[Paleontology • 2026] Paludohadros proudlovii • A New iguanodontian Dinosaur (Iguanodontia: Hadrosauroidea) from the Weald Clay Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Smokejacks Brickworks, southern England

 Paludohadros proudlovii 

Sacamoto, Lockwood, Langer, Clark, Barrett, Turner & Maidment, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2026.2726221

artwork by Guilherme Gehr.

 

Abstract

A new genus and species of an early-diverging hadrosauroid dinosaur, Paludohadros proudlovii gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Weald Clay Formation of Smokejacks Brickworks, southern England. This new taxon can be diagnosed by the following autapomorphies and combination of characters: dentary teeth with two secondary ridges and a variable number of accessory ridges on the lingual surface of the crown; surangular with a dorsally projecting lateral process that is offset laterally from the dorsal surface of the anterior process; humerus with a proximally extending ridge on the anteromedial surface of the distal condyle; ischium with a posteroventrally curved shaft, a well-developed ischial boot and an obliquely oriented crest dorsal to the obturator process on the lateral surface of the shaft and a tibia with bosses on the medial and lateral surfaces near the proximal end. Although iguanodontians from the Weald Sub-basin have long been known from older Valanginian strata, represented by Barilium dawsoni, Hypselospinus fittoni and Kukufeldia tilgatensis, the description of Paludohadros proudlovii from the Barremian represents an increase in this diversity of iguanodontians from the Wealden Group, and it is the only valid iguanodontian taxon from the Barremian Weald Clay Formation reported so far. Although broadly contemporaneous, the iguanodontians of the Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight are different taxa, raising the possibility that the Wessex and Weald Clay formations were deposited at slightly different times.

 

Keywords: Barremian, diversity, Iguanodontia, Lower Cretaceous, Smokejacks Brickworks, Wealden Group

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842

Ornithischia Seeley, 1888

Ornithopoda Marsh, 1881

Iguanodontia Baur, 1891

Ankylopollexia Sereno, 1986

Styracosterna Sereno, 1997

Hadrosauriformes Sereno, 1997

Hadrosauroidea Huene, 1952

Paludohadros gen. nov.

Etymology. Paludohadros is derived from the Latin word palus (genitive paludis), meaning swamp, reflecting the swampy environment of the Weald Clay Formation during the Early Cretaceous, and that Smokejacks Pit is often very muddy today, and the Greek word hadros, meaning robust or stout, a term frequently used for iguanodontians.

Locality and horizon. UK National Grid Reference TQ 11252 37263 (± 6 m), Smokejacks Pit (also known as Ewhurst Works, and sometimes referred to as Ockley Pit), Ockley, Surrey, UK. Weald Clay Formation, Barremian, Lower Cretaceous. The specimen was found in the same horizon but about 100 m west of the Baryonyx walkeri type locality.

Paludohadros proudlovii gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific name honours the late Mr William Proudlove, former factory manager of Ewhurst Works. Will passed away in 2000 at the age of 35, shortly before the specimen was excavated, leaving behind a young family. He was an important coach and mentor to current manager Tim Burgess, and we name the specimen in his memory here.

Holotype. NHMUK PV R 16396, a partial skeleton ....

 

Diagnosis. Paludohadros proudlovii differs from all other iguanodontians by possessing the following autapomorphies and a unique combination of characters (autapomorphies indicated with an asterisk): dentary teeth with two secondary ridges and a variable number of accessory ridges on the lingual surface of the crown (1); surangular with a dorsally projecting lateral process that is laterally offset from the dorsal margin of the anterior process and separated from it by a shallow groove* (2); humerus with a proximally extending ridge on the anteromedial surface of the medial distal condyle (3); ischium with a combination of a posteroventrally curved shaft, a well-developed ischial boot and a laterally projecting crest on the lateral surface on the proximal portion of the shaft* (4); tibia with a boss on the medial surface of the proximal end (5).

 Paludohadros proudlovii life restoration.

Original artwork by Guilherme Gehr.

Ricardo J. Sacamoto, Jeremy A. F. Lockwood, Max C. Langer, Brett Clark, Paul M. Barrett, Alice Turner and Susannah C. R. Maidment. 2026. A New iguanodontian Dinosaur from the Weald Clay Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Smokejacks Brickworks, southern England. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 24(2); 2726221. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2026.2726221 [26 Oct 2026]  

[Paleontology • 2026] Invictibellatrix amberina • A new megaraptoran dinosaur (Coelurosauria: Megaraptora) from the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation, UK, and its implications for theropod evolution and biogeography

 

 Invictibellatrix amberina
with contemporary fauna in the lower part of the Wessex Formation. 

Morrison, Scherer, Mannion, Porro, Clark, Folkes & Barrett, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.260937 

Artwork by Sergey Krasovskiy and Pedro Salas

Abstract

Theropod dinosaur remains from the Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, UK, are rare and often fragmentary. Here, we present a previously undescribed braincase from this formation that represents a new coelurosaurian, Invictibellatrix amberina gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis and comparative anatomy indicate that Invictibellatrix is distantly related to all previously named theropods from this stratigraphic unit. Theropod braincases are often regarded as morphologically and phylogenetically conservative, but we demonstrate that neurocranial characters provide essential data that can help clarify the phylogenetic relationships of theropods. The sub-circular occipital condyle, sub-oval foramen magnum and presence of a sagittal nuchal crest indicate that Invictibellatrix is referable to Megaraptora, with phylogenetic analyses recovering it as an early-diverging member of this clade, within a paraphyletic array of Eurasian taxa. Incorporation of Invictibellatrix into a biogeographical analysis suggests that non-megaraptorid megaraptorans likely had a cosmopolitan distribution in the Early Cretaceous, and that the absence of megaraptorans in the Late Cretaceous of Laurasia is best explained by regional extinction. The recognition of this new genus increases our knowledge of Early Cretaceous European coelurosaurian diversity, which now includes tyrannosauroids, maniraptoriforms and megaraptorans.

Keywords: megaraptora, endocast, Early Cretaceous, theropod, dinosaur, biogeography, Wessex Formation 

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842

Saurischia Seeley, 1888

Theropoda Marsh, 1881

Tetanurae Gauthier, 1986

Coelurosauria Huene, 1914

Megaraptora

Photographs of the holotype braincase (NHMUK PV R6775) of Invictibellatrix amberina gen. et sp. nov. in A: anterior, B: posterior; C: right lateral; D: left lateral; E: ventral; F: dorsal views.

Abbreviations: atr, anterior tympanic recess; boc, basioccipital crest; bpr, basipterygoid recess; bsr, basisphenoid recess; bt, basal tubera; btw, basituberal web; CN, cranial nerves V, VII; cp, cultriform process; cvl, crista ventrolateralis of basisphenoid; fm, foramen magnum; oc, occipital condyle; ova, fenestra ovalis; pcr, paracondylar recess; pit, depression of the pituitary gland within the pituitary fossa; pp, paraoccipital process; prp, preotic pendant; psncr, parasagittal nuchal crest recess; scr, sub-condylar recess; snc, parasagittal nuchal crest; sok, supraoccipital knob; sta, sella turcica. Scale bar equals 50 mm.

Invictibellatrix amberina gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: the generic name Invictibellatrix is derived from the Latin ‘invictus’ (‘unconquered’) and ‘bellatrix’ (‘warrior’ in the feminine form) and honours the future role of Megaraptora as Gondwanan apex predators, while early on in their evolutionary history they were smaller, non-apex predators [55–57]. This name is to give hope and strength to all those who are bullied, discriminated, victimized and oppressed that tomorrow will be theirs and not to give up in the face of such odds. The species epithet amberina is derived from the amber present in the plant debris beds of the Wessex Formation [58].

Locality and horizon: Sudmoor Point, near Brook, southwestern coast of the Isle of Wight, UK; Wessex Formation, Barremian, Lower Cretaceous. Most likely from the lower plant debris beds (L1 to L5).

Holotype: NHMUK PV R6775, a partial braincase.

Diagnosis: Invictibellatrix amberina can be diagnosed by the following unique character combination (autapomorphies marked with an asterisk): (i) *presence of a small basipterygoid recess anterior to the anterior tympanic recess (ATR) on each side of the parabasisphenoid, (ii) *slightly transversely compressed, hourglass-shaped nuchal crest, (iii) the presence of two large, deep and dorsoventrally elongate paracondylar recesses on the ventrolateral sides of the basioccipital, and (iv) *parasagittal nuchal crest recesses that are slightly curved and pronounced.

An artist's illustration of the new theropod dinosaur, Invictibellatrix amberina (center of the image), in its ecosystem on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, in the Early Cretaceous (around 120 million years ago). It lived in what was likely a seasonally wet-to-dry floodplain environment and is surrounded by other dinosaurs including large long-necked rebbachisaurid sauropods (directly behind Invictibellatrix, center) and relatives of Iguanodon (right). A spinosaurid theropod, potentially the apex predator of the time, fishes (left). Invictibellatrix has just caught and is consuming two small mammals. Gymnosperms dominate the environment as flowering plants (angiosperms) were not common at this time. Other reptiles including relatives of modern lizards, crocodiles and turtles enjoy the warm Early Cretaceous weather of the U.K.

Artwork by Sergey Krasovskiy and Pedro Salas

Cassius Morrison; Charlie R. Scherer; Philip Mannion; Laura B. Porro; Brett Clark; Daniel D. Folkes; Paul M. Barrett. 2026. A new megaraptoran dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation, UK, and its implications for theropod evolution and biogeography. R. Soc. Open Sci. 13(10): 260937. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.260937 [14 Oct 2026]

[Paleontology • 2026] Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis • Jurassic flightless Bird reveals early Ecological Diversity of avialans

Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis

L. Xu, Wang, G. Lin, Dong, Deng, X. Xu, Du, M. Lin, Chen & Zhou, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10972-z

Life reconstruction by Min Wang.

 Abstract

The origin and early diversification of birds remain highly debated in vertebrate evolution. Although estimates of the evolutionary timescales suggest a Jurassic period radiation, a profound scarcity of fossils from this period has hampered how the distinctive bird bauplan was assembled. Selection for powered flight has been viewed as the primary driver of early avialan skeletal modifications, attesting to the independent occurrences of aerodynamic features among paravian lineages. Here we report on the discovery of a Late Jurassic avialan, Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis, gen. et sp. nov., from the Zhenghe Fauna of southeastern China. As one of the earliest diverging avialans, Y. yangyuanensis exhibits a striking mosaic of features, combining a mixture of avialan- and troodontid-like cranial characters, paired with derived postcranial traits and a deinonychosaur-like hyperextensible second pedal digit. Phylogenetically informed analyses show that Y. yangyuanensis possesses markedly short forelimbs—a condition present widely among non-avialan theropods. These findings provide strong evidence for a terrestrial, flightless lifestyle of Y. yangyuanensis. Our study demonstrates that evolution works intensively as exemplified by the occurrence of several, divergent ecological pathways being exploited in the initial diversification of birds.

 

Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis, gen. et sp. nov.

Life reconstruction of the Late Jurassic bird Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis.

Artwork by Min Wang.

 

Liming Xu, Min Wang, Ganmin Lin, Liping Dong, Ke Deng, Xing Xu, Honggang Du, Min Lin, Runsheng Chen and Zhonghe Zhou. 2026. Jurassic flightless Bird reveals early Ecological Diversity of avialans. Nature. 658; 690–697. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10972-z [14 October 2026]

Liming Xu  (徐立明), Min Wang  (王敏), Ganmin Lin  (林淦旻), Liping Dong  (董丽萍), Ke Deng  (邓克), Xing Xu  (徐星), Honggang Du  (杜红岗), Min Lin  (林敏), Runsheng Chen  (陈润生) & Zhonghe Zhou  (周忠和)

[Paleontology • 2026] Tromerosaurus solumons • A new albertosaurine from the Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada, illuminates ambiguity between albertosaurine and tyrannosaurine characteristics

Tromerosaurus solumons

Powers, Napoli, Coppock, Sharpe, Garros, Demers-Potvin, Raun, Stock, Miyashita & Currie, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2728669

   x.com/Paleoartologist

 ABSTRACT

Tyrannosaurid species have often been considered to have high longevity and low diversity relative to contemporaneous megaherbivores. Recent chronospecies assertions around tyrannosaurid lineage evolution have reinforced this idea. An albertosaurine, Tromerosaurus solumons, from the Oldman Formation of Alberta, Canada, shares features with Daspletosaurus and Gorgosaurus, and prompts reassessment of tyrannosaurid characteristics and the Late Cretaceous radiation of Tyrannosauridae. Maxillary morphometrics reveal clear intermediate morphologies in Tromerosaurus between Daspletosaurus and Gorgosaurus, including an anteroposteriorly longer maxillary fenestra and narrower pila promaxillaris than in Gorgosaurus libratus. An anatomical diagnosis of Tromerosaurus solumons allowed referral of specimens previously attributed to Gorgosaurus. Restricted stratigraphic overlap between Tromerosaurus and Gorgosaurus offers support to this distinction. A modified recent character-taxon dataset recovers Tromerosaurus as the earliest diverging member of Albertosaurinae under parsimony or Tyrannosaurinae under Bayesian inference. The difference in topologies along with reduced node support values for clades such as Lythronax + Teratophoneus, or Bistahieversor and other derived tyrannosaurines, suggests uncertainty as to their recovery within Albertosaurinae or Tyrannosaurinae. Together, these results support a younger divergence of the two main tyrannosaurid lineages with rapid character acquisition and transition during the Late Cretaceous (Santonian–Maastrichtian).

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

THEROPODA, Marsh 1881

TYRANNOSAUROIDEA, Walker 1964

TYRANNOSAURIDAE, Osborn 1906

ALBERTOSAURINAE, Currie et al. 2003

Clade Definition—A group of tyrannosaurid theropods that are more closely related to Albertosaurus than Tyrannosaurus (Currie et al., 2003).

TROMEROSAURUS, gen. nov.

TROMEROSAURUS SOLUMONS, gen. et sp. nov.

Albertosaurus libratus TMP 1985.011.0003 (Table 1); Carr 1999

Gorgosaurus libratus TMP 1994.012.0602 and TMP 1995.005.0001 (Table 1); Currie 2003b.

Daspletosaurus torosus UALVP 52981 (Table 1); Rhodes et al. 2021.

Gorgosaurus libratus TMP 1985.011.0003 (Fig. 3B), TMP 1994.012.0602 (Figs. 3K, 7D and 8C), and TMP 1995.005.0001 (Fig. 5B); Voris et al. 2021.

Daspletosaurus UALVP 52981 (Table 1); Paul et al. 2022.

Etymology—The genus name derives from Ancient Greek for terrible or frightful (tromerós) lizard (saûros) with regard to the taxon having a mosaic of characteristics between Gorgosaurus (terrible lizard) and Daspletosaurus (frightful lizard). The specific epithet (solumons) derives from Latin for lonely (solus) and mountain (mons), pertaining to the isolation of the lacrimal horn by a broad flat shelf of the posterior process of the lacrimal. This also pays homage to the infamous fictional dragon Smaug (in particular, to his lair in The Hobbit (Tolkien, 1937), recognizing the visual similarities between tyrannosaurids and iconography of dragons.

 

Mark J. Powers, James G. Napoli, Colton C. Coppock, Henry S. Sharpe, Christiana W. Garros, Alexandre V. Demers-Potvin, Gorm S. Raun, Jordan C. Stock, Tetsuto Miyashita and Philip J. Currie . 2026. A new albertosaurine from the Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada, illuminates ambiguity between albertosaurine and tyrannosaurine characteristics. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e2728669. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2728669 [02 Oct 2026]

   x.com/Paleoartologist/status/2106080433905778821

 

[Paleontology • 2026] Infernogallus jamesi • Fruit-eating Adaptations in a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Oviraptorosauria: Caenagnathidae)

 Infernogallus jamesi 

Funston, Dudgeon, Simon, Dufault, Boyd, Fowler, Currie & Evans, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78343-w

Abstract

The diversification of herbivorous dinosaurs and the rise of angiosperms in the Late Cretaceous are each well established, but the link between them is debated. Broad-scale diversity patterns in the two groups appear not to closely align, and there is no direct evidence of dinosaur adaptation to angiosperm-based diets. Here we describe Infernogallus jamesi gen. et. sp. nov., a diminutive caenagnathid oviraptorosaur, and show that these theropods were specialised herbivores that originated alongside the rise of fleshy angiosperm fruits. The nearly complete, articulated skull of Infernogallus jamesi—the first for the clade—reveals drastic changes to the adductor musculature organisation, unique in non-avian theropods but converged upon by extant frugivorous parrots. These modifications enabled extensive oral processing of soft food using anteroposterior movement of the mandible and occlusion of ridges and grooves on opposed elements. Altogether, this attests to a highly specialised herbivorous diet in caenagnathids, which likely consisted in large part of fleshy angiosperm fruits, which increased in size and diversity in concert with the radiation of oviraptorosaurs. Caenagnathids thus provide one of the strongest candidates for angiosperm-based diet adaptations in dinosaurs, but their role in the Late Cretaceous proliferation of fruit—which shaped early Cenozoic flora—remains unclear.

Systematic palaeontology

Theropoda

Oviraptorosauria

Caenagnathidae

Eucaenagnathinae Clade nov.

Definition. The most inclusive monophyletic group including Anzu wyliei and Elmisaurus rarus, but not Anomalipes zhaoi.

Diagnosis. Eucaenagnathines (meaning ‘true caenagnathids’) are distinguished from other caenagnathids by the morphology of the fused dentaries, with an upturned tomial edge marked with lateral and anterior occlusal ridges, and a midline sulcus bordered by longitudinal lingual ridges separated from the tomial edge by a lingual groove.

Infernogallus jamesi (ROM VP 65050). Photograph (a) and line drawing (b) of ROM VP 65050. c Skeletal reconstruction of Infernogallus jamesi based on ROM VP 65050 and other eucaenagnathines (shaded areas are preserved in ROM 65050). d Palaeohistological thin section of the femur of ROM VP 65050, showing lines of arrested growth (arrows) and an external fundamental system indicative of advanced age and skeletal maturity. cv cervical vertebrae, dv dorsal vertebrae, efs external fundamental system, fe femur, ga gastralia, hu humerus, il ilium, ma manus, pb pubis, pp plane-polarised light, sc scapulacoracoid, sk skull, tb tibia, xp cross-polarised light. Scale bars as indicated.

Cranial anatomy of Infernogallus jamesi gen. et sp. nov.
Photograph (a) and line drawing (b) of the skull of ROM VP 65050 in left lateral view. ...

 Infernogallus jamesi gen et. sp. nov. (Figs. 1–4) 

Etymology. The name comes from the Latin “Inferno” (Hell) and “gallus” (chicken), referring to the Hell Creek Formation and the small, bird-like appearance of the species; “jamesi”, a patronym for James William Boyd, the paternal grandfather of author CAB, who sparked his interest in the field of palaeontology. 

Holotype. ROM VP 65050, articulated partial skeleton including the skull, cervical and dorsal vertebrae, right pectoral girdle and forelimb, partial pelvic girdle, and partial right hindlimb. Paratypes. ROM VP 64193, dentaries; ROM VP 64194, articularsurangular-coronoid complex; ROM VP 88690, left and right pterygoids; NDGS 4351, dentaries. 

Locality and horizon. Hell Creek Formation (late Maastrichtian), Garfield County, Montana; Meade County, South Dakota; and Bowman County, North Dakota, USA. 

Diagnosis. Small (femur length 185 mm; est. 12 ± 3 kg body mass) caenagnathid oviraptorosaur diagnosed by the following autapomorphies: broad jugal with large anterior ascending process and which contacts the squamosal posteriorly; infratemporal fenestra extremely reduced, about 25% the diameter of the orbit; quadratojugal with greatly enlarged, circular posterior process; squamosal with dorsoventrally broad body lacking a depression and ridge for adductor musculature; pterygoids concave dorsally, unfused along the midline, and with a lateral buttress; ectopterygoid–pterygoid bar greatly expanded and extending far ventrally; long axis of vomer oriented ...

 

Gregory F. Funston, Thomas W. Dudgeon, D. Jade Simon, Danielle M. Dufault, Clint Boyd, Denver Fowler, Philip J. Currie and David C. Evans. 2026. Fruit-eating Adaptations in a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Theropoda). Nature Communications. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78343-w [10 October 2026] 

 x.com/Tom_Dudgeon/status/2109992811202523597

[Paleontology • 2026] Norellraptor barsboldi • Independent Assembly of the Flight Apparatus in A Non-avian Dinosaur Clade

  

 Norellraptor barsboldi 

Wang, Ji, Cau, Kundrát, Liu, Wang & Ji, 2026

 DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77804-6

Abstract

The discovery of feathered dinosaurs revolutionized the studies on the origin of birds and the evolution of their flight. Among paravians (birds and their closest relatives), the microraptorine dromaeosaurids are unique in bearing several flight-related adaptations with a controversial evolutionary interpretation, supporting, alternatively, flight as ancestral to Paraves or having evolved multiple times among the latter. Here, we introduce an exquisitely-preserved member of Microraptorinae, Norellraptor barsboldi gen. et sp. nov., and describe in detail forelimb osteohistological features for that clade. Norellraptor nests among late-diverging microraptorines and supports step-wise assembly of aerial adaptations in that clade. About 30% of the microraptorine synapomorphies are convergently acquired by the bird lineage (Avialae). Yet, the sequences of flight-related novelties reconstructed along the two lineages differ consistently; combined with histological evidence which might indicate a peculiar limb growth model in Microraptorinae, these results dismiss a shared developmental pattern driving the evolution of the flying dinosaurs and support multiple and independent selective regimes at the origin of the winged taxa in Paraves.

 Norellraptor barsboldi 130108-MHGU-F4281
a Whole specimen. b Skull in lateral view. c Close up of the rostrum. d Close up of the posterior part of skull. e Pectoral region. f Distal end of tail.

aof, antorbital fossa; arm, ascending ramus of maxilla; at, anterior tympanic recess; bt, basal tuber; bp, basypterygoid process; cf, coracoid fenestra; ct, caudal tympanic recess; cnV, 5th cranial nerve opening; cnVII, 7th cranial nerve opening; cv, cervical vertebra; d1, first dorsal vertebra; de, dentary; dt, dorsal tympanic recess; fo, foramen; fr, frontal; fu, furcula; gl, glenoid; h, humerus; la, lacrimal; lat, laterosphenoid; lcv, last caudal vertebra; lp, lateral pneumatic recess; mc, metacarpus; mxf, maxillary fenestra; na, nasal; oc, otosphenoid crest; or, otic region; pa, parietal; paw, postantral wall; pmx, premaxilla; pp, paroccipital process; ppd, posterior processes of dentary; pt, pterygoid; pxf, promaxillary fenestra; r, radius; rp, retroarticular process; sa, surangular; sc, scapula; so, supraoccipital; sp, sternal plate; sr, sclerotic ring; u, ulna; up, uncinate process; vor, ventral otic recess. 

Arrow indicates point of histological sampling. 

Scale bar = 50 mm (a); 10 mm (b–f).

 Norellraptor barsboldi 130108-MHGU-F4281, appendicular elements.
a Right hand. b Pubis. c Feet.

am, acetabular margin; ap, apron; cs, claw soft tissue; gi, gastral impression; mcI-III, metacarpals I to III; mtI-V, metatarsals I to V; p, phalanx; pf, pubic foot; r, radius; sc, semilunate carpal; t, tibiotarsus; u, ulna; uI-III, unguals 1 to 3. 

Scale bar = 10 mm.

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842 

Theropoda Marsh, 1881 

Dromaeosauridae Matthew and Brown, 1922  

Microraptorinae Senter et al., 2004 

Microraptorini (Senter et al., 2004) 

Norellraptor barsboldi gen. et sp. nov.

Locality and horizon: Lamadong Town, Jianchang County, western Liaoning, China. Jiufotang Formation, Lower Cretaceous. China.

Diagnosis: Microraptorine dromaeosaurid with the unique combination of features (autapomorphies marked by asterisk; Supplementary Fig. 2): premaxilla with length of prenarial part half the depth of the subnarial body; large promaxillary fenestra occupying the whole rostral third of the antorbital fossa*, and with long axis inclined 35° caudodorsally; pila promaxillaris narrower than the pila interfenestralis and both less than half the diameter of the maxillary fenestra*; pubis gently curved caudoventrally with small foot having the posterior projection less than the diameter of the pubic shaft*. Differential diagnosis: Norellraptor differs from Changyuraptor in having basally-constricted dentary crowns and in the semilunate carpal barely

 

Etymology: The genus name refers to the American palaeontologist Mark Allen Norell (1957-2025), with Latin word “raptor” (“robber”), a frequently used suffix in dromaeosaurid taxonomy. The species name refers to the Mongolian palaeontologist Rinchen Barsbold (1935-2025). The new taxon name remarks and honours the exceptional contributions by R. Barsbold and M. A. Norell to the study of the bird-like dinosaurs.

 

Xuri Wang, Yannan Ji, Andrea Cau, Martin Kundrát, Yichuan Liu, Yang Wang and Qiang Ji. 2026. Independent Assembly of the Flight Apparatus in A Non-avian Dinosaur Clade. Nature Communications. 17: 10074. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77804-6 [29 September 2026]

[Paleontology • 2026] Sauropod teeth from the Khorat Group of Thailand suggest the Faunal Replacement of Sauropod Dinosaurs across the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous

Sauropod diversity interpretation throughout the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition of Thailand based on dental evidence in

A, the Late Jurassic (Tithonian); B, the Early Cretaceous (late Valanginian to Barremian), C, the late Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian). 

in Chowchuvech, Manitkoon, Chanthasit et Ketwetsuriya. 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2026.2710631 

  x.com/JobSaurusRex

Illustrations by Pakorn Chotchaiyaporn x.com/Peak4651

ABSTRACT

Sauropod teeth are among the most abundant vertebrate fossils recovered from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Khorat Group of Thailand. However, their taxonomic and palaeoecological significance has not previously been examined in detail. This research presents the first comprehensive taxonomic identification of isolated sauropod teeth from several localities across the Khorat Plateau in Northeastern and Eastern Thailand. Based on morphological analyses, these teeth were assigned to four distinct morphotypes. Additionally, multi-quantitative analyses revealed affinities with four sauropod clades: Mamenchisauridae, Brachiosauridae, Somphospondyli, and Dicraeosauridae. The taxonomic framework recovered in this study is consistent with the broader sauropod fossil record of the Khorat Group and reveals a marked faunal shift across the Jurassic–Cretaceous of Thailand. Mamenchisaurids appeared during the Late Jurassic to the earliest Cretaceous, whereas neosauropods, such as titanosauriforms and diplodocoids, became more prevalent during the Early Cretaceous. These findings suggest new evidence for a major sauropod faunal replacement event, likely driven by ecological changes affecting herbivorous dinosaurs during this crucial timeframe of the Mesozoic.

KEYWORDS: Sauropoda, Mamenchisauridae, Brachiosauridae, Somphospondyli, Diplodocoidea

Sauropod diversity interpretation throughout the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition of Thailand based on dental evidence in A, the Late Jurassic (Tithonian); B, the Early Cretaceous (late Valanginian to Barremian), C, the late Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian).

 Illustrations by Pakorn Chotchaiyaporn.

 

Wongwech Chowchuvech, Sita Manitkoon, Phornphen Chanthasit and Chatchalerm Ketwetsuriya. 2026. Sauropod teeth from the Khorat Group of Thailand suggest the Faunal Replacement of Sauropod Dinosaurs across the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2026.2710631 [15 Sep 2026]

   x.com/JobSaurusRex/status/2100237729351221602

  x.com/Peak4651/status/2100259226346201579

[Paleontology • 2026] Kayrasaurus changliensi • A New therizinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota and ecomorphological patterns among early therizinosaurians

 

Kayrasaurus changliensis  Liao, Freimuth, Zanno & Xu, 2026;

Beipiaosaurus inexpectus; Jianchangosaurus yixianensis; Lingyuanosaurus sihedangensis

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2026.2710287 

Artwork by Kōhei Futaka. x.com/_HETAKA

 

Abstract

Therizinosauria is a highly specialized clade of maniraptoran theropods, notable for a suite of unusual traits in late-branching taxa. These paradoxical anatomical features contributed to the complex taxonomic history of the clade, which remained unresolved until the discovery of early branching taxa. Here, we describe a new early branching species, Kayrasaurus changliensis, based on a nearly complete, skeletally immature specimen (IVPP V 18597) recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China. This taxon is notably larger than other penecontemporaneous Jehol therizinosaurians (at least 1.6 times larger than the second-largest taxon, Beipiaosaurus inexpectus) and exhibits a unique combination of features (e.g. extremely small and densely packed teeth, cervical centra markedly longer than dorsal centra, and a dorsally extended ‘lip’ on manual ungual IV). We evaluate the phylogenetic position of K. changliensis using an expanded dataset with increased character and taxon sampling. Our results allow us to revise the diagnosis of B. inexpectus and provide new insights into therizinosaurian evolution, provisionally recovering two subclades within Therizinosauridae that are differentiated by their manual ungual morphology. By integrating morphological traits, body mass estimates, and biomechanical data, we infer the possibility of at least two distinct ecological niches among Jehol therizinosaurians. One ecological group, represented by B. inexpectus and possibly K. changliensis, exhibits features indicative of enhanced bite force and a more robust, less cursorial body plan. In contrast, Jianchangosaurus yixianensis and Lingyuanosaurus sihedangensis display traits associated with greater cursoriality and a reliance on forelimb-based foraging. Kayrasaurus changliensis, together with the results of our phylogenetic analysis, provides new insights into the morphological evolution and ecological adaptations of therizinosaurians in the Jehol Biota. However, further analyses and the discovery of more complete, well-preserved specimens are essential to rigorously test and refine these hypotheses. 

Keywords: Early Cretaceous, Liaoning, maniraptoran, morphology, taxonomy

four species of therizinosaurids from the Jehol Biota, China: 
Kayrasaurus changliensis; Beipiaosaurus inexpectus;
Jianchangosaurus yixianensis; Lingyuanosaurus sihedangensis

Artwork by Kōhei Futaka.  x.com/_HETAKA

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842

Theropoda Marsh, 1881

Coelurosauria sensu Gauthier, 1986

Therizinosauria Russell and Dong, 1993

Kayrasaurus changliensis gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. Kayra, the god of creation in Turkic Shamanism, is the father of Erlik, the god of death, symbolizing its phylogenetic connection to Erlikosaurus; saurus, Greek for lizard. The specific name changliensis is derived from Changli, a historical place name from the Three Kingdoms period, referring to the provenance of the fossil.

Horizon and locality. Dabangou village, Sihetun Area, near Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, P. R. China; Lower Cretaceous (Barremian–Aptian) Yixian Formation (Chang et al., 2017).

Chun-Chi Liao, William J. Freimuth, Lindsay E. Zanno and Xing Xu. 2026. A New therizinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota and ecomorphological patterns among early therizinosaurians. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 24(2); 2710287. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2026.2710287 [10 Sep 2026]  

x.com/_HETAKA/status/2098404378852102507

[Paleontology • 2026] Nipponopelta yezoensis • A new nodosaurid ankylosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Upper Cretaceous Hikagenosawa Formation in Japan reveals dispersal pattern of Asian nodosaurid ankylosaurs

Nipponopelta yezoensis 

 Oyabu, Kobayashi, Zelenitsky, Fiorillo & Kano, 2026

「ニッポノペルタ・エゾエンシス」DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2026.106477 

Highlights

• Nipponopelta yezoensis is the first ankylosaur formally named from Japan.

• The taxon is more closely related to North American nodosaurids than Asian taxa.

• Coastal environments may have played a role in interregional nodosaurid radiations.

Abstract

Nodosaurid dinosaurs are mainly known from North America and Europe, with rare occurrences in South America and Asia. A partial skull, discovered in a concretion from the upper part of the marine Hikagenosawa Formation (upper Cenomanian) in Yubari City, Hokkaido, Japan, was initially described in 2005 and identified as a nodosaurid based on its dentition and occipital bone morphology. However, its taxonomic status remained unresolved. In this study, three-dimensional CT reconstructions reveal detailed morphological features justifying the naming of a new taxon, Nipponopelta yezoensis gen. et sp. nov., the first named Japanese ankylosaur based on unique characters in the occipital region. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Nipponopelta yezoeisis is deeply nested within derived North American and European nodosaurids and distantly related to other Asian nodosaurids. Ancestral geographic analysis suggests that Nipponopelta yezoensis and its close relatives originated in Laramidia, Appalachia, and Asia, indicating a wide ancestral area. Habitat reconstruction reveals that Nipponopelta yezoensis preferred marine-influenced environments, likely inhabiting coastal or estuarine areas. This preference for coastal environments played a significant role in its dispersal patterns across different regions.

Keywords: Ankylosauria; Nodosauridae; Cretaceous; Palaeobiogeography; Asia

Nipponopelta yezoensis gen. et sp. nov.

Shumpei Oyabu, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Darla K. Zelenitsky, Anthony R. Fiorillo and Manabu Kano. 2026. A new nodosaurid ankylosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Upper Cretaceous Hikagenosawa Formation in Japan reveals dispersal pattern of Asian nodosaurid ankylosaurs. Cretaceous Research. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2026.106477 [21 August 2026]

https://tiisys.com/blog/2026/09/02/post-202824/

北海道産恐竜化石を「ニッポノペルタ・エゾエンシス」と命名～約1億年前の"海辺の恐竜"が明かす、白亜紀の大陸間移動～（総合博物館　教授　小林快次）