New fossils from Tanzania reveal the rapid diversification of Archosauria

来自坦桑尼亚的新化石揭示了初龙类的迅速多样化。Sidor（PI）Sterling J. Nescalent（高级人员）该补助金支持Sterling J. Nescalent在华盛顿大学的两年博士后研究助理职位，由Christian A. Sidor（PI）. Sidor和Nesbitts最近在坦桑尼亚南部的野外工作中发现了大量中三叠世（大约2.4亿年前）的祖龙化石。 现存的主龙类包括鸟类和鳄鱼，但这个群体中已灭绝的成员包括许多分类群，如翼龙，Erpetosuchids，特别是恐龙和它们的近亲。 利用新收集的化石，Sidor和Neslaughs将合作描述几个物种，并根据它们在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Parringtonia（最初于1939年命名），提供一个完整的解剖学描述，并描述一个新的，类似于aetosaur的分类单元和一个新的rauisuchian。 Sidor和Neslaughs还将通过修改含祖龙地层的生物地层学，以及通过测量坦桑尼亚Ruhuhu盆地相对于其他同期地质盆地的二叠纪-三叠纪大灭绝后该群体的多样化，来研究坦桑尼亚祖龙动物群的整体。 古脊椎动物学让公众着迷。 作为该项目更广泛的影响目标的一部分，Sidor和内斯比特将在华盛顿大学伯克博物馆举办一个临时展览，以突出坦桑尼亚的一些最好的标本，并解释化石和岩石如何为科学家提供关于过去气候的信息（例如，三叠纪的温室世界缺少极地冰川）。 Sidor和Neslaughs还将策划收集的主龙化石，预计将被送回达累斯萨拉姆的坦桑尼亚国家博物馆。 然而，研究质量的演员将被创建和保留在伯克博物馆。

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.