Ralph E. Molnar

A Miocene crocodilian from New Zealand

An incomplete indeterminate crocodilian angular from the Miocene Bannockburn Formation, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand is described. The fossil (probably a new taxon) represents the first undoubted occurrence of a crocodilian in New Zealand. Local palaeoclimatic indicators suggest the crocodilian lived in a temperate climate.

An allosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Victoria, Australia

The discovery of an astragalus of an allosaurid theropod in southeastern Australia extends the geographic range of the Allosauridae to include all continents except Antarctica and the Indian subcontinent. In addition, it confirms the presence of this family during the Early Cretaceous.

First pterosaur from New Zealand

The distal portion of the left ulna of a pterosaur has been discovered in Upper Cretaceous marine sediments in New Zealand. This is the first evidence of a pterosaur from New Zealand, the third from the Late Cretaceous of the southern hemisphere, and represents the extreme southern occurrence of a pterosaur. It is not referable to any described taxon known from comparable material.

Hypsilophodontid dinosaurs from Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract The Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Griman Creek Fm. at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia, has yielded seven partial femora of hypsilophodontid ornithopods. Six of these femora represent a member of the hypsilophodont group of the Hypsilophodontidae. Similarities of the structure of the medial condyle and popliteal region indicate reference to Fulgurotherium australe. The seventh femur appears to derive from a second, unnamed hypsilophodontid species. These specimens confirm the presence of hypsilophodontids in Australia.

A pterosaur pelvis from western Queensland, Australia

An incomplete pterosaur pelvis and sacrum has been recovered from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) of western Queensland, Australia. The public region bears close similarity to that of Pteranodon. As the pelvis is uncrushed and undistorted the orientation of the acetabulum may be easily determined: it was directed laterally and somewhat upwards and backwards.

A new theropod dinosaur from South Australia

Kakuru kujani gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Aptian Marree Formation, at Andamooka, South Australia. This small carnivorous dinosaur species is based on a fragmentary opalized tibia. The distal end preserves evidence of a unique tarsal structure in which the facet for the ascending process of the astragalus is narrow and high. The tibia is compared with those of 18 other theropod dinosaurs, and Kakuru is shown to be distinct from any known theropod. A pedal phalanx and ?fibular fragments from the same locality are tentatively referred to the new taxon.

The Jordan theropod (Maastrichtian, Montana, U.S.A.) referred to the genus Aublysodon

Abstract The Jordan theropod skull is shown to belong to Aublysodon mirandus,, a theropod dinosaur previously known only from isolated teeth. Although the skull is incomplete, it retains numerous primitive characters that set it apart from all other known Late Cretaceous theropods. These features include a long, low muzzle, relatively large teeth, frontals longer than wide, smooth nasals, V-shaped anterior margin of antorbital fossa, premaxillary- maxillary suture acutely inclined, and low angle of symphysis. Aublysodon is characterized by premaxillary teeth D-shaped in cross section and with posteriorly directed carinae, a V-shaped frontoparietal suture, and a peculiar first dentary tooth. It probably possessed small premaxillaries. Aublysodon is an aberrant theropod which at this time is best retained in its own family, the Aublysodontidae.

An Upper Cretaceous Ornithopod from New Zealand

Abstract The partial ilium of a Dryosaurus--like ornithopod dinosaurhas been discovered in the Upper Cretaceous Maungataniwha Sandstone of North Island, New Zealand. This is the first ornithischian dinosaur from New Zealand. At the time this animal lived, New Zealand was near the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, near 60 degrees S. latitude. This occurrence suggests such dinosaurs were capable of living in polar regions and may have lived in Antarctica itself.

New material of enantiornithine birds from the Early Cretaceous of Australia

Remains of tiny enantiomithines from the Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Queensland, Australia, include a proximal tibiotarsus and a cervical vertebra consistent in size with Nanantius eos (Molnar 1986). The new tibiotarsus differs in detail from the type and so probably does not pertain to the same species. The vertebra is platycoelous with a tendency toward opisthocoely. It shows that Enantiomithes had distinctive process of vertebral development, different from that in true birds which produces heterocoelous vertebrae. The excellent preservation of the vertebra permits the accurate orientation of fragmentary vertebrae in some Enantiomithes known from other continents. It also corroborates both the existence of Enantiomithines in the Early Cretaceous of Australia and the small size of the genus Nanantius.

A probable theropod bone from the latest Jurassic of New Zealand

Abstract A small bone found in the Huriwai Measures (Late Tithonian) south of the Waikato River, North Island, represents the first terrestrial tetrapod bone from the Jurassic of New Zealand. The bone, a phalanx, is hollow and is probably from a small theropod. Phalanges are not all uniform in form, and this one has a characteristic distal expansion that should permit identification should more complete specimens be found. Plant fossils from the Huriwai Measures suggest a forested environment. The specimen indicates that dinosaurs probably continuously inhabited what is now New Zealand at least from the Late Jurassic to the end of the Cretaceous.