National Geographic News, November 21, 2011
Giant, sunken pieces of an ancient continent from the time of the
dinosaurs may have been discovered deep in the Indian Ocean, scientists
say. The two fragments, called microcontinents, are possibly leftovers
from when India, Antarctica, and Australia were part of a supercontinent
known as Gondwana. The plateaus, the combined size of West Virginia,
have long been known to cartographers as the Batavia Seamount and the
Gulden Draak -- or Golden Dragon. But not much else was known about the
features, other than their location, about 1,000 miles (1,600
kilometers) west of Perth, Australia.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111121-dinosaurs-gondwana-ancient-rocks-science/
Other paleo news:
New pterosaur species named after political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe
PhysOrg.com [USA], November 22, 2011
A new species of pterosaur, discovered by a University of Portsmouth
palaeontologist, has been named after the artist famous for his
notorious and iconic caricatures of Margaret Thatcher. The pterosaur is
named Cuspicephalus scarfi after Gerald Scarfe, the political cartoonist
whose pen demonised Mrs Thatcher as a pointy nosed "torydactyl". The new
discovery was so-called because of its extremely long pointy head, which
is most unusual for a pterosaur.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-pterosaur-species-political-cartoonist-gerald.html
New Triassic Diapsid reptile found in Southwestern China
PhysOrg.com [USA], November 21, 2011
Paleontologist LI Chun, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and
Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his research
team, reported a new genus and species of marine reptile,
Sinosaurosphargis yunguiensis, from the Middle Triassic of Yunnan and
Guizhou Provinces, southwestern China, according to a paper published in
the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 31(2), 2011. This new species
with closed upper temporal fenestrae has a ventrally open cheek. Its
external nares are retracted, and its trunk region is short and of
rounded contours. The trunk, neck, and proximal limb segments are
covered by shield composed of small osteoderms. The dorsal ribs are
broadened and flat, contacting one another along their length. The
dorsal vertebrae have elongated, distally expanded transverse processes.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-triassic-diapsid-reptile-southwestern-china.html
Oil sands digger uncovers dinosaur
PhysOrg.com [USA], November 24, 2011
A heavy equipment operator unearthed what appears to be a nearly
complete plesiosaur while digging in Canada's oil sands, Syncrude
announced Thursday. The fossil was discovered on November 14 and is now
being examined by Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology scientists who
aim to have it removed by the end of the week, the company said in a
statement. "This is a very rare find," said the museum's Don Brinkman.
"It's a long necked plesiosaur, which is a marine reptile with a very
long neck, small head and short body.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-oil-sands-digger-uncovers-dinosaur.html
See also The Vancouver Sun [Canada]:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Rare+fossil+marine+reptile+unearthed+Alberta+oilsands/5767017/story.html
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