2018 in archosaur paleontology

Research

• A study on the jaw musculature and biomechanics of Venaticosuchus rusconii based on rediscovered cranial materials is published by Von Baczko (2018).^[10]
• Three differently sized braincases diagnosable as belonging to Parringtonia gracilis are described from the Triassic Manda Beds of Tanzania by Nesbitt et al. (2018).^[11]
• A study on the histology of osteoderms of Late Triassic aetosaurs from South America, including Aetosauroides scagliai, Aetobarbakinoides brasiliensis and Neoaetosauroides engaeus, is published by Cerda, Desojo & Scheyer (2018).^[12]
• Description of new skull material of Aetosauroides scagliai from the Santa Maria Supersequence (Brazil) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Biacchi Brust et al. (2018).^[13]
• The first known natural endocast of an aetosaur (Neoaetosauroides engaeus) is described by von Baczko, Taborda & Desojo (2018).^[14]
• Redescription of the aetosaur species Calyptosuchus wellesi is published by Parker (2018).^[15]
• A study on the anatomy of the skeleton of Coahomasuchus chathamensis and on the phylogenetic relationships of aetosaurs is published by Hoffman, Heckert & Zanno (2018).^[16]
• A restudy of the referred material of Stagonolepis robertsoni housed at the Natural History Museum, London, evaluating the utility of this material for examining the phylogenetic relationships of S. robertsoni, is published by Parker (2018).^[17]
• Description of the forelimbs of Stagonolepis olenkae and a study on the probable use of the forelimbs by members of this species is published by Dróżdż (2018).^[18]
• New information on the bonebed from the Triassic Badong Formation in Sangzhi County (Hunan, China) preserving the majority of the known fossil material of Lotosaurus adentus is published by Hagen et al. (2018), who also reassess the provenance and age of the deposit.^[19]
• A study on the anatomy of the backbone of Poposaurus langstoni is published by Stefanic & Nesbitt (2018).^[20]
• New fossil material (an isolated left dentary) of Orthosuchus stormbergi will be described from the Upper Elliot Formation (South Africa) by Dollman, Viglietti & Choiniere (2018), who also examine the stratigraphic positions of all valid crocodylomorph specimens from the main Karoo Basin.^[21]
• A study on the morphology of the secondary palate in shartegosuchids, based on data from a new specimen of Shartegosuchus from the Ulan Malgait Formation (Mongolia), is published by Dollman et al. (2018).^[22]
• Teleosaurid and metriorhynchid teeth will be described from, respectively, the Middle Jurassic (Aalenian) and Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) of Slovakia by Čerňanský et al. (2018), representing the first record of members of both families from the country.^[23]
• A skull of a member of the genus Tyrannoneustes is described from the Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of Germany by Waskow, Grzegorczyk & Sander (2018).^[24]
• New specimen of Neuquensuchus universitas, providing new information on the skeletal anatomy of members of the species, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Argentina) by Lio et al. (2018).^[25]
• A redescription of the anatomy of the skull of Notosuchus terrestris is published by Barrios et al. (2018).^[26]
• A study on the anatomy of the skull of Morrinhosuchus luziae is published by Iori et al. (2018).^[27]
• A study on the anatomic structures and tooth wear related to mastication in Caipirasuchus is published by Iori & Carvalho (2018).^[28]
• A study on the taphonomy of the baurusuchid specimens (as well as non-avian theropods and titanosaur sauropod dinosaurs) from the Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group (Brazil) is published by Bandeira et al. (2018), who argue that low diversity of known theropods in the Bauru Group might be caused by preservational biases, and does not conclusively indicate that baurusuchids outcompeted theropods as top predators in this area.^[29]
• A study on the evolution of the skull morphology of baurusuchids is published by Godoy et al. (2018).^[30]
• New baurusuchid fossils are described from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Argentina) by Leardi, Pol & Gasparini (2018).^[31]
• Description of new fossil material of Pepesuchus from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation (Brazil) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon will be published by Geroto & Bertini (2018).^[32]
• A study on the bone microanatomy of Pepesuchus deiseae is published by Sena et al. (2018).^[33]
• Neosuchian crocodylomorph fossils are described from the Bathonian Peski locality in the Moscow Region (Russia) by Pashchenko et al. (2018), who note the similarity of Bathonian vertebrate faunas of the Moscow Region, United Kingdom, Western Siberia and Kyrgyzstan, which they interpret as indicative of faunal homogeneity on the territory of Laurasia.^[34]
• New fossil remains of Sarcosuchus are described from the Aptian-Albian deposits of the Tataouine Basin (Tunisia) by Dridi (2018).^[35]
• A revision of Trematochampsa taqueti and all fossil material assigned to the species is published by Meunier & Larsson (2018).^[36]
• Revision of the large-sized neosuchians Kansajsuchus and "Turanosuchus" from the Late Cretaceous of Central Asia will be published by Kuzmin et al. (2018), who interpret Kansajsuchus as a member of Paralligatoridae, and consider Turanosuchus aralensis to be a member of the genus Kansajsuchus belonging or related to the species K. extensus.^[37]
• Description of pelvic and femoral remains of allodaposuchids from the Upper Cretaceous of the Lo Hueco fossil site (Spain) is published by de Celis, Narváez & Ortega (2018).^[38]
• Fossils of an eusuchian crocodyliform are described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Khok Kruat Formation (Thailand) by Kubo et al. (2018), representing the oldest record of Asian eusuchians reported so far.^[39]
• Description of a new skull of Susisuchus anatoceps from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation (Brazil), providing new information on the anatomy of this species, and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Susisuchus is published by Leite & Fortier (2018).^[40]
• A study on the taphonomic history of the holotype, paratypes and referred specimens of Isisfordia duncani is published by Syme & Salisbury (2018).^[41]
• A study on the inner cavities of the skull of the holotype specimen of Lohuecosuchus megadontos will be published by Serrano-Martínez et al. (2018).^[42]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Thoracosaurus, Eothoracosaurus, Eosuchus, Eogavialis and Argochampsa, evaluating whether they were closely related to the gharial, is published by Lee & Yates (2018).^[43]
• A study on the length proportion of limb elements in extant and fossil alligatoroid and crocodyloid crocodylians, as well as on the correlation of limb morphology and skull shape in these groups, is published by Iijima, Kubo & Kobayashi (2018).^[44]
• A reassessment of the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Asiatosuchus nanlingensis and Eoalligator chunyii is published by Wu, Li & Wang (2018), who reinstate the latter taxon as a species distinct from the former one.^[45]
• New crocodylian fossils, documenting the presence of four previously unrecognised alligatoroids, are described from the Lower Miocene Castillo Formation (Venezuela) by Solórzano et al. (2018).^[46]
• Redescription of the holotype specimen of Mourasuchus arendsi from the Urumaco Formation of Venezuela will be published by Cidade et al. (2018).^[47]
• A study on the ontogenetic changes of the skull shape in extant caimans and its implications for the validity of the Miocene species Melanosuchus fisheri is published by Foth et al. (2018).^[48]
• A study on two fossil specimens of caimans from the late Pleistocene and early Holocene of Brazil, attempting to assign the fossils’ identity to one of the extant caiman species on the basis of records of their current distribution and paleoclimatic data, is published by Eduardo et al. (2018).^[49]
• A study on the histology of long bones of extant yacare caiman and fossil caimans from the Upper Miocene–Pliocene Solimões Formation (Brazil) will be published by Andrade et al. (2018).^[50]
• A fragment of a mandible of a member of the genus Gryposuchus is described from the Miocene (~18 Ma) Castillo Formation (Venezuela) by Solórzano, Núñez-Flores & Rincón (2018), representing the earliest record of the genus in South America reported so far.^[51]
• A revision of the type species of the genus Gryposuchus, G. jessei, is published by Souza et al. (2018).^[52]
• A revision of crocodilian fossils and taxa from the Calvert Cliffs (United States) is published by Weems (2018).^[53]
• Partial crocodylian skull from the Pleistocene of Taiwan, formerly regarded as lost during World War II, is rediscovered and redescribed by Ito et al. (2018), who assign this specimen to the genus Toyotamaphimeia.^[54]
• Fossils of a specimen of Asiatosuchus depressifrons from the late Paleocene of Mont de Berru (France), representing the oldest European crocodyloid remains reported so far, will be described by Delfino et al. (2018).^[55]
• A review of the taxonomic diversity of the crocodiles from the early Pliocene of Kanapoi (Kenya) will be published by Brochu (2018).^[56]
• Fossils of large crocodylians, as well as tortoise fossils with feeding traces on them, are described from the Pleistocene of Aldabra (Seychelles) by Scheyer et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as indicating the occurrence of a predator–prey interaction between crocodylians and giant tortoises on Aldabra during the Late Pleistocene.^[57]

New taxa

Research

• A study intending to identify the evolutionary processes that drove the diversification of dinosaur body mass is published by Benson et al. (2018).^[70]
• A study on the impact of geography on the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs is published by O’Donovan, Meade & Venditti (2018), who note increasing amounts of sympatric speciation as terrestrial space became a limiting factor.^[71]
• A study on the impact of publication history on the estimates of dinosaur diversity patterns through time is published by Tennant, Chiarenza & Baron (2018).^[72]
• A study evaluating the possible influence of cuirassal ventilation and a herbivorous diet on the orientation of the pubis of dinosaurs is published by Macaluso & Tschopp (2018).^[73]
• A study on the nesting style and incubation heat source in non-avian dinosaurs as indicated by comparison with extant crocodylians and megapode birds is published by Tanaka et al. (2018).^[74]
• A study on the nutritional value of plants grown under elevated CO₂ levels, evaluating the hypothesis that constraints on sauropod diet quality were driven by Mesozoic CO₂ concentration, is published by Gill et al. (2018).^[75]
• Studies evaluating the link between the Carnian Pluvial Event and the explosive diversification of dinosaurs in the early Late Triassic are published by Bernardi et al. (2018)^[76] and Benton, Bernardi & Kinsella (2018).^[77]
• A study comparing non-avian dinosaur faunas of Appalachia and Laramidia from the Aptian to Maastrichtian stages of the Cretaceous period is published by Brownstein (2018), who also evaluates dinosaur provincialism and ecology on Appalachia.^[78]
• A study on the bone histology of sauropod dinosaurs and birds, looking for histological correlates indicative of the presence of bird-like air sacs, is published by Lambertz, Bertozzo & Sander (2018).^[79]
• A study on the Middle Jurassic flora from Yorkshire (United Kingdom) as indicated by pollen and spores, and on the possible dinosaur-plant interactions in the area is published by Slater et al. (2018).^[80]
• A study on the phylogenetic placement of Chilesaurus diegosuarezi and its implications for the phylogenetic relationships of major dinosaur groups will be published by Müller & Dias-da-Silva (2018).^[81]
• Description and analysis of insect borings on hadrosaur bones from the late Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Mexico) is published by Serrano-Brañas, Espinosa-Chávez & Maccracken (2018).^[82]
• New Middle Jurassic dinosaur tracksite, preserving sauropod and theropod tracks, is described from the Lealt Shale Formation (Skye, Scotland, United Kingdom) by dePolo et al. (2018).^[83]
• Large theropod (possibly carcharodontosaurid) and ornithopod (basal hadrosauroid) tracks are described from the Lower Cretaceous Sanbukdong Formation (South Korea) by Lee et al. (2018).^[84]
• A unique association of hadrosaur and therizinosaur tracks is reported from the Late Cretaceous lower Cantwell Formation (Alaska, United States) by Fiorillo et al. (2018).^[85]
• Large theropod and small sauropod tracks are described from the Lower Cretaceous Jingchuan Formation (China) by Lockley et al. (2018), who name a new ichnotaxon Ordexallopus zhanglifui.^[86]
• A study on the small to medium-sized tridactyl theropod tracks from the Upper Jurassic of the Jura Mountains (Switzerland), focusing on the possible variations in footprint shape along trackways, is published by Castanera et al. (2018).^[87]
• Theropod tracks (probably produced by Acrocanthosaurus) are described from the Cretaceous (Albian) De Queen Formation (Arkansas, United States) by Platt et al. (2018).^[88]
• New dinosaur ootaxon Duovallumoolithus shangdanensis is described on the basis of fossil eggs from the Upper Cretaceous Lijiacun Formation (China) by Zheng et al. (2018).^[89]
• Evidence of cuticle preservation on theropod eggshells from the Nanxiong Group in China and the Two Medicine Formation in Montana, United States is presented by Yang et al. (2018).^[90]
• Description of a femur of a young diplodocoid sauropod from the Carnegie Quarry (Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation) at Dinosaur National Monument (United States), showing extensive bite marks on the bone, and a study on the identity and feeding technique of the tracemaker is published by Hone & Chure (2018).^[91]
• A study on the function of denticle shape variation in the teeth of coelurosaurs of various body shapes and sizes is published by Torices et al. (2018).^[92]
• New data on feather anatomy in theropod dinosaurs Sinosauropteryx, Caudipteryx and Anchiornis is presented by Saitta, Gelernter & Vinther (2018).^[93]
• Theropod tracksite discovered in the Maastrichtian Nemegt Formation (Mongolia), preserving tracks of least four different trackmakers, and associated with a distorted foot skeleton of Gallimimus, is described by Lee et al. (2018).^[94]
• Didactyl theropod tracks with similarities to footprints attributed to small deinonychosaurian theropods are described from the Middle Jurassic (Aalenian-Bajocian) Dansirit Formation (Iran) by Xing, Abbassi & Lockley (2018).^[95]
• Parallel trackways indicating a group of small didactyl bipeds of inferred deinonychosaurian affinity are described from the Lower Cretaceous Dasheng Group (China) by Xing et al. (2018).^[96]
• Bishop et al. (2018) present predictive equations that may be used to model non-avian theropod locomotion, developed on the basis of a study of extant ground-running birds.^[97]
• A study on the resource partitioning among theropod dinosaurs known from the mid-Cretaceous assemblages from Niger (Gadoufaoua) and Morocco (Kem Kem Beds) as indicated by calcium isotope values from tooth enamel is published by Hassler et al. (2018).^[98]
• A study on the early evolution of the theropod hands and wrists, especially on the transition from five- to four-fingered hands, as indicated by the anatomy of the hands of Coelophysis bauri and Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis is published by Barta, Nesbitt & Norell (2018).^[99]
• A study on the morphological changes that occurred during ontogeny in the postcranial skeleton of Coelophysis bauri and Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis is published by Griffin (2018).^[100]
• A study on the anatomy, phylogenetic relationships, paleobiology and biogeography of members of Ceratosauria is published by Delcourt (2018), who names a new clade Etrigansauria.^[101]
• A study on the pneumatization of a noasaurid vertebra recovered from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation (Brazil) is published by Brum et al. (2018).^[102]
• Two shed tooth crowns of an abelisaurid theropod are described from the Cenomanian Alcântara Formation by Sales, de Oliveira & Schultz (2018), representing the oldest abelisaurid occurrence from Brazil to date.^[103]
• Paulina-Carabajal & Filippi (2018) reconstruct the endocranial cavity enclosing the brain, cranial nerves, blood vessels and the labyrinth of the inner ear of the holotype specimen of Viavenator exxoni.^[104]
• Description of the osteology of Viavenator exxoni is published by Filippi et al. (2018).^[105]
• Fragmented theropod maxilla from the Upper Cretaceous Presidente Prudente Formation (Brazil), initially thought to be a carcharodontosaurid fossil, is interpreted as more likely to be an abelisaurid fossil by Delcourt & Grillo (2018).^[106]
• A vertebra of a large megalosaurid theropod, as well as large theropod footprints representing two morphotypes, are described from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Asturias (Spain) by Rauhut et al. (2018).^[107]
• A study on the anatomy and histology of a partial spinosaurid tibia from the Lower Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (Brazil), possessing traits previously only observed in Spinosaurus aegyptiacus and correlated with semi-aquatic habits in many limbed vertebrates, is published by Aureliano et al. (2018).^[108]
• New spinosaurid specimens are described from the Kem Kem Beds (Morocco) by Arden et al. (2018), who interpret these specimens as providing evidence of aquatic adaptations in the skulls of spinosaurids, and name a new clade Spinosaurini.^[109]
• New fossil material of juvenile spinosaurids will be described from the Kem Kem Beds by Lakin & Longrich (2018).^[110]
• Spinosaurid fossils assigned to a form distinct from Baryonyx, Suchomimus and Sigilmassasaurus are described from the upper Barremian Arcillas de Morella Formation (Spain) by Malafaia et al. (2018).^[111]
• A nearly complete pedal ungual phalanx of an early juvenile specimen of Spinosaurus, representing the smallest known specimen assigned to this genus reported so far, is described from the Cretaceous Kem Kem Beds (Morocco) by Maganuco & Dal Sasso (2018).^[112]
• A study on the floating capabilities of Spinosaurus and other theropods is published by Henderson (2018), who argues that Spinosaurus was not highly specialized for a semi-aquatic mode of life.^[113]
• Partial postcranial skeleton of a probable carcharodontosaurian theropod will be described from the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) Freixial Formation (Portugal) by Malafaia et al. (2018).^[114]
• A study on the anatomy of the skull of Concavenator corcovatus is published by Cuesta et al. (2018).^[115]
• A study on the limb anatomy of Concavenator corcovatus is published by Cuesta, Ortega & Sanz (2018).^[116]
• A review of the fossil record of carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Cretaceous of North Africa, assessing its implications for understanding the distribution and ecological role of members of this group, is published by Candeiro et al. (2018).^[117]
• Description of theropod (including tyrannosauroid, ornithomimosaur and dromaeosaurid) specimens from the Ellisdale site of the Cretaceous Marshalltown Formation (New Jersey, United States) will be published by Brownstein (2018).^[118]
• Theropod fossils from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Santana Formation (Brazil), initially thought to be oviraptorosaur fossils, are reinterpreted as fossils of a member of Megaraptora by Aranciaga Rolando et al. (2018).^[119]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Timimus hermani and Santanaraptor placidus will be published by Delcourt & Grillo (2018), who interpret these taxa as tyrannosauroid theropods, and name new clades Pantyrannosauria and Eutyrannosauria.^[120]
• The first neurocranial and paleoneurological description of Dilong paradoxus, comparing it with large tyrannosaurids, will be published by Kundrát et al. (2018).^[121]
• A metatarsal bone of an indeterminate tyrannosauroid theropod, indicative of an animal in the size range of tyrannosauroids from the Santonian to Maastrichtian, is described from the Cenomanian Potomac Formation of New Jersey by Brownstein (2018), representing the only definite occurrence of a tyrannosauroid in Appalachia (eastern North America) before the Coniacian and Santonian.^[122]
• Partial tibia of a tyrannosauroid theropod, possibly a relative of Bistahieversor sealeyi, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Navesink Formation (New Jersey, United States) by Brownstein (2018).^[123]
• A metatarsal bone of a young tyrannosaurid theropod, marked with several long grooves interpreted as tooth traces of a large tyrannosaurid, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lance Formation (Wyoming, United States) by McLain et al. (2018).^[124]
• A study on the jaw musculature of Tyrannosaurus rex, and its importance for reconstructions of the bite force of this species, is published by Bates & Falkingham (2018).^[125]
• A study on the ornithomimosaur fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Arundel Clay (Maryland, United States) published by Brownstein (2017), interpreting the fossils as indicative of the presence of two ornithomimosaur taxa in the Arundel,^[126] is criticized by McFeeters, Ryan & Cullen (2018).^{[127][128][129]}
• A study on the diversity of ornithomimosaur dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) as indicated by the morphology of their manus bones is published by Chinzorig et al. (2018).^[130]
• A study on the putative beta-keratin antibodies reported in a fossil specimen of Shuvuuia deserti by Schweitzer et al. (1999)^[131] is published by Saitta et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as inconsistent with any protein or other original organic substance preservation in the Shuvuuia fiber.^[132]
• Probable therizinosauroid eggs are described from the Upper Cretaceous Hongtuya Formation (China) by Ren et al. (2018).^[133]
• A study on the anatomy of the basicranium of Nothronychus mckinleyi, and its implications for reconstructing the soft tissues of this species, is published by Smith, Sanders & Wolfe (2018).^[134]
• A study on egg clutches produced by oviraptorosaur theropods representing a large body size range, evaluating their implications for inferring how oviraptorosaurs of different body size incubated their eggs, is published by Tanaka et al. (2018).^[135]
• A study on the morphology of the dentary of a member of the genus Caenagnathasia from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) Bissekty Formation (Uzbekistan) is published by Wang, Zhang & Yang (2018).^[136]
• A small caenagnathid tibia is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Alberta, Canada) by Funston & Currie (2018).^[137]
• New specimen of Citipati osmolskae preserved in a brooding position atop a nest of eggs is described from Ukhaa Tolgod (Mongolia) by Norell et al. (2018).^[138]
• Description of endocasts of Citipati osmolskae and Khaan mckennai, and a study on their implications for inferring the course of oviraptorosaur brain evolution and how it relates to the origin of the modern bird brain, is published by Balanoff et al. (2018).^[139]
• Redescription of Hulsanpes perlei and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Cau & Madzia (2018).^[140]
• Description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of a newly discovered specimen of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum is published by Novas et al. (2018).^[141]
• A study on the tail anatomy of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum is published by Motta, Brissón Egli & Novas (2018).^[142]
• Description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum based on the holotype and referred specimens is published by Gianechini et al. (2018).^[143]
• A tooth of a large dromaeosaurid theropod, intermediate in size between those of smaller dromaeosaurids like Saurornitholestes and gigantic forms like Dakotaraptor, is described from the middle Campanian Tar Heel Formation (North Carolina, United States) by Brownstein (2018).^[144]
• Histological analysis of the forelimb bones of Daliansaurus liaoningensis will be presented by Shen et al. (2018).^[145]
• New specimen of Sinovenator changii, including a nearly complete skull and providing new information on the anatomy of the skull of this species, is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (China) by Yin, Pei & Zhou (2018).^[146]
• A study on the incubation period and incubation strategy of Troodon formosus is published by Varricchio, Kundrát & Hogan (2018).^[147]
• Description of two new specimens of Anchiornis huxleyi and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Guo, Xu & Jia (2018).^[148]
• Apparent gastric pellets of Anchiornis are described by Zheng et al. (2018).^[149]
• A study on the evolution of the anatomy of the braincase of sauropodomorph dinosaurs is published by Bronzati, Benson & Rauhut (2018).^[150]
• Otero (2018) presents the inferred shoulder and forelimb musculature of sauropodomorph dinosaurs, as inferred by comparisons with living crocodiles and birds.^[151]
• A study evaluating how hindlimb musculature of sauropodomorph dinosaurs was affected by the development of a quadrupedal stance from a bipedal one, and later in the transition from a narrow‐gauge to a wide‐gauge stance, will be published by Klinkhamer et al. (2018).^[152]
• New specimen of Buriolestes schultzi, providing additional information on the anatomy of this species, will be described from the Upper Triassic Santa Maria Formation (Brazil) by Müller et al. (2018).^[153]
• A dinosauriform femur, possibly of a juvenile specimen of the species Pampadromaeus barberenai, will be described from the Late Triassic of southern Brazil by Müller et al. (2018).^[154]
• Redescription of the anatomy of the braincase of Efraasia minor is published by Bronzati & Rauhut (2018).^[155]
• A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Sarahsaurus aurifontanalis is published by Marsh & Rowe (2018).^[156]
• A study on the anatomy of the skull of Massospondylus carinatus is published by Chapelle & Choiniere (2018).^[157]
• A study on the bony labyrinth scale and geometry through ontogeny in Massospondylus carinatus, evaluating whether the putative gait change from quadrupedal juvenile to bipedal adult is reflected in labyrinth morphology, will be published by Neenan et al. (2018).^[158]
• Xing et al. (2018) describe a bone abnormality in a rib of a specimen of Lufengosaurus huenei from the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation (China), possibly caused by a failed predator attack.^[159]
• A study on the osteology of the sauropodomorph Pulanesaura eocollum is published by Mcphee & Choiniere (2018).^[160]
• A study on the microstructure of the long bones of Antetonitrus ingenipes is published by Krupandan, Chinsamy-Turan & Pol (2018).^[161]
• A study on the geological age of the type locality of Vulcanodon karibaensis is published by Viglietti et al. (2018), who interpret Vulcanodon as likely to be Sinemurian–Pliensbachian in age, and potentially ∼10–15 million years older than previously thought. This makes it the oldest known sauropod.^[162]
• Two neck vertebrae of an eusauropod sauropod dinosaur are described from a new Early Jurassic locality in the Haute Moulouya Basin (Morocco) by Nicholl, Mannion & Barrett (2018), representing some of the earliest eusauropod fossils reported so far.^[163]
• A study on the age of the Lower Shaximiao Formation of the Sichuan Basin, southwest China (preserving abundant sauropod fossils, including the Shunosaurus-Omeisaurus fauna) is published by Wang et al. (2018).^[164]
• A study on the skull anatomy of Bellusaurus sui is published by Moore et al. (2018).^[165]
• Description of a skull of a juvenile sauropod belonging or related to the genus Diplodocus from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Montana, United States), representing the smallest diplodocid skull reported so far, and a study on the implications of this finding for inferring the ontogeny of the skull of diplodocids, is published by Woodruff et al. (2018).^[166]
• Xenoposeidon proneneukos is assigned to the family Rebbachisauridae by Taylor (2018).^[167]
• Partial sauropod (probably brachiosaurid) pes is described from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation in the Black Hills in Wyoming (United States) by Maltese et al. (2018), representing the largest sauropod pes described to date.^[168]
• A sauropod footprint assigned to the ichnogenus Brontopodus, produced by a trackmaker of the size exceeding that of any Mongolian dinosaur reported so far from skeletal material, is described from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) by Stettner, Persons & Currie (2018).^[169]
• New titanosaur fossil material is described from the Upper Cretaceous Río Huaco Formation and Los Llanos Formation (La Rioja Province, Argentina) by Hechenleitner et al. (2018).^[170]
• A study on the mechanical strength of the unusually thick shells of the titanosaur eggs from the Sanagasta nesting site (La Rioja, Argentina), evaluating the required force to break them from inside, is published by Hechenleitner et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as indicating that thinning of outer eggshells was necessary for successful hatchings.^[171]
• Description of new fossil material of Atsinganosaurus velauciensis from the Upper Cretaceous Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (France) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Díez Díaz et al. (2018).^[172]
• A redescription of Mendozasaurus neguyelap based on previously undocumented remains and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Gonzàlez Riga et al. (2018).^[173]
• Postcranial remains attributable to the holotype specimen of Nemegtosaurus mongoliensis are described from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) by Currie et al. (2018), who consider Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii to be a probable junior synonym of N. mongoliensis.^[174]
• A study on the heterodontosaurid fossils from the Early Jurassic of Argentina described by Becerra et al. (2016),^[175] aiming to estimate the body size of the animal, will be published by Becerra & Ramírez (2018).^[176]
• A study on the teeth of Manidens condorensis, based on new material indicative of a strong heterodonty and a novel occlusion type previously unreported in herbivorous dinosaurs, is published by Becerra et al. (2018).^[177]
• A study on the morphological diversity of stegosaurs through the evolutionary history of the group will be published by Romano (2018).^[178]
• Redescription of Gigantspinosaurus sichuanensis and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Hao et al. (2018).^[179]
• New specimen of Hesperosaurus mjosi, providing new information on the anatomy of the species and indicating that H. mjosi might have been a smaller species than Stegosaurus stenops, is described from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Montana, United States) by Maidment, Woodruff & Horner (2018).^[180]
• Redescription of the fossil material referred to Paranthodon africanus and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Raven & Maidment (2018).^[181]
• Probable ankylosaurian footprints are described from the Upper Jurassic Guará Formation (Brazil) by Francischini et al. (2018).^[182]
• Probable ankylosaurian footprints assigned to the ichnogenus Tetrapodosaurus are described from the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) Zorrillo-Taberna Indiferenciadas Formation (Mexico) by Rodríguez-de la Rosa et al. (2018), representing the oldest ankylosaurian ichnofossils reported so far.^[183]
• A study on the neuroanatomy of ankylosaurid dinosaurs based on skull endocasts of Talarurus plicatospineus and Tarchia teresae is published by Paulina-Carabajal et al. (2018).^[184]
• A survey of ankylosaur occurrences in the Cretaceous deposits of Alberta (Canada) and a study looking for explanation of numerous instances of ankylosaur specimens preserved overturned is published by Mallon et al. (2018).^[185]
• Parksosaurid tooth and vertebral centrum is described from the Campanian of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation by Rivera-Sylva et al. (2018), representing the first record of this family from Mexico.^[186]
• A study on the bone microstructure and ontogeny of basal ornithopod specimens from the Early Cretaceous of Australia is published by Woodward, Rich & Vickers-Rich (2018), who reinterpret the tracks as produced in non-marine environment.^[187]
• A study on the ontogenetic changes in the postcranial skeleton of Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki is published by Hübner (2018).^[188]
• A redescription of Iguanodon galvensis and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Verdú et al. (2018).^[189]
• Microfossil remains of Early Cretaceous grasses extracted from a specimen of Equijubus normani will be described by Wu, You & Li (2018).^[190]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Nipponosaurus sachalinensis is published by Takasaki et al. (2018).^[191]
• A study on the anatomy of the perinatal specimens of Maiasaura peeblesorum from the Campanian Two Medicine Formation (Montana, United States), and on their implications for understanding of the morphological changes in the skeletons of members of this species that took place in their early growth stages, is published by Prieto-Marquez & Guenther (2018).^[192]
• Description of the morphology of the braincase of Secernosaurus koerneri is published by Becerra et al. (2018).^[193]
• A hadrosaurid nestling belonging to the genus Edmontosaurus is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation (Montana), United States) by Wosik, Goodwin & Evans (2018), who interpret its anatomy as indicating that it was capable of fully quadrupedal locomotion.^[194]
• A study on the differences in shape and structural performance of the lower jaws of ceratopsians is published by Maiorino et al. (2018).^[195]
• A study evaluating whether skull ornaments of ceratopsians might have helped members of closely related sympatric species differentiate themselves is published by Knapp et al. (2018).^[196]
• A description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Yinlong downsi and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of basal ornithischians is published by Han et al. (2018).^[197]
• A study on the dental morphology and tooth replacement in Liaoceratops yanzigouensis is published by He et al. (2018).^[198]
• A study on the ontogenetic changes of the bone microstructure in Protoceratops andrewsi and their implications for the biology of this species is published by Fostowicz-Frelik & Słowiak (2018).^[199]
• A study on the differences of shape of cervical vertebrae of different specimens of Protoceratops andrewsi is published by Tereschenko (2018).^[200]
• Two isolated ceratopsid horncores are described from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian, ∼78.5 million years ago) Foremost Formation (Alberta, Canada) by Brown (2018), representing some of the earliest ceratopsid fossils reported so far.^[201]
• Description of new fossil material of Medusaceratops lokii from the Upper Cretaceous Campanian (Judith River Formation (Montana, United States) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Chiba et al. (2018).^[202]
• Small marks interpreted as feeding traces are described from a partial frill of a juvenile specimen of Centrosaurus apertus from the Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada) by Hone, Tanke & Brown (2018).^[203]
• Description of three partial chasmosaurine skulls collected from the Dinosaur Park Formation, and age-equivalent sediments of the uppermost Oldman Formation, of southern Alberta (Canada) is published by Campbell et al. (2018).^[204]

New taxa

Name	Novelty	Status	Authors	Age	Unit	Location	Notes	Images
Acantholipan[205]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Rivera-Sylva et al.	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)	Pen Formation	Mexico	A member of the family Nodosauridae. Genus includes new species A. gonzalezi.
Akainacephalus[206]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Wiersma & Irmis	Late Cretaceous (late Campanian)	Kaiparowits Formation	United States ( Utah)	A member of the family Ankylosauridae. The type species is A. johnsoni.	Known material and skeletal reconstructions in dorsal and lateral views
Anhuilong[207]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Ren, Huang & You	Middle Jurassic	Hongqin Formation	China	A mamenchisaurid sauropod. Genus includes new species A. diboensis.
Anodontosaurus inceptus[208]	Sp. nov	Valid	Penkalski	Late Cretaceous	Dinosaur Park Formation	Canada ( Alberta)	A member of the family Ankylosauridae.	Skull of TMP 1997.132.1, the holotype specimen of Anodontosaurus inceptus[208]
Anomalipes[209]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Yu et al.	Late Cretaceous	Wangshi Group	China	A caenagnathid theropod. The type species is A. zhaoi.
Arkansaurus[210]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Hunt & Quinn	Early Cretaceous (Albian–Aptian)	Trinity Group	United States ( Arkansas)	An ornithomimosaur theropod. Genus includes new species A. fridayi.
Avimimus nemegtensis[211]	Sp. nov	Valid	Funston et al.	Late Cretaceous	Nemegt Formation	Mongolia	An oviraptorosaurian.
Bagualosaurus[212]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Pretto, Langer & Schultz	Late Triassic	Santa Maria Formation	Brazil	An early member of Sauropodomorpha. Genus includes new species B. agudoensis.
Bannykus[213]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Xu et al.	Early Cretaceous (Aptian)	Bayin-Gobi Formation	China	An alvarezsaurian theropod. The type species is B. wulatensis.
Bayannurosaurus[214]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Xu et al.	Early Cretaceous	Bayin-Gobi Formation	China	A non-hadrosauriform ankylopollexian ornithopod. Genus includes new species B. perfectus.
Caihong[215]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Hu et al.	Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)	Tiaojishan Formation	China	A paravian theropod. The type species is C. juji.
Choconsaurus[216]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Simón, Salgado & Calvo	Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)	Huincul Formation	Argentina	A titanosaur sauropod. The type species is C. baileywillisi.
Choyrodon[217]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Gates et al.	Early Cretaceous (Albian)	Khuren Dukh Formation	Mongolia	An iguanodontian ornithopod. The type species is C. barsboldi.
Diluvicursor[218]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Herne et al.	Early Cretaceous (Albian)	Eumeralla Formation	Australia	A small-bodied ornithopod. The type species is D. pickeringi.
Dryosaurus elderae[219]	Sp. nov	Valid	Carpenter & Galton	Late Jurassic	Morrison Formation	United States ( Utah)
Dynamoterror[220]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	McDonald, Wolfe & Dooley	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)	Menefee Formation	United States ( New Mexico)	A tyrannosaurid theropod. The type species D. dynastes.
Ingentia[221]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Apaldetti et al.	Late Triassic (late Norian–Rhaetian)	Quebrada del Barro Formation	Argentina	An early member of Sauropodomorpha related to Lessemsaurus. Genus includes new species I. prima.
Invictarx[222]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	McDonald & Wolfe	Late Cretaceous (early Campanian)	Menefee Formation	United States ( New Mexico)	A member of the family Nodosauridae. The type species is I. zephyri.
Jinyunpelta[223]	Gen. et sp. nov		Zheng et al.	Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian)	Liangtoutang Formation	China	A member of the family Ankylosauridae belonging to the subfamily Ankylosaurinae. The type species is J. sinensis.
Laiyangosaurus[224]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Zhang et al.	Late Cretaceous	Jingangkou Formation	China	A hadrosaurid ornithopod belonging to the subfamily Saurolophinae and the tribe Edmontosaurini. The type species is L. youngi.
Ledumahadi[225]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	McPhee et al.	Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)	Elliot Formation	South Africa	An early member of Sauropodiformes. The type species is L. mafube.
Liaoningotitan[226]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Zhou et al.	Early Cretaceous	Yixian Formation	China	A titanosauriform sauropod. The type species is L. sinensis.
Lingwulong[227]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Xu et al.	Late Early to early Middle Jurassic (late Toarcian–Bajocian)	Yanan Formation	China	A dicraeosaurid sauropod. The type species is L. shenqi.
Mansourasaurus[228]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Sallam et al.	Late Cretaceous (Campanian)	Quseir Formation	Egypt	A titanosaur sauropod. The type species is M. shahinae.
Pilmatueia[229]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Coria et al.	Early Cretaceous (Valanginian)	Mulichinco Formation	Argentina	A dicraeosaurid sauropod. The type species is P. faundezi.
Platypelta[208]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Penkalski	Late Cretaceous	Dinosaur Park Formation	Canada ( Alberta)	A member of the family Ankylosauridae. Genus includes new species P. coombsi.	Skull of AMNH 5337, the holotype specimen of Platypelta coombsi[208]
Qiupanykus[230]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Lü et al.	Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)	Qiupa Formation	China	An alvarezsaurid theropod. The type species is Q. zhangi.
Scolosaurus thronus[208]	Sp. nov	Valid	Penkalski	Late Cretaceous	Dinosaur Park Formation	Canada ( Alberta)	A member of the family Ankylosauridae.	Skull of ROM 1930, the holotype specimen of Scolosaurus thronus[208]
Sibirotitan[231]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Averianov et al.	Early Cretaceous (probably Barremian)	Ilek Formation	Russia	A non-titanosaurian somphospondyl sauropod. Genus includes new species S. astrosacralis.
Tratayenia[232]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Porfiri et al.	Late Cretaceous (Santonian)	Bajo de la Carpa Formation	Argentina	A megaraptoran theropod. Genus includes new species T. rosalesi.
Xiyunykus[213]	Gen. et sp. nov	Valid	Xu et al.	Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Aptian?)	Tugulu Group	China	An alvarezsaurian theropod. The type species is X. pengi.
Yizhousaurus[233]	Gen. et sp. nov		Zhang et al.	Early Jurassic	Lufeng Formation	China	An early member of Sauropodiformes. The type species is Y. sunae.

Research

• A study on the impact of varying oxygen concentrations, global temperatures and air densities on the flight performance of extinct birds and on major diversification events which took place during the evolution of birds will be published by Serrano et al. (2018).^[234]
• A study evaluating whether eggs of early birds from the Mesozoic could have borne the weight of incubating adults is published by Deeming & Mayr (2018).^[235]
• A study on the total mass of the dentition of Mesozoic birds, and on the impact of the reduction and loss of teeth on total body mass of Mesozoic birds, is published by Zhou, Sullivan & Zhang (2018).^[236]
• A study on the formation of the pygostyle in extant birds and its evolution in Mesozoic birds is published by Rashid et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as indicating that the lack of pygostyle in Zhongornis haoae and other juvenile Mesozoic birds does not necessarily indicate that they are intermediate species in the long- to short-tailed evolutionary transition, and that feathered coelurosaur tail preserved in Burmese amber which was described by Xing et al. (2016)^[237] might be avian.^[238]
• A study on Praeornis sharovi from the Late Jurassic of Kazakhstan will be published by Agnolin, Rozadilla & Carvalho (2018), who interpret the fossil as a tail feather of a basal bird.^[239]
• A redescription of the bird trackway originally labeled Aquatilavipes anhuiensis from the Lower Cretaceous Qiuzhuang Formation (Anhui, China) is published by Xing et al. (2018), who transfer this ichnospecies to the ichnogenus Koreanaornis.^[240]
• New avian ichnospecies Ignotornis canadensis is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Gates Formation (Canada) by Buckley, McCrea & Xing (2018).^[241]
• Ignotornid tracks are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Jiangsu (China) by Xing et al. (2018), representing the first known record of the ichnogenus Goseongornipes from China.^[242]
• The twelfth specimen of Archaeopteryx, the oldest reported so far, is described by Rauhut, Foth & Tischlinger (2018).^[243]
• A study on the geometric properties of the wing bones of Archaeopteryx is published by Voeten et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as indicating that Archaeopteryx was able to actively use its wings to take to the air (using a different flight stroke than used by extant birds).^[244]
• A review of the available evidence of the diet of Mesozoic birds, especially those known from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Lagerstätte (China), is published by O’Connor (2018).^[245]
• Gastrolith masses preserved in five specimens of Jeholornis will be described by O'Connor et al. (2018).^[246]
• A new confuciusornithid specimen, most similar to Eoconfuciusornis zhengi but also sharing traits with Confuciusornis, will be described from the Upper Cretaceous Huajiying Formation (China) by Navalón et al. (2018).^[247]
• A study on the morphology of the skull of Confuciusornis sanctus is published by Elżanowski, Peters & Mayr (2018).^[248]
• A comparative study of all named taxa referred to Confuciusornithiformes, taxonomic revision of the group and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of members of the group will be published by Wang, O'Connor & Zhou (2018).^[249]
• An articulated skeleton of an enantiornithine bird preserved in the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar is described by Xing et al. (2018).^[250]
• An early juvenile enantiornithine specimen, providing new information on the osteogenesis in members of Enantiornithes, is described from the Lower Cretaceous Las Hoyas deposits of Spain by Knoll et al. (2018).^[251]
• A study evaluating the capacity of the enantiornithines Concornis lacustris and Eoalulavis hoyasi to use intermittent flight (alternating flapping and gliding phases) is published by Serrano et al. (2018).^[252]
• A study on the morphology and diversity of enantiornithine coracoids from the Upper Cretaceous Bissekty Formation (Dzharakuduk locality, Uzbekistan) is published by Panteleev (2018).^[253]
• Wang et al. (2018) report the presence of distinct salt gland fossa on the frontal of a bird similar to Iteravis huchzermeyeri and Gansus zheni from the Lower Cretaceous Sihedang locality (Jiufotang Formation, China); the authors also consider I. huchzermeyeri and G. zheni to be probably synonymous.^[254]
• Abundant black flies, thought to have inhabited the same environments as Cretaceous ornithurine birds and most likely fed on them, are described from the Santonian Taimyr amber (Russia) by Perkovsky, Sukhomlin & Zelenkov (2018), who use these insects as an indicator of a bird community, and argue that advanced ornithuromorph birds might have originated at higher latitudes.^[255]
• Field et al. (2018) report new specimens and previously overlooked elements of the holotype of Ichthyornis dispar, and generate a nearly complete three-dimensional reconstruction of the skull of this species.^[256]
• A study comparing the hindlimb morphology of hesperornithiforms and modern foot-propelled diving birds is published by Bell, Wu & Chiappe (2018).^[257]
• A study on the impact of the widespread destruction of forests during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event on bird evolution, as indicated by ancestral state reconstructions of neornithine ecology and inferences about enantiornithine ecology, is published by Field et al. (2018), who interpret their findings as indicating that the global forest collapse at the end of the Cretaceous caused extinction of predominantly tree-dwelling birds, while bird groups that survived the extinction and gave rise to extant birds were non-arboreal.^[258]
• A study on the evolution of the anatomy of the crown-bird skull is published by Felice & Goswami (2018), who also present a hypothetical reconstruction of the ancestral crown-bird skull.^[259]
• A fossil tinamou belonging to the genus Eudromia, exceeding the size range of living species of the genus, will be described from the Lujanian sediments in Marcos Paz County (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) by Cenizo et al. (2018).^[260]
• A study on the dietary behavior of four species of the moa and their interactions with parasites based on data from their coprolites is published by Boast et al. (2018).^[261]
• A study on the seeds preserved in moa coprolites is published by Carpenter et al. (2018), who question the hypothesis that some of the largest-seeded plants of New Zealand were dispersed by moas.^[262]
• A study on the genetic and morphological diversity of the emus, including extinct island populations, is published by Thomson et al. (2018).^[263]
• A study on the timing of first human arrival in Madagascar, as indicated by evidence of prehistoric human modification of multiple elephant bird postcranial elements, is published by Hansford et al. (2018).^[264]
• A model of development of bony pseudoteeth of the odontopterygiform birds is proposed by Louchart et al. (2018).^[265]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa assigned to the family Vegaviidae by Agnolín et al. (2017)^[266] is published by Mayr et al. (2018).^[267]
• A study on the microstructure of the bones of Vegavis iaai will be published by Garcia Marsà, Agnolín & Novas (2018).^[268]
• A study on the adaptations for filter-feeding (other than beak shape) in the feeding apparatus of modern ducks, evaluating whether they could be also found in the skull of Presbyornis, is published by Zelenkov & Stidham (2018), who argue that Presbyornis most likely was a poorly specialized filter-feeder.^[269]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species Chendytes lawi and the Labrador duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius) is published by Buckner et al. (2018).^[270]
• Schmidt (2018) interprets more than 1000 large, near-circular gravel mounds from western New South Wales (Australia) as likely to be nest mounds constructed by an extinct bird, similar to the malleefowl but larger.^[271]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of Foro panarium is published by Field & Hsiang (2018), who consider this species to be a stem-turaco.^[272]
• A nearly complete tarsometatarsus of the least seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus) will be described from the Ensenadan of Argentina by Picasso, De Mendoza & Gelfo (2018).^[273]
• Petralca austriaca, originally thought to be an auk, is reinterpreted as a member of Gaviiformes by Göhlich & Mayr (2018).^[274]
• Pedal phalanx of a penguin affected by osteomyelitis will be described from the Eocene of West Antarctica by Jadwiszczak & Rothschild (2018).^[275]
• Globuli ossei (subspherical structures of endochondral origin, inserted in the hypertrophic cartilage of long bones) are reported for the first time in a bird (a fossil penguin Delphinornis arctowskii from Antarctica) by Garcia Marsà, Tambussi & Cerda (2018).^[276]
• Redescription of the anatomy of the fossil penguin Madrynornis mirandus and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Degrange, Ksepka & Tambussi (2018).^[277]
• Fossil material attributed to the extinct Hunter Island penguin (Tasidyptes hunteri) is reinterpreted as assemblage of remains from three extant penguin species by Cole et al. (2018).^[278]
• A study on the history of penguin colonization of the Vestfold Hills (Antarctica), indicating that penguins started colonizing the northern Vestfold Hills around 14.6 thousand years before present, is published by Gao et al. (2018).^[279]
• A study on the history of active and abandoned Adélie penguin colonies at Cape Adare (Antarctica), based on new excavations and radiocarbon dating, is published by Emslie, McKenzie & Patterson (2018).^[280]
• A study on the mummified Adélie penguin carcasses and associated sediments from the Long Peninsula (East Antarctica), and on their implications for inferring the causes of the abandonment of numerous penguin sub‐colonies in this area during the 2nd millennium, will be published by Gao et al. (2018).^[281]
• New bird fossils, including the first reported tarsometatarsus of the plotopterid Tonsala hildegardae are described from the late Eocene/early Oligocene Makah Formation and the Oligocene Pysht Formation (Washington State, United States) by Mayr & Goedert (2018), who name a new plotopterid subfamily Tonsalinae.^[282]
• A well-preserved scapula of a plotopterid, enabling the reconstruction of the triosseal canal in plotopterids, is described from the Oligocene Jinnobaru Formation (Japan) by Ando & Fukata (2018).^[283]
• Fossil remains of the spectacled cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) are described from the upper Pleistocene of Shiriya (northeast Japan) by Watanabe, Matsuoka & Hasegawa (2018).^[284]
• Extinct lowland kagu (Rhynochetos orarius) is reinterpreted as synonymous with extant kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) by Theuerkauf & Gula (2018).^[285]
• New fossils of stem-mousebirds belonging to the family Sandcoleidae, providing new information on the anatomy of members of this family, will be described from the Eocene of the Messel pit (Germany) by Mayr (2018).^[286]
• Partial skeleton of an early member of Coraciiformes of uncertain generic and specific assignment, showing several previously unknown features of the skull and vertebral column of early coraciiforms, will be described from the Lower Eocene (53.5–51.5 million years old) London Clay (United Kingdom) by Mayr & Walsh (2018).^[287]
• New phorusrhacid fossils are described from the Pleistocene of Uruguay by Jones et al. (2018), providing evidence of survival of phorusrhacids until the end of the Pleistocene.^[288]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the extinct Cuban macaw (Ara tricolor) is published by Johansson et al. (2018).^[289]
• A study on an ancient DNA of scarlet macaws recovered from archaeological sites in Chaco Canyon and the contemporaneous Mimbres area of New Mexico is published by George et al. (2018), who report low genetic diversity in this sample, and interpret their findings as indicating that people at an undiscovered Pre-Hispanic settlement dating between 900 and 1200 CE managed a macaw breeding colony outside their endemic range.^[290]
• A review of the bird fossil assemblage from the Paleocene locality of Menat (Puy-de-Dôme, France), including a new fossil specimen with exceptional soft tissue preservation, is published by Mayr, Hervet & Buffetaut (2018).^[291]
• A study on the fossil bird remains from the Pliocene locality of Kanapoi (Kenya), indicating presence of many aquatic birds, will be published by Field (2018).^[292]
• A study on the bird fossils from the Olduvai Gorge site (Tanzania) and their implications for inferring the environmental context of the site during the Oldowan-Acheulean transitional period is published by Prassack et al. (2018).^[293]
• A study on the bird fossil assemblage from the Pleistocene of the Rio Secco Cave (north-eastern Italy) and its implications for the palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the site is published by Carrera et al. (2018).^[294]
• Oswald & Steadman (2018) report nearly 500 (probably late Pleistocene) bird fossils collected on New Providence (The Bahamas) in 1958 and 1960.^[295]
• A study on the fossils of Pleistocene birds collected on Picard Island (Seychelles) in 1987 is published by Hume, Martill & Hing (2018).^[296]
• A revision of non-passeriform landbird fossils from the Pleistocene of Shiriya (northeast Japan) is published by Watanabe, Matsuoka & Hasegawa (2018).^[297]
• Description of Late Pleistocene bird fauna from Buso Doppio del Broion Cave (Berici Hills, Italy), including fossils of the snowy owl and the northern hawk-owl (considered to be markers of a colder climate than the present one) and the first Italian Pleistocene fossil remains of the Eurasian wren and the black redstart, is published by Carrera et al. (2018).^[298]
• A study on the date of extinction of the Tristan moorhen, the Inaccessible Island finch and the Tristan albatross on the main island of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, aiming to place these extinctions in the context of the changing island ecosystems of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, will be published by Bond, Carlson & Burgio (2018).^[299]
• Bird eggshell fragments are described from the Fitterer Ranch locality within the Oligocene Brule Formation (North Dakota, United States) by Lawver & Boyd (2018), who name a new ootaxon Metoolithus jacksonae.^[300]

New taxa

Research

• A study on the morphological diversity of the mandibular shapes in pterosaurs is published by Navarro, Martin-Silverstone & Stubbs (2018).^[319]
• A synthesis of pterosaur dietary interpretations, evaluating how robustly supported different dietary interpretations are within, and between, key pterosaur groups, will be published by Bestwick et al. (2018).^[320]
• A study on the validity of six ontogenetic stages in pterosaur life history proposed by Kellner (2015)^[321] is published by Dalla Vecchia (2018), who also considers Bergamodactylus wildi to be a junior synonym of Carniadactylus rosenfeldi.^[322]
• A pterosaur humerus from the Late Jurassic of Thailand, originally assigned to the group Azhdarchoidea, is reassigned to the family Rhamphorhynchidae by Unwin & Martill (2018).^[323]
• A tooth of a large pterodactyloid pterosaur, most similar to the teeth of Coloborhynchus and Ludodactylus, is described from the Cretaceous (Albian) Aïn el Guettar Formation (Tunisia) by Martill, Ibrahim & Bouaziz (2018).^[324]
• A new juvenile specimen of Pteranodon (the smallest reported so far) is described from the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Formation (Kansas, United States) by Bennett (2018).^[325]
• A metacarpal bone of a specimen of Pteranodon, bearing teeth marks likely produced by a shark and by a saurodontid fish, is described from the Campanian Mooreville Chalk (Alabama, United States) by Ehret & Harrell (2018).^[326]
• Redescription of the holotype specimen of Mythunga camara will be published by Pentland & Poropat (2018).^[327]
• A giant humerus of a tapejaroid pterosaur is described from the Upper Cretaceous Plottier Formation (Argentina) by Ortiz David, González Riga & Kellner (2018).^[328]
• A revision of the taxonomy of Noripterus and other Asian members of the family Dsungaripteridae is published by Hone, Jiang & Xu (2018).^[329]
• A new thalassodromine specimen is described from the Lower Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (Brazil) by Buchmann et al. (2018), providing new information on the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of members of the group.^[330]
• Redescription of the holotype of Thalassodromeus sethi is published by Pêgas, Costa & Kellner (2018), who transfer the species Banguela oberlii to the genus Thalassodromeus.^[331]
• Purported pterosaur pelvis from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada) described by Funston, Martin-Silverstone & Currie (2017)^[332] is reinterpreted as a broken tyrannosaurid squamosal by Funston, Martin-Silverstone & Currie (2018).^[333]
• Partial mandible of a giant azhdarchid pterosaur, representing the largest pterosaur mandible reported so far, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hațeg Basin (Romania) by Vremir et al. (2018).^[334]
• A study on intervertebral foramina in Vectidraco, Anhanguera and Coloborhynchus, and on their implications for inferring palaeoecology and locomotion of these pterosaurs, will be published by Martin‐Silverstone, Sykes & Naish (2018).^[335]

New taxa

Research

• A study on the anatomy of Teleocrater rhadinus is published by Nesbitt et al. (2018).^[341]
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of lagerpetid dinosauromorphs is published by Müller, Langer & Dias-da-Silva (2018).^[342]
• A study on the microstructure of the long bones (femur and tibiae) of Lewisuchus admixtus will be published by Garcia Marsà, Agnolín & Novas (2018).^[343]
• A study on the anatomy of the braincase of Silesaurus opolensis will be published by Piechowski, Niedźwiedzki & Tałanda (2018).^[344]
• Studies on the phylogenetic relationships of Pisanosaurus mertii will be published by Agnolín & Rozadilla (2018) and Baron (2018), who interpret the taxon as a likely silesaurid.^[345][346]
• Reevaluation of Caseosaurus crosbyensis and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Baron & Williams (2018).^[347]

New taxa