New dinosaur taxa General non-avian dinosaur research • Review of studies on the phylogenetic relationships of main dinosaur groups from the preceding years is published by Lovegrove, Upchurch & Barrett (2024). • Review of studies on the
macroecology of non-avian dinosaurs from the preceding years is published by Chiarenza (2024). • A study on diversity of Mesozoic dinosaurs throughout their evolutionary history is published by Mannion (2024). • Review of main obstacles in the study of neurology of Mesozoic dinosaurs, and of advances in the study of dinosaur neurology, is published by Balanoff (2024). • Evidence indicating that the evolution of rostral keratin cover was associated with partial tooth reduction throughout the evolutionary history of dinosaurs, but does not explain the complete loss of teeth in dinosaur lineages, is presented by Aguilar-Pedrayes, Gardner & Organ (2024). • A study on the evolutionary rates of biting mechanics in herbivorous dinosaurs is published by Kunz and Sakamoto (2024), who interpret their findings as indicating that biomechanic evolution rates can reveal ecological signatures in different lineages and ontogenetic stages. • Caspar
et al. (2024) present revised estimates of
encephalization and
telencephalic neuron counts in dinosaurs, contesting neuron count and relative brain size estimates presented in the study of
Herculano-Houzel (2023), and in particular contesting estimates of exceptional neuron counts and relative brain size in large-bodied theropods compared to other dinosaurs presented by the cited author. • Evidence from the study of an ontogenetic series of endocasts of
Psittacosaurus lujiatunesis and immature specimens of other non-avian dinosaur taxa, interpreted as indicating that non-avian dinosaurs had a distinct developmental trajectory of the brain compared to extant birds and crocodilians, is presented by King
et al. (2024). • Atterholt
et al. (2024) report evidence of widespread presence of bony ridges in the neural canals in the caudal vertebrae of non-avian dinosaurs, and interpret the studied structures as likely bony spinal cord supports. • A study on the evolution of the dinosaurian climatic niche landscape throughout the Mesozoic is published by Chiarenza
et al. (2024), who report that the distribution of sauropodomorphs indicates their preference for warm environments, while ornithischians and theropods explored a broader range of environments with varied climates, and interpret the colonization of areas with colder climates by theropods since the Early Jurassic as likely related to the evolution of endothermy. • Upchurch & Chiarenza (2024) review the studies of the
biogeography of non-avian dinosaurs. • Qvarnström
et al. (2024) reconstruct food webs from five tetrapod communities from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic of
Poland on the basis of data from
bromalites, and interpret changes in bromalite morphologies and their contents as related to shifts in faunal composition, with increased abundance of dinosaurs coinciding with decline of formerly dominant tetrapod groups; the authors also interpret their findings as indicating that early herbivorous dinosaurs had different feeding habits than
dicynodonts and
aetosaurs, and interpret the studied fossils as recording stepwise rise of dinosaurs to supremacy across 30 million years of evolution. • Putative bone fragments of large-bodied dinosaurs from
Rhaetian strata in
France,
Germany and
United Kingdom are reinterpreted as fossil material of large-bodied
ichthyosaurs by Perillo & Sander (2024). • Romilio
et al. (2024) describe dinosaur tracks from the Early Jurassic (
Sinemurian)
Razorback Beds (Australia), representing the oldest dinosaur tracks from the country to date. • Troiano
et al. (2024) report the discovery of an association of Early Cretaceous dinosaur tracks and
petroglyphs from the Serrote do Letreiro Site (
Brazil). • Review of the fossil record of Late Triassic and Jurassic dinosaurs from
India is published by Khosla &
Lucas (2024). •
Maidment (2024) describes the diversity of dinosaurs from the upper
Morrison Formation (United States) in time and space, and finds evidence supporting
cladogenesis as a means of increasing
diplodocine diversity over time, as well as spatial segregation of
Allosaurus and
Camarasaurus species. • Tracks of medium to large theropods and small ornithopods are described from the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian-Aptian) Wonthaggi Formation (Victoria, Australia) by Martin
et al. (2024), confirming the presence of large theropods in the polar regions of Australia during the Early Cretaceous. • Bandeira
et al. (2024) revise dinosaur remains from the Lower Cretaceous Massacará and Ilhas groups (Recôncavo Basin,
Brazil) collected between 1859 and 1906, and interpret the studied fossils as indicative of the presence of an Early Cretaceous dinosaur assemblage including theropods, sauropods and ornithopods. • New dinosaur tracksite, preserving ornithopod, sauropod and theropod tracks, is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) Duoni Formation (Tibet, China) by Li
et al. (2024). • Navarro
et al. (2024) report the discovery of a new tracksite preserving theropod, sauropod and ornithischian footprints from the Cenomanian–Turonian Santo Anastácio Formation (Brazil), representing the first dinosaur ichnofauna from the
Bauru Group reported to date and providing evidence of presence of ornithischians in the studied area before environmental changes during the Cenomanian–Turonian interval. •
Kirkland et al. (2024) describe the biodiversity of Cretaceous dinosaurs from
Utah (United States). • Han
et al. (2024) find that rising temperatures and rainfall intensity coincided with decline and eventual disappearance of dinosaurs from the Shanyang Basin (China) during the latest Cretaceous, and argue that the recorded decline of dinosaurs in the studied area was likely caused by increased rainfall that reduced availability of suitable nesting sites for dinosaurs. • A study on the diversification of non-avian dinosaurs, inferred from available dinosaur phylogenies, is published by Allen
et al. (2024), who find it impossible to decisively conclude whether dinosaurs experienced a decline in diversity before the
Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event on the basis of available data, noting the impact of the phylodynamic models used in the study (specifically their assumptions about sampling and changes in the number of species through time) on estimates of dinosaur evolutionary rates.
Saurischian research • A study on the
femoral histology of amniotes from the Triassic
Ischigualasto Formation (
Argentina), including early dinosaurs
Chromogisaurus novasi,
Eodromaeus murphi,
Eoraptor lunensis,
Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis and
Sanjuansaurus gordilloi, is published by
Curry Rogers et al. (2024), who find that early dinosaurs known from this formation grew at least as quickly as sauropodomorph and theropod dinosaurs from the later Mesozoic, and that their elevated growth rates did not set them apart from other amniotes living at the same time. • New dinosaur tracksites from the Middle Jurassic Dongdaqiao Formation (China), preserving tracks of large-bodied theropods and small-bodied sauropods, are described by Chen
et al. (2024). • Danison
et al. (2024) redescribe fossil material assigned to
Saurophaganax maximus from the Late Jurassic
Morrison Formation (Oklahoma, United States), and interpret it as a chimeric taxon with the holotype specimen representing a
dubious saurischian, and other specimens belonging to a novel species of
Allosaurus. • Paio et al. (2024) describe a new
rib fragment from the Campanian–Maastrichtian aged
Marília Formation (
Brazil), and interpret it as representing an indeterminate
saurischian.
Theropod research • Manafzadeh
et al. (2024) argue that the knees of early theropod dinosaurs were restricted to hinge-like motion, and that the reduction of the
fibula during the theropod evolution had significant biomechanical consequences for theropod locomotion, freeing the fibula from the ankle joint and ultimately enabling extreme knee long-axis rotation of extant birds. • A study on the femoral shape variation in theropods, providing evidence of evolution of similar adaptations to gigantism in large-bodied theropods regardless of their phylogenetic affinities, is published by Pintore
et al. (2024). • Barker
et al. (2024) identify spinosaurid, tyrannosauroid and dromaeosaurid material in the assemblage of theropod teeth from the
Valanginian Wadhurst Clay Formation (
United Kingdom), and interpret the studied assemblage as likely distinct from other theropod assemblages known from Wealden Supergroup strata. • Dridi
et al. (2024) describe tracks of medium to large-sized theropods from the Lower Cretaceous (
Hauterivian–
Barremian) strata from the Jebel Kebar locality (Bouhedma Formation,
Tunisia), extending known geographic range of non-avian theropods to higher latitudes within
Gondwana. • A study on the affinities of shed tooth crowns of theropods from the
Turonian-
Coniacian Portezuelo Formation (Argentina), providing evidence of a previously undocumented diversity of theropods from this formation, is published by Meso
et al. (2024). • Isasmendi
et al. (2024) describe new and revise known theropod teeth from the
Maastrichtian strata from the South Pyrenean Basin (
Spain), expanding known diversity of theropods from this basin and reporting evidence of theropod turnover during the Maastrichtian. • A partial egg clutch including the smallest non-avian theropod eggs reported to date is described from the Upper Cretaceous Tangbian Formation (China) by Wu
et al. (2024), who name a new
ovaloolithid ootaxon
Minioolithus ganzhouensis. • McLarty & Esperante (2024) describe theropod tracks from the Maastrichtian strata from the Carreras Pampa tracksite (
Bolivia) interpreted as likely preserving evidence of the trackmakers pausing during movement, bypassing an obstacle and crouching. • Bugos & McDavid (2024) describe skulls of immature specimens of
Coelophysis bauri from the
Coelophysis Quarry at
Ghost Ranch (
New Mexico,
United States). • Marsh
et al. (2024) describe
post-cranial material from the Lower Jurassic
Kayenta Formation (Utah, United States) and interpret it as belonging to an intermediate theropod. • Liang, Falkingham & Xing (2024) present a digital skeleton model of
Sinosaurus, based on data from a new, well-preserved specimen, and provide new body mass estimates for this theropod. • Hendrickx
et al. (2024) restudy the osteology, phylogenetic relationships, and feeding ecology of
Noasaurus leali and name a new clade
Berthasauridae. • Mohabey
et al. (2024) review and redescribe
Laevisuchus indicus,
Jubbulpuria tenuis and
Compsosuchus solus, and describe a new
noasaurid dentary from central
India with procumbent dentition similar to the one present in
Masiakasaurus. • A study on the affinities of isolated theropod teeth from the
Kem Kem Group (
Morocco) is published by Hendrickx
et al. (2024), who identify teeth of
abelisaurids,
spinosaurines,
carcharodontosaurids and a non-
abelisauroid ceratosaur or a
megaraptoran. • A probable
ceratosaurid dentary is described from the
Toarcian Cañadón Asfalto Formation (
Argentina) by Pradelli, Pol &
Ezcurra (2024), expanding known theropod diversity from this formation. • A study on the affinities of isolated theropod teeth from the Bauru Basin (
Brazil) is published by Delcourt
et al. (2024), who argue that the geographical distribution of abelisaurids in South America was influenced by climatic conditions. • Ribeiro
et al. (2024) identify a theropod tooth from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous
Missão Velha Formation (
Brazil) as the oldest abelisaurid record in the South America reported to date. • A study in the bone histology of a mid-sized abelisaurid from the Upper Cretaceous
Serra da Galga Formation (
Brazil) is published by Aureliano
et al. (2024), who report that, despite living in a semiarid tropical environment, the studied specimen had a growth rate similar to those of the Patagonian abelisaurids. • Candeiro
et al. (2024) describe abelisaurid teeth from the strata of the
Marília Formation in the State of
Goiás (Brazil), representing the northernmost abelisaurid record in the Bauru Basin reported to date. • A study on the skeletal pathologies affecting known specimens of
brachyrostran abelisaurids is published by Baiano
et al. (2024), who diagnose the fusion of two caudal vertebrae of the
holotype specimen of
Aucasaurus garridoi as
congenital malformation and diagnose partial fusion of five caudal vertebrae of the holotype of
Elemgasem nubilus as spondyloraptropathy, in both cases representing the first occurrences of the diagnosed pathologies among non-
tetanuran theropods. • Cerroni, Otero &
Novas (2024) present the reconstruction of the pelvic and hindlimb musculature of
Skorpiovenator bustingorryi. • Theropod teeth from the upper Campanian–lower Maastrichtian strata from the fossil site of Poyos (
Villalba de la Sierra Formation, Spain) are identified as teeth of an abelisaurid that was likely closely related to
Arcovenator by Malafaia
et al. (2024). • A study on the microarchitecture of bones of the
axial skeleton of
Majungasaurus and
Rahonavis, providing evidence of increase of
pneumatic complexity in early
paravians compared to members of Ceratosauria, is published by Aureliano
et al. (2024). •
Cau (2024) reinterprets "
compsognathid" theropod specimens as juveniles of members of non-
maniraptoriform tetanuran groups. • Montealegre, Castillo-Visa & Sellés (2024) describe previously unpublished fossil material of theropods (
cf. Protathlitis and a carcharodontosaurid which might be distinct from
Concavenator) from the
Barremian Arcillas de Morella Formation (
Spain). • Lacerda
et al. (2024) describe new fossil material of spinosaurids (including a cervical vertebra of
Sigilmassasaurus) and partial ischium of an indeterminate carcharodontosaurid from the
Kem Kem Group (
Morocco). • Yun (2024) identifies convergent similarities in craniodental anatomy between
spinosaurs and
phytosaurs. • D'Amore
et al. (2024) study the morphology of the skull and teeth of spinosaurids, and find no evidence that the diets of spinosaurids were restricted to fish or small aquatic prey. • A study on the diversity of spinosaurid teeth from the
Camarillas Formation (
Spain) is published by Cabrera-Argudo, García-Cobeña & Cobos (2024), who report possible evidence of the presence of at least one baryonychine and one spinosaurine in the eastern Iberian Peninsula during the early
Barremian. • The purported abelisaur
ilium from the Upper Cretaceous
Kem Kem Group (
Morocco) described by Zitouni
et al. (2019) is interpreted as a bone of a spinosaurine spinosaurid different from the ilium of the
Spinosaurus aegyptiacus neotype by Samathi (2024), who considers the studied fossil to be likely evidence of the presence of two morphotypes of spinosaurines in the Kem Kem Group. •
Myhrvold et al. (2024) use statistical analyses to reconsider previous descriptions by Fabbri
et al. (2022) of spinosaurs such as
Spinosaurus as subaqueous foragers, and provide evidence that
Spinosaurus was likely not an aquatic pursuit predator. • Evidence from the study of patterns in skull shape, interpreted as indicating that
Spinosaurus fed on aquatic prey and likely used the "stand-and-wait" predation strategy, is presented by Smart & Sakamoto (2024). •
Buffetaut & Tong (2024) reinterpret a purported ichthyosaur tooth from the
Sao Khua Formation collected in 1962 and described in 1963 as a spinosaurid tooth and the first finding of a non-avian dinosaur fossil reported from
Thailand. • Evidence of large ranges of extension and flexion of
manual joints and limited range of motion of the shoulder joints of
Allosaurus fragilis is presented by Liang
et al. (2024). • Burigo &
Mateus (2024) interpret
Allosaurus europaeus as a valid species more closely related to
A. jimmadseni than to
A. fragilis, and interpret purported fossil material of a member of the genus
Allosaurus from the Cretaceous
Mifune Group (
Japan) as belonging to a member of the genus
Segnosaurus instead. • A dorsal vertebra of an indeterminate carcharodontosaurid with similarities to the vertebrae of
Acrocanthosaurus is described from the
Turonian Bissekty Formation (
Uzbekistan) by Averianov &
Sues (2024). • Rolando
et al. (2024) describe a second specimen of
Taurovenator violantei, expanding on the known anatomy of this genus. • Rowe &
Rayfield (2024) study the biomechanical capabilities of the skulls of
tyrannosauroid theropods with different body size and skull morphology, and find that larger tyrannosauroids experienced higher absolute stresses in their skulls during feeding compared to their small-bodied relatives, and that wide skulls of
tyrannosaurids enabled them to better accommodate high stresses during feeding. • A study on tooth replacement pattern of
Guanlong wucaii is published by Ke, Pei &
Xu (2024). • Teeth of a probable
basal tyrannosauroid are described from the Upper Jurassic
Phu Kradung Formation (
Thailand) by Chowchuvech
et al. (2024). • Xing
et al. (2024) describe large tyrannosauroid teeth from the Maastrichtian
Dalangshan Formation, representing the southernmost record of tyrannosauroids in China reported to date. • LeBlanc
et al. (2024) report that extant
Komodo dragons maintain cutting edges of their teeth through iron-enriched coatings on their tooth serrations and tips, argue that iron sequestration is probably widespread in reptile enamels, but also find no evidence of iron coatings along theropod dinosaur tooth serrations, report that tyrannosaurids had specialized, wavy enamel along their tooth serrations that likely supported the cutting edges of the teeth, and interpret these findings as either indicative of different feeding strategies of tyrannosaurids and Komodo dragons, or indicating that only large theropods had tooth enamel that was thick enough to significantly influence the mechanical wear of the tooth serrations. • Słowiak,
Brusatte & Szczygielski (2024) reevaluate the fossil material attributed to
Bagaraatan ostromi, interpreting the holotype as an indeterminate juvenile tyrannosaurid, and reporting that some of the fossils originally attributed to
B. ostromi are actually caenagnathid bones. • Yun (2024) estimates mandibular force profiles of
Alioramus altai and
Qianzhousaurus sinensis, interpreting the mandibles of the studied theropods as likely unsuited for delivering powerful bites and enduring high stresses caused by capturing, holding and dismembering large prey. • Evidence from the study of skull bones of immature specimens of
Daspletosaurus from the Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada), indicating that skull material of
Daspletosaurus and
Gorgosaurus can be confidently identified regardless of ontogenetic stage of the specimens, is presented by Coppock
et al. (2024). • A study on the affinities of
tyrannosaurines is published by Warshaw, Barrera Guevara & Fowler (2024), who contest the conclusions of the study of Scherer & Voiculescu-Holvad (2023), recovering recognized
Daspletosaurus species as representing a single
anagenetic lineage ancestral to
Tyrannosaurus-line tyrannosaurines. • Longrich & Saitta (2024) review the taxonomic status of
Nanotyrannus and argue that multiple lines of evidence support it as a distinct, small-bodied, possibly non-
tyrannosaurid taxon, rather than an immature form of
Tyrannosaurus. • Mallon & Hone (2024) estimate that past sampling efforts likely resulted in sampling even the 99th percentile of body mass reached by
Tyrannosaurus rex, and that the very largest members of the species might have been up to 70% larger than the largest currently known specimens, reaching approximately 15,000 (± 3750) kg of body mass. • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis is published by Samathi (2024). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
alvarezsaurians and on the evolution of their body mass is published by Meso
et al. (2024). • Gianechini
et al. (2024) describe and indeterminate alvarezsaurian femur from the
Plottier Formation (Argentina), filling a temporal gap (between Coniacian and Santonian) in the fossil record of Late Cretaceous Patagonian alvarezsaurians. • Description of the skeletal anatomy of
Nothronychus graffami and
N. mckinleyi, providing evidence of the presence of traits
convergent with extant birds, ornithischian dinosaurs and titanosaur sauropods, is published by Smith & Gillette (2024). • A study on the biomechanics of the hindlimbs of
Nothronychus is published by Smith (2024), who infers a waddling gait for the studied theropods. • Park
et al. (2024) propose that early
pennaraptorans might have used their
pennaceous feathers to flush hiding insects and to generate lift or drag during the pursuit of the flushed insects, and propose that such use of the pennaceous feathers might have contributed to the evolution of larger and stiffer feathers. • A characterization of how number and shape of flight feathers correlate with locomotory style in extant birds is published by Kiat &
O'Connor (2024). Extrapolating these patterns to Mesozoic
pennaraptorans, the authors suggest that
Caudipteryx and
anchiornithines may have been secondarily
flightless. • A study on the evolution of the
pectoral girdle of pennaraptorans is published by Wu
et al. (2024), who report evidence of modifications changing the range of motion of the forelimb that preceded the origin of flight in
paravians, as well as evidence of subsequent flight adaptive modifications in
avialans. • Meade
et al. (2024) report evidence indicating that the ability of the skull to resist large mechanical stresses appeared early in
oviraptorosaur evolution, before the appearance of the highly modified
oviraptorid cranial architecture. • The first caenagnathid fossil material from the upper Campanian De-na-zin Member of the
Kirtland Formation (
New Mexico,
United States) is described by Funston, Williamson &
Brusatte (2024). • Qiu
et al. (2024) describe the skeletal anatomy of the wrist of
Heyuannia huangi, providing evidence of a specialized wrist morphology that was functionally
convergent with the wrist morphology of extant birds. • Description of the skeletal anatomy of
Oksoko avarsan is published by Funston (2024). • Zhu, Wang & Wang (2024) study the microstructural variation of
elongatoolithid eggs from China, and interpret the studied variation as indicating that not all elongatoolithid eggshells can be related to oviraptorosaurs. • A study on the skull shape and bite mechanics of
dromaeosaurids is published by Tse, Miller & Pittman (2024), who interpret
Deinonychus antirrhopus as adapted to taking large vertebrate prey, and interpret
Halszkaraptor escuilliei as unlikely to feed on fish, and more likely to have a feeding ecology similar to those of extant waterfowl. • Possible dromaeosaurid eggs are described from the Upper Cretaceous Lianhe Formation (China) by Wu
et al. (2024), who name a new
ootaxon Gannanoolithus yingliangi, and interpret the discovery of paired eggs of
Gannanoolithus as possible evidence that dromaeosaurids had paired functional
oviducts. • Motta
et al. (2024) interpret
Imperobator antarcticus as a member of
Unenlagiidae. • Gianechini, Colli & Makovicky (2024) present a reconstruction of the pelvic and hindlimb musculature of
Buitreraptor gonzalezorum. • Dececchi
et al. (2024) interpret two-toed theropod trackway
Dromaeosauriformipes rarus from the Cretaceous
Jinju Formation (
South Korea) produced by a small microraptorine moving at high speed as evidence of wing-assisted movement of a non-avian theropod; that interpretation of the studied trackway is subsequently contested by Falkingham & Lallensack (2025) and reaffirmed by Dececchi
et al. (2025). • A juvenile specimen of
Microraptor, representing the smallest dromaeosaurid specimen from the
Jehol Biota reported to date and preserving anatomical details that are poorly preserved in the other specimens of
Microraptor, is described from the Jiufotang Formation (China) by Wang & Pei (2024), who also introduce the name
Serraraptoria for the most inclusive
clade containing
Microraptor zhaoianus and
Velociraptor mongoliensis but not
Mahakala omnogovae,
Halszkaraptor escuilliei and
Unenlagia comahuensis. • A study on the biomechanics of the mandible and probable feeding behavior of
Acheroraptor temertyorum is published by Yun (2024). • Based on comparisons to extant birds, joint poses in the foot of
Deinonychus during its
walk cycle are reconstructed by Manafzadeh, Gatesy & Bhullar (2024). • Description of the braincase and cranial
endocast of
Sinovenator changii, interpreted as morphologically intermediate between basal theropods and extant birds, is published by Yu
et al. (2024). • Xing
et al. (2024) describe tracks from the Upper Cretaceous Shaxian Formation (Fujian, China) which might have been produced by a large-bodied (estimated hip height of over 1.8 m)
troodontid, and name a new ichnotaxon
Fujianipus yingliangi. • Description of the anatomy of the skull of
Anchiornis huxleyi is published by Wang
et al. (2024).
Sauropodomorph research • Frauenfelder
et al. (2024) reevaluate the utility of sauropodomorph tooth measurement indices as proxies for classification of the studied dinosaurs. • Müller, Damke & Terras (2024) find that inclusion of skeletally immature individuals in the phylogenetic analyses of early Late Triassic sauropodomorphs results in the artificial grouping of the immature specimens in the phylogenetic trees. • Damke
et al. (2024) describe fossil material of at least three specimens of
Saturnalia tupiniquim from the Candelária Sequence of the Santa Maria Supersequence (
Brazil), providing new information on the skeletal anatomy of members of this species (including the first preserved rostrum) and its variation among members of this species. • Silva
et al. (2024) describe fossil material of a member or a relative of the group
Bagualosauria from the Vila Botucaraí site (Candelária Sequence of the Santa Maria Supersequence,
Brazil), representing the first sauropodomorph reported from this site. • Evidence of variability of the pneumacity patterns of the cervical and dorsal vertebrae in
Plateosaurus is presented by Regalado Fernández (2024). • Redescription of the
holotype and a study on the affinities of
Plateosaurus trossingensis is published by Schaeffer (2024). • Schaeffer
et al. (2024) describe pathologies in the
chevrons of the tail in two specimens of
Plateosaurus trossingensis from the Obere Mühle locality in Trossingen (
Germany), report pathologies in the tail chevrons in further specimens indicating that chevrons were a vulnerable part of the tail, and interpret the affected individuals as able to recover without too many complications as long as there was no severe functional damage inflicted. • Zhao
et al (2024) describe a new juvenile–subadult
massospondylid specimen from the Lower Jurassic
Lufeng Formation (Yunnan, China), increasing known diversity of massospondylids from Asia. •
"Gyposaurus" sinensis is interpreted as a probable
junior synonym of
Lufengosaurus huenei by Wang, Zhao & You (2024). •
Reisz et al. (2024) report that bone development in the femora of
Lufengosaurus is closer to that of
altricial pigeons than precocious chickens, and argue that
Lufengosaurus hatchlings were likely altricial. • Barrett & Choiniere (2024) redescribe the skeletal anatomy of
Melanorosaurus readi and designate the
lectotype of this species. • A study on the histology of teeth and on the evolution of tooth replacement patterns in sauropod dinosaurs is published by D'Emic
et al. (2024). • Kareem, Chakraborty &
Wilson Mantilla (2024) report evidence of the presence of
tail clubs in
Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis, sharing morphological similarities with tail clubs of
Omeisaurus tianfuensis and
Shunosaurus lii. • Redescription of the skull anatomy of
Bagualia alba is published by Gomez, Carballido & Pol (2024). • Using
Spinophorosaurus as an example, Vidal (2024) explains how virtual 3D models of sauropods have enabled an understanding of their biomechanics. • Agustí, Alcalá & Santos-Cubedo (2024) propose that sauropod gigantism was an adaptation that increased the ability of sauropods to travel great distances, necessitated by pronounced seasonal changes. • Santos
et al. (2024) coin a replacement name
Galinhapodus for the ichnogenus
Polyonyx including sauropod tracks from the Middle Jurassic Serra de Aire Formation (
Portugal). •
Butler et al. (2024) describe an assemblage of tracks produced by large-bodied sauropods passing through coastal lagoonal environment from the earliest Cretaceous strata of the
Durlston Formation (Dorset,
United Kingdom), representing the largest dinosaur track site accessible within the
Purbeck Group reported to date. • Boisvert
et al. (2024) describe a new specimen of
Haplocanthosaurus sp. from the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry (
Colorado,
United States), extending known range of the genus into the true Brushy Basin Member of the
Morrison Formation, and likely representing the geologically youngest occurrence of
Haplocanthosaurus on the Colorado Plateau. • King
et al. (2024) report evidence of a previously unknown form of
pneumaticity in a rib of a member of the genus
Apatosaurus, and propose that rib pneumaticity among
apatosaurines is individually variable. • Windholz
et al. (2024) describe a new
rebbachisaurid caudal vertebra from the Cenomanian
Candeleros Formation (
Argentina), providing new information on the caudal anatomy and pneumaticity in rebbachisaurids. • A study on the morphology of teeth of
Europasaurus holgeri is published by Régent
et al. (2024), who report evidence interpreted as indicative of the presence of a strong connective tissue that partially covered the teeth, and argue that such structure might have been present in other members of
Eusauropoda. • Gomes
et al. (2024) describe a well-preserved trackway of a large sauropod (probably a
titanosauriform with a mosaic of
basal and derived features) with a unique set of characteristics from the Lower Cretaceous
Sousa Formation (
Brazil), and name a new ichnotaxon
Sousatitanosauripus robsoni. • A trackway produced by an early juvenile titanosauriform sauropod is described from the
Cenomanian Jindong Formation (
South Korea) by Yoon
et al. (2024), who compare this trackway with other sauropod trackways from the Jindong Formation, and report evidence that trackway gauges got narrower as
pes length increased. • Gomez
et al. (2024) describe new titanosauriform fossils from the
Portezuelo Formation (Argentina), expanding known diversity of sauropods from this formation. • A titanosauriform femur belonging to a subadult individual that reached a significantly larger size than other titanosauriform specimens with modified lamellar bone tissue at a similar growth stage is described from the Upper Cretaceous
Bayan Shireh Formation (
Mongolia) by Witasik, Słowiak & Szczygielski (2024), indicating that the characteristic modified laminar bone tissue of titanosauriform did not prevent those sauropods from achieving large body size. • Beeston
et al. (2024) describe new sauropod material from the
Winton Formation (
Australia), and interpret
Australotitan cooperensis as an indeterminate
diamantinasaurian that is likely a
junior synonym of
Diamantinasaurus matildae. • Filippi
et al. (2024) study fossil material of sauropods from the Cerro Overo – La Invernada area (
Bajo de la Carpa Formation;
Neuquén Province,
Argentina), interpreted as suggestive of the presence of a diverse fauna of
titanosauriforms coexisting in the environment during the
Santonian. • A study on the
taphonomy of the fossil material of
Kaijutitan maui and on its bone histology is published by Filippi, Previtera & Garrido (2024). • A study on the tail vertebrae of
Adamantisaurus mezzalirai and
Baurutitan britoi is published by Vidal
et al. (2024), who interpret the studied titanosaurs as keeping their tail close to the ground, with their tails likely functioning as the fifth stabilizing member of the body. • Vidal
et al. (2024) study the range of motion of the
axial series of
Trigonosaurus pricei, and interpret it as capable of high elevation of the neck. • A study on the morphological variability of titanosaur femora from the Campanian-Maastrichtian Ibero-Armorican domain, providing evidence of the presence of
Lirainosaurinae and sauropods with affinities with large-bodied late Maastrichtian titanosaurs, is published by Páramo, Mocho & Ortega (2024). • A study on the extent of the postcranial
pneumaticity in
saltasaurines and other derived titanosaurs is published by Zurriaguz (2024). • A description and study of the morphological variability of sauropod
appendicular remains from Maastrichtian sites of the Hațeg, Transylvanian, and Rusca Montană basins (
Romania) is published by Mocho, Pérez-García & Codrea (2024), who interpret the studied remains as indicative of the presence of four or five sauropod taxa on the
Hațeg Island during the Maastrichtian, including a titanosaur lineage with an extremely elongated
manus. • An overview of the largest known sauropods from Argentina is published by Calvo (2024).
Ornithischian research • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of ornithischians is published by Fonseca
et al. (2024), who name the new clades
Pyrodontia and
Tenontosauridae. • A study on the early evolution of the ornithischian bauplan is published by Norman
et al. (2024). • Maisch & Maisch (2024) interpret the lost
holotype specimen of
"Plateosaurus" ornatus from the
Rhaetian or
Hettangian strata from the Schlösslesmühle bonebed (
Baden-Württemberg,
Germany) as a tooth of an early ornithischian with similarities to teeth of
ankylosaurids. • A study on the taxonomic affinities of isolated ornithischian teeth from
Bathonian microvertebrate sites in the
United Kingdom, providing evidence of the presence of a previously unknown, diverse ornithischian fauna, is published by Wills, Underwood &
Barrett (2024). • A study on tooth replacement pattern in
Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis, providing evidence that teeth replacement rate slowed during ontogeny, is published by Hu
et al. (2024). • Redescription of the skeletal anatomy and a study on the affinities of
Oryctodromeus cubicularis is published by Krumenacker
et al. (2024). • An osteology and phylogenetic analysis on
Ajkaceratops kozmai, suggesting the initial classification of the species as a
ceratopsian as uncertain and thus regarded as an enigmatic ornithischian, was published by Czepiński and Madzia (2024). • Lee et al., (2024) described the single pedal phalanx of the basal neornithischian (NHCG 10972) from the Lower Cretaceous
Tando beds of South Korea, which is most similar to
Jeholosauridae.
Thyreophoran research • Satchell (2024) reidentified the proximal femur fragment (BELUM K3998) from the
Lias Group of
Northern Ireland as an indeterminate dinosaur remain, not a potential specimen of
Scelidosaurus or an ornithischian. • Castanera, Mampel & Cobos (2024) describe new stegosaur tracks from the Upper Jurassic
Villar del Arzobispo Formation (
Spain), providing evidence of gregarious behavior in stegosaurs. • Sánchez-Fenollosa, Escaso & Cobos (2024) describe a new specimen of
Dacentrurus armatus from the Upper Jurassic
Villar del Arzobispo Formation (
Spain), propose a new diagnosis for this species, and interpret
Miragaia longicollum as a
junior synonym of
D. armatus. • Lategano, Conti & Lozar (2024) study the stress resistance of the tail of
Miragaia longicollum, interpret its tail as capable of achieving high speed and pressure, but also interpret its tail spines as less robust than those of
Stegosaurus stenops, and consider their findings to be indicative of a defensive strategy that prioritized intimidation over direct physical combat. • The first stegosaurian fossil material from Gansu (
China), assigned to
Stegosaurus sp., is described from the Lower Cretaceous
Hekou Group by Li
et al. (2024). • Cross and
Arbour (2024) describe an ankylosaur femur from the Cenomanian
Dunvegan Formation (
British Columbia, Canada). • Soto Acuña, Vargas & Kaluza (2024) redescribe the holotype specimen of
Antarctopelta from the
Snow Hill Island Formation (Antarctica), and provide support for its phylogenetic position within the
Parankylosauria. • A study on the microstructure and probable developmental origin of small ossicles forming between osteoderms of
Antarctopelta oliveroi is published by Sanchez
et al. (2024).
Cerapod research • Evidence of increase of total tooth volume and rates of tooth wear throughout the evolutionary history of
ornithopod dinosaurs is presented by Ősi
et al. (2024), who interpret early-diverging ornithopods as likely browsers or frugivores, and that the diets of derived ornithopods likely involved bulk feeding on more resistant, less nutritious forage. • Alarcón-Muñoz
et al. (2024) describe a vertebra of a non-
hadrosauroid iguanodontian from the Lower Cretaceous
Quebrada Monardes Formation (
Chile), providing evidence of the presence of such ornithopods in the southwestern margin of
Gondwana since at least the Early Cretaceous. • A review of Early Cretaceous Spanish
styracosterns from the Maestrat Basin published by Santos-Cubedo (2024). • Escanero-Aguilar
et al. (2024) describe skull material of a
hadrosauriform ornithopod from the Lower Cretaceous
Castrillo de la Reina Formation (
Spain), interpreted as more derived than
Iguanodon but more
basal than
Proa, and expanding known diversity of ornithopods from the Cameros Basin. • Hayashi
et al. (2024) report the discovery of a probable hadrosauroid vertebra from the Upper Cretaceous Hiketa Formation (Izumi Group) in Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture, providing additional evidence of dispersal of hadrosauriforms into the area of present-day
Japan by the
Campanian. • Nikolov, Dochev, &
Brusatte (2024) test the
ontogenetic age of small hadrosauroid bones from the Late Cretaceous (
Maastrichtian)
Kaylaka Formation (Bulgaria), and determine that the specimen likely belonged to a late juvenile or young subadult, rather than a
dwarved adult, and suggest that large terrestrial animals were able to populate some European islands via a cyclically appearing or short-lived dispersal route. • Van der Linden
et al. (2024) describe
spheroolithid eggshells from the Maastrichtian
Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation, probably representing the first hadrosauroid eggshells reported from
France, and name a new ootaxon
Paraspheroolithus porcarboris. • A study on the morphological variability of hadrosaurid teeth, and on their utility for the studies of phylogenetic relationships of hadrosaurids, is published by Dudgeon, Gallimore &
Evans (2024). • The first described hadrosaurid footprints from the
Horseshoe Canyon Formation are described by Powers
et al. (2024), who assign them to the ichnospecies
Hadrosauropodus langstoni. • A study on three bonebeds from the Upper Cretaceous
Oldman Formation (Alberta, Canada) and
Two Medicine Formation (Montana, United States) preserving remains of specimens of
Hypacrosaurus stebingeri is published by Joubarne, Therrien &
Zelenitsky (2024), who interpret the studied assemblages as indicating that
H. stebingeri individuals lived in age-segregated groups until into their fourth year of life. • Evidence from the study of a skull of a juvenile hadrosaurine from the Campanian
Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada), interpreted as indicative of differences in the dental battery development between hadrosaurid species which might have been related to dietary differences during early ontogeny, is presented by Warnock-Juteau
et al. (2024). • Sharpe
et al. (2024) describe fossil material of a probable immature specimen of
Edmontosaurus regalis from the
Horseshoe Canyon Formation, and interpret its similarities to
Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis as supporting the referral of the Alaskan saurolophine material to
Edmontosaurus cf. regalis. • Wick & Lehman (2024) describe fossil material of a juvenile pachycephalosaur specimen belonging to the genus
Stegoceras from the Campanian
Aguja Formation (Texas, United States), providing new information on the ontogeny of members of this genus, and interpret the
holotype of
Texacephale langstoni as a probable adult individual belonging to the genus
Stegoceras. • Hu
et al. (2024) reconstruct
endocasts of
Yinlong,
Liaoceratops and
Psittacosaurus, and interpret early ceratopsians as having more sensitive sense of smell and as adapted to hearing higher frequencies than their late-diverging relatives. • A study on the bone histology of
Yinlong downsi is published by Han
et al. (2024), who report evidence indicating that
Y. downsi reached sexual maturity earlier than
Psittacosaurus but later than ceratopsids, and evidence of growth rates higher than those of extant squamates and crocodiles but lower than those of large-sized dinosaurs and extant mammals and birds. • Description of the morphology of the skull and endocranium of
Psittacosaurus sibiricus, based on the study of both juvenile and adult specimens, is published by Podlesnov
et al. (2024). • A description endocranial anatomy of the
Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis published by Sakagami
et al. (2024). • Yang
et al. (2024) describe a well-preserved scaled skin of a specimen of
Psittacosaurus from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China, providing evidence of preservation of epidermal layers, corneocytes and melanosomes, and interpret the studied specimen as indicative of co-occurrence of feathers and reptile-type skin in non-feathered regions of the skin in
Psittacosaurus. •
Witton & Hing (2024) argue that there is no compelling evidence indicating that the development of the idea of the
griffin was inspired by the discovery of fossils of
Protoceratops. • Demers-Potvin & Larsson (2024) describe fossil material of
Centrosaurus apertus from the strata of the Campanian
Dinosaur Park Formation in
Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park (Canada), expanding known geographical range of this species. • Barrera Guevara
et al. (2024) reinterpret fossil material of
Coahuilaceratops magnacuerna as derived from
Cerro Huerta Formation (and representing the first dinosaur taxon described from this formation) rather than from
Cerro del Pueblo Formation. == Birds ==