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Article Reference New lithostratigraphical, sedimentological, palaeontological and clay data on the Mesozoic of Belgian Lorraine
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Inproceedings Reference New lizard from the Early Eocene Vastan Lignite mine of India
The lower Eocene (Ypresian) Cambay Formation at Vastan Lignite Mine in Gujarat, western India, has yielded a rich vertebrate assemblage including the earliest modern mammals and oldest birds of the Indian subcontinent. Among the herpetological faunas, snakes, lizards and amphibians are abundant, but, strangely, lizards are only represented by agamids. Here we describe the agamid assemblage based on numerous, diverse and well-preserved dentaries, premaxillaries, and maxillaries. At least four taxa are present at Vastan. Vastanagama susanae is characterized by dentaries with a large symphyseal facet, three anterior pleurodont teeth followed by acrodont teeth presenting a main cusp bordered by two lateral crests; the teeth increase in size posteriorly toward the coronoid process. Tinosaurus indicus exhibits a subdental ridge between the tooth row and the Meckelian canal, pleurodont symphyseal teeth including one that can be caniniform, and acrodont and tricuspid posterior teeth with poorly differentiated lateral cusps. Two other taxa represent two new genera and species. The first taxon presents multicuspid acrodont teeth with the main cusp surrounded by two or three progressively smaller lateral cusps. The second taxon presents pleurodont anterior teeth followed by a few acrodont teeth and ending with three or four subacrodont teeth near the coronoid process. Our results confirm that Agamidae (assigned to the Acrodonta) is the only lizard group present at Vastan, whereas many other groups are already present in the Early Eocene on the other continents. Agamidae is considered to have had a Gondwanan origin, with 52 genera and 420 species of extant agamids known from Asia, Australia, Africa and a few from Southern Europe. The oldest occurrence of formally recognized Acrodonta is found in the Jurassic of India. Other fossil agamids are known in the Upper Paleocene of Kazakhstan, Paleocene and Eocene of China, Early Eocene of Europe, Eocene of North America, and Middle Eocene of Pakistan. The diversity of the agamids in India and the absence of other lizard groups at Vastan tentatively support the Out-of-India hypothesis for agamids.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference New material of Australophoca (Carnivora, Phocidae) from the late Miocene of Peru suggests sexual dimorphism in the smallest, early-branching monachine seal
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Inproceedings Reference New multituberculate mammals from the Late Cretaceous of Transylvania (Romania)
In the scope of the Belgo-Romanian excavation campaigns in Transylvania, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and the University Babeş-Bolyai excavated three Late Cretaceous vertebrate localities in the Haţeg Basin. Compared to other European localities, the studied sites show rich mammal remains, which are dominated by multituberculates. At three localities, more than five tons of fossiliferous sediments were screen washed (mesh width 0.5 mm) and yielded forty-three dental specimens. This material essentially provides new information on the enigmatic European family Kogaionidae. A new small species of the genus Kogaionon is recognized on the basis of four dental positions from the fluviatil deposits of Pui (excavation 2000). In the floodplain deposits of the new site Toteşti-baraj (excavation 2001) sixteen teeth representing seven different dental positions of two kogaionid genera were found (Codrea et al., 2002). One lower first molar is similar to that of Barbatodon transylvanicus Rădulescu & Samson, 1986. A nearly complete upper dental series of a new species of Kogaionon is particularly well preserved. In the floodplain deposits of the new site Nălaţ-Vad (excavation 2002), one of the exceptional fossiliferous marl pockets yielded twelve teeth and three dentary fragments of the genera Kogaionon and Barbatodon (Smith et al., 2002). A new small species of Barbatodon is represented by a dentary with a very long rounded fourth premolar, a small first molar, but with the third premolar absent. On the other hand, Kogaionon presents a lower fourth premolar with a typical triangle shape differing clearly from Barbatodon. The results reveal for the first time the morphology of all the upper and lower dental positions characteristic of the family Kogaionidae, which allows more precise discussion of the phylogenetic position of this family among the multituberculates. Comparisons with other kogaionid multituberculates from the Paleocene of Spain, Belgium, Romania and France permit analysis of the possible migration ways following the paleogeography of Europe during the end of the Cretaceous.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Inproceedings Reference New native Culicidae species records to Belgium validated using DNA-based techniques
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Article Reference New Neandertal fossils from Trou Magrite, Belgium, and their contribution to our understanding of Neandertal diversity
Belgium has yielded an exceptional Neandertal fossil record that has played a major role in Neandertal studies since the 19th century. Here we present the outcome of a new multidisciplinary project that aimed at re-assessing the skeletal collections from the Belgian site of Trou Magrite. This site yielded rich archeological assemblages spanning from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic to the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Iron Age. We revised the already known human collection, conducted a systematic sorting of the faunal material, and combined the use of morphometrics, taphonomy, stable isotopes, dating, and genetic analyses to perform taxonomic and chronocultural identifications. This resulted in the identification of two new Neandertal fossils among the faunal material excavated in the 19th century: an upper right permanent canine representing an adult individual, and the left femur diaphysis of a ca. 8-10-month-old infant. We will present the biological characteristics and mitochondrial DNA phylogenetic position of the Trou Magrite Neandertals, in particular with regard to the other Northern European Neandertals. Our project adds a ninth site to the list of Belgian sites that have yielded Neandertal fossils, and emphasizes the existence of a low genetic diversity among Late Neandertals, which is to be compared to their significant behavioral (mortuary and technical) variability. As such, Belgian Neandertals continue to contribute significantly to our understanding of the population processes that resulted in the disappearance of this group. This research was funded by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences of CSUN and the CSUN Competition for Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Awards.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Inproceedings Reference New Neandertal remains from Trou Magrite, Belgium
Trou Magrite is a cave site located at Pont-à-Lesse in the Lesse Valley, commune of Dinant, Belgium. It has been known since E. Dupont conducted excavations at the site in 1867 [1]. The most recent fieldwork was done by L. Straus and M. Otte in 1991-92 [2]. Trou Magrite yielded rich lithic assemblages, osseous artifacts, mobiliary art, and numerous faunal remains. Several human re- mains were also recovered and identified as Palaeolithic humans by E. Dupont but have been only partially published thus far. The archaeological record covers a broad time range spanning from the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic to the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Iron Age. An important Middle Palaeolithic collection is present, probably representing several occupation phases during the Late Pleistocene [2]. Unfortunately, although E. Dupont conducted excavations that can be characterized as modern for that time, the materials from the different so-called “fauna-bearing levels” that he defined in the field were mixed post-excavation [3]. In 2015, we initiated a multidisciplinary re-assessment of the human and faunal collections from Trou Magrite in order to update the inven- tory of human remains already identified, check for the presence of human remains that may have been previously overlooked, and verify their chronocultural context. We revised the already known human collection, conducted a systematic sorting of the faunal material, and combined the use of morphometrics, taphonomy, stable isotopes, dating, and genetic analyses to perform taxonomic and chronocultural identifications. Here we present two previously unidentified Neandertal fossils that we isolated from the Trou Magrite faunal material excavated by E. Dupont in the 19th century. They represent two different individuals: an adult/adolescent, represented by an upper right permanent canine, and a neonate, represented by the diaphysis of a left femur. Whereas no endoge- nous DNA was recovered from the tooth, the palaeogenetic analyses of the neonate femur confirmed its Neandertal status and indicate its sex to be male. We will present the biological characteristics and mitochondrial DNA phylogenetic position of the Trou Magrite Neandertals, in particular with regard to the other Northern European Neandertals. Our project adds Trou Magrite to the list of Belgian sites that have yielded Neandertal fossils and helps to emphasize the importance of the Mosan Basin in Neandertal studies.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Inbook Reference New paravian theropods from the Jurassic of northeastern China and their implications for the origin of birds.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference New primate postcrania from the Eraly Eocene of Vastan Mine, Gujarat, India
The Cambay Formation at Vastan Mine in Gujarat yields the oldest fossil primates known from India. New age estimates suggest that the fossils date from approximately 54.5 Ma (early Ypresian), about 2 million years older than initially thought and comparable in age to early Wasatchian Wa-4 faunas from North America. The Vastan primate fauna comprises predominantly the asiadapine adapoids Marcgodinotius and Asiadapis. Two species of omomyid primates, Vastanomys gracilis and V. major, are much rarer, each known from a single dental specimen. In addition to primate dental remains, Vastan Mine has produced the best preserved early Eocene primate postcranial elements known from anywhere in the world. Here we present new limb bones, including humeri, ulnae, femora, tibiae, and a talus, from three of the recognized primate species. They include the first omomyid postcrania from India: two femora, a talus, and a potential proximal tibia. We also report additional asiadapine postcrania: a pristine femur of Marcgodinotius and the first complete tibia of Asiadapis. Five new humeri (two complete) consist of one asiadapine and four that lack specializations of either group, making allocation difficult. Two ulnae are attributed to indeterminate euprimates due to lack of adequate comparative material. The elements attributed to Vastanomys are more primitive than any other known omomyid postcrania and are only subtly different from those of asiadapines, in contrast to the more distinct postcranial bones of their middle and late Eocene relatives. The femora attributed to Vastanomys exhibit features suggestive of leaping behavior (cylindrical femoral heads, lateral condyle higher than medial, proximal position of the third trochanter), as in other omomyids. However, while the talus of Vastanomys resembles those of omomyids more than those of other primates, features such as the relatively short, medially angled neck, and oval rather than spherical head suggest that Vastanomys was not as specialized for leaping as younger omomyids. Although asiadapines have been described as close to notharctids in morphology, the relatively wider distal femur and symmetrical condyles of Marcgodinotius resemble adapids more than notharctids and may also reflect less leaping. The revised age of the fossils, together with the similarity in morphology of omomyid and asiadapine postcrania, suggests that the postcrania, like the teeth of the most primitive members of each family, are converging toward a common morphology as we approach the base of the Eocene.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference New species of Microraptor gives a glimpse on their ecological diversification
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016