[dinosaur] Carpathiavis + Passeriformes phylogeny + snake pelvic bones + saber-tooth evolution + more

Ben Creisler
[email protected]

Some recent non-dino papers that may be of interest:

BIRDS

Free pdf:

Carpathiavis meniliticus gen. et sp. nov.

Gerald Mayr (2019)
A skeleton of a small bird with a distinctive furcula morphology, from the
Rupelian of Poland, adds a new taxon to early Oligocene avifaunas
Palaeodiversity 12(1): 113-122
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.18476_pale.v12.a11&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=2NOalFPDxE6zyR25gj_acWZw9ionHa-iNT3KAd3xMXY&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__bioone.org_journals_Palaeodiversity_volume-2D12_issue-2D1_pale.v12.a11_A-2Dskeleton-2Dof-2Da-2Dsmall-2Dbird-2Dwith-2Da-2Ddistinctive-2Dfurcula_10.18476_pale.v12.a11.full&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=fWueSKy5RbxWVfRUmxktmVc1bSirUAhp558N5P_Vcxk&e= 


A partial skeleton of a new small avian species is reported from marine
sediments of the Rupelian locality Jamna Dolna 2 in southeast Poland.
Carpathiavis meniliticus gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by an unusual
furcula morphology with stout shafts (scapi clavicularum) and a long,
rodshaped furcular apophysis. With regard to furcula shape and the
proportions of the wing bones, the new species shows a resemblance to the
taxon Eocuculus, which occurs in the late Eocene of North America and the
early Oligocene of France. However, there are some distinct differences to
Eocuculus, and in overall morphology C. meniliticus is also similar to the
late Paleocene/early Eocene taxon Songzia, which is a putative
representative of the Ralloidea (rails and allies). Even though a
wellfounded phylogenetic assignment of the new species is impeded by the
poor preservation of the skeleton, Carpathiavis clearly represents a
distinctive new taxon that has not previously been reported from the
Rupelian of Europe. In its skeletal morphology, the new taxon differs from
all extant avian clades and substantiates previous evidence that in the
early Oligocene morphologically distinctive representatives of extinct
clades lived alongside essentially moderntype representatives of extant
avian groups.

====

Free pdf:

Paweł Mackiewicz, Adam Dawid Urantówka, Aleksandra Kroczak & Dorota
Mackiewicz (2019)
Resolving phylogenetic relationships within Passeriformes based on
mitochondrial genes and inferring the evolution of their mitogenomes in
terms of duplications.
Genome Biology and Evolution: evz209
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1093_gbe_evz209&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=kAY8Rz4h3sCBP3L9VhJzSm0OJpUarOU-tzGr-RP79KQ&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__academic.oup.com_gbe_article_doi_10.1093_gbe_evz209_5580497_&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=mAVRsj1SWCXikglNplQg8r3HADPXZ9osOqAR6rr4zAc&e= 

Mitochondrial genes are placed on one molecule, which implies that they
should carry consistent phylogenetic information. Following this advantage,
we present a well-supported phylogeny based on mitochondrial genomes from
almost 300 representatives of Passeriformes, the most numerous and
differentiated Aves order. The analyses resolved the phylogenetic position
of paraphyletic Basal and Transitional Oscines. Passerida occurred divided
into two groups, one containing Paroidea and Sylvioidea, while the other,
Passeroidea and Muscicapoidea. Analyses of mitogenomes showed four types of
rearrangements including a duplicated control region (CR) with adjacent
genes. Mapping the presence and absence of duplications onto the
phylogenetic tree revealed that the duplication was the ancestral state for
passerines and was maintained in early diverged lineages. Next, the
duplication could be lost and occurred independently at least four times
according to the most parsimonious scenario. In some lineages, two CR
copies have been inherited from an ancient duplication and highly diverged,
while in others, the second copy became similar to the first one due to
concerted evolution. The second CR copies accumulated over twice as many
substitutions as the first ones. However, the second CRs were not
completely eliminated and were retained for a long time, which suggests
that both regions can fulfil an important role in mitogenomes. Phylogenetic
analyses based on CR sequences subjected to the complex evolution can
produce tree topologies inconsistent with real evolutionary relationships
between species. Passerines with two CRs showed a higher metabolic rate in
relation to their body mass.


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SQUAMATES

Alessandro Palci, Mark N. Hutchinson, Michael W. Caldwell, Krister T. Smith
& Michael S. Y. Lee (2019)
The homologies and evolutionary reduction of the pelvis and hindlimbs in
snakes, with the first report of ossified pelvic vestiges in an
anomalepidid (Liotyphlops beui).
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zlz098 (advance online
publication)
doi:  https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1093_zoolinnean_zlz098&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=12DofUOW5FbaaTn72FAFMxQjC24a4JfTc2QxFSFeclY&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__academic.oup.com_zoolinnean_article-2Dabstract_doi_10.1093_zoolinnean_zlz098_5581933_&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=2Vdbbg5QsR8eoNfvo5ns79v53umcAn1yOUQkpS1EBYI&e= 



We report the first example of ossified pelvic vestiges in an anomalepidid
snake, Liotyplophs beui, and provide a review of the diversity of limb and
pelvic elements within Serpentes. We trace the evolution, homology and
reduction of the pelvic elements and hindlimbs from the oldest known snakes
through to living forms. Evolutionary analysis of the pelvic and limb data
shows that the most recent common ancestor of all living snakes (Serpentes)
most probably retained all three pelvic elements and rudimentary hindlimbs
(femoral spurs). Subsequently, there have been multiple losses of ossified
pelvic and hindlimb elements and regaining of ossified pelvic elements.
Reduction of the pelvis has followed different routes in the two primary
groups of living snakes (scolecophidians and alethinophidians). The single
remaining rod-like element in some scolecophidians is the ischium, whereas
the single remaining rod-like element in many basal alethinophidians is the
pubis. Notably, many basal alethinophidians share a distinctive
configuration of cloacal spur (claw), femur and a sizeable pubis, which is
likely to be related functionally to the widespread use of the hindlimbs in
mating and courtship, rather than the usual representation of the bones as
non-functional vestiges.

====

Andrej Čerňanský  & Edward L. Stanley (2019)
The atlas–axis complex in Dibamidae (Reptilia: Squamata) and their
potential relatives: The effect of a fossorial lifestyle on the morphology
of this skeletal bridge.
Journal of Morphology (advance online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1002_jmor.21064&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=3bKcpPrIbXY4sE_Hxa7ed3wZisCbeZwben0X2tYaZV0&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__onlinelibrary.wiley.com_doi_10.1002_jmor.21064&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=EYUmNIvq1uiiqnfJa_e0Lk61S1ZRyUStLU7-64F6Ipo&e= 



We report on the first detailed study of the atlas–axis complex in the
lizard clade Dibamidae, a family of poorly known fossorial squamates
distributed in tropical or subtropical climates. This skeletal bridge is
characterized by several features, such as the complete absence of the
first intercentrum or the appearance of the first free cervical rib on the
axis (usually less developed in Dibamus relative to that in Anelytropsis).
Our study shows morphological differences of the atlas–axis complex in the
Mexican blind lizard Anelytropsis relative to those of Asian Dibamus, the
only two known extant genera of this clade. With regard to taxonomy and
phylogenetic topology of the Dibamidae within Squamata, a huge conflict
exists between morphology versus molecules. The morphology of the
atlas–axis complex is therefore compared with several potential sister
clades + Sphenodon. Dibamids share several features with limbless Gekkota,
Scincoidea, and Amphisbaenia. The complete absence of the first
intercentrum is observed in Rhineura floridana and in Ateuchosaurus
chinensis as well, and the free rib associated with the synapophyses of the
axis is also present in Acontias meleagris. However, some of these features
may result from a limbless, burrowing ecology and thus could represent
homoplastic characters. In any case, the morphology of the atlas–axis shows
that dibamids share most character states with skinks. Although the
atlas–axis complex forms only an additional source of information, this
conclusion is consistent with most morphological rather than molecular tree
topologies.

============

Aparna Lajmi.  Anjali Verma &  K. Praveen Karanth (2019)
Repeated evolution of terrestrial lineages in a continental lizard
radiation.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology (advance online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1111_jeb.13544&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=pieZ42L4rsdPxBxxvc6Gqh4K501zwDLIcffeX8XNSOc&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__onlinelibrary.wiley.com_doi_10.1111_jeb.13544&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=QBKsSSGI-_dFZIWJCMD5XfJCFETQ8KrtRnFhtVlpnmo&e= 


The "early‐burst" model of adaptive radiation predicts an early increase in
phenotypic disparity concurrent with lineage diversification. Although most
studies report a lack of this coupled pattern, the underlying processes are
not identified. The continental radiation of Hemidactylus geckos from
Peninsular India includes morphologically diverse species that occupy
various microhabitats. This radiation began diversifying ~36 Mya with an
early increase in lineage diversification. Here, we test the "early‐burst"
hypothesis by investigating the presence of ecomorphs and examining the
pattern of morphological diversification in a phylogenetic framework. Two
ecomorphs--terrestrial and scansorial species--that vary significantly in
body size and toepad size were identified. Unlike the prediction of the
"early‐burst" model, we find that disparity in toepad morphology
accumulated more recently ~14 Mya and fit the Ornstein‐Ulhenbeck model.
Ancestral state reconstruction of the two ecomorphs demonstrates that
terrestrial lineages evolved independently at least five times from
scansorial ancestors, with the earliest diversification in terrestrial
lineages 19–12 Mya. Our study demonstrates a delayed increase in
morphological disparity as a result of the evolution of terrestrial
ecomorphs. The diversification of terrestrial lineages is concurrent with
the establishment of open habitat and grasslands in Peninsular India,
suggesting that the appearance of this novel resource led to the adaptive
diversification.

=====

James R. Stewart  & Daniel G. Blackburn (2019)
A developmental synapomorphy of squamate reptiles.
Evolution and Development (advance online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1111_ede.12317&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=rlX06JIJ2RSwtLWwITXpnVKaVuzNJbVQiWtMaKNz4Z0&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__onlinelibrary.wiley.com_doi_10.1111_ede.12317&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=1tadPPIpQzD4RunctDxyy5StWGnCi2tXx1xWZAvQTzk&e= 

The reptilian clade Squamata is defined primarily by osteological
synapomorphies, few of which are entirely unambiguous. Studies of
developing squamate eggs have revealed a uniquely specialized feature not
known to occur in any other amniotes. This feature--the yolk cleft/isolated
yolk mass complex--lines the ventral hemisphere of the egg. During its
formation, extraembryonic mesoderm penetrates the yolk and an exocoelom
(the yolk cleft [YC]) forms in association with it, cutting off a thin
segment of yolk (the "isolated yolk mass" [IYM]) from the main body of the
yolk. The YC–IYM complex has been observed and described in more than 65
squamate species in 12 families. In viviparous species, it contributes to
the "omphaloplacenta," a type of yolk sac placenta unique to squamates. The
only squamates known to lack the IYM are a few highly placentotrophic
skinks with minuscule eggs, viviparous species in which it clearly has been
lost. Given its absence in mammals, chelonians, crocodylians, and birds,
the YC–IYM complex warrants recognition as a developmental synapomorphy of
the squamate clade. As in extant viviparous lizards and snakes, the YC–IYM
complex presumably contributed to the placenta of extinct viviparous
squamates.

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MAMMALS

Mauricio Antón, Gema Siliceo, Juan Francisco Pastor, Jorge Morales & Manuel
J. Salesa (2019)
The early evolution of the sabre-toothed felid killing bite: the
significance of the cervical morphology of Machairodus aphanistus
(Carnivora: Felidae: Machairodontinae).
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zlz086 (advance online
publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1093_zoolinnean_zlz086&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=zoFYTeXqW9OGTUG9i3M-WW0BhUn6jqIAipCjt7tzFO8&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__academic.oup.com_zoolinnean_article-2Dabstract_doi_10.1093_zoolinnean_zlz086_5581941_&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=QCUmI9ePLq5sUeA9ZWey2B73z-IkgCYt0x-JAOrH0vg&s=kA8xFnFbalOvDQFSpeXWZm79y9dyGUs_UzMIpgDiJ7Y&e= 




The study of cervical anatomy in the Miocene machairodontine felid
Machairodus aphanistus reveals the early stages of evolution of the
sabre-toothed adaptations in the homotherin lineage. The cervical vertebrae
of M. aphanistus show a surprising mosaic of features, combining a more
primitive atlas than its derived relative Homotherium, with a set of
elongated, caudal cervical vertebrae that display well-developed transverse
processes with complex and strong muscle insertion areas. In spite of its
primitive morphology, the atlas of M. aphanistus does show a slight caudal
projection of the atlas wings, indicating an emphasis on vertical motions
of the cranial portion of the neck and skull. The rest of the cervical
vertebrae of M. aphanistus show clear adaptations for strength, flexibility
and precise control of neck motions compatible with the canine shear-bite
model and comparable to those of Homotherium. Such a powerful and flexible
neck could provide additional stability to partly compensate for the risk
of canine breakage created by the less specialized adaptations of the skull
and cranial cervical vertebrae for the machairodontine bite.

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