Elena V. Syromyatnikova

The first ‘true’ Adocus (Testudines, Adocidae) from the Paleogene of Asia

ABSTRACT This paper describes a new species of the genus Adocus (A. inexpectatus, sp. nov.), based on an almost complete shell from the upper Eocene Youganwo (= Youkanwo) Formation of the Maoming Basin, China. The inclusion of A. inexpectatus in a phylogenetic analysis of Adocusia resulted in a polytomy with Adocus aksary and A. amtgai (both from the Upper Cretaceous of Asia). This clade formed a polytomy with the North American species of Adocus. Like other ‘true’ Adocus, A. inexpectatus has overlapping of the marginals onto the costals in the middle and posterior parts of the carapace and sculpturing of the shell surface with small grooves and pits. Thus, A. inexpectatus represents the first ‘true’ Adocus from the Paleogene of Asia. Other specimens from the Paleogene of Asia that have been referred to Adocus, characterized by shell sculpturing with small dots and unknown condition of the marginal/costal overlapping, are distinct from ‘true’ Adocus and herein referred to as ‘Adocus’ spp. Here we also report the presence of ‘Adocus’ from the Paleocene of North America. Our study indicates that the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the Adocidae was more complicated than considered previously, including previously unrecognized dispersal events between Asia and North America. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP

The Description and Phylogenetic Position of a New Nanhsiungchelyid Turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia

This paper describes a new nanhsiungchelyid turtle, Kharakhutulia kalandadzei gen. et sp. nov., based on two partial shells and additional shell fragments from the lower part of the Bainshire Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Cenomanian—lower Turonian) of the Khara Khutul locality of Eastern Mongolia. Our phylogenetic analysis places Kharakhutulia kalandadzei as the most basal member of the Nanhsiungchelyidae and suggests new relationships within this group. Previously reported nanhsiungchelyid specimens from the Khara Khutul are reassigned to Nanhsiungchelyidae indet. and Hanbogdemys sp. indet. Thus the Khara Khutul includes at least two valid taxa of nanhsiungchelyids. Our analysis of the nanhsiungchelyid record in Asia shows that other localities have only a single representative of this clade, making Khara Khutul a unique site. The basal phylogenetic position of Kharakhutulia kalandadzei emphasizes the importance of the study of this and other Cenomanian—Turonian localities of Asia to better understand the basal diversification of the Nanhsiungchelyidae.

Redescription of Zangerlia dzamynchondi (Testudines: Nanhsiungchelyidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia, with a Reassessment of the Phylogenetic Position and Relationships of Zangerlia

In this chapter we redescribe Zangerlia dzamynchondi Sukhanov and Narmandakh 2006, a poorly described nanhsiungchelyid turtle from the Djadokhta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian), Zamin Khond locality, southern Mongolia. We also present new observations on the holotype of Z. testudinimorpha, the type of the genus Zangerlia, and reassess some characters of this genus. Inclusion of these new data in a phylogenetic analyses of Adocusia (the clade uniting Adocidae and Nanhsiungchelyidae) allows us to reassess the phylogenetic position and relationships of Zangerlia. Our phylogenetic analysis does not support a monophyletic Zangerlia. All species of “Zangerlia” form a polytomy with Hanbogdemys orientalis, Anomalochelys angulata + Nanhsiungchelys wuchingensis, and Basilemys.

Fossil turtles of Slovakia: New material and a review of the previous record

This paper presents the first review of the fauna of fossil turtles of Slovakia. It is focused on the turtle assemblages from 11 localities (Sandberg Hill, Waitov Lom, Borský Svatý Jur, Kamenica nad Hronom, Ivanovce, Hajnacka, Žiar nad Hronom, Bojnice, Drevenik, Ganovce, and Levice) dated from the Middle Miocene to the Pleistocene. In addition, we describe new turtle material from the Hajnacka and Sandberg Hill localities and, for the first time, from the Borský Svatý Jur locality. This new data expands our knowledge of the composition of the fossil turtle fauna of Slovakia and the morphology of its representatives. It also enables a more detailed comparison of this fauna with the contemporaneous turtle faunas of Central and Eastern Europe.

Palaeobatrachid frog from the late Miocene of Northern Caucasus, Russia

Disarticulated remains of Palaeobatrachus sp. (Palaeobatrachidae) from the late Miocene (early Turolian, MN 11; about 8–7.5 m.y.) of Volchaya Balka and Gaverdovsky localities (Northern Caucasus, Russia) are described. Palaeobatrachus from Volchaya Balka and Gaverdovsky differs from other species of the genus by having four premaxillary teeth. It shows an intermediate dentition between pre-Pliocene palaeobatrachids with five or more premaxillary teeth and Pleistocene congeners with two or three premaxillary teeth. The variations in the frontoparietals and synsacra may indicate that two species of Palaeobatrachus co-existed in Volchaya Balka and Gaverdovsky. The wide contribution of the transverse processes of V7+8+9 in the sacral wings of Palaeobatrachus from Volchaya Balka and Gaverdovsky shows that palaeobatrachids probably reached an extreme degree of aquatic adaptation as early as the late Miocene or even earlier. The Caucasian Palaeobatrachus partly fills the late Miocene gap (MN 10–13) in palaeobatrachid distribution and extends the Miocene range of this family to easternmost Europe (European Russia). Elena V. Syromyatnikova. A.A. Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya ul., 123, Moscow, 117997 Russia; esyromyatnikova@gmail.com; sev@paleo.ru and Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia.

Reconstruction of the life history traits in the giant salamander Aviturus exsecratus (Caudata, Cryptobranchidae) from the Paleocene of Mongolia using zygapophyseal skeletochronology

ABSTRACT Here we describe life history traits in the giant cryptobranchid salamander Aviturus exsecratus from the Paleocene of Mongolia using non-destructive approach for skeletochronological analysis based on the counting of cyclical growth rings on articular surfaces of zygapophyseal processes of vertebrae (= zygapophyseal skeletochronology). We found that Aviturus exsecratus had a similar time of the attainment of sexual maturity and decreasing of juvenile growth (5–8 years) and estimated body size at maturity (50–60% of the maximum size) as modern cryptobranchids. Maximum longevity estimated for A. exsecratus is about 25 years. A. exsecratus had a developmental trajectory similar to that of modern cryptobranchids and is not characterized by extended ontogeny. Abbreviation PIN: Paleontological Institute; Russian Academy of Sciences; Moscow; Russia.

Two pelobatid frogs from the late Miocene of Caucasus (Russia)

Disarticulated remains of Pelobatidae are described from the late Miocene (early Turolian, MN 11) of the Volchaya Balka and the Gaverdovsky localities (Northern Caucasus, Russia). The records of both Pelobates and Eopelobates from the Volchaya Balka locality are the first late Miocene and the last doubtless record of their coexistence in the same area. The described Pelobates remains are characterized by a pustular type of cranial sculpture, which was known only in Pliocene–Recent forms. This record documents the appearance of the pustular sculpture in Pelobates as early as late Miocene, at least during the Vallesian-Turolian transition (about 9–8 m.y.). Elena V. Syromyatnikova. A. A. Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya ul., 123, Moscow, 117997 Russia; Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia. esyromyatnikova@gmail.com; sev@paleo.ru

Redescription of Pelobates praefuscus Khosatzky, 1985 and new records of Pelobates from the late Miocene–Pleistocene of Eastern Europe

Abstract A reexamination of the holotype frontoparietal of Pelobates praefuscus Khosatzky, 1985 from the Pliocene of Moldova and an investigation of newly referred frontoparietal reveal previously unknown characters for this species. P. praefuscus, considered a synonym of Pelobates fuscus, is regarded here as a separate species. It differs from P. fuscus in the presence of frontoparietal-squamosal contact and medial position of the foramen arteriae occipitalis and from all extant Pelobates in having the arteria orbitonasalis open posteriorly. The last character, previously known only in early Miocene Pelobates, is shown to be present in late Miocene and early Pliocene congeners, whereas in late Pliocene–Pleistocene congeners, the posterior part of the arteria orbitonasalis generally is covered ventrally by bone.