “G. rhamphastinus” is readily distinguishable from other Solnhofen pterosaur taxa, and a new genus is erected for its reception
The origins of major sessile cirripede groups; a revision of Cretaceous Brachylepadomorpha and Verrucomorpha
No full textThe taxonomy of Cretaceous cirripedes referred to the sessile orders Brachylepadomorpha and Verrucomorpha is revised. New taxa include the brachylepadid genera Crithmumlepas (type species C. hoensis sp. nov., C. aycliffensis sp. nov.) and Calvatilepas (type species C. recurvus sp. nov.). The family Pycnolepadidae nov. is established (constituent genera Pycnolepas, Faxelepas) and Pycnolepas batchelorum sp. nov. is described; a new eoverrucid species, E. barringtonensis sp. nov. is erected. Cladistic analysis of 48 characters of 18 operational taxonomic units, including 16 in-group sessile taxa yielded a consensus tree showing the strongly supported monophyly of Brachylepadomorpha + Verrucomorpha + Balanomorpha. It is recommended that the Order Brachylepadomorpha is abandoned, and its constituent families are identified as, respectively, stem group Verrucomorpha (Pycnolepadidae) and stem group Balanomorpha (Brachylepadidae). The sister-group relationship of Verrucomorpha and Balanomorpha, identified from many molecular studies, is confirmed from shell morphological data. The Neolepadoidea are shown to closely parallel the sessile adaptations of verrucomorphs and balanomorphs. The fossil record of key segments of cirripede evolution is demonstrated to be remarkably, and surprisingly, complete. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8F450F22-94BA-49D3-BAF9-A8377359D0E8.</p
The oldest Jurassic dinosaur:a Basal Neotheropod from the Hettangian of Great Britain
No full textApproximately 40% of a skeleton including cranial and postcranial remains representing a new genus and species of basal neotheropod dinosaur is described. It was collected from fallen blocks from a sea cliff that exposes Late Triassic and Early Jurassic marine and quasi marine strata on the south Wales coast near the city of Cardiff. Matrix comparisons indicate that the specimen is from the lithological Jurassic part of the sequence, below the first occurrence of the index ammonite Psiloceras planorbis and above the last occurrence of the Rhaetian conodont Chirodella verecunda. Associated fauna of echinoderms and bivalves indicate that the specimen had drifted out to sea, presumably from the nearby Welsh Massif and associated islands (St David’s Archipelago). Its occurrence close to the base of the Blue Lias Formation (Lower Jurassic, Hettangian) makes it the oldest known Jurassic dinosaur and it represents the first dinosaur skeleton from the Jurassic of Wales. A cladistic analysis indicates basal neotheropodan affinities, but the specimen retains plesiomorphic characters which it shares with Tawa and Daemonosaurus
A new pterodactyloid pterosaur with a unique filter‑feeding apparatus from the Late Jurassic of Germany
No full textA new long-legged, spatula-beaked, filter-feeding pterodactyloid pterosaur from Upper Jurassic plattenkalk limestones at Wattendorf, Bavaria, Southern Germany, is remarkable for its completeness, unusual dentition and hints of the preservation of soft tissues, including wing membranes. The fully articulated specimen displays both jaws each side with over one hundred sub-parallel-sided teeth with a small, slightly hooked expansion at the crown tip. There are at least 480 teeth in total. The tip of the rostrum widens to a spatula-like, laterally concave structure with teeth only along its lateral margins. The straight anterior margin is devoid of teeth allowing plankton-rich water to stream in, while the teeth interdigitate forming a fine mesh trap. A slightly up swept rostrum assisted filtering by probable pulsating movements of the long neck, while wading or swimming through shallow water
The taxonomy and phylogeny of Diopecephalus kochi (Wagner, 1837) and 'Germanodactylus rhamphastinus' (Wagner, 1851)
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