This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of every kind that are scheduled described during the year 2015, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that are scheduled to occur in the year 2015.
Pseudosuchians Research Revision of the type material of Rauisuchus tiradentes is published by Lautenschlager and Rauhut (2015). A study on the changes in the morphology of vertebrae caused by increased adaptation to aquatic locomotion in the evolution of crocodylomorphs is published by Molnar et al. (2015). A study of the evolutionary history of the clade Crocodyliformes is published by Bronzati, Montefeltro and Langer (2015). A study of impact of the climate changes on the evolution and biodiversity of pseudosuchian archosaurs is published by Mannion et al. (2015). A study on the phylogenetic position of thalattosuchians within Crocodylomorpha is published by Wilberg (2015). A review of the diagnostic features of the species assigned to the genus Machimosaurus is published by Martin, Vincent & Falconnet (2015). An isolated metriorhynchid tooth is described from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Hybla Formation (Sicily, Italy) by Chiarenza et al. (2015), extending the known geological range of Metriorhynchidae and Thalattosuchia by approximately 7–8 million years; Fischer et al. (2015) subsequently caution that it might potentially be a pliosaurid tooth instead.
New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAlbertosuchusGen. et sp. novValidWu & BrinkmanLatest CretaceousScollard FormationA crocodylian, probably a crocodyloid. The type species is Albertosuchus knudsenii.Allodaposuchus hulkiSp. novValidBlanco et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Tremp FormationA eusuchian crocodylomorph, a species of Allodaposuchus.Caiman wannlangstoniSp. nov ValidSalas-Gismondi et al.Late Middle MiocenePebas FormationA caiman, a species of Caiman.CarnufexGen. et sp. nov ValidZanno et al.Late Triassic (Carnian)Pekin FormationAn early member of Crocodylomorpha. The type species is Carnufex carolinensis.DagasuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidLacerda, Schultz & Bertoni-MachadoTriassic (late Ladinian/early Carnian)Santa Maria FormationA non-crocodylomorph loricatan. The type species is Dagasuchus santacruzensis.GnatusuchusGen. et sp. novValidSalas-Gismondi et al.Late Middle MiocenePebas FormationA caiman. The type species is Gnatusuchus pebasensis.GorgetosuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidHeckert et al.Late TriassicPekin FormationAn aetosaur. The type species is Gorgetosuchus pekinensis.KoumpiodontosuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidSweetman, Pedreira-Segade & VidovicEarly Cretaceous (Barremian)Wessex FormationA crocodyliform related to Bernissartia. The type species is Koumpiodontosuchus aprosdokiti.KuttanacaimanGen. et sp. novValidSalas-Gismondi et al.Late Middle MiocenePebas FormationA caiman. The type species is Kuttanacaiman iquitosensis.LohuecosuchusGen. et 2 sp. novValidNarváez et al.Late Cretaceous (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian)A eusuchian crocodyliform related to Allodaposuchus. The type species is Lohuecosuchus megadontos; genus also contains Lohuecosuchus mechinorum.ZoneaitGen. et sp. novValidWilbergMiddle Jurassic (Aalenian–Bajocian)Snowshoe FormationA thalattosuchian crocodylomorph. The type species is Zoneait nargorum.
Non-avian dinosaurs
Research A study of phylogenetic relationships of sauropod dinosaurs belonging to the family Diplodocidae and the taxonomic revision of the family is published by Tschopp, Mateus and Benson (2015); the authors propose to reestablish Brontosaurus as a genus distinct from Apatosaurus and to transfer Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis to the genus Supersaurus. Additional information on the anatomy of the holotype specimen of the rebbachisaurid sauropod Tataouinea hannibalis, including description of newly discovered fossil material of this specimen, and study of its phylogenetic relationships is published by Fanti et al. (2015). A reevaluation of the estimated body mass of Dreadnoughtus schrani is published by Bates et al. (2015). A study of phylogenetic relationships of ornithischian dinosaurs traditionally referred to as 'basal ornithopods' or 'hypsilophodontids' is published by Boyd (2015). Carpenter & Lamanna (2015) reinterpret the ornithopod braincase from the Morrison Formation of the Carnegie Quarry at Dinosaur National Monument (Utah), formerly assigned to Uteodon aphanoecetes, as actually belonging to Dryosaurus cf. D. altus. The authors consider genera Uteodon and Cumnoria to be junior synonyms of Camptosaurus, and transfer the species Cumnoria prestwichii and Uteodon aphanoecetes to the genus Camptosaurus.
New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAugustynolophus Gen. et comb. novValidPrieto-Márquez et al.Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)Moreno FormationA hadrosaurid; a new genus for "Saurolophus" morrisi Prieto-Márquez & Wagner (2013).Boreonykus Gen. et sp. novValidBell & CurrieLate Cretaceous (late Campanian)Wapiti FormationA dromaeosaurid theropod. The type species is Boreonykus certekorum.ChilesaurusGen. et sp. nov.ValidNovas et al.Late Jurassic (Tithonian)Toqui FormationA dinosaur of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Originally classified as a theropod dinosaur (a basal member of Tetanurae), but subsequently argued to be an ornithischian. The type species is Chilesaurus diegosuarezi.CrichtonpeltaGen. et comb. novValidArbour & CurrieLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian)Sunjiawan FormationAn ankylosaurine ankylosaurid; a new genus for "Crichtonsaurus" benxiensis Lü, Ji, Gao & Li (2007).DakotaraptorGen. et sp. nov.ValidDePalma et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Hell Creek FormationA member of Dromaeosauridae. The type species is Dakotaraptor steini.Eucnemesaurus entaxonis Sp. novValidMcPhee et al.Late TriassicLower Elliot FormationA non-sauropod sauropodomorph, a species of Eucnemesaurus.Galeamopus Gen. et comb. novValidTschopp, Mateus & BensonLate Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)Morrison FormationA diplodocid sauropod; a new genus for "Diplodocus" hayi Holland (1924).GspsaurusMalkani, M.S., 2015. Dinosaurs, Mesoeucrocodiles, Pterosaurs, New Fauna and Flora from Pakistan. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Information Release 823: 1-32.Gen. et comb. novDubiousMalkaniLate Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Pab FormationA titanosauriform sauropod. The type species is G. Pakistani.Haestasaurus Gen. et comb. nov. ValidUpchurch, Mannion & TaylorEarly Cretaceous (late Berriasian—Valanginian)Hastings BedsA macronarian sauropod of uncertain phylogenetic placement; a new genus for "Pelorosaurus" becklesii Mantell (1852).HorshamosaurusGen. et comb. novValidBlowsEarly CretaceousA new genus for "Polacanthus" rudgwickensis Blows (1996).Hualianceratops Gen. et sp. nov. ValidHan et al.Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)Shishugou FormationA basal ceratopsian, possibly a member of Chaoyangsauridae. The type species is Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis.HuanansaurusGen. et sp. nov. ValidLü et al.Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian)Nanxiong FormationAn oviraptorid theropod. The type species is Huanansaurus ganzhouensis.Iguanodon galvensis Sp. novValidVerdú et al.Early Cretaceous (early Barremian)Galve, TeruelAn ornithopod, a species of Iguanodon.IschioceratopsGen. et sp. nov. ValidHe et al.Late CretaceousWangshi GroupA leptoceratopsid ceratopsian. The type species is Ischioceratops zhuchengensis.Koshisaurus Gen. et sp. novValidShibata & AzumaEarly CretaceousKitadani FormationA non-hadrosaurid hadrosauroid. The type species is Koshisaurus katsuyama.KunbarrasaurusGen. et sp. nov.ValidLeahey et al.Cretaceous (late Albian–(?)early Cenomanian)Allaru MudstoneAn ankylosaur. The type species is Kunbarrasaurus ieversi.LepidocheirosaurusGen. et sp. nov.DisputedAlifanov & SavelievLate Jurassic (Tithonian?)Ukureyskaya FormationA dinosaur of uncertain phylogenetic placement; considered to be a theropod dinosaur related to Nqwebasaurus by the authors of its description, but subsequently argued to be an ornithischian, possibly synonymous with Kulindadromeus. The type species is Lepidocheirosaurus natatilis.LepidusGen. et sp. nov.ValidNesbitt & EzcurraLate TriassicDockum GroupA coelophysoid theropod. The type species is Lepidus praecisio.MorelladonGen. et sp. nov. ValidGasulla et al.Early Cretaceous (probably late Barremian)Arcillas de Morella FormationAn ornithopod dinosaur, a basal member of Styracosterna. The type species is Morelladon beltrani.MosaiceratopsGen. et sp. novValidZheng, Jin & XuLate Cretaceous (early-middle Turonian—middle Campanian)Xiaguan FormationA basal neoceratopsian. The type species is Mosaiceratops azumai.NebulasaurusGen. et sp. novValidXing et al.Middle Jurassic (Aalenian or Bajocian)Zhanghe FormationA eusauropod sauropod. The type species is Nebulasaurus taito.Padillasaurus Gen. et sp. novValidCarballido et al.Early Cretaceous (Barremian)Paja FormationA brachiosaurid sauropod. The type species is Padillasaurus leivaensis.Probrachylophosaurus Gen. et sp. novValidFreedman Fowler & HornerLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Judith River FormationA hadrosaurid. The type species is Probrachylophosaurus bergei.PulanesauraGen. et sp. novValidMcPhee et al.Early Jurassic (probably late Hettangian to Sinemurian)Upper Elliot FormationA basal sauropod. The type species is Pulanesaura eocollum.QijianglongGen. et sp. novValidXing et al.Late JurassicSuining FormationA mamenchisaurid sauropod. The type species is Qijianglong guokr.Regaliceratops Gen. et sp. novValidBrown & HendersonLate Cretaceous (probably middle Maastrichtian)St. Mary River FormationA chasmosaurine ceratopsid. The type species is Regaliceratops peterhewsi.Saurornitholestes sullivani Sp. novValidJasinskiLate Cretaceous (late Campanian)Kirtland FormationA member of Dromaeosauridae, a species of Saurornitholestes.Sefapanosaurus Gen. et sp. novValidOtero et al.Late Triassic or Early JurassicElliot FormationA non-sauropod sauropodomorph. The type species is Sefapanosaurus zastronensis.Sirindhorna Gen. et sp. novValidShibata et al.Early Cretaceous (Aptian)Khok Kruat FormationA basal member of Hadrosauroidea. The type species is Sirindhorna khoratensis.Ugrunaaluk Gen. et sp. novDisputedMori, Druckenmiller & EricksonLate Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian)Prince Creek FormationA saurolophine hadrosaurid. The type species is Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis. The genus Ugrunaaluk was considered to be a junior synonym of the genus Edmontosaurus by Takasaki et al. (2020).Wendiceratops Gen. et sp. nov. ValidEvans & RyanLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Oldman FormationA centrosaurine ceratopsid. The type species is Wendiceratops pinhornensis.YiGen. et sp. novValidXu et al.Jurassic (Callovian or Oxfordian)Tiaojishan FormationA scansoriopterygid theropod. The type species is Yi qi.ZhenyuanlongGen. et sp. nov.ValidLü & BrusatteEarly CretaceousYixian FormationA dromaeosaurid theropod. The type species is Zhenyuanlong suni.
Birds
Research Balaur bondoc, originally interpreted as a member of Dromaeosauridae, is argued to be a basal member of Avialae by Cau, Brougham and Naish (2015). Estimates of likely mass and flight capability of the extinct Chatham duck (Anas chathamica), as indicated by measurements of major bones, are published by Williams (2015). New cranial material of the Oligo-Miocene relative of flamingos, Harrisonavis croizeti, is described by Torres et al. (2015). New specimens of the Eocene relative of swifts, Scaniacypselus szarskii, are described by Mayr (2015). A specimen of a stem-coliiform Masillacolius brevidactylus with preserved skull is described by Mayr (2015). A study of the phylogenetic relationships of Psittacopes, Pumiliornis and Morsoravis, indicating their close relationship to the passerines and extinct family Zygodactylidae, is published by Mayr (2015); the author also introduced a new name, Parapasseres, for the clade containing Passeriformes and Zygodactylidae but not Psittacopes.