On a skeletally immature individual of Unaysaurus tolentinoi (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the upper Triassic of southern Brazil.

The lineage of sauropodomorph dinosaurs raised some of the most impressive animals that ever walked on Earth. However, the massive titans of the Mesozoic Era originated from far smaller dinosaurs. The Triassic beds from Brazil yielded the earliest part of this evolutionary history. Despite the diverse fossil record of early sauropodomorphs, juvenile specimens, as well as certain species are poorly sampled. This is the case for Unaysaurus tolentinoi, an unaysaurid sauropodomorph from Caturrita Formation (ca. 225 Ma; early Norian, Late Triassic). The holotype and only specimen of U. tolentinoi was excavated from the Água Negra Locality (São Martinho da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) in 1998. More than two decades later, no other fossil vertebrates have been reported from the same fossiliferous site. Here we describe a skeletally immature specimen which was found in association with the holotype of U. tolentinoi. The specimen was discovered after a first-hand examination of the holotype and comprises some isolated vertebrae and elements from the posterior autopodium. According to linear regressions, its metatarsal I is approximately 41.7 mm in length, compared to approximately 75.9 mm in the holotype. The repeated elements and reduced size indicates that it does not belong to the elements originally used to erect U. tolentinoi. Rather, the specimen is assigned to U. tolentinoi by topotypy and shared morphology. In addition to the reduced size, distinct lines of evidence (e.g., neurocentral sutures; bone texture) support its assignment to a skeletally immature individual. In sum, the new material expands the record of U. tolentinoi, and represents an additional juvenile dinosaur from the Caturrita Formation.

An unusually robust specimen attributed to Buriolestes schultzi (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic of southern Brazil.

Buriolestes schultzi is a small sauropodomorph dinosaur from Carnian beds (ca., 233 Ma) of southern Brazil. It is one of the earliest members of that lineage and is a key taxon to investigate the initial evolution of Sauropodomorpha. Here, we attribute a new specimen to B. schultzi from Late Triassic of southern Brazil, which represents the first occurrence of the taxon outside the type locality. The new specimen comprises a disarticulated and partial skeleton, including cranial and postcranial elements. It is tentatively regarded as an additional specimen of B. schultzi according to a unique combination of traits (including autapomorphies). Conversely, the new specimen is stouter than the other specimens of B. schultzi, as shown by femoral Robustness Index. Based on femoral circumference, the estimated body mass of the new specimen is approximately 15 kg, which is far higher than the previous estimations for other specimens of B. schultzi (i.e., approximately 7 kg). In fact, the new specimen and some specimens of Eoraptor lunensis and Saturnalia tupiniquim were found to be significantly stouter than coeval sauropodomorphs. Therefore, instead of all being constructed as gracile, the earliest sauropodomorphs experienced an unappreciated intraspecific variation in robustness. This is interesting because more precise data on species body mass are crucial in order to better understand the complex terrestrial ecosystems in which dinosaurs originated.

The elongated neck of sauropodomorph dinosaurs evolved gradually.

Discoveries from South America have increased our knowledge on the early evolutionary history of sauropodomorph dinosaurs. The dietary shift from faunivorous to herbivorous creatures and the increasing body size are both widely documented in the fossil record. Conversely, the initial evolution of the elongated neck is poorly known. It is one of the most diagnostic features of Sauropodomorpha. There is a gap between the record of short-necked sauropodomorphs from Carnian (±233 Ma) and long-necked forms from early Norian (±225 Ma). As a consequence, it is unknown if the cervical vertebrae became long gradually or abruptly. In the present study, we present a new specimen excavated from strata that belong to this time interval (±228 Ma). CAPPA/UFSM 0352 comprises a series of five cervical vertebrae unearthed from the Late Triassic of Southern Brazil. The vertebrae are proportionately longer than that of older forms and proportionately shorter than that of younger ones. Therefore, our results demonstrate that the elongation of the neck of sauropodomorphs is an example of gradual evolutionary process. Except by its elongated shape, the general anatomy of the cervical elements resembles that of the earliest forms (i.e., have a conservative anatomy). Combined with previous data, it is possible to conclude that the shape of the skull and teeth, as well as the neck proportions, were the first structures to clearly differ derived sauropodomorphs from early diverging forms. Finally, some of the recovered phylogenetic scenarios favor the origins of the elongated neck in the clade Bagualosauria.

Gnathovorax cabreirai: a new early dinosaur and the origin and initial radiation of predatory dinosaurs.

Predatory dinosaurs were an important ecological component of terrestrial Mesozoic ecosystems. Though theropod dinosaurs carried this role during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods (and probably the post-Carnian portion of the Triassic), it is difficult to depict the Carnian scenario, due to the scarcity of fossils. Until now, knowledge on the earliest predatory dinosaurs mostly relies on herrerasaurids recorded in Carnian strata of South America. Phylogenetic investigations recovered the clade in different positions within Dinosauria, whereas fewer studies challenged its monophyly. Although herrerasaurid fossils are much better recorded in present-day Argentina than in Brazil, Argentinean strata so far yielded no fairly complete skeleton representing a single individual. Here, we describe Gnathovorax cabreirai, a new herrerasaurid based on an exquisite specimen found as part of a multitaxic association form southern Brazil. The type specimen comprises a complete and well-preserved articulated skeleton, preserved in close association (side by side) with rhynchosaur and cynodont remains. Given its superb state of preservation and completeness, the new specimen sheds light into poorly understood aspects of the herrerasaurid anatomy, including endocranial soft tissues. The specimen also reinforces the monophyletic status of the group, and provides clues on the ecomorphology of the early carnivorous dinosaurs. Indeed, an ecomorphological analysis employing dental traits indicates that herrerasaurids occupy a particular area in the morphospace of faunivorous dinosaurs, which partially overlaps the area occupied by post-Carnian theropods. This indicates that herrerasaurid dinosaurs preceded the ecological role that later would be occupied by large to medium-sized theropods.

An exceptionally preserved association of complete dinosaur skeletons reveals the oldest long-necked sauropodomorphs.

The rise of sauropodomorphs is still poorly understood due to the scarcity of well-preserved fossils in early Norian rocks. Here, we present an association of complete and exceptionally well-preserved dinosaur skeletons that helps fill that gap. They represent a new species, which is recovered as a member of a clade solely composed of Gondwanan Triassic taxa. The new species allows the definition of a set of anatomical changes that shaped sauropodomorph evolution along a period from 233 to 225 Ma, as recorded in the well dated Late Triassic beds of Brazil. In that time span, apart from achieving a more herbivorous diet, sauropodomorph dinosaurs increased their size in a ratio of 230% and their typical long neck was also established, becoming proportionally twice longer than those of basal taxa. Indeed, the new dinosaur is the oldest-known sauropodomorph with such an elongated neck, suggesting that the ability to feed on high vegetation was a key trait achieved along the early Norian. Finally, the clustered preservation mode of the skeletons represents the oldest evidence of gregarious behaviour among sauropodomorphs.

Pelvic and hind limb musculature of Staurikosaurus pricei (Dinosauria: Saurischia)

The study of pelvic and hind limb bones and muscles in basal dinosaurs is important for understanding the early evolution of bipedal locomotion in the group. The use of data from both extant and extinct taxa placed into a phylogenetic context allowed to make well-supported inferences concerning most of the hind limb musculature of the basal saurischian Staurikosaurus pricei Colbert, 1970 (Santa Maria Formation, Late Triassic of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Two large concavities in the lateral surface of the ilium represent the origin of the muscles iliotrochantericus caudalis plus iliofemoralis externus (in the anterior concavity) and iliofibularis (in the posterior concavity). Muscle ambiens has only one head and originates from the pubic tubercle. The origin of puboischiofemoralis internus 1 possibly corresponds to a fossa in the ventral margin of the pré-acetabular iliac process. This could represent an intermediate stage prior to the origin of a true pré-acetabular fossa. Muscles caudofemorales longus et brevis were likely well developed, and Staurikosaurus is unique in bearing a posteriorly projected surface for the origin of caudofemoralis brevis.

O estudo da musculatura pelvica e do membro posterior em dinossauros basais e importante para entender a evolução inicial do bipedalismo em dinossauros Saurischia. Empregando uma metodologia que tem como base dados obtidos a partir de taxons viventes e extintos posicionados em um contexto filogenetico, foi possivel fazer inferencias bem suportadas relativas a maior parte dos musculos do membro posterior do dinossauro Saurischia basal Staurikosaurus pricei Colbert, 1970 (Formação Santa Maria, Triassico Superior do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil). Duas grandes concavidades na superficie lateral do ilio correspondem a origem dos musculos iliotrochantericus caudalis e iliofeoralis externus (compartilhando a concavidade anterior) e para o musculo iliofibularis (na concavidade posterior). O musculo ambiens apresenta apenas um ramo que se origina no tuberculo pubico. A origem provavel do musculo puboischiofemoralis internus 1 esta localizada numa fossa na margem ventral do processo pré-acetabular do ilio, representando um estagio anterior a formacão da verdadeira fossa pré-acetabular. Os musculos caudofemorales longus et brevis sao bem desenvolvidos e Staurikosaurus e unico por apresentar a superficie de origem do musculo caudofeoralis brevis projetada e expandida posteriormente.

A new herrerasaurid (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation of northwestern Argentina.

Herrerasauridae comprises a basal clade of dinosaurs best known from the Upper Triassic of Argentina and Brazil, which have yielded remains of Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis and Staurikosaurus pricei, respectively. Systematic opinion regarding the position of Herrerasauridae at the base of Dinosauria has varied. Here we describe a new herrerasaurid, Sanjuansaurus gordilloi gen. n., sp. n., based on a partial skeleton from Carnian-age strata of the the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation of northwestern Argentina. The new taxon is diagnosed by numerous features, including long, band-shaped and posterolaterally oriented transverse process on the posterior cervical vertebrae; neural spines of the sixth to eighth dorsal vertebrae, at least, bearing acute anterior and posterior processes; scapula and coracoid with everted lateral margins of the glenoid; and short pubis (63% of the femoral length). Phylogenetic analysis placed Sanjuansaurus within a monophyletic Herrerasauridae, at the base of Theropoda and including Herrerasaurus and Staurikosaurus. The presence of Sanjuansaurus at the base of the Ischigualasto Formation, along with other dinosaurs such as Herrerasaurus, Eoraptor, Panphagia, and Chromogisaurus suggests that saurischian dinosaurs in southwestern Pangea were already widely diversified by the late Carnian rather than increasing in diversity across the Carnian-Norian boundary.