2009 in archosaur paleontology


The year 2009 in Archosaur paleontology was eventful. Archosaurs include the only living dinosaur group — birds — and the reptile crocodilians, plus all extinct dinosaurs, extinct crocodilian relatives, and pterosaurs. Archosaur paleontology is the scientific study of those animals, especially as they existed before the Holocene Epoch began about 11,700 years ago. The year 2009 in paleontology included various significant developments regarding archosaurs.
This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of every kind that have been described during the year 2009, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that occurred in the year 2009.

Crurotarsans

Research

A study titled "Quantitative analysis of dental microwear in hadrosaurid dinosaurs, and the implications for hypotheses of jaw mechanics and feeding" is published by British paleontologists Mark Purnell, Paul Barrett and student Vince Williams. The paper examined the chewing methods and diet of hadrosaurid dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period. The scientists analyzed hundreds of microscopic scratches on the teeth of a fossilized Edmontosaurus jaw, and believe they determined exactly how a hadrosaur broke down and ate its food, which had previously eluded researchers.
The study found hadrosaurs had a unique way of eating unlike any creature living today. In contrast to a flexible lower jaw joint prevalent in today's mammals, hadrosaurs had a unique hinge between the upper jaws and the rest of its skull. The team found the dinosaur's upper jaws pushed outwards and sideways while chewing, as the lower jaw slid against the upper teeth.
The study also concluded that hadrosaurs likely grazed on horsetails and vegetation close to the ground, rather than browsing higher-growing leaves and twigs. However, Purnell said these conclusions were less secure than the more conclusive evidence regarding the motion of teeth while chewing. Previous studies found contradictory conclusions, and the issue remains a subject of debate.
The findings were published on June 30, 2009 in the journal, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Purnell said no previous study had ever employed this method of analyzing microscopic teeth scratches, and that the method could be used to study other areas of scientific research.

New taxa

Data courtesy of George Olshevky's dinosaur genera list. ~44 dinosaur genera were erected in 2009.
NameStatusAuthorsDiscovery yearAgeUnitLocationNotesImages
AdeopapposaurusValid
  • Ricardo N. Martínez
Cañón del Colorado Formation
AerosteonValid
Rio Colorado Formation

Albalophosaurus		Valid
  • Ohashi
  • Barrett
Kuwajima Formation
AlbertonykusValid
  • Longrich
  • Currie
    		• lower Maastrichtian
    Horseshoe Canyon Formation
    AnchiornisValid
    • Xu X.
    • Zhao Q.
    • et al.
    		Tiaojishan Formation

    Angulomastacator
    Valid
    • J. R. Wagner
    • Lehman
    		Aguja Formation
    Arenysaurus
    Valid
    • Xabier Pereda-Suberbiolaa
    • José Ignacio Canudob
    • et al.
    		• A Spanish Lambeosaurine.
    Australovenator
    Valid
    • Hocknull
    • White
    • et al.
    		Winton Formation
    		An Australian Megaraptor. Specimen named "Banjo"
    Baotianmansaurus
    Valid
    • Zhang, X.
    • Lü, J.
    • et al.
    		Gaogou Formation
    BarrosasaurusValid
    • Salgado
    • Coria
    		Anacleto Formation
    CeratonykusValid
    • Alifanov
    • Barsbold
    		Barun Goyot Formation
    Diamantinasaurus
    Valid
    • Hocknull
    • White
    • et al.
    		Winton Formation
    		An Australian Titanosaur.

    Elrhazosaurus
    Valid
    • Galton
    		Elrhaz Formation
    Helioceratops
    Valid
    • Jin
    • Chen
    • et al.
    		Quantou Formation
    HesperonychusValid
    • Longrich
    • Currie
    		Dinosaur Park Formation
    		Smallest known dinosaur from North America.

    Jintasaurus
    Valid
    • You
    • Li
    		Xinminpu Group
    KinnareemimusValid
    • Buffetaut
    • Suteethorn
    • Tong
    		Sao Khua Formation
    KolValid
    • Turner
    • Nesbitt
    • Norell
    		Djadochta Formation

    Leshansaurus
    Valid
    • Li
    • Peng
    • et al.
    		Shangshaximiao Formation
    LevnesoviaValid
  • Sues
  • Averianov
    		• Bissekty Formation
    		The oldest Hadrosauroidean
    LimusaurusValid
    • Xu
    		Shishugou Formation
    		The first Asian ceratosaur to be discovered
    LuoyanggiaValid
    • Lü
    • Xu
    • et al.
    		Mangchuan Formation
    		An oviraptorosaur
    MalarguesaurusValid
    • González Riga
    • Previtera
    • Pirrone
    		Portezuelo Formation
    MinotaurasaurusValid
  • Clifford A. Miles
  • Clark J. Mikes
    		• Synonym of Tarchia.
    MiragaiaValid
    • Mateus
    • Maidment
    • Christiansen
    		Sobral Unit
    		Long-necked stegosaur.

    Owenodon
    Valid
    • Galton
    		Purbeck Limestone
    PanphagiaValid
    • Martinez
    • Alcober
    		Ischigualasto Formation
    		One of the most basal known sauropodomorph.

    Qiaowanlong    		Valid
    • You
    • Li
    		Xinminpu Group

    Raptorex
    • Sereno
    • Brusatte
    • et al.
    		Yixian Formation
    		Tyrannosauroidea
    Ruyangosaurus
    Valid
    • Lu
    • Xu
    • et al.
    		Mangchuan Formation
    Shaochilong
    Valid
    • Brusatte
    • Benson
    • et al.
    		Ulansuhai Formation
    Shidaisaurus
    Valid
    • Wu
    • Currie
    • et al.
    		Upper Lufeng Formation
    Sinotyrannus
    Valid
    • Ji
    • Ji
    • Zhang
    		Jiufotang Formation
    SkorpiovenatorValid
  • Canale
  • Scanferla
  • et al.
    		• Huincul Formation

    Spinophorosaurus
    • Remes
    • Ortega
    • et al.
    		Irhazer Group
    		Sauropoda

    Tatankacephalus
    Valid
    • Parsons
    • Parsons
    		Cloverly Formation
    Tawa
    Valid
    • Nesbitt
    • Smith
    • et al.
    		Chinle Formation
    Tethyshadros
    Valid
    • Dalla Vecchia
    		Liburnia Formation
    Tianyulong
    Valid
    • Zheng
    • You
    • et al.
    		Tiaojishan Formation

    Wintonotitan
    Valid
    • Hocknull
    • White
    • et al.
    		Winton Formation
    XianshanosaurusValid
    • Lü
    • Xu
    • et al.
    		Mangchuan Formation
    		A sauropod

    "Xinghesaurus"
    Nomen nudum
    • Hasegawa
    • Carpenter
    • et al.
    		Name published without scientific description in Japanese guidebook "Dinosaur Expo 2009: The Miracle of Deserts"
    Zanabazar''
    Valid
    • Norell
    • Makovicky
    • et al.
    		Nemegt Formation

    Aves

    Research

    NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeUnitLocationNotesImages-

    Alamitornis minutus
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Federico L. Agnolin
    Agustín G. Martinelli
    Late Cretaceous
    Los Alamitos Formation
    		Placed in ?Patagopterygiformes by Agnolin and Martinelli.-

    Australotadorna alecwilsoni
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Trevor H. Worthy
    Late Oligocene
    Etadunna Formation
    		An Anatidae.-

    Bonasa nini
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Antonio Sánchez Marco
    Early Pleistocene
    Lower Elefante, TE 13 layer
    		A Phasianidae.-

    Calidris janossyi
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Miocene
    MN 13
    		Originally described as a member of Scolopacidae belonging to the genus Calidris; Zelenkov, Volkova and Gorobets reinterpreted it as a member of Turnicidae and transferred it to the genus Ortyxelos.-

    Calonectris kurodai
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Storrs L. Olson
    Middle Miocene
    Calvert Formation
    		A Procellariidae, the smallest of the genus.-

    Cariama santacrucensis
    Sp. nov.
    Disputed
    Jorge I. Noriega
    Sergio F. Vizcaino
    Susana Bargo
    Early-Middle Miocene
    Estancia La Costa Member,
    Santa Cruz Formation
    		Federico L. Agnolin, 2009, made it the type species of the separate genus Noriegavis Agnolin, 2009. Originally interpreted as a seriema; Noriega & Mayr reinterpreted it as a member of the falconid genus Thegornis of uncertain specific assignment, on the basis of a reexamination of the holotype specimen.-

    Charadrius lambrechti.
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Miocene
    MN 13
    		A Scolopacidae.-

    Clangula matraensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Middle Miocene
    MN 6-8
    		An Anatidae.-

    Confuciusornis feducciai
    Sp. nov.
    Disputed
    Zuhui Zhang
    Chunling Gao
    Qingjin Meng
    Jinyuan Liu
    Lianhai Hou
    Guangmei Zheng
    Early Cretaceous
    Yixian Formation
    		A member of the family Confuciusornithidae. Considered to be a junior synonym of Confuciusornis sanctus by Wang, O'Connor & Zhou.-

    Cygnopterus neogradiensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    János Hír
    Middle Miocene
    Sajóvölgy Formation,
    MN 7-8
    		An Anatidae.-

    Diomedeoides harmati
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Early Oligocene
    MP 24
    		A Diomedeoididae Fischer, 1985, placed in Rupelornis van Beneden, 1871 by Gerald Mayr and Thierry Smith, 2012-

    Egretta polgardiensis
    Sp. nov.
    Disputed
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Miocene
    MN 13
    		Originally described as a member of Ardeidae and a species of Egretta; however, Zelenkov considered this species to be a junior synonym of the barn-owl species Tyto campiterrae Jánossy.-

    Elbretornis bonapartei
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Cyril A. Walker
    Gareth J. Dyke
    Maastrichtian
    Lecho Formation
    		An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Euenantiornithes Chiappe, 2002, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Eoanseranas handae
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Trevor H. Worthy
    John D. Scanlon
    Late Oligocene – Early Miocene
    Riverleigh World Heritage Property
    		An Anseranatidae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Gansugyps linxiaensis
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Zhang Zihui
    Zheng Xiaoting
    Zheng Guangmei
    Hou Lianhai
    Late Miocene
    Upper Liushu Formation
    		An Accipitridae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Heliadornis minor
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Pliocene
    MN 15-16
    		A Phaethontidae.-

    Heliornis sumeghensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Miocene
    MN 11-12
    		A Heliornithidae-

    Jianchangornis microdonta
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Zhou Zhonghe
    Zhang Fucheng
    Li Zhiheng
    Early Cretaceous
    Albian
    Jiufotang Formation
    		A basal Ornithurae Haeckel, 1866, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Martinavis minor
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Cyril A. Walker
    Gareth J. Dyke
    Late Cretaceous
    Maastrichtian
    Lecho Formation
    		An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Euenantiornithes Chiappe, 2002.-

    Martinavis saltariensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Cyril A. Walker
    Gareth J. Dyke
    Late Cretaceous
    Maastrichtian
    Lecho Formation
    		An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Euenantiornithes Chiappe, 2002.-

    Martinavis whetstonei
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Cyril A. Walker
    Gareth J. Dyke
    Late Cretaceous
    Maastrichtian
    Lecho Formation
    		An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Euenantiornithes Chiappe, 2002.-

    Megalocoturnix cordoni
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Antonio Sánchez Marco
    Early Pliocene
    Ruscinian,
    MN 15
    		A Phasianidae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Megapaloelodus peiranoi
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Federico L. Agnolin
    Late Miocene
    Andalhualá Formation
    		A Phoenicopteriformes, Palaelodidae Stejneger, 1885.-

    Mergus minor
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Middle Miocene
    MN 6-8
    		An Anatidae.-

    Miocepphus blowi
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Erik Wijnker
    Storrs L. Olson
    Late Miocene
    Eastover Formation;
    Breda Formation Mill
    		An Alcidae.-

    Miocepphus bohaskai
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Erik Wijnker
    Storrs L. Olson
    Late Miocene
    Eastover Formation;
    Breda Formation Mill
    		An Alcidae.-

    Miocepphus mergulellus
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Erik Wijnker
    Storrs L. Olson
    Late Miocene
    Eastover Formation
    		An Alcidae.-

    Palaeocryptonyx novaki
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Antonio Sánchez Marco
    Late Pliocene
    Villanyan,
    MN 16
    		A Phasianidae.-

    Paracoracias occidentalis
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Julia A. Clarke
    Daniel T. Ksepka
    N. Adam Smith
    Mark A. Norell
    Eocene
    Green River Formation
    		A stem Coraiiformes.-

    Pinpanetta fromensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Trevor H. Worthy
    Late Oligocene
    Etadunna Formation
    		An Anatidae.-

    Pinpanetta tedfordi
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Trevor H. Worthy
    Late Oligocene
    Etadunna Formation
    		An Anatidae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Pinpanetta vickersrichae
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Trevor H. Worthy
    Late Oligocene
    Etadunna Formation
    		An Anatidae.-

    Podiceps csarnotatus
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Pliocene
    MN 15-16
    		A Podicipedidae.-

    Porzana kretzoii
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Late Miocene
    MN 13
    		A member of the family Rallidae. Originally described as a species Porzana; Zelenkov transferred this species to the genus Zapornia.-

    Porzana matraensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jenö Kessler
    Middle Miocene
    MN 6-8
    		A Rallidae.-

    Primozygodactylus eunjooae
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Gerald Mayr
    Nikita V. Zelenkov
    Middle Eocene
    MP 11
    		A Zygodactylidae Brodkorb, 1971.-

    Pseudocepphus teres
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Erik Wijnker
    Storrs L. Olson
    Late Miocene
    St. Marys Formation
    		An Alcidae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Rapaxavis pani
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Eric M. Morschhauser
    David J. Varricchio
    Gao Chunling
    Liu Jinyuan
    Wang Xuri
    Cheng Xiadong
    Meng Qingjin
    Early Cretaceous
    Jiufotang Formation
    		An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Longipterygidae Zhang, Zhou, Hou et Gu, 2000, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Rupephaps taketake
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Trevor H. Worthy
    Suzanne J. Hand
    Jennifer P. Worthy
    Alan J. D. Tennyson
    R. Paul Scofield
    Early Miocene,
    Altonian
    Bannockburn Formation
    		A Columbidae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Sapeornis angustis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Pauline Provini
    Zhou Zhonghe
    Zhang Fucheng
    Early Cretaceous,
    Aptian
    Jiufotang Formation
    		A Sapeornithidae Zhou et Zhang, 2006.-

    Selenornis steendorpensis
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Gerald Mayr
    Early Oligocene,
    MP ?23-24
    Boom Formation
    		A Tytonidae, Selenornithinae Mourer-Chauviré, 1987.-

    Shanweiniao cooperorum
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Jingmai K. O'Connor
    Xuri Wang
    Luis M. Chiappe
    Chunling Gao
    Qingjin Meng
    Xiaodong Cheng
    Jinyuan Liu
    Early Cretaceous
    Yixian Formation
    		An Enantiornithes Walker, 1981, Familia Longipterygidae Zhang, Zhou, Hou et Gu, 2000, this is the type species of the new genus.

    Talpanas lippa
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Storrs L. Olson
    Helen F. James
    Holocene
    Kauai
    		An Anatidae, Kaua'i Mole Duck, a Hawaiian duck that probably lived a kiwi-like lifestyle, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Tologuica aurorae
    Gen. nov. et Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Nikita V. Zelenkov
    Evgeny N. Kurochkin
    Middle Miocene
    Ööshin Formation
    		A Phasianidae, this is the type species of the new genus.-

    Tologuica karhui
    Sp. nov.
    Valid
    Nikita V. Zelenkov
    Evgeny N. Kurochkin
    Middle Miocene
    Ööshin Formation
    		A Phasianidae.-

    Pterosaurs

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