Triassic dinosauromorphs from southern Brazil and biogeographic patterns for the origin of dinosaurs

Author(s)

Julio Cesar de Almeida Marsola

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2018-08-10

Examining board members

Max Cardoso Langer; Martín Daniel Ezcurra; Felipe Chinaglia Montefeltro; Jonathas de Souza Bittencourt Rodrigues; Atila Augusto Stock da Rosa

• Advisor: Max Cardoso Langer

Abstract

The Triassic deposits of southern Brazil harbor a great diversity of terrestrial tetrapods, including therapsids, rhynchocephalians, rhynchosaurs, and archosaurs like pseudosuchians and dinosauromorphs. In this context, the Carnian Santa Maria Formation is important for the understanding of the origins and early diversifications of Dinosauromorpha, as it bears one of the oldest records for the group worldwide, including some of the oldest dinosaurs. Its dinosauromorph fauna is currently represented by Ixalerpeton polesinensis, Staurikosaurus pricei, Saturnalia tupiniquim, Pampadromaeus barberenai, Buriolestes schultzi, Bagualosaurus agudoensis, and Teyuwasu barberenai. In comparison, the Norian Caturrita Formation have yielded Guaibasaurus candelariensis, Unaysaurus tolentinoi, and Sacisaurus agudoensis. In order to better understand the dinosauromorph diversity from these deposits, several new fossil remains were described as parts of this thesis: ULBRA-PVT 059, 280, LPRP/USP 0651, MCN PV 10007-8, 10026, 10027, and 10049. In addition, the last 20 years of research efforts on the origins of dinosaurs were compiled to investigate the impact of new discoveries and conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses on the biogeographic history of early dinosauromorphs. ULBRA-PVT 059 and 280 represent the holotypes of a lagerpetid dinosauromorph, Ixalerpeton polesinensis, and a sauropodomorph dinosaur, Buriolestes schultzi. I. polesinensis is the first lagerpetid described from Brazil and only worldwide that preserves skull and scapular limb remains, showing that some previously inferred dinosaur synapomorphies were already present in other early diverging dinosauromorphs. B. schultzi is found as the sister-group to all other sauropodomorphs. In addition, its tooth anatomy and phylogenetic position suggest that early dinosaurs, including sauropodomorphs, were adapted to faunivory. LPRP/USP 0651 is the holotype of a new dinosaur, Nhandumirim waldsangae, from the Santa Maria Formation. Although incomplete, the preserved parts show that it was a juvenile individual, but differing in several respects from other Carnian dinosaurs, especially those from the same stratigraphic levels. The phylogenetic relations of N. waldsangae suggest that the new taxon is a nonsauropodomorph saurischian dinosaur, possibly related to theropods. Dinosaur materials from the type-locality of Sacisaurus agudoensis (MCN PV 10007-8, 10026, 10027, and 10049) represent a sauropodomorph, more similar morphologically to later members of the group than to those of Carnian age. Hence, biostratigraphic correlations suggested by these sauropodomorphs indicate an age for the type-site of S. agudoensis younger than that of the Carnian biozones. Biogeographic analyzes consistently optimize southern Gondwana as the ancestral area for Dinosauria, and this is also the case for more inclusive clades. The results show that the South Gondwanan hypothesis for the origin of dinosaurs is robust even with increased taxonomic and geographic sampling, and independent of phylogenetic uncertainties. It is, therefore, demonstrated that there is no support for Laurassia as the ancestral area of dinosaurs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/23114-1 - Review of the Carnian (Neotriassic) Sauropodomorpha (Dinosauria) with description of new elements of Saturnalia tupiniquim
• Grantee: Júlio Cesar de Almeida Marsola
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate