The Albanerpetontidae are a group of small extinct lissamphibians ranging from the Bathonian to the early Pleistocene. The Upper Jurassic of Portugal is known to yield a large collection of albanerpetontid remains, ascribed to the genus Celtedens. However, recent studies have shown that the frontal bones used for species diagnosis display important intraspecific variation. Here, we describe 468 bones from the Kimmeridgian-Tithonian Lourinhã Formation, together with thousands of remains from the Guimarota beds of the Kimmeridgian Alcobaça Formation. They support the erection of a new genus and species, Nabia civiscientrix gen. et sp. nov., characterized by a unique combination of five synapomorphies: a bulbous/flabellate outline of the internasal process of the frontal in dorsal or ventral view; no sculpture on the postorbital wing of the parietals; the dorsal condyle of the axis with a recurved edge; the long axis of the iliac shaft strongly tilted posteriorly; and a limited pubic/ischial articulation flaring. This material represents the oldest albanerpetontid species from the Iberian Peninsula and potentially the third described from the Jurassic, during which time it played a major palaeobiogeographical role in relation to Europe, north-western Africa and North America. Our results further confirm the need to revise Celtedens. The material from the Lourinhã Formation suggests that other multi-specific microfossil vertebrate bonebeds should contain a greater variety of elements than is reported. We stress the need to review unpicked and unidentified material to look for postcranial bones rather than focusing only on cranial elements, as in combination they aid a better characterisation of this group. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2C0A83C0-93A6-45C5-A2A6-FF6C3AA3975F

In Portugal, iguanodontian dinosaurs are mostly known from the Late Jurassic of the Lourinhã Formation and are represented by dryosaurids and basal styracosternans. The Early Cretaceous record of iguanodontians in Portugal is scarce in comparison, with scattered and uninformative remains referred to Styracosterna indet. Here, we describe SHN.832, the first iguanodontian skull from Portugal, named Cariocecus bocagei gen. nov. sp. nov. The specimen was found in Praia do Areia do Mastro (Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra) in the Papo Seco Formation (lower Barremian), and comprises the right side of the skull, part of the skull vault and a nearly complete basicranium. Cariocecus bocagei is diagnosed based on autapomorphies such as the co-ossified maxillo-jugal complex and the trilobated shape of the supraoccipital. The phylogenetic analysis retrieves C. bocagei as a basal hadrosauroid in a clade with Comptonatus chasei and Brighstoneus simmondsi. Our biogeographical analysis emphasizes the effects of insular endemism during the Hauterivian–Aptian range in the European regions. We show that Iguanodontia originated in South America, and through a dispersal event towards North America during the Upper Jurassic, expanded their latitudinal range. Cariocecus and other early-diverging iguanodontians emerged during an eastward dispersal event in the Lower Cretaceous. We reconstructed the endocast, cranial nerves and inner ear of Cariocecus via segmentation of micro-computed tomography scanning, showing similarities with other Hadrosauriformes such as Iguanodon and Proa. We propose the most detailed inner ear soft-tissue reconstruction for a dinosaur so far, including the macula and sub-branches of the vestibulocochlear nerve, supported by the extant phylogenetic bracket. Based on the unossified suture of the cranial elements, we hypothesize that SHN.832 had not yet reached full skeletal maturity, and our restoration suggests a total skull length of about 45 cm. The supraorbital membrane was reconstructed based on the well-preserved supraorbital bone and comparison with modern taxa. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C02A3840-F7A5-44FA-882D-4403933EAB4C

Grylloidea are a very diverse orthopteran group. However, only two extinct families are reported, †Baissogryllidae and †Protogryllidae, with a very sparse fossil record. Here we present two newly discovered true cricket forewings (male) from the Middle Jurassic Yan’an Formation in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, northwestern China. We assign them to the subfamily †Baissogryllinae (†Baissogryllidae) and describe †Sinagryllus huangi sp. nov. This taxon can be distinguished from other baissogryllid genera and species by the following features: M+CuA separating from R before ‘r-m’, CuPaβ only fused with diagonal vein 1 over an extremely short distance, and AP strongly arched basally. This discovery is the first record of †Baissogryllidae from the Middle Jurassic of China, adding to the biodiversity of this family and extending its geological distribution. Combined with previously reported species of Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies), our new findings indicate a great potential of the insect fossil locality at Yulin City. Finally, we also constructed the first character state matrix and estimated the relationships of the †Baissogryllidae using cladistic analysis (MP) and Bayesian inference. The monophyly the family remains uncertain, but three included subfamilies are supported as clades. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BA25B7B0-5ABA-4E03-9BE3-8EA74F892050

Nothofagus trees are undoubtedly one of the most distinctive elements in the Andean region. With an exclusive distribution in the Southern Hemisphere, they play a relevant evolutionary role in reconstructing the phylogeny and biogeographical history of austral biotas. In this study, we assembled a phylogenetic matrix that integrates morphological and molecular evidence, incorporating both extant and extinct taxa of Nothofagus. On the basis of this phylogeny, we examined the evolutionary patterns of morphological traits previously used in taxon delimitation and tested whether proposed synapomorphies support species-level relationships, particularly among Andean taxa. The integrative phylogeny confirms evolutionary links between extant and extinct species, highlighting the importance of assessing leaf morphological characters when analysing extinct and extant species together. Differences in foliar features such as margin, serrations and venation are evident between primitive and more recently diverged clades. The venation pattern is one of the most informative traits, offering valuable insights into evolutionary processes and the responses of plants to environmental conditions. This research provides insights into the ancestral relationships within the genus Nothofagus and helps to elucidate its history, particularly in the Andean region.

Hyperodapedontinae is the most abundant and diverse clade of Rhynchosauridae, an iconic group of Triassic archosauromorphs, easily recognizable by their maxillomandibular apparatus, formed by a grooved maxillary tooth plate and a dentary blade. As the number of teeth (and possibly sulci and blades) can vary both ontogenetically and phylogenetically, understanding the development of such morphological traits is important to confidently score phylogenetic datasets. Here we present the ontogenetically most immature rhynchosaur ever recorded for the Brazilian Triassic. Measuring only 2.5 cm in skull length, CAPPA/UFSM 0295 most probably represents a perinate, as indicated by its unworn dentition. Though in a very early stage of development, the animal already possessed several key characters of phylogenetic importance, such as the well-developed anguli oris crest, a ventrally closed infratemporal fenestra, and a mixture of conical and pyramidal teeth in the maxilla. Yet some features, such as the number of maxillary tooth rows, are, as expected, strongly influenced by its ontogenetic status. The specimen shows only single labial and single lingual rows, highlighting the need for caution when scoring these characters in phylogenetic studies. Among Brazilian rhynchosaurs, the presence of a single maxillary sulcus, along with two rows of dentary teeth and an open infraorbital foramen, is observed only in Macrocephalosaurus mariensis, to which the specimen is referred. The diminutive size and virtually unworn dentition strongly suggest CAPPA/UFSM 0295 represents a perinate individual. This constitutes the first record of a perinate Hyperodapedontinae and one of the oldest archosauromorph hatchlings ever recorded in continental settings.

We present a detailed description of the craniodental and postcranial remains of the enigmatic Magerictis imperialensis, a basal Ailuridae previously known only from a single m2 from the Middle Miocene of the Madrid Basin (Spain). The discovery of new specimens from eight Middle Miocene (MN5–MN6) localities in Madrid has yielded comprehensive information on the dentition, mandibular morphology, and postcranial skeleton of this species. These new fossils provide an excellent opportunity to revise the phylogenetic relationships of Magerictis and related musteloids from the Oligocene and Miocene of Eurasia and North America. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that Magerictis and Rothictis gen. nov. are the most basal members of the Aiuluridae. Both genera, together with Alopecocyon, Actiocyon, and Protursus, underwent a limited adaptive radiation during the Middle and Late Miocene in Eurasia and North America. This radiation potentially includes the ancestors of the most specialized ailurids (Simocyon, and the ailurines Parailurus, Pristinailurus and Ailurus). The postcranial elements attributed to Magerictis, particularly the astragalus and calcaneus, exhibit a morphological pattern comparable to that of Ailurus, thereby distinguishing it from other Musteloidea. A systematic rearrangement of the primitive Holartic musteloids from the Oligocene and Miocene is proposed. The Ailuridae are divided into three subfamilies: (i) Ailurinae for Ailurus, Parailurus and Pristinailurus; (ii) Simocyoninae, which includes Simocyon, Protursus, Alopecocyon and Actiocyon; and (iii) Magerictinae nov. rank for Magerictis and Rothictis gen. nov. (type species Rothictis wintershofensis comb. nov.). The family Amphictidae Winge, 1895 is revalidated for Amphictis and Bonisictis gen. nov. (type species Bonisictis ambiguus comb. nov.). https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:15D893D5-0C61-4652-8919-DAEF998F3953

The anatomy of the enigmatic stem-reptile Galesphyrus capensis (Middle–Late Permian, South Africa) is redescribed in detail. The validity of G. capensis is confirmed based on its holotype, but the other previously referred specimen is excluded from G. capensis based on skeletal differences. The new anatomical data described here are included in an expanded phylogenetic dataset, designed to examine the relationships of Permian reptiles. Both specimens are recovered as early-diverging members of a clade which includes Millerettidae, traditionally considered ‘parareptiles’ and Neodiapsida. Consequently, Parareptilia is paraphyletic, as Millerettidae occupies a more crownward position than any other parareptile, themselves not forming a clade. Our results also demonstrate that neodiapsids originated at least in the late Capitanian, prior to the Capitanian Mass Extinction, and highlight the diversity of Younginidae, which includes three South African taxa. The exquisitely preserved postcranium of G. capensis sheds light on postcranial evolution in Late Permian stem-reptiles, bringing additional support for sister-group relationship between millerettids and neodiapsids. Our new data on G. capensis and other stem-reptiles demonstrate that the evolutionary history of the foot was remarkably complex close to the origin of Sauria, with some of the prerequisites to the evolution of the saurian foot and gait having already appeared by the late Capitanian. These overlooked Middle and Late Permian stem-reptiles have the potential to further our understanding of the origin of the reptilian crown group.

Following the end-Permian mass extinction, archosaurs underwent rapid taxonomic and morphological diversification. While the avian lineage expanded into a broader range of ecological niches during the Late Triassic, the crocodilian lineage dominated ecosystems as early as the Middle Triassic, achieving an impressive range of morphological variation. Among the several pseudosuchian radiations that characterized the Middle Triassic, Poposauroidea stands out as one of the most enigmatic groups. From the Early to the Late Triassic, poposauroids evolved diverse body plans: some species developed dorsal ‘sails’, others became entirely edentulous, some adopted bipedal postures, and others occupied apex predator roles. In South America, the fossil record of Poposauroidea during the Middle Triassic is relatively scarce, being limited to Schultzsuchus loricatus, a relatively large-bodied predator known from fragmentary remains collected at a site within the Pinheiros–Chiniquá Sequence. In the present study, we describe Tainrakuasuchus bellator gen. et sp. nov., a new poposauroid from Brazil. The holotype was discovered at a locality known as the Posto Site, in the municipality of Dona Francisca (Pinheiros–Chiniquá Sequence; Middle Triassic). The specimen preserves a partial lower jaw, cervical and dorsal vertebrae, and an ilium. Tainrakuasuchus bellator gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by a slender mandible, ziphodont dentition and relatively elongated cervical vertebrae, representing a new medium-sized predatory archosaur. Phylogenetic analyses suggest affinities with Mandasuchus tanyauchen, a putative poposauroid from the Tanzanian Manda beds. The close relationship between these taxa, along with the strong faunal similarities between the respective geological units, reinforces the correlation between units and supports a Ladinian age. Finally, the discovery of Tainrakuasuchus bellator gen. et sp. nov. expands the known taxonomic diversity of the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone and provides new insights into the key role played by pseudosuchians in the complex ecosystems of the Middle Triassic of south-western Gondwana. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3E0FA946-F24A-474A-8AD7-D50B1A09116C

We describe Elkanemys caelestis sp. nov., a pelomedusoid turtle, based on two specimens from the Baal locality, Portezuelo Formation (Turonian-Coniacian), situated on the northern shore of Barreales Lake, Neuquén Province, Argentina. Specimens MUC-Pv 2218 and MUC-Pv 2219 represent two individuals, preserving both the carapace and plastron articulated by the bridge, showing characteristics of Pelomedusoides within Pleurodira, such as absence of a cervical scute, lateral rounded mesoplastra and a wide posterior plastral lobe. MUC-Pv 2219 also preserves the skull which exhibits characteristics typical of Pelomedusoides such as the presence of a quadratojugal bone and the absence of nasal bones. The carapace of MUC-Pv 2219 exhibits an anomaly of supernumerary peripheral bones and marginal scutes. Furthermore, MUC-Pv 2219 presents a unique indeterminate sub-triangular bone element ventral to the dentary, which is not described in other Cretaceous pleurodires. Both specimens demonstrate shared features, including hexagonal first neurals with short posterolateral sides and quadrangular second neurals, reinforcing their placement within the genus Elkanemys. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers Elkanemys as a member of Podocnemidoidae, exhibiting close affinities with Bauru Basin species. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DB3A8AA5-5AF1-48DD-9F87-52884AB539BF

Azhdarchidae is a clade of pterosaurs which includes the largest-ever flying animals. The evolutionary history of this clade and its closest relatives remains incompletely understood and highly debated. To investigate this, we combined multiple preexisting datasets with 29 new operational taxonomic units and 57 new characters, resulting in the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of pterosaurs published to date, with a focus on Azhdarchomorpha. Higher level phylogenetic taxonomy of Azhdarchomorpha is revised based on the results of this analysis, and three new clade names are established: Shenzhoupterinae (cl. nov.) for the subgroup of Chaoyangopteridae containing Shenzhoupterus that is sister to the existing Chaoyangopterinae; Concilazhia (cl. nov.) for the clade uniting Chaoyangopteridae and Azhdarchiformes; and Serpennata (cl. nov.) for the clade with highly elongated cervical series that includes the giant (∼10 m wingspan) Quetzalcoatlus and Arambougiania. The iconic genus Quetzalcoatlus is recovered as polyphyletic, with its giant and moderately large species belonging to separate clades within Serpennata. Gigantism evolved convergently at least four times in quetzalcoatline azhdarchids: in Cryodrakon, once in a clade containing Hatzegopteryx and its closest relatives, and twice independently in different lineages of Serpennata.