Fragment Of Mandible Research Articles

A new genus of Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Oligocene of Europe

A newly discovered, well-preserved skull and associated fragment of a juvenile mandible from the Early Oligocene locality of Poillat (Canton Jura, NW Switzerland), bearing close affinities with the rhinocerotid Protaceratherium albigense (Roman, 1912), are attributed to a new small-sized representative of early diverging Rhinocerotinae, Molassitherium delemontense gen. et sp. nov. Other specimens from Western Europe, formerly questionably referred to Epiaceratherium Abel, 1910, are assigned to this new genus. Comparison with the previously described Protaceratherium Abel, 1910 (including type material) and a phylogenetic analysis highlight the mismatch of Protaceratherium minutum (Cuvier, 1822) and Protaceratherium albigense (Roman, 1912). Given the topology of the most parsimonious tree, a basal split within Rhinocerotidae coincides with the well-supported divergence of the Elasmotheriinae and Rhinocerotinae clades. Relationships within Rhinocerotinae are [Epiaceratherium bolcense Abel, 1910 [Epiaceratherium magnum Uhlig, 1999 [Molassitherium gen. nov. [Mesaceratherium Heissig, 1969 [Pleuroceros Roger, 1898 [Protaceratherium minutum (Cuvier, 1822) [Plesiaceratherium mirallesi (Crusafont, Villalta and Truyols, 1955) [Aceratheriini, Rhinocerotini]]]]]]]]. The only paraphyletic genus in the analysis is Epiaceratherium, with the earliest Oligocene Epiaceratherium bolcense Abel, 1910 being sister taxon to an [Epiaceratherium magnum Uhlig, 1999, Rhinocerotinae] clade. In the single most parsimonious tree, Molassitherium gen. nov., included within the early diverging Rhinocerotinae, forms a clade encompassing Molassitherium delemontense gen. et sp. nov. and the type species Molassitherium albigense comb. nov. The range of Molassitherium delemontense gen. et sp. nov. is so far restricted to the late Early–early Late Oligocene interval in Western Europe (Germany, Switzerland, France; ‘late MP22’–MP25).

The first known chamopsiid lizard (Squamata) from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe (Csehbánya Formation; Hungary, Bakony Mts)

The Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Iharkút terrestrial vertebrate locality, in Hungary, has yielded several lacertilian taxa since its discovery in 2000. One of these is represented by a left mandible fragment and two dentary fragments. The characters observed on these remains support assignment to the family Chamopsiidae (Scincomorpha). Moreover, the remains belong to a new genus and species, Pelsochamops infrequens n. g. n. sp. Pelsochamops is the first known occurrence of chamopsiids outside North America and adds another scincomorphan lizard to the Iharkút fauna. It represents an additional evidence for dispersal routes between North America and Europe.

Comparison of Stability of Fracture Segments in Mandible Fracture Treated with Different Designs of Mini-Plates Using FEM Analysis.

To compare the displacement gap of mandible fracture segments treated with different designs of mini-plates under various loading conditions. Fracture in the body of mandible was bridged with 15 different designs and configuration of titanium mini-plates. Bite forces were applied at 3 locations, ipsilateral fractured side, contra lateral side and incisor site. 3D finite element methods (FEM) model of mandible was generated using 10 nodal tetrahedral elements. A commercial FE solver was used to solve bone inter fragmentary displacement during loading. Superior position of mini-plates produced better stability than inferior position. Positive bending moments can be reduced by larger plate in lower border in 2 plate system. Results of X mini-plate are comparable to 2 plate configuration. If length of middle portion of plate increased, stability decreased. Number of screws did not affect fracture stability. Finite element methods analysis is used to determine the gap between mandible fragments which is otherwise impossible to measure clinically. The results obtained from this study offered us a choice of mini-plate design and configuration for clinical application.

TRAGULIDS (ARTIODACTYLA, RUMINANTIA, TRAGULIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE SIWALIKS OF HASNOT (LATE MIOCENE), PAKISTAN

Tragulids are the best represented ruminants in the Hasnot outcrops of the Pakistani Middle Siwaliks (Late Miocene). The remains described in this paper comprises predominantly isolated teeth, maxilla and mandible fragments. The specimens can be referred to three taxa, namely Dorcatherium minus , Dorcatherium majus and Dorcabune anthracotherioides . The collection of Dorcatherium fossils from Hasnot is the most extensive record of this genus in the Siwaliks. The tragulids suggest a humid habitat with abundant cover.

Australlus, a new genus for Gallinula disneyi (Aves: Rallidae) and a description of a new species from Oligo-Miocene deposits at Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland, Australia

Gallinula disneyi Boles, 2005, was based on Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene (c. 25-15 Ma) fossils from Riversleigh World Heritage Property in Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, northwestern Queensland, Australia. If the generic assignment is correct, this species would be the earliest known crown group representative of Rallidae. We have therefore reassessed the phylogenetic relationships of this rail using both the original and newly recovered material. It is found to be a relatively basal rallid with some affinity to Porphyrio, and the new genus Australlus is erected for this taxon. A second species in the genus is described from Middle Miocene sites at Riversleigh World Heritage Property. A third rallid, smaller than either species of Australlus, is indicated by a mandible fragment, also from Riversleigh, but is not named. These rails are the only gruiforms known from Riversleigh and, with a single species of stork, are the only small non-passerine ground-birds known from these faunas.

The oldest African bat from the early Eocene of El Kohol (Algeria)

The Afro-Arabian Paleogene fossil record of Chiroptera is very poor. In North Africa and Arabia, this record is limited, thus far, to a few localities mainly in Tunisia (Chambi, late early Eocene), Egypt (Fayum, late Eocene to early Oligocene), and Sultanate of Oman (Taqah, early Oligocene). It consists primarily of isolated teeth or mandible fragments. Interestingly, these African fossil bats document two modern groups (Vespertilionoidea and Rhinolophoidea) from the early Eocene, while the bat fossil record of the same epoch of North America, Eurasia, and Australia principally includes members of the "Eochiroptera." This paraphyletic group contains all primitive microbats excluding modern families. In Algeria, the region of Brezina, southeast of the Atlas Mountains, is famous for the early Eocene El Kohol Formation, which has yielded one of the earliest mammalian faunas of the African landmass. Recent fieldwork in the same area has led to the discovery of a new vertebrate locality, including isolated teeth of Chiroptera. These fossils represent the oldest occurrence of Chiroptera in Africa, thus extending back the record of the group to the middle early Eocene (Ypresian) on that continent. The material consists of an upper molar and two fragments of lower molars. The dental character association matches that of "Eochiroptera." As such, although very fragmentary, the material testifies to the first occurrence of "Eochiroptera" in Algeria, and by extension in Africa. This discovery demonstrates that this basal group of Chiroptera had a worldwide distribution during the early Paleogene.

The first mandible fragment of Deinosuchus (Eusuchia: Alligatoroidea) discovered in Coahuila, Mexico

Here we report on the first mandible fragment of the giant alligatoroid eusuchian crocodyliform Deinosuchus found in Mexico. The specimen comes from Las Jicoteas locality, northwestern Coahuila. It was collected in 2007 by the first author. The fragment is from a left surangular, coming from the mandible of a Deinosuchus between six and seven metres in length.

Introduction à l’étude du site de Longgupo

The site of Longgupo, discovered in 1984, is located south of the crossing of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze, in the eastern part of Chongqing Province. Situated on the limestone slope of the Miaoyu Valley, three excavation campaigns have been carried out since 1985. The first two seasons took place from 1985–1988 and 1997–1998, directed by W.B. Huang and the last campaign from 2003–2006 by E. Boëda and Y.M. Hou. After the first two campaigns, the presence of several bones, with an estimated age of 1.9 My, notably including a mandible fragment attributed to a hominid 2 2 Due to a crucial lack of elements of comparison, this fragment has been diversely interpreted, oscillating between hominid and ape. and the discovery of more than 20 lithic artifacts incited not only great interest in the scientific community, but controversy as well since these data contradicted diffusion models of the first hominids out of Africa. Paleoanthropological data often being privileged over other data, including lithic artifacts, the anthropic nature of the site was contested. Yet the few artifacts from the initial excavations irrefutably demonstrate their manufacture by humans, in particular those in exogenous stone. To definitively re-establish the authenticity of this site by applying the latest investigative methods, a new Franco-Chinese campaign was organized. The objective of the 2003–2006 field seasons focused on understanding and analysis of the archaeological data in their geomorphological and stratigraphic contexts.

A new basal coelurosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Siberia

Kileskus aristotocus gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) Itat Formation at Berezovsk Quarry, Krasnoyarsk Territory (West Siberia, Russia), is based on an associated maxilla and premaxilla, a mandible fragment, and some possible associated postcranial elements. Kileskus gen. nov. is referred together with the Middle Jurassic Proceratosaurus from England and the Late Jurassic Guanlong from China to Proceratosauridae fam. nov. (Tyrannosauroidea, Coelurosauria) which is characterized by sagittal nasal crest (unknown for Kileskus gen. nov.), enlarged external nares, short ventral margin of premaxilla, and depth of the antorbital fossa ventral to the antorbital fenestra that is much greater than the depth of the maxilla below the ventral margin of the antorbital fossa. Kileskus gen. nov. is more similar to Proceratosaurus than to Guanlong in having anterodorsal process of the premaxilla inclined slightly anterodorsally and nares inclined posterodorsally, but differs from these two genera by having ascending process of the maxilla confluent with anterior rim of maxillary body and gently sloping posterodorsally. Kileskus gen. nov. has a basal position within the Proceratosauridae. Dilong from the Early Cretaceous of China with a parasagittal nasal crests is the sister taxon for the Proceratosauridae. The new taxon is one of the oldest members of Coelurosauria and Tyrannosauroidea in the fossil record.

Anfíbio e palaeonisciformes da porção basal do Membro Taquaral, Formação Irati (Permiano), estado de São Paulo, Brasil

In the east-central region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, good exposures of Permo-Carboniferous sequences of the Paraná intracratonic basin are found. These sequences start with the Tubarão Supergroup deposits, the Permocarboniferous Itararé Group, and the earliest Permian Guatá Group, of which the Tatuí Formation is the only unit occurring in the State of São Paulo. The Permian Passa Dois Group overlies the Tubarão Supergroup, with the Early Permian Irati Formation and the Middle Permian Corumbataí Formation. Two members are recognized in the Irati Formation, Taquaral and Assistência. Most beds of the Taquaral Member are gray laminated siltic-argillaceous, but sandstone beds are present in lower outcrops of this member. One of these sandstones, 9.5 cm thick unconformably overlying sedimentos of the Tatuí Formation, exhibits diversified vertebrate remains. The present paper deals with a Palaeonisciformes mandible fragment, one amphibian Temnospondyli tooth, and one Temnospondyli mandible fragment. These fossils are associated to Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes. It is an open question whether the Parnaíba Basin Palaeonisciformes Brasilichthys macrognathus and the Temnospondyli Prionosuchus plummery belong to the same taxa of the Paraná Basin fossils. Only better preserved fossils might solve this question.

A redescription of the ankylosaurid dinosaur Dyoplosaurus acutosquameus Parks, 1924 (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) and a revision of the genus

ABSTRACT The holotype of Dyoplosaurus acutosquameus Parks, 1924 (=Euoplocephalus tutus Lambe, 1910), represents one of the most complete ankylosaurid specimens collected to date. It consists of a partial skull roof, four mandible fragments with two teeth in situ, portions of postcranial armor (some in situ), skin impressions, articulated post-thoracic vertebrae, ten partial thoracic ribs, a partial left ilium, both ischia, and tail club, and associated right radius, left metacarpal IV, femur, tibia, fibula, and pes. We provide a detailed redescription of this material as well as comparisons with other ankylosaurid specimens referred to E. tutus. The synonymy of the genus with Euoplocephalus is not supported, and Dyoplosaurus is a valid taxon. It is possible that the fragmentary nature of the holotype of Euoplocephalus leads to the inference that the diversity of Late Cretaceous North American ankylosaurids is lower than it actually is. As such, it might be necessary to look beyond traditional cranial characters in order to accurately appraise the number and nature of various ankylosaurid taxa.

The Azokh Cave complex: Middle Pleistocene to Holocene human occupation in the Caucasus

Azokh Cave is located near the village of the same name in the Nagorno-Karabagh region of the south-eastern part of the Lesser Caucasus (3937.09’ N and 4659.19’ E, 962 metres –a.s.l.). Azokh Cave and other relevant Acheulian sites in the Caucasus (Fig. 1) were described by Lioubine (2002). Together with Mousterian sites (Klein, 1969, 1999; Hoffecker and Cleghorn, 2000; Hoffecker, 2002; Stringer and Andrews, 2005) and sites producing evidence of the Middle-Late Palaeolithic transition (Joris and Adler 2008), the Caucasus region has provided evidence of continuous human settlement of the area throughout the Pleistocene. The geographical location of these sites indicates the persistence of a natural corridor that Lioubine (2002) named the ‘Caucasus isthmus’ and which we describe as the Trans-Caucasian corridor. Based on a geological survey of Quaternary deposits in collaboration with the Armenian Academy of Sciences (Ferna´ndez-Jalvo et al., 2004; King et al., 2003), we observe that the topography of the area has changed considerably due to tectonic compression and periglacial isostasy. This is in agreement with estimations by GPS studies (Mosar, 2006, Mosar et al., 2007) and ESR (Gru¨n et al., 1999) that establishedan uplift rate of12 to14 mm/year or 0.8–1.0 cm/year, respectively. The corridor has changed greatly since the middle Pleistocene, with uplift and erosion altering the landscape, but it is likely that passage through the Caucasian mountains has always been possible. The Trans-Caucasian corridor and other routes via Turkey and towards Asia (Bar-Yosef and Belfer-Cohen, 2001) were migration pathways during the Pleistocene. Fossil humans in the Caucasian area are scarce. The site of Dmanisi in Georgia yielded the earliest known Eurasian hominins (1.7 Ma, Gabunia et al., 2000; Rightmire et al., 2006; Martino´ n- Torres et al., 2008). Late surviving Neanderthals are present at several sites: Mezmaiskaya Cave, in the Northern Caucasus of Russia (30 ka, Skinner et al., 2005), provided remains of late surviving Neanderthals; a mandible of a 2–3 year old Neanderthal child was found at Barakay Cave (North Caucasus; Lubin et al., 2002). Two incisor fragments and one premolar from Kudaro I may be human (Lioubine, 2002). In this context, Azokh Cave fills an important temporal gap. Azokh Cave contains a nearly continuous stratigraphic section from >300 ka to the present, and mandible fragments of Homo heidelbergensis found at the site (Kasimova, 2001) represent the easternmost extent of this species. Here we review the finds of this long forgotten site and present results of our recent work.

Bronze Age burial from Pabay Mor, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles

In 2002 human remains were reported eroding from a section of sandy cliff on the eastern side of the island of Pabay Mor, Isle of Lewis (NGR: NB 1048 3795). Subsequent excavation of the site was undertaken by GUARD, as part of the Historic Scotland Human Remains Call-off Contract. This revealed a burial of a mature male of approximately 50–59 years of age, placed in a grave adjacent to a marker stone. The burial was crouched and aligned north–south and accompanied by a small undecorated pot, a polished stone and a pumice polisher. A radiocarbon date of 1450–1290 cal BC (GU-13838) was obtained from human bone from the burial. A second, infant, individual, represented only by a fragment of mandible, was identified from disarticulated remains found at the burial.

New suoid specimens from Gebel Zelten, Libya

A restricted collection of suoids from Gebel Zelten was made in the 1990’s by the Spanish-Libyan Palaeontology Expedition. Dr Dolores Soria filmed the specimens with a video camera and took measurements of the teeth with vernier calipers. This paper uses the images from the video, which, even though somewhat limited in terms of picture quality, are of interest because they represent the first known snout of the gigantic suid Megalochoerus khinzikebirus. The images reveal that it is basically an enlarged version of Libycochoerus massai, but with relatively small premolars. The sanithere specimens from the site were photographed with an Olympus 1.4 megapixel digital camera, and the image quality is better than from the video camera. These specimens throw light on the degree of sexual dimorphism exhibited by sanitheres, a feature that was previously inferred from isolated teeth, but which can now be confirmed on the basis of the two mandible fragments from Gebel Zelten. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr Soria. This paper takes into account a few undescribed suid post-cranial bones from Gebel Zelten housed in the Natural History Museum, London, collected during the 1960’s by R. Savage.

Apterodon intermedius, sp. nov., a new European Creodont Mammal from MP22 of Espenhain (Germany)

A mandible fragment of a medium-sized creodont mammal representing a new species of Apterodon, A. intermedius has been discovered in a open cast mine near Leipzig (Germany), dated Late Ruppelian (MP22). For the first time an Apterodon species is well dated in Europe. The dental wear of molars is investigated under SEM. It looks like those described extant carnivores known as preferential flesh eaters. The new specimen together other mammal species questions possible migration ways from Africa to Europe, between the upper Eocene and lower Oligocene.

The excavation of a Bronze Age cemetery at Seafield West, near Inverness, Highland

Excavations in 1996 in advance of a major commercial development at Seafield West revealed a Bronze Age cemetery. Inside a ring-ditch were two adjacent graves with wooden coffins, one a boat-shaped hollowed tree-trunk, the other plank-built. Both had probably contained crouched inhumation burials. Grave goods in the former included a bronze dagger of ‘Butterwick’ type whose scabbard of wood and cattle hide produced a date of 3385 ± 45 BP (1870–1520 cal BC at 2s), slightly later than expected; those in the latter included an ‘Irish Bowl’ Food Vessel, believed to date to c 2000 BC. Both items indicate links with Ireland. Also inside the ring-ditch were: a short stone cist; a pit containing cremated human remains accompanied by three burnt barbed-and-tanged arrowheads and a mandible fragment, probably of a dog or fox; and three pits, at least one of which might have been an inhumation grave. Outside, and to the east, was a second short stone cist with a Beaker; to the west, a cluster of truncated pit graves containing cremated human bone and pyre debris, and in one case the remains of an urn and accessory vessel. One of these pit graves, dated to 3360 ± 50 BP (1750–1510 cal BC at 2s), contained the remains of an adult with cut marks on the skull. The cemetery is around 700m from – and on the same gravel ridge as – the multi-phase site at Stoneyfield, Raigmore, whose later phases featured a cist cemetery and a pit with a Cordoned Urn cremation burial. Some residual lithic evidence for Mesolithic activity in the area was also recovered.

The oldest Camelidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) of Africa : new finds from the Mio-Pliocene boundary, Chad

The oldest Camelidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) of Africa : new finds from the Mio-Pliocene boundary, Chad

A new scaphognathine pterosaur from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming, USA

Abstract A partial rostrum of a new species of scaphognathine pterosaur, distinguished by a thin median crest along its dorsal margin and a deep embayment of the dental margin, is the first identifiable cranial fragment of a pterosaur from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of western North America. By contrast with pterodactyloids, cranial crests are rare in “rhamphorhynchoids” and this is the first record of such a structure. The new material provides fresh insights into the taxonomic diversity of Late Jurassic North American pterosaurs. Based on the ratio of the skull and skeleton of Scpahognathus , the fragment represents an individual with an estimated wing span of 2.5 m. Consequently, this is one of the largest “rhamphorhynchoids” found so far. A mandible fragment from the same quarry has closely spaced alveoli, therefore cannot be referred to the rostrum. Its large size indicates another large “rhamphorhynchoid” in the Morrison Formation.

A rediscovered fragment of a human mandible from Predmostí u Prerova (Czech Republic): Predmostí 21

The paper presents a right mandibular fragment of Predmosti 21, recently rediscovered in the Museum of Olomouc (Moravia). It is a Gravettian fossil thought to have been destroyed during the Second World War. The authenticity of the fossil and its description are discussed and it is also compared with other fossils of the Moravian Upper Palaeolithic.

Enamel Hypoplasia in a Pliocene Hominid from Chad

Abel is the first Australopithecine known west of the East African Rift Valley. The fossil finds include a perisymphyseal fragment of an adult mandible with well-preserved crowns of the right I 2 -P 4 and the left C-P 4 . Abel's dentition displays many enamel defects, which are described in detail for each tooth. Pitting affected every tooth, while larger, shallow depressions were observed on the canines alone. From two to four pit bands occurred on the different teeth, each resulting from a separate hypoplastic episode. In modern humans, a large number of causes, both environmental and genetic, have been suggested for such enamel defects. It seems probable that Abel's pathology was systemic. However, the occurrence of a number of bands and the variable intensity of the attacks make it difficult to say whether there was a single, repetitive cause or different etiologies. Possible causes discussed here include recurrent fevers and seasonal nutritional deficiencies.