Shallowing-upward meter-scale cycles (parasequences) consisting of megalodont-bearing limestones or clay levels at the bottom and fenestral limestones, breccias, stromatolites or vadose pisoids at the top constitute the basic working units of the Upper Triassic successions in the Central and Western Taurides. These cycles are mainly represented by subtidal through supratidal carbonate facies and known as Lofer cycles in the literature. The presence of breccias, mud cracks, dissolution vugs and vadose pisoids indicates subaerially exposed conditions at the top of the cycles. Shallowing-upward meter-scale cycles are interpreted as 4th and 5th order cycles in this study. Megalodont-bearing limestones of the subtidal zone are characterized by wackestones/packstones with abundant involutinids. However, involutinids are poorly represented in the intertidal-supratidal zone. To determine the relationship between cyclicity and foraminifers, the vertical variation of benthic foraminifer abundance has been analysed in the cycles. This analysis leads us to conclude that the foraminiferal abundance decreases from subtidal through supratidal zone. Furthermore, cluster analysis was performed in order to delineate the relation between the biofacies and foraminiferal associations. Micropaleontological analysis of the uppermost Triassic carbonates reveals the presence of restricted platform foraminiferal associations in the studied successions. Foraminiferal associations discovered in the samples belong to the Upper Norian (Sevatian)-Rhaetian Triasina hantkeni assemblage zone. Detailed examination of peritidal carbonates in the Central and Western Taurides against the studies, which claimed that the Dachstein-type platform carbonates are characterized by the transgressive models, should be explained by regressive models.

Os esfenodontes (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) formam um dos grupos mais abundantes da fauna da “Formação Caturrita” (Triássico Superior), do Rio Grande do Sul, e representam o registro mais antigo de Rhynchocephalia para a América do Sul. O primeiro espécime encontrado foi reportado por Ferigolo (2000) sem, entretanto, apresentar uma descrição formal do novo táxon. Posteriormente, Bonaparte & Sues, em 2006, descreveram dois crânios com mandíbulas articuladas (holótipo e material referido), determinando uma nova espécie, Clevosaurus brasiliensis e formalizando a Família Clevosauridae composta pelos gêneros Clevosaurus, Brachyrhinodon e Polysphenodon. O presente trabalho apresenta a descrição anatômica de sete novos espécimes pertencentes à coleção do Laboratório do Setor de Paleovertebrados do Departamento de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia do IGEO/UFRGS, representados por materiais cranianos e mandibulares, com dentição. Constatou-se que todo o material estudado pode ser seguramente atribuído a C. brasiliensis, com base em sua diagnose original. A fim de testar a consistência da Família Clevosauridae e o posicionamento de C. brasiliensis, foi realizada um análise filogenética com base em uma matriz dados contendo 26 táxons e 67 caracteres. Na matriz os novos materiais descritos, bem como os materiais descritos por Arantes et al. (2009) e por Ferigolo (2000, 2009) foram codificados como C. brasiliensis. Os resultados da análise filogenética apontaram a coesão da Família Clevosauridae, e mostraram uma associação mais próxima da espécie brasileira com Clevosaurus mcgilli e C. bairdi. Sendo assim, conclui-se neste estudo que C. brasiliensis continua sendo a única espécie de Rhynchocephalia presente no Triásssico do Rio Grande do Sul. / The sphenodonts (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) form one of the most abundant groups in the fauna of the “Caturrita Formation” (Upper Triassic), on the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, and represent the oldest record of Rhynchocephalia in South America. The first specimen was reported found by Ferigolo (2000) without, however, a formal description of the new taxon. Later, Bonaparte & Sues, in 2006, described two skulls with articulated mandibles (holotype and referred specimen), determining a new species, Clevosaurus brasiliensis and formalizing the family Clevosauridae, which comprises the genera Clevosaurus, Brachyrhinodon and Polysphenodon. This work presents the anatomical description of seven new specimens from the collection from the Laboratory of Paleovertebrates, Department of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, IGEO / UFRGS, represented by cranial and mandibular material, with teeth. It was found that all of the material can be safely attributed to C. brasiliensis, based on their original diagnosis. In order to test the consistency of the family and the placement of C. brasiliensis, a phylogenetic analysis was performed based on a data matrix containing 26 taxa and 67 characters. In the matrix, the new materials described, as well as the materials described by Arantes et al. (2009) and Ferigolo (2000, 2009) were classified as C. brasiliensis. The results of the phylogenetic analysis showed the cohesion of the Clevosauridae, and a close association of the Brazilian species with Clevosaurus mcgilli and C. bairdi. Therefore, we conclude from this study that C. brasiliensis remains the only Rhynchocephalia species present in the Triassic from Rio Grande do Sul.

Os esfenodontes (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) formam um dos grupos mais abundantes da fauna da “Formação Caturrita” (Triássico Superior), do Rio Grande do Sul, e representam o registro mais antigo de Rhynchocephalia para a América do Sul. O primeiro espécime encontrado foi reportado por Ferigolo (2000) sem, entretanto, apresentar uma descrição formal do novo táxon. Posteriormente, Bonaparte & Sues, em 2006, descreveram dois crânios com mandíbulas articuladas (holótipo e material referido), determinando uma nova espécie, Clevosaurus brasiliensis e formalizando a Família Clevosauridae composta pelos gêneros Clevosaurus, Brachyrhinodon e Polysphenodon. O presente trabalho apresenta a descrição anatômica de sete novos espécimes pertencentes à coleção do Laboratório do Setor de Paleovertebrados do Departamento de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia do IGEO/UFRGS, representados por materiais cranianos e mandibulares, com dentição. Constatou-se que todo o material estudado pode ser seguramente atribuído a C. brasiliensis, com base em sua diagnose original. A fim de testar a consistência da Família Clevosauridae e o posicionamento de C. brasiliensis, foi realizada um análise filogenética com base em uma matriz dados contendo 26 táxons e 67 caracteres. Na matriz os novos materiais descritos, bem como os materiais descritos por Arantes et al. (2009) e por Ferigolo (2000, 2009) foram codificados como C. brasiliensis. Os resultados da análise filogenética apontaram a coesão da Família Clevosauridae, e mostraram uma associação mais próxima da espécie brasileira com Clevosaurus mcgilli e C. bairdi. Sendo assim, conclui-se neste estudo que C. brasiliensis continua sendo a única espécie de Rhynchocephalia presente no Triásssico do Rio Grande do Sul. / The sphenodonts (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) form one of the most abundant groups in the fauna of the “Caturrita Formation” (Upper Triassic), on the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, and represent the oldest record of Rhynchocephalia in South America. The first specimen was reported found by Ferigolo (2000) without, however, a formal description of the new taxon. Later, Bonaparte & Sues, in 2006, described two skulls with articulated mandibles (holotype and referred specimen), determining a new species, Clevosaurus brasiliensis and formalizing the family Clevosauridae, which comprises the genera Clevosaurus, Brachyrhinodon and Polysphenodon. This work presents the anatomical description of seven new specimens from the collection from the Laboratory of Paleovertebrates, Department of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, IGEO / UFRGS, represented by cranial and mandibular material, with teeth. It was found that all of the material can be safely attributed to C. brasiliensis, based on their original diagnosis. In order to test the consistency of the family and the placement of C. brasiliensis, a phylogenetic analysis was performed based on a data matrix containing 26 taxa and 67 characters. In the matrix, the new materials described, as well as the materials described by Arantes et al. (2009) and Ferigolo (2000, 2009) were classified as C. brasiliensis. The results of the phylogenetic analysis showed the cohesion of the Clevosauridae, and a close association of the Brazilian species with Clevosaurus mcgilli and C. bairdi. Therefore, we conclude from this study that C. brasiliensis remains the only Rhynchocephalia species present in the Triassic from Rio Grande do Sul.

Os esfenodontes (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) formam um dos grupos mais abundantes da fauna da “Formação Caturrita” (Triássico Superior), do Rio Grande do Sul, e representam o registro mais antigo de Rhynchocephalia para a América do Sul. O primeiro espécime encontrado foi reportado por Ferigolo (2000) sem, entretanto, apresentar uma descrição formal do novo táxon. Posteriormente, Bonaparte & Sues, em 2006, descreveram dois crânios com mandíbulas articuladas (holótipo e material referido), determinando uma nova espécie, Clevosaurus brasiliensis e formalizando a Família Clevosauridae composta pelos gêneros Clevosaurus, Brachyrhinodon e Polysphenodon. O presente trabalho apresenta a descrição anatômica de sete novos espécimes pertencentes à coleção do Laboratório do Setor de Paleovertebrados do Departamento de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia do IGEO/UFRGS, representados por materiais cranianos e mandibulares, com dentição. Constatou-se que todo o material estudado pode ser seguramente atribuído a C. brasiliensis, com base em sua diagnose original. A fim de testar a consistência da Família Clevosauridae e o posicionamento de C. brasiliensis, foi realizada um análise filogenética com base em uma matriz dados contendo 26 táxons e 67 caracteres. Na matriz os novos materiais descritos, bem como os materiais descritos por Arantes et al. (2009) e por Ferigolo (2000, 2009) foram codificados como C. brasiliensis. Os resultados da análise filogenética apontaram a coesão da Família Clevosauridae, e mostraram uma associação mais próxima da espécie brasileira com Clevosaurus mcgilli e C. bairdi. Sendo assim, conclui-se neste estudo que C. brasiliensis continua sendo a única espécie de Rhynchocephalia presente no Triásssico do Rio Grande do Sul. / The sphenodonts (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) form one of the most abundant groups in the fauna of the “Caturrita Formation” (Upper Triassic), on the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, and represent the oldest record of Rhynchocephalia in South America. The first specimen was reported found by Ferigolo (2000) without, however, a formal description of the new taxon. Later, Bonaparte & Sues, in 2006, described two skulls with articulated mandibles (holotype and referred specimen), determining a new species, Clevosaurus brasiliensis and formalizing the family Clevosauridae, which comprises the genera Clevosaurus, Brachyrhinodon and Polysphenodon. This work presents the anatomical description of seven new specimens from the collection from the Laboratory of Paleovertebrates, Department of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, IGEO / UFRGS, represented by cranial and mandibular material, with teeth. It was found that all of the material can be safely attributed to C. brasiliensis, based on their original diagnosis. In order to test the consistency of the family and the placement of C. brasiliensis, a phylogenetic analysis was performed based on a data matrix containing 26 taxa and 67 characters. In the matrix, the new materials described, as well as the materials described by Arantes et al. (2009) and Ferigolo (2000, 2009) were classified as C. brasiliensis. The results of the phylogenetic analysis showed the cohesion of the Clevosauridae, and a close association of the Brazilian species with Clevosaurus mcgilli and C. bairdi. Therefore, we conclude from this study that C. brasiliensis remains the only Rhynchocephalia species present in the Triassic from Rio Grande do Sul.

In the Paria Plateau area of northern Arizona and southern Utah the Chinle formation of Upper Triassic age consists of a thick series of Ienticular sandstone, siltstone, claystone, and limestone. The series thins northwestward from about 900 feet at Lees Ferry, Ariz., to about 800 feet at Paria, Utah. Four members of the Chinle formation are recognized—1) the basal Shinarump member composed of conglomeratic sandstone and subordinate shale, 2) a unit, herein named the Lowery Spring member, composed of sandstone and mudstone, 3) the Petrified Forest member composed of bentonitic siltstone and claystone and thin sandstone, and 4) the Owl Rock member composed of cherty limestone and calcareous siltstone. Only the Petrified Forest member is present at all localities in the Paria Plateau area. The Shinarump member was deposited in topographic low areas on an erosion surface and its distribution is irregular. The Lowery Spring and Owl Rock members grade and pinch-out toward the northwest and are not present at Paria, Utah. The upper contact of the Chinle formation is locally unconformable. The three lowermost members were deposited on a broad, flat plain between the Cordilleran geosyncline and highlands to the southeast. In Owl Rock time the rising Cordilleran geanticline cut off the north-westward drainage of Chinle streams and a depositional basin trending southwest was formed.