Diversity of large ornithopod dinosaurs in the upper Hauterivian-lower Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) of Teruel (Spain): a morphometric approach

We report some large ornithopod vertebrae from two upper Hauterivian-lower Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) localities in El Castellar (Maestrazgo Basin, Teruel,Spain).These fossils have been studied systematically as well as morphometrically using a multivariate analysis in order to analyse the diversity of the sample. In fact, principal component analysis has been demonstrated as a useful tool for establishing affinities in isolated iguanodontian vertebrae, at least when size effect is not removed from the analysed dataset. As result of this study, twolarge indeterminate styracosternans are distinguished in the sample: a large one with platycoelus anterior caudal vertebrae related to the gene…

Epidemiological, clinical and genomic snapshot of the first 100 B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 cases in Madrid

A new SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.7, emerged in September in the UK, and is responsible for 76.6% of COVID-19 cases.1 This variant has also been reported in another 45 countries, 17 of them European.2,3 B.1.1.7 is considered to have higher transmissibility.4 It carries an unusually high number of specific mutations/deletions, 18, mostly non-synonymous and eight concentrate in the S gene,5 including several which might have relevant functional roles. The 69/70 deletion may be associated to immune response evasion6 and the N501Y substitution increases the affinity to the ACE2 receptor.7 These findings have raised the alarm of having to face a new variant with the potential to accelerate the spr…

Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

AbstractDinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer namely composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeont…

Giraffid remains from several Neogene localities from the Temel Basin (Spain) are stu­ died. The material belongs to the following sites: Masia de la Roma and Masia del Barbo (Vallesian); Masada del Valle 2 (Turolian); La Gloria 4 and La Calera (Alfambrian). Fos­ sils recently obtained are described, with special emphasis on the Pliocene taxa that were previously unrecorded in this basin. The presence of Decennatheriumpachecoi in the Va­ llesian and Birgerbohlinia schaubi in the Turolian is specified here. In order to make a dis­ tinction between both species two characteristics can be pointed out among the rest: the postcranial skeleton of Decennatherium is more slender than the one of Bir…

Systematic revision of the Late Miocene sabre-toothed felid Paramachaerodus in Spain

Abstract:  A systematic revision of the sabre-toothed cat genus Paramachaerodus Pilgrim, 1913 is presented. Two species are recognized within Paramachaerodus, Pa. orientalis, and Pa. maximiliani, and the genus Promegantereon Kretzoi, 1938 is retrieved to include Promegantereon ogygia. Material from the Turolian Spanish localities of Crevillente-2 (MN 11, Alicante) and Las Casiones (MN 13, Teruel), which was previously assigned to Paramachaerodus, is now included in the tribe Metailurini. The exceptional discoveries at the Spanish Vallesian (MN 10, Madrid) fossil site of Batallones-1 have made it possible to characterize the dentition and cranial anatomy of a previously very poorly known mac…