Alexander W.A. Kellner

A new scaphognathid pterosaur from western Liaoning, China

A partial skeleton of a new pterosaur, Jianchangnathus robustus gen. et sp. nov. from western Liaoning, China, is described. The specimen (IVPP V16866) was collected near Linglongta, Jianchang County, whose deposits have a disputed age that range from Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. The new species shares several features with the non-pterodactyloid Scaphognathus from the Late Jurassic deposits of southern Germany, such as a deep anterior end of the lower jaw, a piriform lower temporal fenestra with the ventral margin broader than the dorsal one and the interalveolar spacing of the maxillary teeth about three alveolar spaces, allowing its allocation to the Scaphognathidae. The main diagnostic features of J. robustus include the large maxillary process of the jugal, the convex alveolar margin of the lower jaw and the procumbent disposition of the first three pairs of dentary teeth. The new Chinese taxon also differs from Fenghuangopterus lii, which comes from the same deposit and is here regarded as Scaphognathidae incertae sedis, mainly by the lower number of teeth and several proportions of the wing elements. The discovery of J. robustus demonstrates a larger diversity in the pterosaur fauna of the Linglongta region so far dominated by the non-pterodactyloid clade Wukongopteridae.

Short note on a non-pterodactyloid pterosaur from Upper Jurassic deposits of Inner Mongolia, China

Daohugou is an important locality of the Jurassic Yanliao Biota, where only two pterosaurs have been described so far (Jeholopterus and Pterorhynchus). Here we report a new genus and species, Daohugoupterus delicatusgen. et sp. nov. (IVPP V12537), from this region, consisting of a partial skeleton with soft tissue. The skull is laterally compressed, differing from Jeholopterus. The antorbital fenestra is larger than in Pterorhynchus. The upper temporal fenestra is unusually small. The short cervical vertebrae bearing cervical ribs indicate that it is a non-pterodactyloid flying reptile. The sternal plate is triangular, being much wider than long. The deltopectoral crest of humerus is positioned proximally and does not extend further down the shaft, a typical feature of basal pterosaurs. Daohugoupterus also differs from the wukongopterids and scaphognathids from the Tiaojishan Formation at Linglongta, regarded to be about the same age as the Daohugou Bed. The new specimen increases the Jurassic non-pterodactyloid pterosaur diversity of the Yanliao Biota and is the smallest pterosaur from Daohugou area so far.

New Information on the osteology and a taxonomic revision of The genus Thalassodromeus (Pterodactyloidea, Tapejaridae, Thalassodrominae)

ABSTRACT Thalassodromeus sethi (Pterodactyloidea, Tapejaridae, Thalassodrominae) is a unique pterosaur from the Romualdo Formation, Araripe Basin (Early Cretaceous, Albian). A large sagittal cranial crest (the largest known ossified crest of any pterosaur) and unusual toothless bladed jaws constitute some of its outstanding anatomical features. Its holotype (DGM 1476-R, almost complete skull and mandible in three dimensions) represents one of the largest pterosaur skulls ever found. Here, we provide a detailed osteological redescription of the holotype, which has only been preliminarily described. We also describe and depict for the first time some skeletal regions of Th. sethi, including the occiput, the palatal openings, and a dentary fragment. Finally, in the light of new information concerning this species, we revisited the specimen NMSG SAO 251093 (an incomplete mandible), also from the Romualdo Formation and originally referred to Th. sethi but recently redescribed as a new species of dsungaripterid pterosaur named Banguela oberlii. Here, the analysis of a cast (MN 4703-V) and its inclusion in a phylogenetic analysis recovered NMSG SAO 251093 within the Thalassodrominae, as a sister taxon of Th. sethi and indeed different from it at the species level. We hereby rename it Thalassodromeus oberlii, comb. nov. These considerations provide new data for discussions concerning the morphology of the Tapejaridae, the diversity of the Araripe pterosaur fauna, and the complex evolution of the pterodactyloid palatal region, as well as data for future morphofunctional studies of Thalassodromeus.

Revisiting Gryposuchus jessei Gürich, 1912 (Crocodylia: Gavialoidea): specimen description and comments on the genus

Gryposuchus Gürich, 1912 is the most diverse genus within the Gavialoidea. However, the type species G. jessei Gürich, 1912 has been subject of controversy and was regarded conspecific with G. neogaeus (Burmeinster, 1885) or G. colombianus (Langston, 1965). Here we provide a revision of G. jessei to verify the conspecific hypothesis and the implications for the genus Gryposuchus. Our study shows that G. jessei is a valid species, and a new specimen was referred to this taxon. The comparisons with other Gavialoidea species enabled the proposition of three exclusive characters for the genus. We further advocate a sister affinity between G. jessei and G. pachakamue.

New information on molecular features of the dengue virus type 3, panorama of the amphibian research in Brazil, and a new extinct Cretaceous angiosperm

This last issue of the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (AABC) contains 50 papers on a great variety of subjects, making it very hard to select those that should be highlighted in the present editorial note. This is also a result of the increasing excellence of the manuscripts that are being submitted to this journal, a developing trend in the last decade.Among the most important contributions of this issue is the paper by Jefferson J. S. Santos (FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro) and collaborators that unravels new molecular aspects of the dengue virus 3 (Santos et al. 2014). That dengue viral infection is a big problem in several countries is nothing new these days. Estimates of humans that are being affected by this disease are in the millions (e.g., Kyle and Harris 2008). Therefore, several researchers are dedicating their efforts in developing new ways on how to deal with this serious health issue, ranging from studies on potential new insecticides (e.g., Oliveira et al. 2013) to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms that ultimately might lead to the development of vaccines (e.g., Blaney et al. 2004). Here, Santos and colleagues have reported a successful way to create a dengue virus 3 (DENV3) and indicate a way on how to overcome the genome instability inherent to flaviviruses (e.g., Polo et al. 1997).Over the last decades, zoologists have observed that amphibian populations are declining worldwide. Despite the fact that in several instances it is not clear which are the exact causes for this decline, there is a consensus that the main factor is related to alterations of habitats (e.g., Beebee and Griffiths 2005). This is also the case in Brazil, although researchers agree that there is a general lack of knowledge regarding several aspects of those vertebrates found in the country, including geographic ranges and population status (e.g., Pimenta et al. 2005, Pirani et al. 2013). In a thorough review of the literature published from 2001 to 2010, Felipe S. Campos (Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Bahia) and colleagues have provided a panorama of the amphibian studies in Brazil (Campos et al. 2014). One of the conclusions reached by those authors is that the threat regarding amphibian extinctions in the country is underestimated due to the lack of knowledge that affects at least 25% of the known species diversity. They have also identified biases regarding research efforts, including the lack of studies about the conservation of amphibians, which is hampering the development of more effective ways to protect some critical habitats that might avoid the extinction of several endangered species.