Jean-Claude Rage

Découverte d’un dépôt paralique à bois fossiles, ambre insectifère et restes d’Iguanodontidae (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) dans le Cénomanien inférieur de Fouras (Charente-Maritime, Sud-Ouest de la France)

Resume Un gisement paralique inedit, d’âge Cenomanien inferieur, avec du bois fossile, de l’ambre insectifere et des restes de vertebres, a ete decouvert sur l’estran de la presqu’ile de Fouras (Charente-Maritime, France), a la suite d’une tempete qui a temporairement ote du littoral les nappages de cordons sableux et de vasieres. L’assemblage de bois fossiles contient trois taxons de coniferes ( Agathoxylon , Podocarpoxylon , Brachyoxylon ) et un Ginkgoxylon . Les insectes de l’ambre correspondent a des Dipteres, des Hymenopteres et des Homopteres. Les restes de vertebres sont principalement representes par des carapaces de tortues terrestres (Solemydidae), des vertebres de serpents ( Simoliophis ) et des ossements de dinosaures, appartenant probablement au genre Iguanodon . Pour citer cet article : D. Neraudeau et al., C. R. Palevol 2 (2003).

Late Cretaceous non-marine vertebrates from southern France: A review of recent finds

Abstract During the last few years, systematic prospections and excavations in the non-marine Campanian andMaastrichtian of southern France, from Provence in the East to the valley of the Garonne in the West, have considerably increased our knowledge of the continental vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, turtles, squamates, crocodilians, pterosaurs, dinosaurs, birds and mammals) from that time interval. A succession of faunal assemblages, corresponding to the Early Campanian, the Late Campanian/Early Maastrichtian and the Late Maastrichtian, can now be recognised, with a marked change in the dinosaur fauna during the Maastrichtian, but no clear evidence of decline during the last million years of the Cretaceous. The biogeographical complexity of the Late Cretaceous vertebrate assemblages from southwestern Europe is underlined.

Mesozoic and Cenozoic squamates of Europe

Squamates first appeared in Europe in the Middle Jurassic. They were lizards that already included some crown-group members. Faunas of the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous were more or less a continuation of the Middle Jurassic assemblage. The early Late Cretaceous was characterised by a peculiar fauna of marine pythonomorphs, while terrestrial forms were rare. In the subsequent levels of the Late Cretaceous, marine forms were mainly mosasaurids; terrestrial assemblages heralding modern ones began to take form during the Campanian–Maastrichtian. The Cretaceous–Tertiary event did not strongly affect squamates in Europe. After poor Paleocene faunas, a big wave of dispersals reached Europe during a marked rise in temperature at the beginning of the Eocene (MP 7). The Eocene fauna was rich, diverse and of tropical type. In western Europe, a sharp extinction event (‘Grande Coupure’) eliminated most squamates at the end of the Eocene, but its impact in central and eastern Europe is unknown. The Oligocene fauna was transitional between the ‘old’ Eocene and the modern Miocene faunas. By the late early Miocene (MN 3–MN 4), the fauna markedly changed when an important wave of dispersals entered Europe during a climatic optimum. From the late middle Miocene onward, the temperature has dropped. As a consequence, faunas became less rich and regionalisation occurred. Numerous extinctions and withdrawals took place during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene, leaving an impoverished fauna in Europe.

The Early Miocene squamates of Amöneburg (Germany): the first stages of modern squamates in Europe

Squamate faunas from the MN 1–3 interval (earliest Miocene) are poorly known in Europe and worldwide. Our research brings the first report on a complete squamate fauna from the MN 2 zone in Europe. It comprises a relatively large number of specimens from Wiesbaden-Amöneburg in western Germany. MN 2 is part of a time interval (MP 29–MN 2) covering the latest Oligocene–earliest Miocene, which has been labelled the ‘Dark Period’ as far as snakes are concerned. Unexpectedly, a high diversity of squamates was discovered at Amöneburg. This fauna fills an important gap in our knowledge of herpetofaunas from this time interval in Europe, and it represents the first true beginnings of the modern fauna. The new finds are important for the two reasons. Firstly, the beginning of the Miocene heralds the temporary return to a paratropical humid climate after the relatively cool and dry Oligocene, and the Amöneburg material provides us with the opportunity to observe changes in herpetofaunas during this crucial interval. The fauna comprises some survivors from the Oligocene, and especially new forms which may have either originated locally, in Europe, or dispersed from the East. Secondly, the Early Miocene was marked by the collision of Eurasia with Africa, an event that potentially allowed immigration of African squamates into Europe. Since taxa with African affinities such as Chamaeleonidae and Cordylidae are missing from Wiesbaden-Amöneburg, this suggests that African taxa did not reach Europe in MN 2, but were able to enter it during MN 3. One new species, Blanus thomaskelleri sp. nov., is described. http:\\zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:426A24DC-719B-4D13-86BF-E2858F1F1D49

Enigmatic Caudata (Amphibia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Gondwana

Abstract All living and fossil salamanders known till now are primarily Laurasian and have amphicoelous or opisthocoelous vertebrae. But Cretaceous salamanders from Gondwanan continents (South America and Africa) have procoelous vertebrae. One of them, from the Maastrichtian of Bolivia, is here described as Noterpeton bolivianum gen. and sp. nov. and it is referred to a family of its own, Noterpetontidae fam. nov. It is suggested that the procoelous Gondwanan forms could represent the sister group of all the other salamanders, but no detailed phyletic study can be undertaken on the basis of the available material.

Early Miocene dispersal of the lizard Varanus into Europe: Reassessment of vertebral material from Spain

Iberovaranus Hoffstetter, 1969 was erected as a monotypic genus of varanine varanid lizard on the basis of a single trunk vertebra from the Miocene of Spain. Thanks to the study of the holotype, as well as of a still undescribed cervical vertebra from the same locality, we show that the vertebral morphology of Iberovaranus is contained within the known variability of Varanus. Therefore, Iberovaranus Hoffstetter, 1969 is considered a subjective junior synonym of Varanus Merrem, 1820, and the species Iberovaranus catalaunicus Hoffstetter, 1969 should be considered a nomen dubium.

Micro-Computed Tomography Study of a Three-Dimensionally Preserved Neurocranium of Albanerpeton (Lissamphibia, Albanerpetontidae) from the Pliocene of Hungary

ABSTRACT The Albanerpetontidae, small salamander-like tetrapods from the Middle Jurassic-Neogene of Laurasia and northern Africa, are widely considered to be lissamphibians; however, relationships among major lissamphibian clades are unresolved. A recently identified, isolated, and three-dimensionally preserved neurocranium (early Pliocene, Hungary) referred to Albanerpeton pannonicum is described, incorporating information gained from the application of micro-computed tomography. It is revealed that the neurocranium is a robust, box-like structure composed of the coossification of the parasphenoid, otic capsules, and occipital elements. The otic capsule endocast reveals the morphology of the endosseous labyrinth, complete with well-defined endosseous semicircular canals and a modestly developed ventral endosseous auditory region; however, details of the individual auditory organs are not discernable from the endocast. Features of the neurocranium and endosseous labyrinth are consistent with the hypothesis that A. pannonicum, and albanerpetontids in general, were somewhat fossorial. The neurocranium and endosseous labyrinth exhibit a mosaic of anuran, urodele, and apodan traits, thus precluding refinement of the phylogenetic position of albanerpetontids. In general, the neurocranium and endosseous labyrinth appear most similar to urodeles, and similarities with apodans and anurans may be due to convergent evolution resulting from similar habits and responses to inner ear stimulation. This new neurocranium represents the best-known specimen of its kind for albanerpetontids, and the data presented here combined with future comparative studies will contribute to a better understanding of the biology and evolution of this group.

The fossil snake Cheilophis huerfanoensis Gilmore, 1938, from Eocene Of Colorado: redescription and reappraisal of relationships

ABSTRACT Preparation of the syntypes of Cheilophis huerfanoensis Gilmore permits the designation of a lectotype. Whereas Gilmore considered Cheilophis a snake of “unknown family reference,” this genus is now referred to the Boidae; it may belong to the subfamily Boinae, but its precise relationships within the Boinae are obscure.

The Amphibians and Reptiles at the Eocene-Oligocene Transition in Western Europe: An Outline of the Faunal Alterations.

Publisher Summary The Eocene–Oligocene boundary corresponds to a faunal turnover, the “Grande Coupure”, that has been prominent for amphibians and reptiles in France, Belgium, and England. However, tortoises appear to have not been affected by this event. The phase that preceded the Eocene–Oligocene boundary is characterized by both extinctions and diversification of faunas. Extinctions may be the consequence of the deterioration of climatic conditions. Concerning the crocodiles, the reduction of their population might be only an aggravation of a process previously initiated. The diversification of the fauna is rather surprising and remains unexplained. Few Eocene forms survived beyond the Eocene–Oligocene boundary. During early Oligocene, some oriental immigrants settled in Western Europe and their arrival probably contributed to the extinction of the Eocene autochthonous forms. Therefore, the “Grande Coupure” appears as the result of several causes. Although it is not simple, a stratigraphically well-marked event corresponds to the Eocene–Oligocene boundary in Western Europe.

A complete mandible of a new amphisbaenian reptile (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) from the late middle eocene (Bartonian, Mp 16) of France

ABSTRACT— A new genus of amphisbaenian reptile, Cuvieribaena carlgansi, is decribed from the late middle Eocene of France. This material from the locality of Le Bretou (Phosphorites du Quercy) is an almost completely preserved mandible. The dentary bears six teeth, with the anterior-most one the largest. The anterior teeth are blunt and enlarged (‘amblyodont’), and their size and amblyodonty decrease posteriorly. The presence of well-developed amblyodont teeth indicates a durophagous diet. Durophagy has already been recognized in some amphisbaenids, and their high skull, short jaws, and robust tooth morphology predispose them to this durophagous lifestyle. Several other amphisbaenid specimens have also been recovered from Le Bretou, mainly trunk vertebrae and two incomplete dentaries. This material and the complete mandible show unambiguous morphological features tying them to Blanidae. Cuvieribaena is the earliest secure record of blanid lizards in the fossil record, confirmed by phylogenetic analysis.