New fossils from Tanzania reveal the rapid diversification of Archosauria

来自坦桑尼亚的新化石揭示了始祖龙的迅速多样化。克里斯蒂安·A·西多尔(PI)斯特林·J·内斯比特(高级人员)这笔赠款支持斯特林·J·内斯比特在华盛顿大学的一个为期两年的博士后研究助理职位，在克里斯蒂安·A·西多尔(PI)的指导下。Sidor和Nesbitts最近在坦桑尼亚南部进行了田野调查，发现了大量中三叠世(约2.4亿年前)的始祖龙化石。现存的始龙包括鸟类和鳄鱼，但这一类中已灭绝的成员包括许多类群，如aetosaurus、erpetosuchids，特别是恐龙及其近亲。利用新的化石集合，Sidor和Nesbitt将合作描述几个物种，并根据它们在始祖龙家族树上的位置来解释每个物种。更具体地说，他们将重新分析帕林顿亚(Parringtonia)(最初命名于1939年)，提供恐龙形目(Asilisaurus)的完整解剖学描述(他们于2010年宣布)，并描述一个新的、类似于无龙的分类单元和一个新的劳伊苏希亚纲。Sidor和Nesbitt还将通过修改含始祖龙地层的生物地层学，以及通过测量坦桑尼亚鲁胡湖盆地二叠纪-三叠纪大灭绝后相对于其他同时代地质盆地的物种多样性，对坦桑尼亚始祖龙动物群进行整体研究。脊椎动物古生物学让公众着迷。作为该项目更广泛的影响目标的一部分，Sidor和Nesbit将在华盛顿大学伯克博物馆开发一个临时展览，以突出来自坦桑尼亚的一些最好的标本，并解释化石和岩石如何让科学家了解过去的气候(例如，三叠纪的热房世界缺乏极地冰川)。西多尔和内斯比特还将管理始祖龙化石的收藏，预计这些化石将被送回达累斯萨拉姆的坦桑尼亚国家博物馆。然而，伯克博物馆将创建并保留研究质量的演员阵容。

New fossils from Tanzania reveal the rapid diversification of Archosauria.Christian A. Sidor (PI)Sterling J. Nesbitt (Senior Personnel)This grant supports a two-year postdoctoral research associate position for Sterling J. Nesbitt at the University of Washington, under the supervision of Christian A. Sidor (PI). Sidor and Nesbitts recent fieldwork in southern Tanzania has yielded a large collection of archosaur fossils from the Middle Triassic (approximately 240 million years ago). Living archosaurs include birds and crocodiles, but extinct members of this group encompass numerous taxa like aetosaurs, erpetosuchids, and notably, dinosaurs and their close relatives. Utilizing the new collection of fossils, Sidor and Nesbitt will collaborate to describe several species and interpret each in terms of its position on the archosaur family tree. More specifically, they will reanalyze Parringtonia (which was initially named in 1939), provide a complete anatomical description of the dinosauriform Asilisaurus (which they announced in 2010), and describe a new, aetosaur-like taxon and a new rauisuchian. Sidor and Nesbitt will also examine the Tanzanian archosaur fauna as a whole, by revising the biostratigraphy of the archosaur-bearing strata, and by gauging how the group diversified after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction in the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania relative to other contemporaneous geologic basins. Vertebrate paleontology fascinates the public. As part of the broader impact goals of this project, Sidor and Nesbit will develop a temporary display at the University of Washingtons Burke Museum, to highlight some of the best specimens from Tanzania and to explain how fossils and rocks can inform scientists about past climates (e.g., the Triassic hot-house world lacked polar glaciers). Sidor and Nesbitt will also curate the collection of archosaur fossils in anticipation of its repatriation to the National Museum of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam. However, research-quality casts will be created and retained at the Burke Museum.