[Paleontology • 2020] Dietary Palaeoecology of An Early Cretaceous Armoured Dinosaur (Ornithischia; Nodosauridae) Based on Floral Analysis of Stomach Contents

Borealopelta markmitchelli Brown, et al., 2017

in Brown, Greenwood, Kalyniuk, et al., 2020. 

  DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200305 

 twitter.com/Brown_Caleb_M 

  RoyalTyrrellMuseum.wpcomstaging.com

 Illustration by Julius Csotonyi.

 Abstract

The exceptionally well-preserved holotype of the armoured dinosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli (Ornithischia; Nodosauridae) from the Early Cretaceous (Clearwater Formation) of northern Alberta preserves a distinct mass within the abdominal cavity. Fourteen independent criteria (including: co-allochthony, anatomical position, gastroliths) support the interpretation of this mass as ingested stomach contents—a cololite. Palynomorphs in the cololite are a subset of the more diverse external sample. Analysis of the cololite documents well-preserved plant material dominated by leaf tissue (88%), including intact sporangia, leaf cross-sections and cuticle, but also including stems, wood and charcoal. The leaf fraction is dominated (85%) by leptosporangiate ferns (subclass Polypodiidae), with low cycad–cycadophyte (3%) and trace conifer foliage. These data represent the most well-supported and detailed direct evidence of diet in an herbivorous dinosaur. Details of the dietary palaeoecology of this nodosaur are revealed, including: selective feeding on ferns; preferential ingestion of leptosporangiate ferns to the exclusion of Osmundaceae and eusporangiate ferns such as Marattiaceae; and incidental consumption of cycad–cycadophyte and conifer leaves. The presence of significant (6%) charcoal may represent the dietary use of recently burned conifer forest undergoing fern succession, early evidence of a fire succession ecology, as is associated with many modern large herbivores.

Keywords: cololite, Ankylosauria, diet, Canada, Clearwater Formation, Cretaceous

Figure 1. Location of abdominal mass, including stomach contents (cololite), within the well-preserved nodosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli (TMP 2011.033.0001).
Photograph (a) and scientific line drawing (b) of the specimen in dorsal view. Schematic drawing (c) of specimen showing position and extent of abdominal mass, as well as extrapolated body outline. Inset (d) of i, showing close up photograph of dorsal view of posterior margin of abdominal mass. Inset (e) of ii, showing detailed map of extent of abdominal mass. (f) Schematic drawing of Kunbarrasaurus ieversi (GM F18101) scaled to (c), showing relative size and positon of cololite. Solid orange, observed cololite; hatched orange, inferred cololite. A, anterior; L, lateral. Scale bars in (a,b,c,f) are 1 m, and in (d,e) are 10 cm.

Figure 4. Palaeobotanical elements observed on the cololite histological slides.
(a) Clubmoss (Lycopodiopsida) sporangium type C with Echinatisporis sp. (Lycopodiaceae or Selaginellaceae), (b–d) isolated leptosporangiate fern sporangia with spores in situ, (b) sporangium type F with Cicatricosisporites sp. (Schizaeaceae), (c) sporangium type E with Deltoidospora sp. (fam. indet.) or Biretrisporites sp. (Matoniaceae-Cyatheaceae-Dicksoniaceae), (d) sporangium type A (spore indet.), (e) charcoal/blackened plant fragment, (f) square stem cross-section, (g) cuticle without stomata displaying sinuous lateral cell walls (Type 1), (h) leaf cross section, (i) cuticle with stomata and sinuous lateral cell walls (Type 2), (j) cuticle with stomata Type B, (k) thickened cells/ sclerenchyma, (l) cuticle with stomata (Type A), (m) twig cross-section showing annual rings. (c,d,j,k) scale bars = 40 µm; (a,b,e,g,h,i,l) scale bars = 100 µm; (m,f) scale bars = 400 µm.

Figure 6. Composition of the cololite determined from microscopy of thin sections.
(a) Breakdown of slide area (slide 2 only) occupied by gastroliths, matrix, plant fragments and void space as only slide 2 was scored for the non-plant composition. Breakdown of the plant fragment composition only (across all slides) into tissue types (b) and leaf specific tissue types. Breakdown of plant fragments (across all slides) into broad taxonomic groups (c).

Figure 3. Gates Formation (Grand Cache Member) plant fossils from central Alberta.
(a) Pterophyllum sp. (TMP 1990.027.0021), (b) Sphenopteris sp. (TMP 1981.055.0103), (c) Gleichenites sp. (USask 925-7273), (d) Ginkgoites sp. (TMP 1990.027.0020), (e) Taeniopteris sp. (TMP 1981.055.0006), (f) Cladophlebis sp. (top left) and Elatides sp. (arrow) (TMP 1981.055.0012), (g) Elatides curvifolia (TMP 2015.006.0469), (h) Sagenopteris sp. (TMP 1981.055.0033), (i) Equisetites sp. (USask 750-7557), (j) conifer cone (TMP 1981.055.0044) and (k) Coniopteris sp. (TMP 1981.055.0058). Scale bars = 1 cm.

Life reconstruction of the Cretaceous Period armoured dinosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli, which lived 110 million years ago in what is now Alberta, eating ferns.

 Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Illustration by Julius Csotonyi.

Caleb M. Brown, David R. Greenwood, Jessica E. Kalyniuk, Dennis R. Braman, Donald M. Henderson, Cathy L. Greenwood and James F. Basinger. 2020. Dietary Palaeoecology of An Early Cretaceous Armoured Dinosaur (Ornithischia; Nodosauridae) Based on Floral Analysis of Stomach Contents.  Royal Society Open Science.   DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200305 

 twitter.com/Brown_Caleb_M/status/1268190591839428608  

A Nodosaur’s Last Meal

 The world’s best-preserved armoured dinosaur, the nodosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli, continues to answer important questions about its biology and behaviour.

 RoyalTyrrellMuseum.wpcomstaging.com/2020/06/03/nodosaurs-last-meal

[Paleontology • 2018] Invictarx zephyri • A New Nodosaurid Ankylosaur (Dinosauria: Thyreophora) from the Upper Cretaceous Menefee Formation of New Mexico

 Invictarx zephyri 

McDonald​ & Wolfe, 2018

   DOI:  10.7717/peerj.5435 

ValleyoftheMastodon.wordpress.com 

Illustration by Kara Kelley

Abstract

Nodosauridae is a clade of armored dinosaurs with a rich fossil record and long history of study in North America. Nodosaurid fossils have been collected throughout the western United States and Canada. Here, we report three new nodosaurid specimens from the Upper Cretaceous (lower Campanian) Allison Member of the Menefee Formation, San Juan Basin, northwestern New Mexico. The three specimens belong to a new genus and species, Invictarx zephyri, characterized by a unique combination of features pertaining to the morphology of the osteoderms. Among the three specimens there are representative cervical/pectoral and thoracic osteoderms, as well as components of a probable co-ossified pelvic shield. The new tax on is most similar to Glyptodontopelta mimus from the Maastrichtian of New Mexico.

Figure 1: Stratigraphic occurrences of Invictarx zephyri and other ankylosaurs from the San Juan Basin.
Generalized stratigraphic column of Upper Cretaceous strata in the San Juan Basin, northwestern New Mexico, showing the stratigraphic positions of the nodosaurids I. zephyri and Glyptodontopelta mimus and the ankylosaurids Ahshislepelta minor, Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis, and Ziapelta sanjuanensis. Ankylosaur occurrence data are from Sullivan & Lucas (2015).

Nodosaurid silhouette by Scott Hartman (creativecommons.org), and ankylosaurid silhouette by Andrew A. Farke (creativecommons.org), both available from PhyloPic. Stratigraphic column is derived from data in Miller, Carey & Thompson-Rizer (1991), Molenaar et al. (2002), Sullivan & Lucas (2006), and Fowler (2017).

Illustration by Kara Kelley 

ValleyoftheMastodon.wordpress.com  

Systematic paleontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842, sensu Baron, Norman & Barrett, 2017

Ornithischia Seeley, 1888, sensu Sereno, 2005

Thyreophora Nopcsa, 1915, sensu Sereno, 2005

Ankylosauria Osborn, 1923, sensu Sereno, 2005

Nodosauridae Marsh, 1890, sensu Sereno, 2005

Invictarx zephyri gen. et sp. nov.

Holotype: WSC 16505, incomplete postcranial skeleton including fragments of a dorsal rib, six complete or partial identifiable osteoderms (WSC 16505.1–WSC 16505.6), and fragments of additional osteoderms.

Referred specimens: Natural History Museum of Utah (UMNH) VP 28350, incomplete postcranial skeleton including three dorsal vertebrae, fragments of dorsal ribs, distal end of left humerus, distal end of left ulna, proximal ends of left and right radii, incomplete metacarpal, numerous incomplete but identifiable osteoderms, and fragments of additional osteoderms; UMNH VP 28351, incomplete postcranial skeleton including fragments of several dorsal centra, fragments of dorsal ribs, numerous incomplete but identifiable osteoderms, and fragments of additional osteoderms.

Etymology: Invictarx is derived from the Latin words invictus (“invincible, unconquerable”) and arx (“fortress”), in reference to the well-armored nature of ankylosaurian dinosaurs. The specific name, zephyri, is the genitive form of the Latin masculine noun zephyrus, “west wind,” in reference to the blustery conditions that prevail among the outcrops where the specimens were discovered. The full name may be translated as “unconquerable fortress of the western wind.”

Locality: All specimens were collected in San Juan County, New Mexico, on land administered by the U.S. BLM. Precise locality data are on file at WSC, UMNH, and the BLM.

Horizon: All specimens were collected from outcrops of the Juans Lake Beds (Miller, Carey & Thompson-Rizer, 1991) (Fig. 1), upper part of the Allison Member, Menefee Formation; lower Campanian, Upper Cretaceous (Molenaar et al., 2002; Lucas et al., 2005).

Specific diagnosis (as for genus by monotypy): nodosaurid ankylosaur distinguished by the following unique combination of characters: (1) observable on WSC 16505, UMNH VP 28350, and UMNH VP 28351 cervical/pectoral, thoracic, and pelvic osteoderms exhibit overall smooth surface texture, with little or no projecting rugosity, with abundant pits distributed randomly over the entire external surface, and with no neurovascular grooves or a small number of bifurcating and non-bifurcating neurovascular grooves distributed randomly, similar to Glyptodontopelta mimus but lacking the dense pattern of dendritic grooves that characterizes that taxon (Burns, 2008; Burns & Currie, 2014); (2) observable on WSC 16505 and UMNH VP 28351 some thoracic osteoderms exhibit a low, rounded keel with a deep groove extending craniocaudally along the apex, also present in the ankylosaurids Anodontosaurus lambei (Fig. 13G in Penkalski (2018)) and Platypelta coombsi (Fig. 13O in Penkalski (2018)) (P. Penkalski, 2018, personal communication), but absent in G. mimus (Burns, 2008); and (3) observable on UMNH VP 28351 probably possessed a co-ossified pelvic shield consisting of polygonal osteoderms of uniform size (Category 3 of Arbour, Burns & Currie (2011)), similar to some other nodosaurids, including Nodosaurus textilis (Lull, 1921), Stegopelta landerensis (Moodie, 1910), G. mimus (Ford, 2000; Burns, 2008), and Europelta carbonensis (Kirkland et al., 2013), as well as the ankylosaurid Aletopelta coombsi (Ford & Kirkland, 2001; Arbour & Currie, 2016).

....

Conclusions: 

The new nodosaurid I. zephyri provides further insight into the poorly known vertebrate fossil record of the Allison Member of the Menefee Formation. Although the known material is fragmentary, the osteoderms exhibit a unique combination of characters. The occurrence of Invictarx in the early Campanian of southern Laramidia aligns with previous hypotheses that nodosaurids were present in Laramidia throughout the Late Cretaceous, even as ankylosaurids suffered a local extinction and later reinvaded from Asia (Arbour, Zanno & Gates, 2016).

Andrew T. McDonald​ and Douglas G. Wolfe. 2018. A New Nodosaurid Ankylosaur (Dinosauria: Thyreophora) from the Upper Cretaceous Menefee Formation of New Mexico. PeerJ. 6:e5435.  DOI:  10.7717/peerj.5435

 facebook.com/WesternScienceCenter/posts/10156420894811130

 valleyofthemastodon.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/fossil-friday-invictarx-zephyri

[Paleontology • 2018] Acantholipan gonzalezi • Paleodiversity of Late Cretaceous Ankylosauria from Mexico and Their Phylogenetic Significance

Acantholipan gonzalezi 

Rivera-Sylva, Frey, Stinnesbeck, Carbot-Chanona, Sanchez-Uribe & Guzmán-Gutiérrez, 2018

DOI: 10.1007/s13358-018-0153-1 

Abstract

Isolated bones and osteoderms of ankylosaurian dinosaurs recovered from Late Cretaceous sediments of northern Coahuila, northeastern Mexico, have been identified as remains of nodosaurids. Here, we summarize these discoveries and provide a review on Mexican Ankylosauria from a taxonomic perspective. We also present a new taxon, Acantholipan gonzalezi gen. et sp. nov. from the Pen Formation and provide a phylogenetic analysis integrating the new taxon. A. gonzalezi is the first named ankylosaur from Mexico that adds to the currently rare nodosaurid diversity from southern Laramidia.

Keywords: Dinosaur, Nodosauridae, Pen Formation, Mexico, Endemism, Laramidia 

Dinosauria Owen (1842)

Ornithischia Seeley (1887)

Thyreophora Nopcsa (1915)

Ankylosauria Osborn (1923)

Nodosauridae Marsh, 1890

Acantholipan gen. nov.

 Acantholipan gonzalezi sp. nov.

 Etymology: Greek αγκάθι (acanthus) = spine; and the Spanish contraction of Lépai-Ndé (gray people) lipan, a tribe of Apaches from northern Mexico; gonzalezi = in honor of Arturo H. Gonzalez González, for his outstanding support to Mexican paleontology.

Héctor E. Rivera-Sylva, Eberhard Frey, Wolfgang Stinnesbeck, Gerardo Carbot-Chanona, Iván E. Sanchez-Uribe and José Rubén Guzmán-Gutiérrez. 2018. Paleodiversity of Late Cretaceous Ankylosauria from Mexico and Their Phylogenetic Significance. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology DOI: 10.1007/s13358-018-0153-1

 Rivera-Sylva, H.E., Carpenter, K. and Aranda-Manteca, F.J. 2011, Late Cretaceous Nodosaurids (Ankylosauria: Ornithischia) from Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas. 28(3); 271–278.  satori.geociencias.unam.mx/28-3/(04)RiveraSylva.pdf

Presenta el MUDE nueva especie de dinosaurio: Acantholipan Gonzalezi elheraldodesaltillo.mx/2018/06/11/presenta-el-mude-nueva-especie-de-dinosaurio-acantholipan-gonzalezi/

Descubren nueva especie de dinosaurio acorazado en Coahuila http://diario19.com/archivos/35634/descubren-nueva-especie-de-dinosaurio-acorazado-en-coahuila/

[Paleontology • 2017] Borealopelta markmitchelli • An Exceptionally Preserved Armored Dinosaur reveals the Morphology and Allometry of Osteoderms and their Horny Epidermal Coverings

Borealopelta markmitchelli 

Brown, Henderson, Vinther, et al., 2017

Brown​. 2017.  DOI:  10.7717/peerj.4066  @Brown_Caleb_M

Abstract

Although the evolution and function of “exaggerated” bony projections in ornithischian dinosaurs has been subject to significant debate recently, our understanding of the structure and morphology of their epidermal keratinized coverings is greatly limited. The holotype of Borealopelta, a new nodosaurid ankylosaur, preserves osteoderms and extensive epidermal structures (dark organic residues), in anatomic position across the entire precaudal length. Contrasting previous specimens, organic epiosteodermal scales, often in the form of horn-like (keratinous) sheaths, cap and exaggerate nearly all osteoderms, allowing for morphometric and allometric analyses of both the bony osteoderms and their horny sheaths. A total of 172 osteoderms were quantified, with osteoderm spine length and height being positively allometric with respect to basal length and width. Despite tight correlations between the different measures amongst all other osteoderms, the large parascapular spines represent consistent outliers. Thickness and relative contribution of the keratinized epiosteodermal scales/sheaths varies greatly by region, ranging from 2% to 6% for posterior thoracics, to ∼25% (1.3×) for the parascapular spines—similar to horn sheaths in some bovid analogues. Relative to the bony cores, the horny portions of the spines are strongly positively allometric (slope = 2.3, CI = 1.8–2.8). Strong allometric scaling, species-specific morphology, and significant keratinous extension of the cervicoscapular spines is consistent with elaboration under socio-sexual selection. This marks the first allometric analysis of ornithischian soft tissues.

  

Figure 1: Dorsal view of TMP 2011.033.0001, showing both photocomposite and schematic line drawing.
 (A) Photocomposite dorsal view of TMP 2011.033.0001. (B) Schematic line drawing of (A) showing osteoderm regions by color. (C) Inset showing constituent blocks of TMP 2011.033.0001, and their relative position within a body outline in dorsal view. Photocomposite (A), created using separate, orthogonal images of blocks A–C, D, E, F–I, and J and combined digitally to reduce parallax. Blocks F, G, H, and I represent reflected counterpart.

  

Figure 2: Single dorsal photograph of TMP 2011.033.0001.
Sacral region represents original part—reflected counterpart shown in Fig. 4. Scale equals 1 m.

Figure 3: Interpretive scientific illustration of TMP 2011.033.0001 in dorsal view.
Sacral region represents original part—reflected counterpart shown in Fig. 4. Scale equals 1 m.

Figure 4: Composite dorsal view of TMP 2011.033.0001.
Photocomposite created using separate images of blocks A–C, D, E, F–I, and J (see Fig. 1) and combined digitally to both reduce parallax and remove gaps. Blocks F, G, H and I represent reflected counterpart of sacral part in Fig. 2. Photographs of individual blocks were digitally modified (brightness, contrast, etc.) to removed different lighting conditions, and to illustrate an average composite of the entire specimen. Scale equals 1 m.

Figure 15: Comparisons of the size of the bony core and keratinous sheath of the parascapular spine of Borealopelta to modern bovid and squamate analogues.
(A) Absolute size of the bone core (horncore or osteoderm) (yellow) and the overlying keratinous/horn sheath (grey) for the parascapular spine of TMP 2011.033.0001 (top) as well as averages for several bovid and squamate taxa (lower).
 (B) Schematic representations of the relative bony and keratinous components of select spines/horns (adjusted to same size). Data for Oreamnos americanus (n = 6, 20) and Oreamnos harringtoni (n = 10, 13) from Mead & Lawler (1995), Bos (n = 18) from Grigson (1975), Antilocapra (n = 3) and Bison (n = 18) from Borkovic (2013), Ovis nivicola (n = 2), Ovis dalli (n = 2), Ovis ammon (n = 2), Ovis canadensis nelsoni (n = 5), Ovis canadensis canadensis (n = 8), Capra ibex sibirica (n = 4) and Capra ibex ibex (n = 5) from Bubenik (1990), Trioceros (n = 1) from TMP 1990.007.0350, Phrynosoma solare (n = 1) from LACM 123351, and P. asio (n = 1) from WLH 1093.

Conclusion

The combined results showing that the osteoderm spines, and their keratinous coverings, are positively allometric (regionally); and that the anterior portion of the osteoderm series is both highly variable and has species specific morphology, provided new insights into the function and evolution of these structures. Similar results have been obtained from analysis of the exaggerated structures of most other ornithischian clades: Hadrosauridae (Dodson, 1975; Evans, 2010; McGarrity, Campione & Evans, 2013), Ceratopsia (Currie et al., 2016; Dodson, 1976; Hone, Wood & Knell, 2016; Lehman, 1990), Pachycephalosauria (Horner & Goodwin, 2009; Schott et al., 2011). These results in other ornithischian clades have been used to support the hypothesis that these exaggerated structures may have functioned, and evolved, in the context of socio-sexual selection (Hone, Wood & Knell, 2016; Hopson, 1975; Sampson, 1997). Similar hypotheses have been proposed for thyreophoran spines and plates (Carpenter, 1998; Hopson, 1977; Main et al., 2005; Padian & Horner, 2011), but until now had lacked commensurate morphometric backing. This argument is strengthened further when the parascapular spine is considered. Not only does this element show a different pattern of scaling than the rest of the series, but the absolute sizes of the keratin sheath and bony core are similar to the horns of extant bovids, and the relative sizes similar to the horns of some extant squamates, both of which are thought to function in socio-sexual display (Bustard, 1958; Farlow & Dodson, 1975; Geist, 1966). Combined with recent evidence suggesting this spine may, in life, have been pigmented differently than the rest of the osteoderms (Brown et al., 2017), this suggests this spine may have function as a visual socio-sexual display signal with conspecifics.

Caleb M. Brown​. 2017. An Exceptionally Preserved Armored Dinosaur reveals the Morphology and Allometry of Osteoderms and their Horny Epidermal Coverings. PeerJ. 5:e4066.  DOI:  10.7717/peerj.4066

New research analyses body armour of Borealopelta  RoyalTyrrellMuseum.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/new-research-analyses-body-armour-of-borealopelta/ via @RoyalTyrrell

 twitter.com/Brown_Caleb_M/status/935896521182031872

   

[Paleontology • 2017] Borealopelta markmitchelli • An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics

Borealopelta markmitchelli 

Brown, Henderson, Vinther, Fletcher, Sistiaga, Herrera & Summons, 2017

 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.071 

Highlights

• A new armored dinosaur is described based on an exceptionally preserved specimen

• Abundant in situ osteoderms with keratinous sheaths and scales are preserved

• Reddish-brown coloration and crypsis in the form of countershading are indicated

• Crypsis indicates strong predation pressure on this large, heavily armored dinosaur

Summary

Predator-prey dynamics are an important evolutionary driver of escalating predation mode and efficiency, and commensurate responses of prey. Among these strategies, camouflage is important for visual concealment, with countershading the most universally observed. Extant terrestrial herbivores free of significant predation pressure, due to large size or isolation, do not exhibit countershading. Modern predator-prey dynamics may not be directly applicable to those of the Mesozoic due to the dominance of very large, visually oriented theropod dinosaurs. Despite thyreophoran dinosaurs’ possessing extensive dermal armor, some of the most extreme examples of anti-predator structures, little direct evidence of predation on these and other dinosaur megaherbivores has been documented. Here we describe a new, exquisitely three-dimensionally preserved nodosaurid ankylosaur, Borealopelta markmitchelli gen. et sp. nov., from the Early Cretaceous of Alberta, which preserves integumentary structures as organic layers, including continuous fields of epidermal scales and intact horn sheaths capping the body armor. We identify melanin in the organic residues through mass spectroscopic analyses and observe lighter pigmentation of the large parascapular spines, consistent with display, and a pattern of countershading across the body. With an estimated body mass exceeding 1,300 kg, B. markmitchelli was much larger than modern terrestrial mammals that either are countershaded or experience significant predation pressure as adults. Presence of countershading suggests predation pressure strong enough to select for concealment in this megaherbivore despite possession of massive dorsal and lateral armor, illustrating a significant dichotomy between Mesozoic predator-prey dynamics and those of modern terrestrial systems.

 Systematic Paleontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842  

Ornithischia Seeley, 1888  

Ankylosauria Osborn, 1923  

Nodosauridae Marsh, 1890  

Borealopelta markmitchelli gen. et sp. nov. 

Etymology: The generic name Borealopelta is derived from “borealis” (Latin, “northern”) and “pelta” (Greek, “shield”), in reference to the northern locality and the preserved epidermal scales and dermal osteoderms. The specific epithet markmitchelli honors Mark Mitchell for his more than 7,000 hours of patient and skilled preparation of the holotype.

An illustration of Borealopelta markmitchelli. The study suggests that it displayed a camouflage effect known as counter-shading.

 Illustration: Julius Csotonyi/Courtesy of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Canada. 

 Illustration: Robert Nicholls 

 Illustration: Davide Bonadonna

Figure 1. Photographs of the Holotype of Borealopelta markmitchelli, TMP 2011.033.0001 Top: anterodorsolateral view; bottom: anterodorsal view. Scale bar, 10 cm. 

Holotype: The holotype is Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (TMP) 2011.033.0001: an articulated specimen preserving the head, neck, most of the trunk and sacrum, a complete right and a partial left forelimb and manus, partial pes (Figure 1). In situ osteoderms and nearly complete soft tissue integument are preserved across dorsal and lateral surfaces of the axial skeleton, posterodorsal surface of forelimbs, and plantar surfaces of a manus and a pes. Specimen is preserved in multiple large blocks, including slabs and counter-slabs in the sacral region.

Locality and Horizon: Suncor Millennium Mine, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Wabiskaw Member, Clearwater Formation, Aptian stage. Detailed locality data are available at Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.

Diagnosis: A nodosaurid ankylosaur characterized by the following autapomorphies (∗) and suite of characters [character/state]: cranial: dorsal skull ornamentation expressed as a large hexagonal dermal plate in frontoparietal region and multiple (>20) small dermal plates in frontonasal region∗; external nares excluded from view dorsally (shared with Pawpawsaurus) [16:1]; supraorbital ornamentation forming sharp lateral rim dorsal to orbits (shared with Gargoyleosaurus and Kunbarrasaurus) [38:2]; jugal (suborbital) horn triangular with pointed apex (shared with Gastonia, Gargoyleosaurus, and Polocanthus); jugal (suborbital) horn base longer than orbit length∗; osteoderms: cervical and thoracic osteoderms form continuous (abutting) transverse rows completely separated by continuous transverse rows of polygonal basement scales; parascapular spine is the largest osteoderm, recurved, and projects posterolaterally and horizontally (potentially shared with Sauropelta); osteoderm count for transverse rows: cervicals: C1-3, C2-3, C3-3, transition: TR-2, thoracic: T1-6∗; third and sixth transverse thoracic osteoderm rows expressed medially but pinch out laterally∗.

The new taxon can be further differentiated from Pawpawsaurus based on: dermal plate in frontonasal region (central dermal plates) flat; absence of ciliary osteoderm. Can be further differentiated from Sauropelta based on: parietals flat to slightly convex; cervical half ring has 4–6 osteoderms only; medial cervical osteoderms subequal, hexagonal, and bear prominent median ridge with posterior margin projecting beyond the basal footprint.

Figure 2: Schematic Line Drawing of TMP 2011.033.0001, the Holotype of Borealopelta markmitchelli, Illustrating Preservation of the Different Tissue Types (A) Schematic of complete specimen in dorsal view. (B and C) Skull in dorsal (B) and left lateral (C) views. (D) Close-up view of the neck, illustrating alternating cervical osteoderm bands (and preserved keratinous sheaths) and polygonal scales. (E) Close-up view of flank illustrating lateral thoracic osteoderms (with keratinous coverings) and polygonal scales. (F) Close-up view of sacral shield counterpart illustrating osteoderms and scales. (G) Close-up view of antebrachium including osteoderms and keratinous coverings. (D’–G’) Interpretive line drawings of the corresponding panels (D)–(G). Scale bars in (B)–(G), 10 cm.

Figure 3: Time-Calibrated Strict Consensus Tree Showing Position of Borealopelta markmitchelli within Ankylosauria, with Representative Well-Preserved Ankylosaurs Shown Above Bottom: time-calibrated strict consensus tree illustrating position of Borealopelta markmitchelli within Ankylosauria scaled to Jurassic and Cretaceous stages. Top: line drawings of representative well-preserved ankylosaur specimens with in situ armor and/or skin. Scale bars, 1 m.
(A) Kunbarrasaurus, QM F18101. (B) Euoplocephalus, NHMUK 5161. (C) Sauropelta, AMNH 3035 and 3036 composite. (D) Borealopelta, TMP 2011.033.0001 (this study). (E) Edmontonia, AMNH 5665.

Figure 4:  Chart Illustrating the Loss of Countershading as Body Mass Increases in Terrestrial Mammal Herbivores Chart includes pooled data for artiodactyls, perissodactyls, and proboscideans divided into body-mass bins, showing relative proportion of species that exhibit countershading. The diagonally hatched area represents the mass above which significant predation of adults does not occur. Animals illustrated above chart are representative taxa within each mass bin; species names in italics at top indicate body masses of the largest carnivores.

The Making of a Most Extraordinary Fossil

NationalGeographic.com 

The Making of a Most Extraordinary Fossil

NationalGeographic.com

on.natgeo.com/2r02aW7

Caleb M. Brown, Donald M. Henderson, Jakob Vinther, Ian Fletcher, Ainara Sistiaga, Jorsua Herrera and Roger E. Summons. 2017. An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.071

Despite heavy armor, new dinosaur used camouflage to hide from predators  eurekalert.org/e/7ZWJ via @CellPressNews @EurekAlert

http://videnskab.dk/naturvidenskab/ekstremt-velbevaret-dinosaur-vidner-om-uhyggelig-fortid

It's Official: Stunning Fossil Is a New Dinosaur Species  on.natgeo.com/2vx0wxD via @NatGeo

This Is the Best Dinosaur Fossil of Its Kind Ever Found on.natgeo.com/2r02aW7 via @NatGeo

Discover How This Dinosaur Became an Extraordinary Fossil  NationalGeographic.com/magazine/2017/06/making-of-a-dinosaur-fossil-nodosaur-illustrations

Heavily armoured dinosaur had ginger camouflage to deter predators – study  theguardian.com/science/2017/aug/03/heavily-armoured-nodosaur-ginger-camouflage-predators-borealopelta-markmitchelli

Alberta museum unveils world's best-preserved armoured dinosaur  theguardian.com/science/2017/may/15/alberta-canada-museum-unveils-best-preserved-armoured-dinosaur-in-the-world-nodosaur

ติดอยู่ในกาลเวลา  ngthai.com/animals/1703 via  เนชันแนล จีโอกราฟฟิก (National Geographic) ฉบับภาษาไทย

  

  

[Paleontology • 2013] Europelta carbonensis • The Basal Nodosaurid Ankylosaur from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Escucha Formation of Northeastern Spain

 Europelta carbonensis Kirkland, Alcalá, Loewen, Espílez, Mampel, and Wiersma 2013

the Basal Nodosaurid Ankylosaur from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Escucha formation, Pseudofrenolopsis dominated landscape, of Northeastern Spain

illustration: Andrey Atuchin | 672619529425520

Abstract

Nodosaurids are poorly known from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe. Two associated ankylosaur skeletons excavated from the lower Albian carbonaceous member of the Escucha Formation near Ariño in northeastern Teruel, Spain reveal nearly all the diagnostic recognized character that define nodosaurid ankylosaurs. These new specimens comprise a new genus and species of nodosaurid ankylosaur and represent the single most complete taxon of ankylosaur from the Cretaceous of Europe. These two specimens were examined and compared to all other known ankylosaurs. Comparisons of these specimens document that Europelta carbonensis n. gen., n. sp. is a nodosaur and is the sister taxon to the Late Cretaceous nodosaurids Anoplosaurus, Hungarosaurus, and Struthiosaurus, defining a monophyletic clade of European nodosaurids– the Struthiosaurinae.

Europelta 

Kirkland, Alcalá, Loewen, Espílez, Mampel, and Wiersma 2013 gen. nov. 

Etymology: “Euro” as a contraction for Europe in regard to its origin and “pelta” Greek for shield, a common root for ankylosaurian genera; “Europe’s shield”.

  Europelta carbonensis  

Kirkland, Alcalá, Loewen, Espílez, Mampel, and Wiersma 2013 gen. et sp. nov. 

  Etymology: The specific name “carbonensis” from the coal, is in honor of access to the fossil locality in the Santa María coal mine provided by Sociedad Anónima Minera Catalano-Aragonesa (SAMCA Group), which has been extracting coal in Ariño (Teruel) since 1919.

The Basal Nodosaurid Ankylosaur Europelta carbonensis n. gen., n. sp. from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Escucha formation, Pseudofrenolopsis dominated landscape, of Northeastern Spain | with Proa valdearinnoensis, Hulkepholis & Trachyaspis

illustration: Andrey Atuchin
 | facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=672619529425520

James I. Kirkland, Luis Alcalá, Mark A. Loewen, Eduardo Espílez, Luis Mampel & Jelle P. Wiersma. 2013. The Basal Nodosaurid Ankylosaur Europelta carbonensis n. gen., n. sp. from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Escucha Formation of Northeastern Spain. PLoS ONE. 8(12): e80405. 

doi: dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080405

http://aragonhoy.aragon.es/index.php/mod.documentos/mem.descargar/fichero.documentos_Kirkland_et_al_2013_in_press_Europelta_PONE-D-13-24335_36be13e3%232E%23pdf