Mesozoic Miscellany #29

New Research
A new, "spectacular" specimen of Poposaurus, a rauisuchian from the Triassic Chinle formation, has been described, along with a new phylogenetic analysis. As Susan writes at Crurotarsi, "what is also interesting is the phylogenetic analysis associated with the new Poposaurus material. The most startling result is that Phytosauria falls out of the crocodile side of the archosaur tree and becomes the sister taxon of Archosauria. Depending on your definition of Crurotarsi, this could mean that dinosaurs are crurotarsans." More at Chinleana, as well.

Kelmayisaurus, an obscure theropod from Early Cretaceous China, has been reassessed by a team led by Stephen L. Brusatte and is due to be published in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. The verdict is that it represents a basal carcharodontosaurid, shedding light on how the big theropods radiated globally in the early Cretaceous. Andrea Cau posted about it at Theropoda, too.

The braincase of Ceratonykus, an alvarezsaur, reveals that "alvarezsaurians had good eyesight and keen hearing and their ancestors were characterized by elements of an arboreal mode of life." The research has been published in the Paleontological Journal by Russian scientists V.R. Alifanov and S.V. Saveliev.

Around the Dinoblogosphere
Occidental college's Donald Prothero recently appeared on Southern California Public radio, talking about the current boom in dinosaur research, which he thinks is due in part to the "Jurassic Park generation." Also, a report on the new research that revealed that many small carnivores were likely "night-time party animals."

Matt Wedel engages in a bit of prognostication at SV-POW, offering evidence for his position that Terra Nova will feature dinosauroids as a nemesis for the time travelers.

March of the Dinosaurs, which aired on ITV in the UK over Easter weekend, has received a couple reviews. Dave Hone writes that he "was able to sit through all 2 hours of this without being bored" at Archosaur Musings in a generally favorable review, and Everything Dinosaur gave it the big thumbs up.

In a brief post, Victoria of Pseudoplocephalus writes about a correction in the scientific literature to properly credit the discoverer of Gwawinapterus.

At Whales, Camps, and Trails, check out a 40's comic adaptation of Roy Chapman Andrews' biography. "It is a kooky rendering, and yet in its own way endearing."

More paleoart from the last couple decades has received attention from Trish Arnold.

Ezequiel Vera shares a bit of his process in creating his Petrobrasaurus illustration, which depicts the scavenging of the sauropod by an assortment of theropods.

Tony Martin is back at the Great Cretaceous Walk, in fine form! Learn all about Kronosaurus queenlandicus.

Bunnies and chicks don't have a total monopoly on Easter. Witness the stash of dinosaurian goodness shared by Gary at Project Dryptosaurus.

Two reactions to the recent Greg Paul paleoart controversy are explored at ART Evolved in anticipation of the rapidly approaching May hadrosaur gallery.

Check out Austin Madison's very cool illustration, "The Boy Who Cried Nessy!" Really funny twist on the old story.

At Paleoexhibit, Nobu discusses his current project of getting to know ancient plants better.

Glendon Mellow has begun a new Tumblr dedicated to his daily speed sketches laying out the story of trilobite boy.

Twit Picks
Stuff I've tweeted in the last week or so:

• Spiky sauropods at Dave Hone's Archosaur Musings
• Whoa, neato! Chinleana shares the Gigapan of the Carnegie Museum's Coelophysis Quarry Block
• "Give me a movie where the dinosaurs are acting like horny birds. I’ll buy a ticket." - Mike Haubrich
• For World Tapir Day, see how Indy Children's Museum uses a tapir skull to teach about paleontology
• The ways we weave geology into our daily lives, Accretionary Wedge #33
• Louisville Fossils shares Pre-Cambrian Cyanobacteria fossils from Michigan

Paleoart of the Week

Alain Beneteau's Teratophoneus illustration in bic pen. Cool!

The young monster hunter by ~dustdevil on deviantART

Outrageously Off-Topic Indulgence

Dr. Steve Novella, host of the Skeptic's Guide of the Universe, on Dr. Oz. Alt-med is a marketing term, and Novella introduced that point to Oz's audience. That's about as good as can be expected. Much respect for how Novella pushes back against Oz's word games.


More at Novella's excellent blog.