New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity (Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, 132)

✍ Scribed by Saswati Bandyopadhyay

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 144
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was established on 17th December, 1931 by a great visionary Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis to promote research in the theory and applications of statistics as a new scienti c discipline in India. In 1959, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India introduced the ISI Act in the parliament and designated it as an Institution of National Importance because of its remarkable achievements in statistical work as well as its contribution to economic planning. Today, the Indian Statistical Institute occupies a prestigious position in the a- demic rmament. It has been a haven for bright and talented academics working in a number of disciplines. Its research faculty has done India proud in the arenas of Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, among others. Over s- enty ve years, it has grown into a massive banyan tree, like the institute emblem. The Institute now serves the nation as a uni ed and monolithic organization from different places, namely Kolkata, the Headquarters, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai, three centers, a network of ve SQC-OR Units located at Mumbai, Pune, Baroda, Hyderabad and Coimbatore, and a branch ( eld station) at Giridih. The platinum jubilee celebrations of ISI have been launched by Honorable Prime Minister Prof. Manmohan Singh on December 24, 2006, and the Govt. of India has declared 29th June as the “Statistics Day” to commemorate the birthday of Prof. Mahalanobis nationally.

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Contents
Contributors
Chapter
1 New Perspectives on the Evolution of Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Terrestrial Tetrapods
1.1 Introduction
1.2 New Fossils
1.2.1 Sequence of Acquisition of Characters: Stem Tetrapods
1.2.2 Sequence of Acquisition of Characters: Stem Dicynodontian Therapsids
1.2.3 Sequence of Acquisition of Characters: Other Tetrapods
1.2.4 Morphological Disparity: New Kinds of Dinosaurs
1.2.5 Pattern of Ecological Replacement: The Rise of the Dinosaurs
1.2.6 Ecological Potential: The Disparity of Mesozoic Mammals
1.3 New Techniques
1.3.1 The Molecular Revolution: Phylogenetic Reconstruction
1.3.2 The Molecular Revolution: Molecular Developmental Genetics
1.3.3 Computed Tomography and Finite Element Analysis
1.3.4 New Techniques for Analysing the Geochemical Record
1.4 New Concepts
1.4.1 The Origin of Major New Taxa: Correlated Progression
1.4.2 The Causes of Mass Extinctions: Earth Systems Science
1.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter
2 The Origin, Early History and Diversification of Lepidosauromorph Reptiles
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Lepidosauromorph Record
2.2.1 Permo-Triassic Lepidosauromorphs
2.2.2 Kuehneosauria
2.2.3 Other Mesozoic Non-lepidosaurian Lepidosauromorphs
2.2.4 Rhynchocephalia
2.2.5 Squamata
2.3 The Lower Temporal Bar in Lepidosaurian Evolution
2.4 Discussion
2.4.1 Rhynchocephalians and Squamates
2.4.2 Evolution, Diversification and Extinction
2.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 3 Rahiolisaurus gujaratensis, n. gen. n. sp.
, A New Abelisaurid Theropod from the Late Cretaceous of India
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Materials and Methods
3.3 Systematic Palaeontology
3.4 Description of Rahiolisauru s
3.4.1 Premaxilla and Teeth
3.4.2 Vertebral Column
3.4.2.1 Cervical Vertebrae
3.4.2.2 Dorsal Vertebrae
3.4.2.3 Sacral Vertebrae
3.4.2.4 Caudal Vertebrae
3.4.3 Pectoral Girdle
3.4.4 Forelimbs
3.4.5 Pelvic Girdle
3.4.5.1 Ilium
3.4.5.2 Pubis
3.4.5.3 Ischium
3.4.6 Hind Limb
3.4.6.1 Femur
3.4.6.2 Tibia
3.4.6.3 Fibula
3.4.6.4 Tarsus
3.4.6.5 Metatarsals and Pedal Phalanges
3.5 Discussion and Conclusion
References
Chapter
4 Pterosauria from the Late Triassic of Southern Brazil
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Systematic Palaeontology
4.2.1 Description
4.2.1.1 Coracoid
4.2.1.2 Humerus
4.2.1.3 Ulna and Radius
4.2.1.4 Femur
4.2.1.5 Tibia and Fibula
4.2.1.6 Metatarsal?
4.2.1.7 Left Maxilla Referred to Faxinalipterus
4.3 Comparisons and Discussion
References
Chapter
5 Bone Histology of a Kannemeyeriid Dicynodont Wadiasaurus : Palaeobiological Implications
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Material and Methods
5.3 Histological Description
5.3.1 Size Class A -Juveniles (<30%
Adult Size)
5.3.2 Size Class B-Sub-adult (30-60% Adult Size)
5.3.3 Size Class C-Adults (>60% Adult Size)
5.4 Discussion
5.4.1 Ontogenetic Growth Pattern
5.4.2 Lifestyle Adaptations
5.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter
6 Indian Cretaceous Terrestrial Vertebrates: Cosmopolitanism and Endemism in a Geodynamic Plate Tectonic Framework
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Bagh and Nimar Biotas: Sharks, Gigantic Sauropods
6.3 Deccan Trap Associated Sedimentary Sequences (DTASS)
6.3.1 Fish
6.3.2 Amphibians
6.3.3 Reptiles
6.3.3.1 Lizards
6.3.3.2 Snakes
6.3.3.3 Turtles
6.3.3.4 Crocodiles
6.3.3.5 Dinosaurs
6.3.4 Mammals
6.3.5 Associated Fossil Floras and Invertebrates
6.4 Discussion
References
Chapter
7 The Wandering Indian Plate and Its Changing Biogeography During the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary Period
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Late Cretaceous Configuration of the Indian Plate
7.2.1 Oman-Kohistan-Dras Island Arc: The Northern Biotic Link Between Africa and India During Late Cretaceous
7.2.2 Rajmahal-Kerguelen Hotpot Trail: The Southern Biotic Link Between India and South America During Late Cretaceous
7.3 Late Cretaceous Biogeography
7.3.1 The Late Cretaceous Tetrapods
7.3.2 Biogeography of the Late Cretaceous Tetrapod Faunas
7.4 Early Tertiary Biogeography
7.4.1 Eocene Tetrapods
7.4.2 Biogeography of the Eocene Tetrapod Faunas
7.5 Discussion and Conclusion
References
Index