A new “silesaurid” from the oldest dinosauromorph-bearing beds of South America provides insights into the early evolution of bird-line archosaurs

Abstract

Investigations regarding the early evolutionary history of bird-line archosaurs have undergone significant advancements in recent years. However, controversies remain, especially regarding the phylogenetic position of “silesaurids”. Whereas some hypotheses place these archosaurs as the sister-group to dinosaurs, others suggest that “silesaurids” are early ornithischian dinosaurs. Despite the phylogenetic disputes, “silesaurids” are a crucial group for comprehending the origins and early evolution of dinosaurs. In the present study, a new “silesaurid” from the Middle-Upper Triassic of Southern Brazil is described. Gondwanax paraisensis gen. et sp. nov. comes from the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Santa Maria Formation (Ladinian-Carnian boundary), representing one of the oldest “silesaurids” worldwide. Furthermore, Gondwanax paraisensis gen. et sp. nov is the oldest “silesaurid” with three sacral vertebrae, a feature usually observed in more derived forms. In addition, distinct from any other Triassic Pan-Aves, the new taxon bears an incipient fourth trochanter of the femur. This unique combination of features indicates a high diversity of locomotor strategies among early pan-avians. The co-occurrence of Gondwanax paraisensis gen. et sp. nov. and Gamatavus antiquus in the same Assemblage Zone represents the oldest evidence of sympatry among “silesaurids” in South America. Indeed, the unique combination of sacral and hindlimb features may suggest distinct behaviors for these species, potentially leading to niche differentiation within the same ecosystems.