[Paleontology • 2009] Basilochelys macrobios 'เต่าทรงพระเจริญ' • A Large Cryptodiran Turtle from the Phu Kradung Formation (latest Jurassic-earliest Cretaceous) of the Khorat Plateau, Northeastern Thailand

Basilochelys macrobios  

Tong, Claude, Naksri, Suteethorn, Buffetaut, Khansubha, Wongko, & Yuangdetkla, 2009 

'เต่าทรงพระเจริญ'   MNRE.go.th   DOI: 10.1144/SP315.12

Abstract
 A large cryptodiran turtle, Basilochelys macrobios n. gen. n. sp. is described from the latest Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous Phu Kradung Formation of NE Thailand, on the basis of skull, shell and other postcranial elements. Basilochelys presents a combination of primitive and derived characters. The derived characters include sculptured skull roof and shell surface; deeply embedded canalis caroticus internus; foramen posterius canalis carotici interni completely surrounded by pterygoid; neural formula of 6 > 4 < 6 < 6 < 6 < 6; anteroposteriorly expanded eleventh and twelfth marginal scutes extending onto the suprapygal and costal plates; narrow vertebral scutes; plastron sutured to the carapace, with large and wide anterior and posterior lobes, long and narrow bridge, very narrow axillary and inguinal notch; wide entoplastron; humeropectoral sulcus located on the posterior part of the entoplastron; anal notch absent. This taxon is placed in Trionychoidae and considered as the most basal member of that group.

Systematic palaeontology

Megaorder Cryptodira Cope

Parvorder Eucryptodira Gaffney

Epifamily Trionychoidae Fitzinger (fide Meylan & Gaffney 1989)

Genus Basilochelys new genus

Type species. Basilochelys macrobios sp. nov.

Etymology. Basileus: Greek, king; chelys: Greek, turtle. In honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand; Macrobios: Greek, long life. In honour of His Majesty King Rama IX’s eightieth birthday.

Holotype. A nearly complete carapace articulated with a partial plastron, pelvic girdle and a cervical vertebra (MD8-2, collection of the Sirindhorn Museum, Phu Kum Khao, Sahatsakhan, Kalasin Province, Thailand).

Type locality. Kham Phok, Mukdahan Province, Khorat Plateau, NE Thailand.

Horizon. Phu Kradung Formation, terminal Jurassic–basal Cretaceous.

Conclusion: The large turtles from the terminal Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous Phu Kradung Formation of the Khorat Group, NE Thailand, described herein represent anew genus and new species of Eucryptodira, Basilochelys macrobios n. gen. n. sp. This taxon is placed in Trionychoidae and considered as the most basal member of that group. The combination of primitive and derived characters of Basilochelys suggests that the group Trionychoidae may have originated from xinjiangchelyids and their close relatives. Siamochelys from the Middle Jurassic of the southern peninsula of Thailand may represent the sister taxon of Trionychoidae, because of its ligamentous carapace–plastron attachment, sculptured shell surface and wide entoplastron. These new discoveries add significantly to the still poorly known turtle fauna from the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous of SE Asia and provide important information about the origin and early evolution of modern cryptodiran turtles.

Haiyan Tong, Julien Claude, Wilailuck Naksri, Varavudh Suteethorn, Eric Buffetaut, Sasidhorn Khansubha, Kamonrak Wongko and Phisit Yuangdetkla. 2009.  Basilochelys macrobios n. gen. and n. sp., A Large Cryptodiran Turtle from the Phu Kradung Formation (latest Jurassic-earliest Cretaceous) of the Khorat Plateau, NE Thailand. In: Buffetaut, E.; Cuny, G.; Le Loeuff, J. & Suteethorn, V. (eds.). Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Ecosystems in SE Asia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 315: 229-243.  DOI: 10.1144/SP315.12

academia.edu/1223468/Basilochelys_macrobios_n._gen._and_n._sp._a_large_cryptodiran_turtle_from_the_Phu_Kradung_Formation_latest_Jurassic-earliest_Cretaceous_of_the_Khorat_Plateau_NE_
researchgate.net/publication/237965988_Basilochelys_macrobios_n._gen._and_n._sp._a_large_cryptodiran_turtle_from_the_Phu_Kradung_Formation_%28latest_Jurassic-earliest_Cretaceous%29_of_the_Khorat_Plateau_NE_Thailand

เต่าทรงพระเจริญ Basilochelys macrobios n. gen. and n. sp., a large cryptodiran turtle from the Phu Kradung Formation ซึ่งผู้ศึกษาตั้งใจให้ชื่อเพื่อ เฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ในวโรกาสมหามงคล เฉลิมพระชนพรรษา 80 พรรษา

ต้นตระกูลเต่าน้ำจืดชนิดใหม่โลก อายุ150ล้านปี แถมพบกระดูกไดโนเสาร์"ซอโรพอด"สมบูรณ์สุดในโลก

http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1245663232&catid=04

       อธิบดีกรมทรัพยากรธรณี ยังเปิดเผยถึงการค้นพบฟอสซิลของสัตว์โบราณหลายชนิดกระจายอยู่ตามผิวหน้าหินเนินเขาเล็กๆ ประกอบไปด้วย ฟอสซิลจระเข้ ปลาเลปิโดเทส กระดูกไดโนเสาร์ และฟอสซิลเต่าขนาดใหญ่คู่หนึ่งอยู่ใกล้ๆกัน แหล่งฟอสซิลเต่ายักษ์คู่อยู่ในพื้นที่บ้านคำพอก อ.หนองสูง จ.มุกดาหาร ขนาดของเต่าตัวที่ 1 ยาว 96 ซม. ตัวที่ 2 ยาว 90 ซม. กว้าง 80 ซม.โดยคณะผู้วิจัยไทย-ฝรั่งเศล นำโดย ดร.ไฮยั่น ตง ได้ทำการอนุรักษ์ตัวอย่างเต่า และศึกษาวิจัยรายละเอียดจนพบลักษณะของหัวกะโหลก กระดองหลัง กระดองท้อง กระดูกคอ กระดูกสันหลัง กระดูกซี่โครง กระดูกขาหน้า และขาหลังที่ชัดเจนระบุว่าเป็นเต่าชนิดใหม่ สกุลใหม่ จึงได้ส่งพิมพ์ในวารสาร Geological Society, London, Special Publications ในปี 2552 โดยตั้งชื่อว่า "Basilochelys macrobios” เพื่อเฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ในวโรกาสมหามงคลเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา 80 พรรษา โดยชื่อเป็นภาษากรีก มีความหมายว่า "ขอให้พระมหากษัตริย์ไทยทรงมีพระชนมายุยิ่งยืนนาน”

http://website.mnre.go.th/ewt_news.php?nid=428

[Paleontology • 2009] Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis | กินรีไมมัส ขอนแก่นเอนซิส • An Early 'Ostrich Dinosaur' (Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of NE Thailand

Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis

Buffetaut, Suteethorn & Tong, 2009

Illustration: N. Puttapipat himmapaan.wordpress.com

Abstract

Postcranial remains of a small theropod dinosaur, including vertebrae, incomplete pubes, tibiae, an incomplete fibula, metatarsals and phalanges, from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of Phu Wiang, Khon Kaen Province, NE Thailand, are described as a new taxon of ornithomimosaur, Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis, gen. et sp. nov. This early ‘ostrich dinosaur’ is characterized by a fairly advanced metatarsus, in which metatarsal III, although still visible proximally between metatarsals II and IV in cranial view, is markedly ‘pinched’ more distally and becomes triangular in cross-section. The condition of its metatarsus shows that Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis is more derived than the geologically younger primitive ornithomimosaurs Harpymimus and Garudimimus, but less derived than Archaeornithomimus. Its occurrence in the Early Cretaceous of Thailand suggests that advanced ornithomimosaurs may have originated in Asia.

Buffetaut, E., Suteethorn, V. and Tong, H. 2009. An Early 'Ostrich Dinosaur' (Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of NE Thailand. 229-243, IN E. Buffetaut, G. Cuny, J. Le Loeuff & V. Suteethorn (eds.), Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Ecosystems in SE Asia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 315: 229-243. doi:  10.1144/SP315.16

researchgate.net/publication/249552003_An_early_'ostrich_dinosaur'_(Theropoda_Ornithomimosauria)_from_the_Early_Cretaceous_Sao_Khua_Formation_of_NE_Thailand

http://www.geothai.net/thai-dinos/

http://tatedutour.com/node/39?language=th

[Paleontology • 2015] Evidence of Egg Diversity in Squamate Evolution from Cretaceous Anguimorph Embryos

Fig 1. Material and geological settings.

  A, map of Thailand showing outcrops of the Sao Khua Formation (in green) and B, close-up on north-eastern-Thailand with location of Phu Phok; C, and photograph of 4 of the eggs from Phu Phok (SK1-1, SK1-2, SK1-3 and SK1-4).

Scale bar, 1 cm. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

Fig 2. Three-dimensional rendering of two fossil eggs and their enclosed embryonic bones from Phu Phok.

A, SK1-2. B, SK1-1. Colours: red, skull and mandible; yellow, vertebrae; grey, ribs; green, pectoral and pelvic girdle; blue, limbs.

Scale bar, 5 mm.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

4 of the eggs from Phu Phok (SK1-1, SK1-2, SK1-3 and SK1-4)

Abstract

Lizards are remarkable amongst amniotes, for they display a unique mosaic of reproduction modes ranging from egg-laying to live-bearing. Within this patchwork, geckoes are believed to represent the only group to ever have produced fully calcified rigid-shelled eggs, contrasting with the ubiquitous parchment shelled-eggs observed in other lineages. However, this hypothesis relies only on observations of modern taxa and fossilised gecko-like eggshells which have never been found in association with any embryonic or parental remains. We report here the first attested fossil eggs of lizards from the Early Cretaceous of Thailand, combining hard eggshells with exquisitely preserved embryos of anguimoph (e.g. Komodo dragons, mosasaurs). These fossils shed light on an apparently rare reproduction strategy of squamates, demonstrate that the evolution of rigid-shelled eggs are not an exclusive specialization of geckoes, and suggest a high plasticity in the reproductive organs mineralizing eggshells.

Fig 4. Skull and mandible of the anguimorph embryos from Phu Phok.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

Fig 6. Comparison of the ossification extension of several postcranial components from the embryos SK1-1 and SK1-2.
The vertebral elements compared (both pre- and post-sacral), as well as the rib, are the largest ones from the eggs SK1-1 and SK1-2. In the pectoral girdle, SK1-1 shows an advance degree of ossification notably in the extension of the procoracoid, the ventral margin of the glenoid fossa and the blade of the scapula. Ossification toward epiphyses of the humerus is more advanced in SK1-1.

Scale bar, 1 mm.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

Material and Geological Setting: 

The fossilized eggs presented here were surface collected by an international team led by one of us (V.S), from red siltstones of the Sao Khua Formation at the locality of Phu Phok (SK1), Sakhon Nakhorn Province, north-eastern Thailand (Fig 1). In total seven eggs have been discovered from this locality during the course of different official field campaigns of the Royal Thai Department of Mineral Resources (DMR): five eggs were discovered in 2002 and 2003 (specimen SK1-1 to SK1-5); specimen SK1-6 and SK1-7 were discovered in 2007 and 2008 respectively. As it was poorly preserved, specimen SK1-5 was thin sectioned for characterization of the eggshell. No nesting structure was observable although the eggs were scattered in the sediment over a relatively small area (about 2 sq.m). No permits were necessary. The DMR is a governmental organisation which has permission to do fieldwork upon acceptance of the land owner. The locality of Phu Phok belongs to the Thai government and therefore no permit was necessary for prospection and collection at the site. While the current legislation stipulates the necessity of permits to transport fossils out of Thailand, it was not the case at the time the fossils were collected (in 2005). Since then, the fossils have been returned to the collection of the Sirindhorn Museum in Phu Kum Khao (Sahatsakhan District, Kalasin Province, Thailand). Therefore no permits were necessary for prospection or for transportation which complied with all relevant regulations.

The Sao Khua formation is mainly characterised by floodplain deposits including sandstone, siltstone and mudstone, together with common calcretes which reflects a low-energy fluvial environment. The Sao Khua Formation is part of the Khorat Group, the latter consisting of a series of five non-marine formations deposited in a thermal sag basin during the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous. The accompanying fauna includes fishes, turtles, crocodilians and dinosaurs. Palynological evidence suggested a Berriasian-Barremian age for the Sao Khua Formation. A late Barremian age is indicated by freshwater bivalves. While the fauna from the older Phu Kradung Formation and the younger Khok Kruat Formation show some resemblance with their contemporaneous counterparts from Asia, the peculiar fauna of the Sao Khua Formation suggests that the Khorat region was somehow isolated from the main Eurasian continent.

Conclusions: 

The discovery of anguimorph embryos inside rigid-shelled eggs was rather unexpected as this mode of reproduction was thought to be an exclusive specialisation of gekkonid among squamates (Fig 9). The similarities observed between the rigid-shelled eggs of modern gekkonids and the Phu Phok anguimorphs are likely the result of an evolutionary convergence as leathery-shelled eggs are predominant in all other squamate clades (Fig 9). Unlike rigid-shelled eggs, eggs of most oviparous squamates present a leathery aspect which consists of a variable and thin coating of calcite overlying a fibrous shell membrane. The rigid type of eggshell presents a similar pattern but differs in having a thicker calcitic layer, allowing notably oviposition in drier environments. The squamate oviduct is known to produce eggs with variable amount of calcite, even at the intraspecific level. This modularity in calcite secretion is considered as one of the key aspects that lead to egg retention through thinning of the calcitic layer, in most major squamate clades. The Phu Phok anguimorphs, on the other hand, demonstrate that the plasticity of the oviduct bears the possibility to increase the calcitic component which occurred at least twice over the evolution of squamates. Consequently, while rigid-shelled eggs produced by squamates present a unique microstructure among amniotes, it is currently impossible to retrieve more detailed taxonomical information from fossilised isolated eggshell of squamates.

Taxonomical interpretation of isolated eggs based on eggshell microstructure has lead to misidentification on several occasions. More recently, a new approach based on egg geometry also concluded that taxonomical identification of fossil eggs based on the shape could be problematic. While the presence of embryonic remains seems the less questionable way to address a taxonomical identification, poorly ossified embryonic material can lead to a limited taxonomical identification or misinterpretation. Eventually, only exceptional preservation of well-ossified embryonic material provides adequate taxonomical information to address questions on the evolution of squamate reproduction modes.

Fig 7. Eggshell morphology and microstructure of the eggs from Phu Phok.
A, 3D rendering of a portion of the surface of the eggshell of SK1-2 showing the distribution of nodes. B, tomogram of SK1-1 showing two eggshell fragments that slid in the egg, outer surfaces oriented to the top of the figure. The inner half of both shell fragments is displayed in darker shades of grey indicating the shell is less dense than the whiter outer half. Unlike micrographed thin sections (Fig 7), the funnel-shaped depression (d) do not seem to be obstructed. The pore canals (p) are highlighted by the edge interference resulting from the phase contrast effect (black and white fringes). C-D, SEM photographs of an eggshell fragment showing the fan-shaped pattern of crystal at the level of a surface node (n). Not the fibrous layer (f) underlining the eggshell. D, close up from C.

Scale bars (A, B), 500 μm.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

Fig 9. Known eggshell types across a simplified time-calibrated lepidosaur phylogeny based after morphological studies.
A, Phu Phok embryos are tentatively placed in an unresolved trichotomy with shinisaurids and varanoids. B-E, schemas of known lepidosaur eggshell types: semi-rigid, loosely connected calcite columns embedded in the shell membrane (B, modified from Packard et al.). Examples: Tuatara (Rhynchocephalia: Sphenodon punctatus) and Bearded lizard (Agamidae: Pogona barbata); leathery, shell membrane often covered with thin calcitic elements. Examples: the wall lizard (Scincomorpha: Lacerta lepida), zebra-tailed lizard (Iguania: Callisaurus draconoides); (C); rigid, well-connected adjacent calcitic columns covering a thin shell membrane. Example: Gekko gecko; (D); Phu Phok, similar to the rigid type, developed in an undulatory pattern, covering a thin structure interpreted as the shell membrane (E).

Abbreviations: a, amorphous layer; c, calcite component; p, pore canal; sm, shell membrane.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

Vincent Fernandez , Eric Buffetaut, Varavudh Suteethorn, Jean-Claude Rage, Paul Tafforeau and Martin Kundrát. 2015. Evidence of Egg Diversity in Squamate Evolution from Cretaceous Anguimorph Embryos. PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128610

http://yle.fi/uutiset/yli_100_miljoonaa_vuotta_vanhat_munat_paljastuivat_vanhimmiksi_loydetyiksi_liskonmuniksi/8161887

[Paleontology • 2014] 'เต่าภูน้อย' ภูน้อยเซลีส ธีรคุปติ | Phunoichelys thirakhupti • A New Primitive Eucryptodiran Turtle from the Upper Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation of the Khorat Plateau, Northeastern Thailand

Figure 1. Phunoichelys thirakhupti gen. et sp. nov. from the Phu Kradung Formation (latest Jurassic) of Phu Noi Locality, NE Thailand.
(a–c) PRC 230 (holotype), shell in dorsal (a, b) views, and detail of ornamentation on carapace (c);
(g–m) PRC 232, (g–i) right costal 1 (PRC232-1) in dorsal (g, h) and ventral (i) views; (j, k) left costal 4 (PRC232-5), (l, m) left costal 6 (PRC232-6).

Scale bar = 5 cm for (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g–m), 1 cm for (c) and (f).
Figure 3. Reconstruction of the shell of Phunoichelys thirakhupti gen. et sp. nov. from the Phu Kradung Formation (latest Jurassic) of Phu Noi Locality, NE Thailand. (a) Carapace in dorsal view; (b) plastron in ventral view.

Abstract

A new genus and new species of primitive eucryptodiran turtle, Phunoichelys thirakhupti gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of shell remains from the lower part of the Phu Kradung Formation, at Phu Noi locality, Kalasin Province, NE Thailand. It is assigned to Xinjiangchelyidae on the basis of the marginals covering the lateral end of the costals and the anal scutes invading the hypoplastra. The new taxon is further characterized by a low and rounded carapace without a cervical notch; the whole carapace and plastron covered with a clear ornamentation consisting of tiny irregular vermiculated furrows; a complete neural series that reaches the suprapygal; a very wide and short cervical scute; relatively wide vertebral scutes; and a long first thoracic rib that extends along the full width of the first costal. The sutured plastron/carapace connection and the marginals covering the lateral end of the second to seventh costals suggest that the turtles from Phu Noi may be related to some primitive xinjiangchelyids from the Sichuan Basin. The discovery of a xinjiangchelyid turtle in the lower part of the Phu Kradung Formation supports a Late Jurassic age for that part of the formation.

Keywords: Testudines; Eucryptodira; Xinjiangchelyidae; Phunoichelys thirakhupti; Late Jurassic; Phu Kradung Formation; NE Thailand

Figure 3. Reconstruction of the shell of Phunoichelys thirakhupti gen. et sp. nov. from the Phu Kradung Formation (latest Jurassic) of Phu Noi Locality, NE Thailand. (a) Carapace in dorsal view; (b) plastron in ventral view.

 

Haiyan Tong, Wilailuck Naksri, Eric Buffetaut, Varavudh Suteethorn, Suravech Suteethorn, Uthumporn Deesri, Saitong Sila, Phornphen Chanthasit and Julien Claude. 2014. A New Primitive Eucryptodiran Turtle from the Upper Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation of the Khorat Plateau, NE Thailand. Geological Magazine. in press. doi: dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0016756814000223

A xinjiangchelyid eucryptodiran. The type species is Phunoichelys thirakhupti | box.com

http://www.dmr.go.th/ThailandGeopark/webgeopark/แหลงธรณวทยา/ภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนอ/กาฬสนธ/ภนอย-2.html

[Palaeontology • 1994] ภูเวียงโกซอรัส สิรินธรเน | Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae • A New Genus of Sauropod Dinosaur from the Sao Khua formation (Late Jurassic or early Cretaceous) of northeastern Thailand

Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae

Martin, Buffetaut & Suteethorn 1994

Phuwiangosaurus (meaning "Phu Wiang lizard") is the name given to a genus of dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous. It was a titanosaur which lived in Thailand. The type species, P. sirindhornae, was described by Martin, Buffetaut, and Suteethorn in 1994; it was named to honour Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who was interested in the geology and palaeontology of Thailand. It was around 27.1 m (90 feet) long.

nearly complete Phuwiangosaurus at Phu Kum Khao, Kanlasin http://fb.me/1afTlNXdR

Type of Phuwiangosaurus http://fb.me/I2K1xrdn

  

On 28 of August 1997, Post Authority of Thailand issued a set of four stamps shows reconstructions of dinosaurs fossils of which found in Northeastern part of the country.

http://www.paleophilatelie.eu/description/stamps/thailand_1997.html

MARTIN, V., BUFFETAUT, E. and SUTEETHORN, V. 1994. Un nouveau genre de dinosaure sauropode de la Formation Sao Khua (Jurassique supérieur ou Crétacé inférieur) du Nord-Est de la Thaïlande. [A New Genus of Sauropod Dinosaur from the Sao Khua formation (Late Jurassic or early Cretaceous) of northeastern Thailand] Comptes Rendus de l’ Academie des Science de Paris. 319(2): 1085-1092.

MARTIN, V., BUFFETAUT, E. and SUTEETHORN, V. 1993. Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs of Thailand: a preliminary report. In THANASUTIPITAK, T. (ed.). Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biostratigraphy of mainland Southeast Asia. Chiang Mai University. 2: 415-425.

MARTIN, V., SUTEETHORN, V. and BUFFETAUT, E. 1999. Description of the type and referred material of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae Martin, Buffetaut and Suteethorn, 1994, a sauropod from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand. Oryctos 2: 39-91.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuwiangosaurus

[Paleontology • 2014] ชาละวัน ไทยแลนดิคัส • Chalawan thailandicus • A Large pholidosaurid in the Phu Kradung Formation of north-eastern Thailand; former 'Sunosuchus' thailandicus

Chalawan thailandicus (Buffetaut & Ingavat 1984)
Chalawan gen. nov. Martin, Lauprasert, Buffetaut, Liard & Suteethorn 2013
syn: Sunosuchus thailandicus Buffetaut & Ingavat 1984

illustration: satorsaurus.deviantART.com

ชาละวัน ไทยแลนดิคัส Chalawan thailandicus

ซูโนซูคัส ไทยแลนดิคัส Sunosuchus thailandicus

Abstract

In the early 1980s, the remains of a large crocodilian, consisting of a nearly complete lower jaw, were referred to a distinct species of Sunosuchus, S. thailandicus. The specimen was recovered from a road-cut near Nong Bua Lamphu, north-eastern Thailand, in the upper part of the continental Phu Kradung Formation, and then considered Early to Middle Jurassic in age. Since then, this age has been revised and most of the formation is now considered Early Cretaceous, although a Late Jurassic age is possible for its lowermost part. Here, we report for the first time cranial elements associated with mandibular remains assignable to ‘S’. thailandicus. An attribution to Pholidosauridae is proposed on the basis of premaxillary morphology, and the original referral of this taxon to the goniopholidid Sunosuchus is discarded. A new genus name Chalawan now designates the originally described material of S. thailandicus. Nevertheless, the newly described specimen shares a characteristic with both ‘traditional’ Goniopholididae and Pholidosauridae: the presence of a depression located on the lateral wall of the maxilla and jugal. A phylogenetic analysis confirms the inclusion of both Goniopholididae and Pholidosauridae into a common clade, Coelognathosuchia tax. nov. Although the new Thai skull is much fragmented, its original shape is reconstructed and is compared with other pholidosaurid genera, namely Elosuchus, Meridiosaurus, Oceanosuchus, Pholidosaurus, Sarcosuchus and Terminonaris. The presence of the genus Sunosuchus being highly questionable in Thailand, it cannot be used as evidence to link the Chinese and Indochinese blocks. Instead, the recognition of a freshwater pholidosaurid in a continental formation of the Indochinese block suggests that early in their evolutionary history, these crocodilians, already known from Europe, Africa and South America, were more widely distributed along the northern margin of the Tethys than previously recognized.

Keywords: crocodilia; Coelognathosuchia; Pholidosauridae; Mesozoic; Phu Kradung Formation; Thailand

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY

This published work and the nomenclatural act it contains have been registered in Zoobank: http://zoobank.org/References/EC1507EB-0C95-48A0-B675-56141C9393FC

Order CROCODILIA Gmelin, 1789

Suborder COELOGNATHOSUCHIA tax. nov.

Derivation of name. In reference to the depression or concavitylocated on the posterodorsal surface of the maxilla, close or par-ticipating to the jugal. The name translates from the Greek jοιkος (concave), cmάhος (jaw) andrο~tvος (crocodile).

Diagnosis. Coelognathosuchia is characterized by the fol-lowing combination of features: presence of a depressionon the posterodorsal region of the rostrum (autapomorphic), located either fully on the maxilla or on both themaxilla and jugal; subcircular supratemporal fenestrae larger than orbits; maximum frontal width as wide or widerthan the diameter of one orbit; anterior process of nasal excluded from posterior margin of external nares; in dorsalview, marked notch at the premaxillary–maxillary junction;reduced or absent antorbital fenestra; more or less developed spine at anterolateral corner of postorbital; exoccipitaland quadrate not in contact posterior to otic area; pendu-lous quadrate medial hemicondyle; posteroventrally pro-jected retroarticular process; insertion for m. pterygoideusposterior restricted to medial margin of angular.

Definition. The sister group to the most derived neosuchians (Bernissartia fagesiiand Eusuchia), incorporatingthe family Pholidosauridae and all taxa more closelyrelated to it than to Bernissartia fagesiiand Eusuchia. Under the present phylogenetic hypothesis, the family Goniopholididae is paraphyletic.

Family PHOLIDOSAURIDAE Zittel and Eastman, 1902 

Derivation of name: ชาละวัน, Chalawan, a gigantic crocodile in the epic story of the crocodile hunter Khrai Thong written by King Rama II (1768–1824).

Type species: Sunosuchus thailandicus Buffetaut and Ingavat, 1980; CAS42-20 in Sirindhorn Museum, Kalasin province (formerly TF1370 in DMR, Bangkok); a nearly complete mandible lacking only a part of the right ramus from the Phu Kradung Formation near Nong Bua Lamphu, north-eastern Thailand.

Referred specimen: PRC102-143, Skull and mandibular elements of a single individual comprising parts of the rostrum, braincase and skull table as well as various parts of the mandible from Kham Phok, Mukdahan Province.

Type locality: Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province.

Type stratum: Phu Kradung Formation.

Jeremy E. Martin, Komsorn Lauprasert, Eric Buffetaut, Romain Liard and Varavudh Suteethorn. 2013. A Large pholidosaurid in the Phu Kradung Formation of north-eastern Thailand. Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12086

Buffetaut, E.; and Ingavat, R. 1984. The lower jaw of Sunosuchus thailandicus, a mesosuchian crocodilian from the Jurassic of Thailand. Palaeontology. 27 (1): 199–206.

[Paleontology • 2013] Cuora chiangmuanensis | เต่าหับเชียงม่วน | คูโอร่า เชียงม่วนเอนซิส • A new species of Cuora (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from the Miocene of Thailand and its evolutionary significance

Abstract 

A new species of Cuora, Cuora chiangmuanensis sp. nov., is described on the basis of a nearly complete shell with limb bones from the late Middle – early Late Miocene Chiang Muan Mine, Phayao Province (Northern Thailand). C. chiangmuanensis is distinguished from other fossil and living Cuora species mainly on the basis of its plastral morphology. Among fossil and extant Cuora taxa, the new species appears to be a missing link between the taxa from Southeast Asia and those from East Asia. It represents the earliest record of the genus and demonstrates that by 11–12 Ma, Asian box turtles were already present in Southeast Asia.

Keywords: Cuora, Geoemydidae, Miocene, Thailand, evolution, Southeast Asia.

เต่าคูโอร่า เชียงม่วนเอนซิส เป็นเต่าน้ำจืดในสกุลเดียวกับเต่าหับปัจจุบัน แต่ชิ้นส่วนฟอสซิลที่ค้นพบนี้มีอายุประมาณ 11-12 ล้านปี พบที่บริเวณเหมืองถ่านหินเชียงม่วน อำเภอเชียงม่วน จังหวัดพะเยา เมื่อ 11 ปีก่อน โดย นายนิกร วงค์ไชย พนักงานธรณีวิทยาประจำเหมือง ชื่อชนิด เชียงม่วนเอนซิส จึงหมายถึง เต่าคูโอร่าแห่งเชียงม่วน  

“เต่าเป็นสัตว์เลื้อยคลานที่มีวิวัฒนาการเริ่มต้นมาตั้งแต่หลายร้อยล้านปี เป็นเพื่อนร่วมยุคมากับไดโนเสาร์ แม้ว่าเต่าที่อยู่ในยุคเดียวกับไดโนเสาร์จะค่อยๆ สูญพันธุ์ไป แต่ก็มีการวิวัฒนาการเป็นเต่าชนิดใหม่ที่มีรูปร่าง ขนาด ลักษณะ แตกต่างกันไป โดยเต่าสกุล คูโอร่า เป็นเต่าน้ำจืดกลุ่มที่ยังมีชีวิตอยู่ในปัจจุบัน ในประเทศไทยรู้จักกันดีในชื่อ เต่าหับ (Cuora amboinensis) ทั้งนี้จากการศึกษาเปรียบเทียบลักษณะฟอสซิลกระดอง ที่พบที่เหมืองเชียงม่วน กับฟอสซิลเต่าชนิดอื่นในสกุลคูโอร่าที่เคยพบในประเทศจีน (C. pitheca) อายุประมาณ 8-9 ล้านปี และประเทศญี่ปุ่น (C. miyatai) อายุประมาณ 2 ล้านปี รวมทั้งกระดองของเต่าปัจจุบันชนิดอื่น ๆ ในสกุลนี้ พบว่ามีลักษณะที่แตกต่างไปจากเต่าชนิดอื่น ๆ ในสกุลนี้ทั้งหมด จึงได้รับการยืนยันว่าเป็นเต่าชนิดใหม่ของโลก ที่สำคัญคือฟอสซิลของเต่า คูโอร่า เชียงม่วนเอนซิส มีลักษณะใกล้เคียงกับเต่าสกุล คูโอร่า ในปัจจุบันมากที่สุด หลักฐานการค้นพบครั้งนี้จึงเป็นการ เผยโฉมฟอสซิลเต่าสกุลปัจจุบันครั้งแรกในประวัติศาสตร์ไทย และถือว่าเต่าคูโอร่าแห่งเชียงม่วนเป็นบรรพบุรุษเต่าหับที่เก่าแก่ที่สุดในโลก” ดร.วิไลลักษณ์  นาคศรี นิสิตปริญญาเอกสาขาบรรพชีวินวิทยา คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหาสารคาม กล่าว

นอกจากนี้ ดร.วิไลลักษณ์ ยังได้อธิบายว่าเต่าสกุลคูโอร่ามีการแพร่กระจายพันธุ์เฉพาะในทวีปเอเชียเท่านั้น โดยปัจจุบันพบทั้งสิ้น 10-12 ชนิด และที่พบเป็นฟอสซิล 3 ชนิด จากการศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ทางวิวัฒนาการของเต่าในสกุลคูโอร่าทั้งหมด พบว่าคูโอร่า เชียงม่วนเอนซิส มีสายวิวัฒนาการใกล้ชิดกับเต่าหับ (C. amboinensis) และเต่าสกุลนี้ที่พบในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้มากที่สุด จึงอาจกล่าวได้ว่าเต่าหับที่แพร่กระจายทั่วเอเชียในปัจจุบัน มีจุดกำเนิดมาจากประเทศไทย เมื่อ 12 ล้านปีก่อน ในยุคสมัยไมโอซีนตอนกลาง

  

illustration: Namo Saurus | http://facebook.com/kmonvish.lawan

นอกจากนี้ ดร.วิไลลักษณ์ ยังได้อธิบายว่าเต่าสกุลคูโอร่ามีการแพร่กระจายพันธุ์เฉพาะในทวีปเอเชียเท่านั้น โดยปัจจุบันพบทั้งสิ้น 10-12 ชนิด และที่พบเป็นฟอสซิล 3 ชนิด จากการศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ทาง วิวัฒนาการของเต่าในสกุลคูโอร่าทั้งหมด พบว่าคูโอร่า เชียงม่วนเอนซิส มีสายวิวัฒนาการใกล้ชิดกับเต่าหับ  และเต่าสกุลนี้ที่พบในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้มากที่สุด จึงอาจกล่าวได้ว่าเต่าหับที่แพร่กระจายทั่วเอเชียในปัจจุบัน มีจุดกำเนิดมาจากประเทศไทย เมื่อ 12 ล้านปีก่อน ในยุคสมัยไมโอซีนตอนกลาง

http://www.dailynews.co.th/thailand/207667

มมส แถลงข่าว ค้นพบเต่าหับเก่าแก่ที่สุดในโลก

Wilailuck Naksri, Haiyan Tong, Komsorn Lauprasert, Varavudh Suteethorn and Julien Claude. 2013. A new species of Cuora (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from the Miocene of Thailand and its evolutionary significance. Geological Magazine. in press. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0016756812001082

[PaleoIchthyology • 2013] 'ปลาพุทธบุตร' ไทยอิกธิส พุทธบุตรเอนซิส ภูน้ำจั้น | Thaiichthys (Lepidotes) buddhabutrensis • Osteology and relationships of Thaiichthys nov. gen.: a Ginglymodi from the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous of Thailand

Thaiichthys (Lepidotes) buddhabutrensis 

(Cavin, Suteethorn, Khansubha, Buffetaut and Tong, 2003)

http://www.futura-sciences.com/

Abstract 

The osteology of Thaiichthys buddhabutrensis, nov. gen., from the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous of Thailand is described on the basis of a collection of well-preserved specimens. The mode of preservation of the material allows describing the external anatomy, as well as some elements of the internal anatomy (braincase, elements of the vertebral column). Most of the cranial and postcranial skeleton shows a rather conservative anatomy for ‘semionotiformes’, but the jaw apparatus displays specializations. Variations observed in the ossification pattern of the skull roof and of the cheek, in the morphology of the median dorsal scales and in fin rays’ count indicate that caution should be applied when these characters are used in diagnoses and in phylogenetic analyses. A phylogenetic analysis including a set of gars, of ‘semionotiformes’, of Macrosemiiformes and of Halecomorphi shows the following features: (1) the monophyly of Holostei; (2) sister-pair relationships between Tlayuamichin/Semiolepis, Isanichthys/’Lepidotes’ latifrons and Araripelepidotes/Pliodetes; (3) the latter pair, together with Thaiichthys and possibly ‘Lepidotes’ mantelli, are resolved as stem Lepisosteiformes; and (4) the ‘semionotiformes’ (a group gathering species of Semionotus and Lepidotes) do not form a clade.

Keywords: Lepidotes; semionotiformes; phylogenetic relationships; gars; South-East Asia

Super Division HOLOSTEI sensu Grande, 2010
Division GINGLYMODI sensu Grande, 2010
Order LEPISOSTEIFORMES sensu Grande, 2010

Genus THAIICHTHYS gen. nov.
Type species. Thaiichthys buddhabutrensis (Cavin, Suteethorn, Khansubha, Buffetaut and Tong, 2003).

Derivation of name.  From Thailand and Greek, ichthys, fish.

Figure 2. Mode of preservation of specimens of Thaiichthys buddhabutrensis in the site of Phu Nam Jun. Arrows indicate features described in the text. A, KS12-26. B, KS12-238. C, KS12-128. D, KS12-168. Scale bars represent 20 mm.

Lionel Cavin, Uthumporn Deesri and Varavudh Suteethorn. 2013. Osteology and relationships of Thaiichthys nov. gen.: a Ginglymodi from the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous of Thailand. Palaeontology. 56 (1): 183–208. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01184.x

ResearchGate.net/publication/235259077_Osteology_and_relationships_of_Thaiichthys_nov_gen_A_Ginglymodi_from_the_Late_Jurassic_-_Early_Cretaceous_of_Thailand

[PaleoIchthyology • 2014] อีสานอิกธิส เลิศบุศย์ศี | Isanichthys lertboosi • A new species of the ginglymodian fish Isanichthys (former Lepidotes) (Actinopterygii, Holostei) from the Late Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation, northeastern Thailand

อีสานอิกธิส เลิศบุศย์ศี | Isanichthys lertboosi 

Deesri, Lauprasert, Suteethorn, Wongko & Cavin 2012

A new ginglymodian fish, Isanichthys lertboosi, is described from the Phu Kradung Formation, north-eastern Thailand, a freshwater deposit of probable Late Jurassic age. The species is represented by four specimens, from the Phu Noi locality, associated with a rich fauna of sharks, turtles, crocodiles, and theropod and sauropod dinosaurs. One specimen is an isolated braincase, which provides characters rarely observed in extinct ginglymodians. The species is referred to the genus Isanichthys, a taxon originally described on the basis of a single specimen from the Phu Nam Jun locality, a slightly younger site approximately 75 km from Phu Noi. Isanichthys is mainly distinguished by frontals slightly narrower anteriorly than posteriorly, two anterior infraorbitals not in contact with the orbit, reduced preorbital region, and a small orbit and a cheek region completely covered by bones. The new species is characterized, among other characters, by a dermal component of the sphenotic visible on the cheek, one pair of extrascapulars plus a small median one, the presence of few suborbitals (circa 4 or 6) arranged in one row, and a median dorsal row of scales with spine. Comparisons with other ginglymodian taxa and a cladistic analysis indicates that Isanichthys (Lepidotes) latifrons from the Late Jurassic of England, as well as probably Isanichthys (Lepidotes) luchowensis from the Early or Middle Jurassic of Sichuan, China, form a clade with both Thai  species of Isanichthys. The new species provides evidence of the high diversity of ginglymodian fishes in the Phu Kradung Formation and suggests a new hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among extinct ginglymodians.

Key words: Holostei, osteology, braincase, phylogeny, Late Jurassic, south-east Asia.

ตัวนักล่าสายพันธุ์ใหม่ “อีสานอิกธิส เลิศบุศย์ศี | Isanichthys lertboosi” ปลานักล่าแห่งจูแรสสิก

http://www.dailynews.co.th/thailand/163661

Deesri, U., Lauprasert, K., Suteethorn, V., Wongko, K. and Cavin, L. 2014. A new species of the ginglymodian fish Isanichthys (Actinopterygii, Holostei) from the Late Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation, northeastern Thailand. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 59 (2): 313–331. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4202/app.2012.0013

 New species of Ginglymodian Fish from the Late Jurassic of northeast Thailand

http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-species-of-ginglymodian-fish-from.html