2018 in reptile paleontology

• Triassic reptile Megachirella wachtleri is reinterpreted as the oldest known stem-squamate by Simões et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Tiago R. Simões |author2=Michael W. Caldwell |author3=Mateusz Tałanda |author4=Massimo Bernardi |author5=Alessandro Palci |author6=Oksana Vernygora |author7=Federico Bernardini |author8=Lucia Mancini |author9=Randall L. Nydam |year=2018 |title=The origin of squamates revealed by a Middle Triassic lizard from the Italian Alps |journal=Nature |volume=557 |issue=7707 |pages=706–709 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0093-3 |pmid=29849156 |bibcode=2018Natur.557..706S |s2cid=44108416 }}
• Simões et al. (2018) perform X-ray scans at the micron scale of the holotype specimen of Megachirella wachtleri.{{Cite journal|author1=Tiago R. Simões |author2=Michael W. Caldwell |author3=Mateusz Tałanda |author4=Massimo Bernardi |author5=Alessandro Palci |author6=Oksana Vernygora |author7=Federico Bernardini |author8=Lucia Mancini |author9=Randall L. Nydam |year=2018 |title=X-ray computed microtomography of Megachirella wachtleri |journal=Scientific Data |volume=5 |pages=Article number 180244 |doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.244 |pmid=30398474 |pmc=6219415 |bibcode=2018NatSD...580244S }}
• Fossil trackways probably made by lizards running bipedally are described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-early Albian) Hasandong Formation (South Korea) by Lee et al. (2018), who name a new ichnotaxon Sauripes hadongensis.{{cite journal |author1=Hang-Jae Lee |author2=Yuong-Nam Lee |author3=Anthony R. Fiorillo |author4=Junchang Lü |year=2018 |title=Lizards ran bipedally 110 million years ago |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=Article number 2617 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-20809-z |pmid=29449576 |pmc=5814403 |bibcode=2018NatSR...8.2617L }}
• New fossil material of Dicothodon bajaensis, providing new information on the tooth replacement pattern in this species, is described from the Campanian of Mexico by Chavarría-Arellano, Simões & Montellano-Ballesteros (2018).{{cite journal |author1=María Luisa Chavarría-Arellano |author2=Tiago R. Simões |author3=Marisol Montellano-Ballesteros |year=2018 |title=New data on the Late Cretaceous lizard Dicothodon bajaensis (Squamata, Borioteiioidea) from Baja California, Mexico reveals an unusual tooth replacement pattern in squamates |journal=Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=2781–2795 |doi=10.1590/0001-3765201820170563 |pmid=30043904 |s2cid=51717475 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the manus of a putative stem-gekkotan from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar is published by Fontanarrosa, Daza & Abdala (2018), who report the presence of adaptations to climbing, including adhesive structures.{{Cite journal|author1=Gabriela Fontanarrosa |author2=Juan D. Daza |author3=Virginia Abdala |year=2018 |title=Cretaceous fossil gecko hand reveals a strikingly modern scansorial morphology: Qualitative and biometric analysis of an amber-preserved lizard hand |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=84 |pages=120–133 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2017.11.003 |bibcode=2018CrRes..84..120F |hdl=11336/64819 |hdl-access=free }}
• A maxilla of a gekkotan of uncertain phylogenetic placement is described from the Late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation (Tanzania) by Müller et al. (2018), representing the second record of a Paleogene gekkotan from Africa and the first one from the central part of the continent.{{cite journal |author1=Johannes Müller |author2=Eric Roberts |author3=Emily Naylor |author4=Nancy Stevens |year=2018 |title=A fossil gekkotan (Squamata) from the Late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation, Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=223–227 |doi=10.1670/17-123 |s2cid=90162270 }}
• A gekkotan specimen from the collection of the Alexander Koenig Research Museum, originally interpreted as a member of the genus Sphaerodactylus preserved in Dominican amber, is reinterpreted as a specimen belonging to the species Ebenavia boettgeri and as preserved in copal from Madagascar by Daza et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Juan D. Daza |author2=Jordan P. Hunziker |author3=Aaron M. Bauer |author4=Philipp Wagner |author5=Wolfgang Böhme |year=2018 |title=Things are not always as they seem: High-resolution X-ray CT scanning reveals the first resin-embedded miniature gecko of the genus Ebenavia |journal=Bonn Zoological Bulletin |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=71–77 |doi=10.20363/BZB-2018.67.2.071 }}
• A study on differences in the anatomy of the skeletons of the turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) and the tropical house gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia), and on the specific identification of gekkotan subfossil remains from the Pointe Gros Rempart 6 Hole (La Désirade island), is published by Bochaton, Daza & Lenoble (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Corentin Bochaton |author2=Juan D. Daza |author3=A. Lenoble |year=2018 |title=Identifying gecko species from Lesser Antillean paleontological assemblages: intraspecific osteological variation within and interspecific osteological differences between Thecadactylus rapicauda (Houttuyn, 1782) (Phyllodactylidae) and Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnès, 1818) (Gekkonidae) |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=313–320 |doi=10.1670/17-093 |s2cid=91589236 }}
• A revision of the lizard fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia and China which were originally assigned to the genus Bainguis is published by Dong et al. (2018), who transfer some of this fossil material to the stem-scincoid genus Parmeosaurus.{{cite journal |author1=Liping Dong |author2=Xing Xu |author3=Yuan Wang |author4=Susan E. Evans |year=2018 |title=The lizard genera Bainguis and Parmeosaurus from the Upper Cretaceous of China and Mongolia |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=85 |pages=95–108 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2018.01.002 |bibcode=2018CrRes..85...95D |url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10043733/ }}
• New specimen of the Late Jurassic lizard Ardeosaurus brevipes is described from the Solnhofen area (Germany) by Tałanda (2018), who interprets this species as a probable member of the crown group of Scincoidea.{{cite journal |author=Mateusz Tałanda |year=2018 |title=An exceptionally preserved Jurassic skink suggests lizard diversification preceded fragmentation of Pangaea |journal=Palaeontology |volume=61 |issue=5 |pages=659–677 |doi=10.1111/pala.12358 |bibcode=2018Palgy..61..659T |s2cid=134878128 }}
• Description of putative cordylid fossils from the Miocene of Germany, originally assigned to the taxon informally known as "Bavaricordylus", and a study on their taxonomic status is published by Villa et al. (2018), who reinterpret these fossils as more likely to represent the lacertid genus Janosikia.{{cite journal |author1=Andrea Villa |author2=Ralf Kosma |author3=Andrej Čerňanský |author4=Massimo Delfino |year=2018 |title=Taxonomical assessment of "Bavaricordylus" Kosma, 2004 (Reptilia, Squamata) |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=(1)–(4) |doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1487844 |s2cid=92204787 }}
• Fossils of a member of the genus Timon are described from the Pleistocene of Monte Tuttavista (Sardinia, Italy) by Tschopp et al. (2018), representing the first reported fossil occurrence of this genus from Sardinia.{{cite journal |author1=Emanuel Tschopp |author2=Andrea Villa |author3=Marco Camaiti |author4=Letizia Ferro |author5=Caterinella Tuveri |author6=Lorenzo Rook |author7=Marisa Arca |author8=Massimo Delfino |year=2018 |title=The first fossils of Timon (Squamata: Lacertinae) from Sardinia (Italy) and potential causes for its local extinction in the Pleistocene |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=184 |issue=3 |pages=825–856 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zly003 }}
• Description of fossils of amphisbaenians and anguimorph lizards from the late Miocene Solnechnodolsk locality (southern European Russia) is published online by Černanský, Syromyatnikova & Jablonski (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Andrej Černanský |author2=Elena V. Syromyatnikova |author3=Daniel Jablonski |year=2018 |title=The first record of amphisbaenian and anguimorph lizards (Reptilia, Squamata) from the upper Miocene Solnechnodolsk locality in Russia |journal=Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology |volume=32 |issue=7 |pages=869–879 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2018.1539973 |s2cid=91645142 }}
• A dentary of an amphisbaenian belonging or related to the species Blanus strauchi is described from the middle Miocene locality of Gebeceler (Turkey) by Georgalis et al. (2018), representing the first fossil find of a member of the Blanus strauchi species complex and the sole confirmed fossil occurrence of the genus Blanus in the eastern Mediterranean region reported so far.{{cite journal |author1=Georgios L. Georgalis |author2=Kazim Halaçlar |author3=Serdar Mayda |author4=Tanju Kaya |author5=Dinçer Ayaz |year=2018 |title=First fossil find of the Blanus strauchi complex (Amphisbaenia, Blanidae) from the Miocene of Anatolia |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=e1437044 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1437044 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E7044G |s2cid=89978957 |url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/309489/files/geo_fff.pdf }}
• Amphisbaenian vertebral material is described from the Pliocene of northern Greece by Georgalis, Villa & Delfino (2018), representing the youngest occurrence of amphisbaenians in continental Eastern Europe reported so far.{{cite journal |author1=Georgios L. Georgalis |author2=Andrea Villa |author3=Massimo Delfino |year=2018 |title=The last amphisbaenian (Squamata) from continental Eastern Europe |journal=Annales de Paléontologie |volume=104 |issue=2 |pages=155–159 |doi=10.1016/j.annpal.2018.03.002 |bibcode=2018AnPal.104..155G |url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/322872/files/geo_las.pdf }}
• Description of temujiniid frontals from the Aptian–Albian of the Khobur vertebrate locality (Mongolia) and a study on the placement of Temujiniidae in the phylogenetic tree of Iguanomorpha is published by Alifanov (2018).{{cite journal |author=V. R. Alifanov |year=2018 |title=Lizards of the family Temujiniidae (Iguanomorpha): finds from the Aptian–Albian of Mongolia, classification and geographical origin |journal=Paleontological Journal |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=653–663 |doi=10.1134/S0031030118060023 |bibcode=2018PalJ...52..653A |s2cid=91258660 }}
• A study aiming to predict past (late Quaternary), current, and future habitat ranges for lizards belonging to the genus Pogona is published by Rej & Joyner (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Julie E. Rej |author2=T. Andrew Joyner |year=2018 |title=Niche modeling for the genus Pogona (Squamata: Agamidae) in Australia: predicting past (late Quaternary) and future (2070) areas of suitable habitat |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e6128 |doi=10.7717/peerj.6128 |pmid=30588407 |pmc=6301283 |doi-access=free }}
• A premaxilla of a member of the genus Elgaria is described from the Miocene Split Rock Formation (Wyoming, United States) by Scarpetta (2018), representing the oldest known fossil of a member of this genus reported so far.{{cite journal |author=Simon Scarpetta |year=2018 |title=The earliest known occurrence of Elgaria (Squamata: Anguidae) and a minimum age for crown Gerrhonotinae: Fossils from the Split Rock Formation, Wyoming, USA |journal=Palaeontologia Electronica |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.26879/837 |s2cid=56168184 |doi-access=free }}
• Two specimens assigned to the species Saniwa ensidens, preserving an accessory foramen in the skull indicative of the presence of fourth eye, are described from the Eocene Bridger Formation (Wyoming, United States) by Smith et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Krister T. Smith |author2=Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar |author3=Gunther Köhler |author4=Jörg Habersetzer |year=2018 |title=The only known jawed vertebrate with four eyes and the Bauplan of the pineal complex |journal=Current Biology |volume=28 |issue=7 |pages=1101–1107.e2 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2018.02.021 |pmid=29614279 |s2cid=4609974 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2018CBio...28E1101S }}
• Fossil vertebrae of varanid lizards are described from the early Miocene Loire Basin (France) by Augé & Guével (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Marc Louis Augé |author2=Bruno Guével |year=2018 |title=New varanid remains from the Miocene (MN4–MN5) of France: inferring fossil lizard phylogeny from subsets of large morphological data sets |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=e1410483 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2017.1410483 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E0483A |s2cid=90237629 }}
• Redescription of the morphology of the type material of Varanus marathonensis from the late Miocene of Pikermi (Greece) and description of new fossils of this species from Spain is published by Villa et al. (2018), who consider the species V. amnhophilis to be likely junior synonym of V. marathonensis.{{cite journal |author1=Andrea Villa |author2=Juan Abella |author3=David M. Alba |author4=Sergio Almécija |author5=Arnau Bolet |author6=George D. Koufos |author7=Fabien Knoll |author8=Àngel H. Luján |author9=Jorge Morales |author10=Josep M. Robles |author11=Israel M. Sánchez |author12=Massimo Delfino |year=2018 |title=Revision of Varanus marathonensis (Squamata, Varanidae) based on historical and new material: morphology, systematics, and paleobiogeography of the European monitor lizards |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=12 |pages=e0207719 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0207719 |pmid=30517172 |pmc=6281198 |bibcode=2018PLoSO..1307719V |doi-access=free }}
• A basal mosasauroid specimen including a rib and a vertebra, representing a larger individual than the holotype of Phosphorosaurus ponpetelegans and predating P. ponpetelegans by approximately 10 million years, is reported from the Upper Cretaceous (lower Campanian) of Hokkaido (Japan) by Sato et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Tamaki Sato |author2=Takuya Konishi |author3=Tomohiro Nishimura |author4=Takeru Yoshimura |year=2018 |title=A basal mosasauroid from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Hokkaido, northern Japan |journal=Paleontological Research |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=156–166 |doi=10.2517/2017PR018 |s2cid=134730231 }}
• Description of a Campanian mosasaur assemblage from the Hannover region of northern Germany is published by Hornung, Reich & Frerichs (2018), who confirm the presence of the genus Clidastes in northern central Europe, as well as the early Transatlantic distribution of a basal member of the genus Prognathodon during the lower Campanian.{{cite journal |author1=Jahn J. Hornung |author2=Mike Reich |author3=Udo Frerichs |year=2018 |title=A mosasaur fauna (Squamata: Mosasauridae) from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Hannover, northern Germany |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=543–559 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2018.1434899 |bibcode=2018Alch...42..543H |s2cid=134724144 }}
• Description of two skulls of subadult specimens of Tylosaurus proriger from the Niobrara Formation (Kansas, United States), and a study on the allometric changes undergone by T. proriger through life, is published by Stewart & Mallon (2018),{{Cite journal|author1=Robert F. Stewart |author2=Jordan C. Mallon |year=2018 |title=Allometric growth in the skull of Tylosaurus proriger (Squamata: Mosasauridae) and its taxonomic implications |journal=Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology |volume=6 |pages=75–90 |doi=10.18435/vamp29339 |s2cid=91370191 |doi-access=free }} who reject the hypothesis presented by Jiménez-Huidobro, Simões & Caldwell (2016) that Tylosaurus kansasensis is a junior synonym of Tylosaurus nepaeolicus.{{Cite journal|author1=Paulina Jiménez-Huidobro |author2=Tiago R. Simões |author3=Michael W. Caldwell |year=2016 |title=Re-characterization of Tylosaurus nepaeolicus (Cope, 1874) and Tylosaurus kansasensis Everhart, 2005: Ontogeny or sympatry? |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=65 |pages=68–81 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2016.04.008 |bibcode=2016CrRes..65...68J }}
• The smallest-known, neonate-sized specimen of Tylosaurus is described from the Santonian portion of the Niobrara Chalk (Kansas, United States) by Konishi, Jiménez-Huidobro & Caldwell (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Takuya Konishi |author2=Paulina Jiménez-Huidobro |author3=Michael W. Caldwell |year=2018 |title=The smallest-known neonate individual of Tylosaurus (Mosasauridae, Tylosaurinae) sheds new light on the tylosaurine rostrum and heterochrony |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=5 |pages=e1510835 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1510835 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E0835K |s2cid=91852673 }}
• A study on the evolution of the skull shape in snakes and on its implications for inferring the ancestral ecology of snakes is published by Da Silva et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Filipe O. Da Silva |author2=Anne-Claire Fabre |author3=Yoland Savriama |author4=Joni Ollonen |author5=Kristin Mahlow |author6=Anthony Herrel |author7=Johannes Müller |author8=Nicolas Di-Poï |year=2018 |title=The ecological origins of snakes as revealed by skull evolution |journal=Nature Communications |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=Article number 376 |doi=10.1038/s41467-017-02788-3 |pmid=29371624 |pmc=5785544 |bibcode=2018NatCo...9..376D }}
• New method of evaluating the age of fossil snake specimens at the time of death is proposed by Petermann & Gauthier (2018), who also test whether their method can be used to identify isolated fossil remains of the Eocene snake Boavus occidentalis from the Willwood Formation (Wyoming, United States) at the level of individual organisms.{{cite journal |author1=Holger Petermann |author2=Jacques A. Gauthier |year=2018 |title=Fingerprinting snakes: paleontological and paleoecological implications of zygantral growth rings in Serpentes |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e4819 |doi=10.7717/peerj.4819 |pmid=29844972 |pmc=5971835 |doi-access=free }}
• Digital endocasts of the inner ears of the madtsoiid snakes Yurlunggur and Wonambi are reconstructed by Palci et al. (2018), who also study the implications of the inner ear morphology of these taxa for inferring their ecology.{{cite journal |author1=Alessandro Palci |author2=Mark N. Hutchinson |author3=Michael W. Caldwell |author4=John D. Scanlon |author5=Michael S. Y. Lee |year=2018 |title=Palaeoecological inferences for the fossil Australian snakes Yurlunggur and Wonambi (Serpentes, Madtsoiidae) |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=172012 |doi=10.1098/rsos.172012 |pmid=29657799 |pmc=5882723 |bibcode=2018RSOS....572012P }}
• A natural cast of the posterior brain, skull vessels and nerves, and the inner ear of Dinilysia patagonica is described by Triviño et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Laura N. Triviño |author2=Adriana M. Albino |author3=María T. Dozo |author4=Jorge D. Williams |year=2018 |title=First natural endocranial cast of a fossil snake (Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina) |journal=The Anatomical Record |volume=301 |issue=1 |pages=9–20 |doi=10.1002/ar.23686 |pmid=28921909 |doi-access=free |hdl=11336/49740 |hdl-access=free }}
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the Miocene snake Pseudoepicrates stanolseni is published by Onary & Hsiou (2018), who transfer this species to the boid genus Chilabothrus.{{cite journal |author1=Silvio Onary |author2=Annie S. Hsiou |s2cid=89972738 |year=2018 |title=Systematic revision of the early Miocene fossil Pseudoepicrates (Serpentes: Boidae): implications for the evolution and historical biogeography of the West Indian boid snakes (Chilabothrus) |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=184 |issue=2 |pages=453–470 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zly002 }}
• Description of snake fossils from the Pliocene/Pleistocene El Breal de Orocual locality and from the late Pleistocene Mene de Inciarte locality (Venezuela) is published by Onary, Rincón & Hsiou (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Silvio Onary |author2=Ascanio D. Rincón |author3=Annie S. Hsiou |year=2018 |title=Fossil snakes (Squamata, Serpentes) from the tar pits of Venezuela: taxonomic, palaeoenvironmental, and palaeobiogeographical implications for the North of South America during the Cenozoic/Quaternary boundary |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e5402 |doi=10.7717/peerj.5402 |pmid=30128192 |pmc=6097493 |doi-access=free }}
• Inflammatory arthritis is documented for the first time in snakes, including the aquatic Cretaceous snake Lunaophis aquaticus, by Albino et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Adriana María Albino |author2=Bruce Rothschild |author3=Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceño |author4=James M. Neenan |year=2018 |title=Spondyloarthropathy in vertebrae of the aquatic Cretaceous snake Lunaophis aquaticus, and its first recognition in modern snakes |journal=The Science of Nature |volume=105 |issue=9–10 |pages=Article 51 |doi=10.1007/s00114-018-1576-7 |pmid=30291451 |bibcode=2018SciNa.105...51A |s2cid=52923059 |url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:892383d7-9b00-4a3c-9eb0-8596da76c911 |hdl=11336/86476 |hdl-access=free }}
• Revision of lizard and snake fossils from the Pliocene site of Kanapoi (Kenya) is published online by Head & Müller (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Jason J. Head |author2=Johannes Müller |year=2018 |title=Squamate reptiles from Kanapoi: Faunal evidence for hominin paleoenvironments |journal=Journal of Human Evolution |volume=140 |pages=Article 102451|doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.01.007 |pmid=29910043 |s2cid=49268552 }}

• A study aiming to identify sexual dimorphism, taxonomic variation and individual variation among the specimens of Chaohusaurus chaoxianensis is published by Motani et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Ryosuke Motani |author2=Jiandong Huang |author3=Da-yong Jiang |author4=Andrea Tintori |author5=Olivier Rieppel |author6=Hailu You |author7=Yuan-chao Hu |author8=Rong Zhang |year=2018 |title=Separating sexual dimorphism from other morphological variation in a specimen complex of fossil marine reptiles (Reptilia, Ichthyosauriformes, Chaohusaurus) |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=Article number 14978 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-33302-4 |pmid=30297861 |pmc=6175944 |bibcode=2018NatSR...814978M }}
• A survey of the form and distribution of pathological structures in the skeletons of ichthyosaurs is published by Pardo-Pérez et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=J. M. Pardo-Pérez |author2=B. P. Kear |author3=M. Gómez |author4=M. Moroni |author5=E. E. Maxwell |year=2018 |title=Ichthyosaurian palaeopathology: evidence of injury and disease in fossil 'fish lizards' |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=304 |issue=1 |pages=21–33 |doi=10.1111/jzo.12517 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the microanatomy of vertebral centra of ichthyosaurs, aiming to establish whether there is any variation between the primitive and the most derived forms, is published by Houssaye, Nakajima & Sander (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Alexandra Houssaye |author2=Yasuhisa Nakajima |author3=P. Martin Sander |year=2018 |title=Structural, functional, and physiological signals in ichthyosaur vertebral centrum microanatomy and histology |journal=Geodiversitas |volume=40 |issue=7 |pages=161–170 |doi=10.5252/geodiversitas2018v40a7 |s2cid=56134834 |url=http://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/geodiversitas/40/7 |doi-access=free }}
• Humeri of Pessopteryx nisseri and vertebrae referred to the genus Cymbospondylus are described from the Lower Triassic Vikinghøgda Formation (Spitsbergen, Norway) by Engelschiøn et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Victoria Sjøholt Engelschiøn |author2=Lene Liebe Delsett |author3=Aubrey Jane Roberts |author4=Jørn H. Hurum |year=2018 |title=Large-sized ichthyosaurs from the Lower Saurian niveau of the Vikinghøgda Formation (Early Triassic), Marmierfjellet, Spitsbergen |journal=Norwegian Journal of Geology |volume=98 |issue=2 |pages=239–265 |doi=10.17850/njg98-2-05 |s2cid=135275680 |url=http://njg.geologi.no/component/fabrik/details/1/2179-2179 |doi-access=free |hdl=10852/71102 |hdl-access=free }}
• A large, isolated jaw fragment of a giant ichthyosaur is described from the Upper Triassic (Rhaetian) Westbury Mudstone Formation (United Kingdom) by Lomax et al. (2018), who also reinterpret some putative dinosaur limb bone shafts from the Upper Triassic of Aust Cliff as more likely to be ichthyosaur fossils.{{Cite journal|author1=Dean R. Lomax |author2=Paul De la Salle |author3=Judy A. Massare |author4=Ramues Gallois |year=2018 |title=A giant Late Triassic ichthyosaur from the UK and a reinterpretation of the Aust Cliff 'dinosaurian' bones |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=e0194742 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0194742 |pmid=29630618 |pmc=5890986 |bibcode=2018PLoSO..1394742L |doi-access=free }}
• Ichthyosaur fossils, including an incomplete skeleton of a member of the genus Leptonectes, are described from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Asturias (Spain) by Fernández, Piñuela & García-Ramos (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Marta S. Fernández |author2=Laura Piñuela |author3=José Carlos García-Ramos |year=2018 |title=First report of Leptonectes (Ichthyosauria: Leptonectidae) from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Asturias, northern Spain |journal=Palaeontologia Electronica |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=Article number 21.2.29A |doi=10.26879/802 |s2cid=54206445 |doi-access=free |hdl=11336/85063 |hdl-access=free }}
• Remains of ichthyosaur embryos, still situated within a fragment of the rib-cage of the parent animal, are described from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) Whitby Mudstone Formation (United Kingdom) by Boyd & Lomax (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=M. J. Boyd |author2=D. R. Lomax |year=2018 |title=The youngest occurrence of ichthyosaur embryos in the UK: A new specimen from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) of Yorkshire |journal=Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=77–82 |doi=10.1144/pygs2017-008 |bibcode=2018PYGS...62...77B }}
• Ichthyosaur remains from the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation (Neuquén Basin, Argentina) are described by Lazo et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Darío G. Lazo |author2=Marianella Talevi |author3=Cecilia S. Cataldo |author4=Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta |author5=Marta S. Fernández |year=2018 |title=Description of ichthyosaur remains from the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation (Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina) and their paleobiological implications |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=89 |pages=8–21 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2018.02.019 |bibcode=2018CrRes..89....8L |s2cid=133798666 |url=https://rid.unrn.edu.ar/jspui/handle/20.500.12049/5090 |hdl=11336/88401 |hdl-access=free }}
• New specimen of Phalarodon fraasi is described from the Middle Triassic Botneheia Formation (Svalbard, Norway) by Økland et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Inghild Økland |author2=Lene Liebe Delsett |author3=Aubrey Jane Roberts |author4=Jørn H. Hurum |year=2018 |title=A Phalarodon fraasi (Ichthyosauria: Mixosauridae) from the Middle Triassic of Svalbard |journal=Norwegian Journal of Geology |volume=98 |issue=2 |pages=267–288 |doi=10.17850/njg98-2-06 |s2cid=132590633 |url=http://njg.geologi.no/component/fabrik/details/1/2178-2178 |doi-access=free |hdl=10852/71100 |hdl-access=free }}
• Redescription of the relocated holotype of Suevoleviathan integer is published by Maxwell (2018), who considers the species Suevoleviathan disinteger to be a junior synonym of S. integer.{{Cite journal|author=Erin E. Maxwell |year=2018 |title=Redescription of the 'lost' holotype of Suevoleviathan integer (Bronn, 1844) (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=e1439833 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1439833 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E9833M |s2cid=91013635 }}
• A study on specimens of Temnodontosaurus from the Early Jurassic of southern Germany, aiming to document the types of pathologies observed in the skeletons of specimens assigned to this genus, is published by Pardo-Pérez et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Judith M. Pardo-Pérez |author2=Benjamin P. Kear |author3=Heinrich Mallison |author4=Marcelo Gómez |author5=Manuel Moroni |author6=Erin E. Maxwell |year=2018 |title=Pathological survey on Temnodontosaurus from the Early Jurassic of southern Germany |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=10 |pages=e0204951 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0204951 |pmid=30356279 |pmc=6200200 |bibcode=2018PLoSO..1304951P |doi-access=free }}
• Four isolated partial skulls from the Lower Jurassic of the United Kingdom, previously identified as Ichthyosaurus communis, are assigned to the species Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis and P. applebyi by Lomax & Massare (2018), providing new information on the anatomy of these taxa.{{Cite journal|author1=Dean R. Lomax |author2=Judy A. Massare |year=2018 |title=A second specimen of Protoichthyosaurus applebyi (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) and additional information on the genus and species |journal=Paludicola |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=164–178 |url=https://www.academia.edu/36563805 }}
• A reassessment of Ichthyosaurus communis and I. intermedius is published by Massare & Lomax (2018), who consider the latter species to be a junior synonym of the former.{{cite journal |author1=Judy A. Massare |author2=Dean R. Lomax |year=2018 |title=A taxonomic reassessment of Ichthyosaurus communis and I. intermedius and a revised diagnosis for the genus |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=263–277 |doi=10.1080/14772019.2017.1291116 |bibcode=2018JSPal..16..263M |s2cid=90178113 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the cellular and molecular composition of integumental tissues in an exceptionally preserved specimen of Stenopterygius is published by Lindgren et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Johan Lindgren |author2=Peter Sjövall |author3=Volker Thiel |author4=Wenxia Zheng |author5=Shosuke Ito |author6=Kazumasa Wakamatsu |author7=Rolf Hauff |author8=Benjamin P. Kear |author9=Anders Engdahl |author10=Carl Alwmark |author11=Mats E. Eriksson |author12=Martin Jarenmark |author13=Sven Sachs |author14=Per E. Ahlberg |author15=Federica Marone |author16=Takeo Kuriyama |author17=Ola Gustafsson |author18=Per Malmberg |author19=Aurélien Thomen |author20=Irene Rodríguez-Meizoso |author21=Per Uvdal |author22=Makoto Ojika |author23=Mary H. Schweitzer |year=2018 |title=Soft-tissue evidence for homeothermy and crypsis in a Jurassic ichthyosaur |journal=Nature |volume=564 |issue=7736 |pages=359–365 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0775-x |pmid=30518862 |bibcode=2018Natur.564..359L |s2cid=54458324 |url=https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/ed703cf2-d742-4186-b3f4-6f3ddf2269ab |url-access=subscription }}
• A study on the anatomy of an ophthalmosaurid rostrum fragment from the Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) in the Morawica quarry in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Poland), and on its implications for reconstructing the internal morphology of the ophthalmosaurid cranial region and inferring the functional adaptations and palaeoecology of these reptiles, is published online by Tyborowski, Skrzycki & Dec (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Daniel Tyborowski |author2=Piotr Skrzycki |author3=Marek Dec |year=2018 |title=Internal structure of ichthyosaur rostrum from the Upper Jurassic of Poland with comments on ecomorphological adaptations of ophthalmosaurid skull |journal=Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology |volume=32 |issue=7 |pages=966–975 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2018.1559308 |s2cid=92555385 }}
• New specimen of Palvennia hoybergeti, providing new information on the anatomy of this species, is described from the Upper Jurassic Slottsmøya Member of the Agardhfjellet Formation (Spitsbergen, Norway) by Delsett et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Lene Liebe Delsett |author2=Patrick Scott Druckenmiller |author3=Aubrey Jane Roberts |author4=Jørn Harald Hurum |year=2018 |title=A new specimen of Palvennia hoybergeti: implications for cranial and pectoral girdle anatomy in ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e5776 |doi=10.7717/peerj.5776 |pmid=30345178 |pmc=6187996 |doi-access=free }}
• A revision of British ichthyosaur taxa of the Late Jurassic is published by Moon & Kirton (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Benjamin C. Moon |author2=Angela M. Kirton |year=2018 |title=Ichthyosaurs of the British Middle and Upper Jurassic. Part 2. Brachypterygius, Nannopterygius, Macropterygius and Taxa invalida |journal=Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society |volume=172 |issue=650 |pages=85–197 |doi=10.1080/02693445.2018.1468139 |bibcode=2018MPalS.172...85M |hdl=1983/a003f49d-b8ba-4ff6-abba-f1444147633a |s2cid=133537170 |url=https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/ichthyosaurs-of-the-british-middle-and-upper-jurassic-part-2-brachypterygius-nannopterygius-macropterygius-and-taxa-invalida(a003f49d-b8ba-4ff6-abba-f1444147633a).html }}

• A study aiming to estimate metabolic rates and bone growth rates in eosauropterygians, especially in plesiosaurs, is published by Fleischle, Wintrich & Sander (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Corinna V. Fleischle |author2=Tanja Wintrich |author3=P. Martin Sander |year=2018 |title=Quantitative histological models suggest endothermy in plesiosaurs |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e4955 |doi=10.7717/peerj.4955 |pmid=29892509 |pmc=5994164 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the histology and life history of the Middle Triassic pachypleurosaurs: Dactylosaurus from the early Anisian of Poland and aff. Neusticosaurus pusillus from the early Ladinian of southern Germany is published by Klein & Griebeler (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Nicole Klein |author2=Eva Maria Griebeler |year=2018 |title=Growth patterns, sexual dimorphism, and maturation modeled in Pachypleurosauria from Middle Triassic of central Europe (Diapsida: Sauropterygia) |journal=Fossil Record |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=137–157 |doi=10.5194/fr-21-137-2018 |bibcode=2018FossR..21..137K |doi-access=free }}
• Periosteal reaction to a tuberculosis-like respiratory infection affecting ribs of the holotype specimen of "Proneusticosaurus" silesiacus is reported by Surmik et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Dawid Surmik |author2=Tomasz Szczygielski |author3=Katarzyna Janiszewska |author4=Bruce M. Rothschild |year=2018 |title=Tuberculosis-like respiratory infection in 245-million-year-old marine reptile suggested by bone pathologies |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=6 |pages=180225 |doi=10.1098/rsos.180225 |pmid=30110474 |pmc=6030318 |bibcode=2018RSOS....580225S }}
• A study on the variability of the skull morphology in Simosaurus gaillardoti is published by de Miguel Chaves, Ortega & Pérez-García (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Carlos De Miguel Chaves |author2=Francisco Ortega |author3=Adán Pérez-García |year=2018 |title=Cranial variability of the European Middle Triassic sauropterygian Simosaurus gaillardoti |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=315–326 |doi=10.4202/app.00471.2018 |s2cid=102345796 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the internal anatomy of the skull of Nothosaurus marchicus is published by Voeten et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Dennis F. A. E. Voeten |author2=Tobias Reich |author3=Ricardo Araújo |author4=Torsten M. Scheyer |year=2018 |title=Synchrotron microtomography of a Nothosaurus marchicus skull informs on nothosaurian physiology and neurosensory adaptations in early Sauropterygia |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=e0188509 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0188509 |pmid=29298295 |pmc=5751976 |bibcode=2018PLoSO..1388509V |doi-access=free }}
• An incomplete mandible of a large-bodied predatory plesiosaur is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Deister Formation (Germany) by Sachs et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Sven Sachs |author2=Jahn J. Hornung |author3=Jens N. Lallensack |author4=Benjamin P. Kear |year=2018 |title=First evidence of a large predatory plesiosaurian from the Lower Cretaceous non-marine 'Wealden facies' deposits of northwestern Germany |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=501–508 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2017.1373150 |bibcode=2018Alch...42..501S |s2cid=134114013 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/First_evidence_of_a_large_predatory_plesiosaurian_from_the_Lower_Cretaceous_non-marine_Wealden_facies_deposits_of_northwestern_Germany/5492533 |url-access=subscription }}
• The first Jurassic plesiosaur from Antarctica is described from the Upper Jurassic Ameghino (= Nordensköld) Formation (Antarctic Peninsula) by O'Gorman et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Jose P. O'Gorman |author2=Soledad Gouiric-Cavalli |author3=Roberto A. Scasso |author4=Marcelo Reguero |author5=Juan J. Moly |author6=Leonel Acosta-Burlaille |year=2018 |title=A Late Jurassic plesiosaur in Antarctica: Evidence of the dispersion of marine fauna through the Trans-Erythraean Seaway? |journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=158–165 |doi=10.1016/j.crpv.2017.10.005 |bibcode=2018CRPal..17..158O |hdl=11336/94465 |hdl-access=free }}
• Morphologically diverse pliosaurid teeth are described from the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) of the Kheta river basin (Eastern Siberia, Russia) and from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian and Valanginian) of the Volga region (European Russia) by Zverkov et al. (2018), who argue that their findings challenge the hypothesis that only one lineage of pliosaurids crossed the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary.{{cite journal |author1=Nikolay G. Zverkov |author2=Valentin Fischer |author3=Daniel Madzia |author4=Roger B.J. Benson |year=2018 |title=Increased pliosaurid dental disparity across the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition |journal=Palaeontology |volume=61 |issue=6 |pages=825–846 |doi=10.1111/pala.12367 |bibcode=2018Palgy..61..825Z |hdl=2268/221241 |s2cid=134889277 |url=https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/221241 }}
• Complete mandible of Kronosaurus queenslandicus is described from the Albian Allaru Mudstone (Australia) by Holland (2018).{{cite journal |author=Timothy Holland |year=2018 |title=The mandible of Kronosaurus queenslandicus Longman, 1924 (Pliosauridae, Brachaucheniinae), from the Lower Cretaceous of Northwest Queensland, Australia |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=5 |pages=e1511569 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1511569 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E1569H |s2cid=91599158 }}
• Description of the skull bones of Abyssosaurus nataliae from the Cretaceous (Hauterivian) of Chuvashia (Russia) is published by Berezin (2018), who also revises the species diagnosis.{{Cite journal|author=A. Yu. Berezin |year=2018 |title=Craniology of the plesiosaur Abyssosaurus nataliae Berezin (Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of the Central Russian Platform |journal=Paleontological Journal |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=328–341 |doi=10.1134/S0031030118030036 |bibcode=2018PalJ...52..328B |s2cid=91151554 |url=https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=34941287 |url-access=subscription }}
• A study on a specimen of Cryptoclidus eurymerus from the Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of Peterborough (United Kingdom), with the left forelimb injured by a predator causing the loss of use of this limb but which nevertheless survived for some time after that injury, is published by Rothschild, Clark & Clark (2018), who also evaluate the implications of this specimen for the various hypotheses on plesiosaur propulsion.{{cite journal |author1=Bruce M. Rothschild |author2=Neil D.L. Clark |author3=Clare M. Clark |year=2018 |title=Evidence for survival in a Middle Jurassic plesiosaur with a humeral pathology: What can we infer of plesiosaur behaviour? |journal=Palaeontologia Electronica |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=Article number 21.1.13A |doi=10.26879/719 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the range of motion of the neck of an exceptionally preserved specimen of Nichollssaura borealis is published by Nagesan, Henderson & Anderson (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Ramon S. Nagesan |author2=Donald M. Henderson |author3=Jason S. Anderson |year=2018 |title=A method for deducing neck mobility in plesiosaurs, using the exceptionally preserved Nichollssaura borealis |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=8 |pages=172307 |doi=10.1098/rsos.172307 |pmid=30224996 |pmc=6124041 |bibcode=2018RSOS....572307N }}
• A study on the morphology of Thililua longicollis and on the phylogenetic relationships of members of the family Polycotylidae is published by Fischer et al. (2018), who name a new clade Occultonectia.{{cite journal |author1=V. Fischer |author2=R. B. J. Benson |author3=P. S. Druckenmiller |author4=H. F. Ketchum |author5=N. Bardet |year=2018 |title=The evolutionary history of polycotylid plesiosaurians |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=172177 |doi=10.1098/rsos.172177 |pmid=29657811 |pmc=5882735 |bibcode=2018RSOS....572177F }}
• Two new plesiosaur specimens, including a specimen of the species Libonectes morgani (otherwise known from North American fossils), are described from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) deposits of Goulmima (Morocco) by Allemand et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Rémi Allemand |author2=Nathalie Bardet |author3=Alexandra Houssaye |author4=Peggy Vincent |year=2018 |title=New plesiosaurian specimens (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco) |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=82 |pages=83–98 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2017.09.017 |bibcode=2018CrRes..82...83A }}
• Description of a skull and partial postcranial skeleton of a juvenile elasmosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous Tahora Formation (New Zealand), referred to the species Tuarangisaurus keyesi, is published by Otero et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Rodrigo A. Otero |author2=José P. O'Gorman |author3=William L. Moisley |author4=Marianna Terezow |author5=Joseph McKee |year=2018 |title=A juvenile Tuarangisaurus keyesi Wiffen and Moisley 1986 (Plesiosauria, Elasmosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of New Zealand, with remarks on its skull ontogeny |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=85 |pages=214–231 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2017.09.007 |bibcode=2018CrRes..85..214O |hdl=11336/99631 |hdl-access=free }}
• An exceptionally well-preserved elasmosaurid basicranium, providing new information on the anatomy of the skull of elasmosaurids, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (lower Campanian) Rybushka Formation (Russia) by Zverkov, Averianov & Popov (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Nikolay G. Zverkov |author2=Alexander O. Averianov |author3=Evgeny V. Popov |year=2018 |title=Basicranium of an elasmosaurid plesiosaur from the Campanian of European Russia |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=528–542 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2017.1302508 |bibcode=2018Alch...42..528Z |s2cid=132125319 }}
• Redescription of Aristonectes quiriquinensis, providing new information on the anatomy of this species, is published by Otero, Soto-Acuña & O'keefe (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Rodrigo A. Otero |author2=Sergio Soto-Acuña |author3=Frank R. O'keefe |year=2018 |title=Osteology of Aristonectes quiriquinensis (Elasmosauridae, Aristonectinae) from the upper Maastrichtian of central Chile |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=e1408638 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2017.1408638 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E8638O |s2cid=90977078 }}
• Cranial material of a non-aristonectine elasmosaurid plesiosaur is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Cape Lamb Member of the Snow Hill Island Formation (Vega Island, Antarctica) by O'Gorman et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=José P. O'Gorman |author2=Rodolfo A. Coria |author3=Marcelo Reguero |author4=Sergio Santillana |author5=Thomas Mörs |author6=Magalí Cárdenas |year=2018 |title=The first non-aristonectine elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia; Plesiosauria) cranial material from Antarctica: New data on the evolution of the elasmosaurid basicranium and palate |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=89 |pages=248–263 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2018.03.013 |bibcode=2018CrRes..89..248O |hdl=11336/83625 |s2cid=134284389 |url=http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/97759 |hdl-access=free }}
• New elasmosaurid specimen is described from the upper Maatrichtian horizons of the Lopez de Bertodano Formation (Antarctica) by O'Gorman et al. (2018), representing one of the youngest non-aristonectine weddellonectian elasmosaurid specimens from Antarctica reported so far, documenting the presence of at least two different non-aristonectine elasmosaurids in Antarctica during the late Maastrichtian, and confirming the coexistence of aristonectine and non-aristonectine elasmosaurids in Antarctica until the end of the Cretaceous.{{cite journal |author1=José P. O'Gorman |author2=Karen M. Panzeri |author3=Marta S. Fernández |author4=Sergio Santillana |author5=Juan J. Moly |author6=Marcelo Reguero |year=2018 |title=A new elasmosaurid from the upper Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation: new data on weddellonectian diversity |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=575–586 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2017.1339233 |bibcode=2018Alch...42..575O |s2cid=134265841 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/A_new_elasmosaurid_from_the_upper_Maastrichtian_L_pez_de_Bertodano_Formation_new_data_on_weddellonectian_diversity/5235964 |hdl=11336/49635 |hdl-access=free }}
• Redescription of the holotype of Styxosaurus snowii and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Sachs, Lindgren & Kear (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Sven Sachs |author2=Johan Lindgren |author3=Benjamin P. Kear |year=2018 |title=Reassessment of the Styxosaurus snowii (Williston, 1890) holotype specimen and its implications for elasmosaurid plesiosaurian interrelationships |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=560–574 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2018.1508613 |bibcode=2018Alch...42..560S |s2cid=134569623 }}

• A study on the changes in diversity of South American turtles from the Late Triassic to the present, and on major extinction events of South American turtles, is published by Vlachos et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Evangelos Vlachos |author2=Enrique Randolfe |author3=Juliana Sterli |author4=Juan M. Leardi |year=2018 |title=Changes in the diversity of turtles (Testudinata) in South America from the Late Triassic to the present |journal=Ameghiniana |volume=55 |issue=6 |pages=619–643 |doi=10.5710/AMGH.18.09.2018.3226 |s2cid=133715424 |hdl=11336/85561 |hdl-access=free }}
• A study on the Early and Middle Triassic turtle tracks and their implications for the origin of turtles is published by Lichtig et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Asher J. Lichtig |author2=Spencer G. Lucas |author3=Hendrik Klein |author4=David M. Lovelace |year=2018 |title=Triassic turtle tracks and the origin of turtles |journal=Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology |volume=30 |issue=8 |pages=1112–1122 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2017.1339037 |bibcode=2018HBio...30.1112L |s2cid=133893011 }}
• Fossil turtle footprints are described from the Triassic (Carnian) localities in eastern Spain by Reolid et al. (2018), who interpret the findings as indicating a freshwater semi-aquatic habit for some early turtles during the early Late Triassic.{{cite journal |author1=Matías Reolid |author2=Ana Márquez-Aliaga |author3=Margarita Belinchón |author4=Anna García-Forner |author5=José Villena |author6=Carlos Martínez-Pérez |year=2018 |title=Ichnological evidence of semi-aquatic locomotion in early turtles from eastern Iberia during the Carnian Humid Episode (Late Triassic) |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |volume=490 |pages=450–461 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.11.025 |bibcode=2018PPP...490..450R }}
• A revision of Late Cretaceous turtle fossils from the El Gallo Formation (Baja California, Mexico) is published by López-Conde et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Oliver A. López-Conde |author2=Juliana Sterli |author3=María L. Chavarría-Arellano |author4=Donald B. Brinkman |author5=Marisol Montellano-Ballesteros |year=2018 |title=Turtles from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of El Gallo Formation, Baja California, Mexico |journal=Journal of South American Earth Sciences |volume=88 |pages=693–699 |doi=10.1016/j.jsames.2018.10.005 |bibcode=2018JSAES..88..693L |s2cid=134734488 |hdl=11336/98190 |hdl-access=free }}
• A clutch of 15 turtle eggs, found in close association with a partial skeleton of the dinosaur Mosaiceratops azumai, is described from the Upper Cretaceous Xiaguan Formation (China) by Jackson et al. (2018), who report that the size of these eggs exceeds that of all previously reported fossil turtle eggs.{{cite journal |author1=Frankie D. Jackson |author2=Wenjie Zheng |author3=Takuya Imai |author4=Robert A. Jackson |author5=Xingsheng Jin |year=2018 |title=Fossil eggs associated with a neoceratopsian (Mosaiceratops azumai) from the Upper Cretaceous Xiaguan Formation, Henan Province, China |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=91 |pages=457–467 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2018.06.020 |bibcode=2018CrRes..91..457J |s2cid=134734712 }}
• A study on the anatomy of the brain, inner ear, nasal cavity and skull nerves of Proganochelys quenstedti, and on its implications for inferring the sensory capabilities and ecology of the species and for the evolution of turtle brains is published by Lautenschlager, Ferreira & Werneburg (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Stephan Lautenschlager |author2=Gabriel S. Ferreira |author3=Ingmar Werneburg |year=2018 |title=Sensory evolution and ecology of early turtles revealed by digital endocranial reconstructions |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |volume=6 |pages=Article 7 |doi=10.3389/fevo.2018.00007 |s2cid=34277757 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the external variability and abnormalities observed in the carapace and plastron of Proterochersis robusta and Proterochersis porebensis is published by Szczygielski, Słowiak & Dróżdż (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Tomasz Szczygielski |author2=Justyna Słowiak |author3=Dawid Dróżdż |year=2018 |title=Shell variability in the stem turtles Proterochersis spp. |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e6134 |doi=10.7717/peerj.6134 |pmid=30595986 |pmc=6305121 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Kallokibotion bajazidi based on well-preserved new fossil material is published by Pérez-García & Codrea (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Adán Pérez-García |author2=Vlad Codrea |year=2018 |title=New insights on the anatomy and systematics of Kallokibotion Nopcsa, 1923, the enigmatic uppermost Cretaceous basal turtle (stem Testudines) from Transylvania |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=182 |issue=2 |pages=419–443 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx037 }}
• A study on the paleoecology of Meiolania platyceps is published by Lichtig & Lucas (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Asher J. Lichtig |author2=Spencer G. Lucas |year=2018 |title=The ecology of Meiolania platyceps, a Pleistocene turtle from Australia |journal=New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin |volume=79 |pages=363–368 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328734180 }}
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of extant and fossil pleurodirans is published by Ferreira et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Gabriel S. Ferreira |author2=Mario Bronzati |author3=Max C. Langer |author4=Juliana Sterli |year=2018 |title=Phylogeny, biogeography and diversification patterns of side-necked turtles (Testudines: Pleurodira) |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=171773 |doi=10.1098/rsos.171773 |pmid=29657780 |pmc=5882704 |bibcode=2018RSOS....571773F }}
• New fossil material of the bothremydid Algorachelus peregrinus, providing new information on the anatomy and intraspecific variability of the species, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of the Arenas de Utrillas Formation (Spain) by Pérez-García (2018), who also transfers the species "Podocnemis" parva Haas (1978) and "Paiutemys" tibert Joyce, Lyson & Kirkland (2016) to the genus Algorachelus.{{cite journal |author=Adán Pérez-García |year=2018 |title=New information on the Cenomanian bothremydid turtle Algorachelus based on new, well-preserved material from Spain |journal=Fossil Record |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=119–135 |doi=10.5194/fr-21-119-2018 |bibcode=2018FossR..21..119P |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the anatomy of the shell of the bothremydid species Taphrosphys congolensis, and on its implications for inferring the taxonomic composition of the genus Taphrosphys, is published online by Pérez García, Mees & Smith (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Adán Pérez García |author2=Florias Mees |author3=Thierry Smith |year=2018 |title=Shell anatomy of the African Paleocene bothremydid turtle Taphrosphys congolensis and systematic implications within Taphrosphyini |journal=Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=376–385 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2018.1497023 |s2cid=92653709 }}
• A revision of bothremydid fossils in the lower Eocene British record, assigned to the species "Platemys" bowerbankii Owen (1842), "Emys" laevis Bell in Owen & Bell (1849), "Emys" delabechii Bell in Owen & Bell (1849), and "Emys" conybearii Owen (1858), is published by Pérez-García (2018), who interprets all this fossil material as representing a single species Palemys bowerbankii.{{cite journal |author=Adán Pérez-García |year=2018 |title=New insights on the only bothremydid turtle (Pleurodira) identified in the British record: Palemys bowerbankii new combination |journal=Palaeontologia Electronica |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=Article number 21.2.28A |doi=10.26879/849 |doi-access=free }}
• A restudy of the type material of the Late Cretaceous pan-chelid Linderochelys rinconensis and a description of new fossils of the species is published by Jannello et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=J.M. Jannello |author2=I.J. Maniel |author3=E. Previtera |author4=M.S. de la Fuente |year=2018 |title=Linderochelys rinconensis (Testudines: Pan-Chelidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of northern Patagonia: New insights from shell bone histology, morphology and diagenetic implications |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=83 |pages=47–61 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2017.05.011 |bibcode=2018CrRes..83...47J |hdl=11336/59673 |hdl-access=free }}
• Redescription of the Eocene chelid Hydromedusa casamayorensis based on twenty-seven new specimens recovered from lower levels of the Sarmiento Formation (Argentina) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Maniel et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Ignacio J. Maniel |author2=Marcelo S. de la Fuente |author3=Juliana Sterli |author4=Juan M. Jannello |author5=J. Marcelo Krause |year=2018 |title=New remains of the aquatic turtle Hydromedusa casamayorensis (Pleurodira, Chelidae) from the middle Eocene of Patagonia: taxonomic validation and phylogenetic relationships |journal=Papers in Palaeontology |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=537–566 |doi=10.1002/spp2.1117 |bibcode=2018PPal....4..537M |s2cid=133915546 |hdl=11336/95909 |hdl-access=free }}
• Description of the morphology of the skull of the Eocene carettochelyid Anosteira pulchra is published by Joyce, Volpato & Rollot (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Walter G. Joyce |author2=Virginie S. Volpato |author3=Yann Rollot |year=2018 |title=The skull of the carettochelyid turtle Anosteira pulchra from the Eocene (Uintan) of Wyoming and the carotid canal system of carettochelyid turtles |journal=Fossil Record |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=301–310 |doi=10.5194/fr-21-301-2018 |bibcode=2018FossR..21..301J |s2cid=92601499 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the putative emydine Piramys auffenbergi is published by Ferreira, Bandyopadhyay & Joyce (2018), who reinterpret this species as a member of the family Podocnemididae.{{cite journal |author1=Gabriel S. Ferreira |author2=Saswati Bandyopadhyay |author3=Walter G. Joyce |year=2018 |title=A taxonomic reassessment of Piramys auffenbergi, a neglected turtle from the late Miocene of Piram Island, Gujarat, India |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e5938 |doi=10.7717/peerj.5938 |pmid=30479901 |pmc=6240434 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the skull innervation and circulation of Eubaena cephalica, based on data from a new specimen, is published by Rollot, Lyson & Joyce (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Yann Rollot |author2=Tyler R. Lyson |author3=Walter G. Joyce |year=2018 |title=A description of the skull of Eubaena cephalica (Hay, 1904) and new insights into the cranial circulation and innervation of baenid turtles |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=e1474886 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2018.1474886 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E4886R |s2cid=91024786 |url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/322876/files/joy_dse.pdf }}
• Fragmentary trionychid specimen is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian to Maastrichtian) Nanaimo Group (Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada) by Vavrek & Brinkman (2018), representing the first trionychid reported from Cretaceous deposits along the Pacific Coast of North America.{{Cite journal|author1=Matthew J. Vavrek |author2=Donald B. Brinkman |year=2018 |title=The first record of a trionychid turtle (Testudines: Trionychidae) from the Cretaceous of the Pacific Coast of North America |journal=Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology |volume=5 |pages=34–37 |doi=10.18435/vamp29336 |s2cid=133775819 |doi-access=free }}
• Taxonomic review of fossil testudinoids from South America is published by de la Fuente, Zacarías & Vlachos (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Marcelo S. de la Fuente |author2=Gerardo G. Zacarías |author3=Evangelos Vlachos |year=2018 |title=A review of the fossil record of South American turtles of the clade Testudinoidea |journal=Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History |volume=59 |issue=2 |pages=269–286 |doi=10.3374/014.059.0201 |s2cid=198151217 |hdl=11336/162647 |hdl-access=free }}
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships and body size evolution of extant and extinct tortoises is published by Vlachos & Rabi (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Evangelos Vlachos |author2=Márton Rabi |year=2018 |title=Total evidence analysis and body size evolution of extant and extinct tortoises (Testudines: Cryptodira: Pan-Testudinidae) |journal=Cladistics |volume=34 |issue=6 |pages=652–683 |doi=10.1111/cla.12227 |pmid=34706483 |s2cid=90619565 |doi-access=free |hdl=11336/98248 |hdl-access=free }}
• A study on the holotype specimen of a purported tortoise from the Oligocene or early Miocene of Costa Rica, "Testudo" costarricensis, is published by Lichtig, Lucas & Alvarado (2018), who reinterpret this specimen as a fossil of Oligopherus laticunea collected from the Eocene-Oligocene White River Group of the western United States.{{Cite journal|author1=Asher J. Lichtig |author2=Spencer G. Lucas |author3=Guillermo E. Alvarado |year=2018 |title=Reappraisal of the holotype of "Testudo" costarricensis, a tortoise supposedly from the Oligocene or lower Miocene of Costa Rica |journal=Revista Geológica de América Central |volume=59 |pages=41–49 |doi=10.15517/rgac.v59i0.34156 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |url=https://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0256-70242018000200039&lng=en&nrm=iso}}
• Description of new specimens of the tortoise Manouria oyamai from the Pleistocene of the Okinawa Island (Japan) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Takahashi, Hirayama & Otsuka (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Akio Takahashi |author2=Ren Hirayama |author3=Hiroyuki Otsuka |year=2018 |title=Systematic revision of Manouria oyamai (Testudines, Testudinidae), based on new material from the Upper Pleistocene of Okinawajima Island, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, and its paleogeographic implications |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=e1427594 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2017.1427594 |bibcode=2018JVPal..38E7594T |s2cid=90610517 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/6104606 |url-access=subscription }}
• A study on the sources of variation in the morphology of the carapaces of extant and fossil common box turtles (Terrapene carolina) is published by Vitek (2018).{{cite journal |author=Natasha S. Vitek |year=2018 |title=Delineating modern variation from extinct morphology in the fossil record using shells of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=e0193437 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0193437 |pmid=29513709 |pmc=5841793 |bibcode=2018PLoSO..1393437V |doi-access=free }}
• A tail vertebra of the common snapping turtle is described from the late Pleistocene of New Jersey by Brownstein (2018), representing the northernmost occurrence of this species in eastern North America during the Pleistocene.{{Cite journal|author=Chase Doran Brownstein |year=2018 |title=The northernmost occurrence of Chelydra serpentina in the Eastern US during the Pleistocene |journal=The Mosasaur. The Journal of the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society |volume=X |pages=13–19 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329686951 }}
• Redescription of the holotype of Rhinochelys amaberti from the Cretaceous (Albian) of France and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Scavezzoni & Fischer (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Isaure Scavezzoni |author2=Valentin Fischer |year=2018 |title=Rhinochelys amaberti Moret (1935), a protostegid turtle from the Early Cretaceous of France |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e4594 |doi=10.7717/peerj.4594 |pmid=29666758 |pmc=5898427 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the anatomy of the skull of the holotype specimen of Desmatochelys lowii is published by Raselli (2018).{{cite journal |author=Irena Raselli |year=2018 |title=Comparative cranial morphology of the Late Cretaceous protostegid sea turtle Desmatochelys lowii |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e5964 |doi=10.7717/peerj.5964 |pmid=30568851 |pmc=6287587 |doi-access=free }}
• Description of newly identified fossil material of Prionochelys from the collections at McWane Science Center and the Alabama Museum of Natural History, collected from multiple sites from the Upper Cretaceous Mooreville Chalk and Eutaw Formation (Alabama, United States), and a study on the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Prionochelys is published by Gentry (2018).{{cite journal |author=Andrew D. Gentry |year=2018 |title=Prionochelys matutina Zangerl, 1953 (Testudines: Pan-Cheloniidae) from the Late Cretaceous of the United States and the evolution of epithecal ossifications in marine turtles |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e5876 |doi=10.7717/peerj.5876 |pmid=30402356 |pmc=6215699 |doi-access=free }}
• A nearly complete skull and mandible of a subadult specimen of Euclastes wielandi is described from the Danian Hornerstown Formation (New Jersey, United States) by Ullmann, Boles & Knell (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Paul V. Ullmann |author2=Zachary M. Boles |author3=Michael J. Knell |year=2018 |title=Insights into cranial morphology and intraspecific variation from a new subadult specimen of the pan-cheloniid turtle Euclastes wielandi Hay, 1908 |journal=PaleoBios |volume=35 |pages=ucmp_paleobios_42081 |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8dw67415 }}
• An isolated costal bone of a sea turtle is described from the Oligocene Dos Bocas Formation (Ecuador) by Cadena, Abella & Gregori (2018), representing the first record of Oligocene Pancheloniidae in South America.{{cite journal |author1=Edwin Cadena |author2=Juan Abella |author3=Maria Gregori |year=2018 |title=The first Oligocene sea turtle (Pan-Cheloniidae) record of South America |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e4554 |doi=10.7717/peerj.4554 |pmid=29593944 |pmc=5868478 |doi-access=free }}
• Remains of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) recovered from Mid to Late Holocene sites at Ra's al-Hamra and Ra's al-Hadd (coastal Oman) are described by Frazier et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=John G. Frazier |author2=Valentina Azzarà |author3=Olivia Munoz |author4=Lapo Gianni Marcucci |author5=Emilie Badel |author6=Francesco Genchi |author7=Maurizio Cattani |author8=Maurizio Tosi |author9=Massimo Delfino |year=2018 |title=Remains of Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, at Mid-Late Holocene archaeological sites in coastal Oman: clues of past worlds |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e6123 |doi=10.7717/peerj.6123 |pmid=30588406 |pmc=6301280 |doi-access=free }}

• A study on the diversification of archosauromorph reptiles from the Middle Permian to the early Late Triassic is published by Ezcurra & Butler (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Martín D. Ezcurra |author2=Richard J. Butler |year=2018 |title=The rise of the ruling reptiles and ecosystem recovery from the Permo-Triassic mass extinction |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=285 |issue=1880 |pages=20180361 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2018.0361 |pmid=29899066 |pmc=6015845 }}
• A study on the phylogenetic relationships of phytosaurs is published by Jones & Butler (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Andrew S. Jones |author2=Richard J. Butler |year=2018 |title=A new phylogenetic analysis of Phytosauria (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) with the application of continuous and geometric morphometric character coding |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e5901 |doi=10.7717/peerj.5901 |pmid=30581656 |pmc=6292387 |doi-access=free }}

{{main|2018 in archosaur paleontology}}

• The study on the phylogenetic relationships of mesosaurs and other early reptiles published by Laurin & Piñeiro (2017){{cite journal |author1=Michel Laurin |author2=Graciela H. Piñeiro |year=2017 |title=A reassessment of the taxonomic position of mesosaurs, and a surprising phylogeny of early amniotes |journal=Frontiers in Earth Science |volume=5 |pages=Article 88 |doi=10.3389/feart.2017.00088 |bibcode=2017FrEaS...5...88L |s2cid=32426159 |doi-access=free |hdl=20.500.12008/33548 |hdl-access=free }} is reevaluated by MacDougall et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Mark J. MacDougall |author2=Sean P. Modesto |author3=Neil Brocklehurst |author4=Antoine Verrière |author5=Robert R. Reisz |author6=Jörg Fröbisch |year=2018 |title=Commentary: A reassessment of the taxonomic position of mesosaurs, and a surprising phylogeny of early amniotes |journal=Frontiers in Earth Science |volume=6 |pages=Article 99 |doi=10.3389/feart.2018.00099 |s2cid=50778752 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |author1=Michel Laurin |author2=Graciela Piñeiro |year=2018 |title=Response: Commentary: A reassessment of the taxonomic position of mesosaurs, and a surprising phylogeny of early amniotes |journal=Frontiers in Earth Science |volume=6 |pages=Article 220 |doi=10.3389/feart.2018.00220 |s2cid=54434724 |doi-access=free }}
• An adult specimen of Stereosternum tumidum preserved next to juvenile material, providing new information on the baseline ossification sequences and growth rates in this species, is described from Lower Permian sediments of the Irati Formation (Brazil) by Bickelmann & Tsuji (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Constanze Bickelmann |author2=Linda A. Tsuji |year=2018 |title=A case study of developmental palaeontology in Stereosternum tumidum (Mesosauridae, Parareptilia) |journal=Fossil Record |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=109–118 |doi=10.5194/fr-21-109-2018 |bibcode=2018FossR..21..109B |doi-access=free }}
• A study evaluating the purported aquatic adaptations of Mesosaurus tenuidens is published by Nuñez Demarco et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Pablo Nuñez Demarco |author2=Melitta Meneghel |author3=Michel Laurin |author4=Graciela Piñeiro |year=2018 |title=Was Mesosaurus a fully aquatic reptile? |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |volume=6 |pages=Article 109 |doi=10.3389/fevo.2018.00109 |s2cid=50780720 |doi-access=free |hdl=20.500.12008/30631 |hdl-access=free }}
• Description of the anatomy of the lower jaw of Delorhynchus is published by Haridy, Macdougall & Reisz (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Yara Haridy |author2=Mark J. Macdougall |author3=Robert R. Reisz |year=2018 |title=The lower jaw of the Early Permian parareptile Delorhynchus, first evidence of multiple denticulate coronoids in a reptile |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=184 |issue=3 |pages=791–803 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx085 }}
• Pathological sacral vertebrae of a pareiasaur belonging to the clade Velosauria are described from the Permian (Wuchiapingian) upper member of the Madumabisa Mudstone Formation (Luangwa Basin, Zambia) by Turner & Sidor (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=M. L. Turner |author2=C. A. Sidor |year=2018 |title=Pathology in a Permian parareptile: congenital malformation of sacral vertebrae |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=304 |issue=1 |pages=13–20 |doi=10.1111/jzo.12519 }}
• A new skull ascribed to Procolophon trigoniceps, so far representing the most complete and best preserved specimen collected at the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Supersequence (Brazil), is described by Silva-Neves, Modesto & Dias-da-Silva (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Eduardo Silva-Neves |author2=Sean Patrick Modesto |author3=Sérgio Dias-da-Silva |year=2018 |title=A new, nearly complete skull of Procolophon trigoniceps Owen, 1876 from the Sanga do Cabral Supersequence, Lower Triassic of Southern Brazil, with phylogenetic remarks |journal=Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=574–582 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2018.1512106 |s2cid=91254321 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/7083113 |url-access=subscription }}
• Fragments of the mandible of a small reptile, possibly Ruhuhuaria reiszi, are described from the Triassic Manda Beds of Tanzania by Bradley & Nesbitt et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Alexander B. Bradley |author2=Sterling J. Nesbitt |year=2018 |title=A possible new specimen of Ruhuhuaria reiszi from the Manda Beds (?Middle Triassic) of southern Tanzania and its implications for small sauropsids in the Triassic |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=37 |issue=Supplement to No. 6 |pages=88–95 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2017.1393823 |s2cid=90253725 }}
• A study on the effect of inclusion and exclusion of autapomorphies on the analyses of phylogenetic relationships of early eureptiles is published by Matzke & Irmis (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Nicholas J. Matzke |author2=Randall B. Irmis |year=2018 |title=Including autapomorphies is important for paleontological tip-dating with clocklike data, but not with non-clock data |journal=PeerJ |volume=6 |pages=e4553 |doi=10.7717/peerj.4553 |pmid=29637019 |pmc=5890724 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the anatomy and histology of the caudal vertebrae of Permian captorhinids from the Richards Spur locality (Oklahoma, United States), supporting previous hypotheses that Captorhinus and other early Permian captorhinids were capable of tail autotomy, is published by LeBlanc et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=A. R. H. LeBlanc |author2=M. J. MacDougall |author3=Y. Haridy |author4=D. Scott |author5=R. R. Reisz |year=2018 |title=Caudal autotomy as anti-predatory behaviour in Palaeozoic reptiles |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=Article number 3328 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-21526-3 |pmid=29507301 |pmc=5838224 |bibcode=2018NatSR...8.3328L }}
• A study on the teeth of Opisthodontosaurus carrolli is published by Haridy, LeBlanc & Reisz (2018), who present evidence of regular tooth replacement events in the lower jaw of O. carrolli.{{cite journal |author1=Yara Haridy |author2=Aaron R. H. LeBlanc |author3=Robert R. Reisz |year=2018 |title=The Permian reptile Opisthodontosaurus carrolli: a model for acrodont tooth replacement and dental ontogeny |journal=Journal of Anatomy |volume=232 |issue=3 |pages=371–382 |doi=10.1111/joa.12754 |pmid=29210080 |pmc=5807956 }}
• Jaw elements of members of an otherwise Gondwanan diapsid genus Palacrodon are described from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation (Arizona, United States) by Kligman, Marsh & Parker (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Ben T. Kligman |author2=Adam D. Marsh |author3=William G. Parker |year=2018 |title=First records of diapsid Palacrodon from the Norian, Late Triassic Chinle Formation of Arizona, and their biogeographic implications |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=63 |issue=1 |pages=117–127 |doi=10.4202/app.00426.2017 |s2cid=56558390 |doi-access=free }}
• A study evaluating the taxon richness of terrestrial lepidosaurs through time, from the Triassic to the Paleogene, is published by Cleary et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Terri J. Cleary |author2=Roger B. J. Benson |author3=Susan E. Evans |author4=Paul M. Barrett |year=2018 |title=Lepidosaurian diversity in the Mesozoic–Palaeogene: the potential roles of sampling biases and environmental drivers |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=171830 |doi=10.1098/rsos.171830 |pmid=29657788 |pmc=5882712 |bibcode=2018RSOS....571830C }}
• Description of two specimens of the rhynchocephalian species Clevosaurus hudsoni from the Upper Triassic of the Cromhall Quarry (United Kingdom), providing new information on the anatomy of the species, is published by O'Brien, Whiteside & Marshall (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Aileen O'Brien |author2=David I. Whiteside |author3=John E. A. Marshall |year=2018 |title=Anatomical study of two previously undescribed specimens of Clevosaurus hudsoni (Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia) from Cromhall Quarry, UK, aided by computed tomography, yields additional information on the skeleton and hitherto undescribed bones |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=183 |issue=1 |pages=163–195 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx087 }}
• A study on a fossil tooth of Eilenodon robustus from the Jurassic Morrison Formation (Colorado, United States), utilizing both X-ray and neutron computed tomography, is published by Jones et al. (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Marc E. H. Jones |author2=Peter W. Lucas |author3=Abigail S. Tucker |author4=Amy P. Watson |author5=Joseph J. W. Sertich |author6=John R. Foster |author7=Ruth Williams |author8=Ulf Garbe |author9=Joseph J. Bevitt |author10=Floriana Salvemini |year=2018 |title=Neutron scanning reveals unexpected complexity in the enamel thickness of an herbivorous Jurassic reptile |journal=Journal of the Royal Society Interface |volume=15 |issue=143 |pages=20180039 |doi=10.1098/rsif.2018.0039 |pmid=29899156 |pmc=6030635 }}
• A study on the anatomy of the skeleton of Pappochelys rosinae is published by Schoch & Sues (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Rainer R. Schoch |author2=Hans-Dieter Sues |year=2018 |title=Osteology of the Middle Triassic stem-turtle Pappochelys rosinae and the early evolution of the turtle skeleton |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |volume=16 |issue=11 |pages=927–965 |doi=10.1080/14772019.2017.1354936 |bibcode=2018JSPal..16..927S |s2cid=90014658 }}
• Probable tanystropheid neck vertebrae are described from the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation (Brazil) by De Oliveira et al. (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Tiane Macedo De Oliveira |author2=Daniel Oliveira |author3=Cesar L. Schultz |author4=Leonardo Kerber |author5=Felipe L. Pinheiro |year=2018 |title=Tanystropheid archosauromorphs in the Lower Triassic of Gondwana |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=63 |issue=4 |pages=713–723 |doi=10.4202/app.00489.2018 |s2cid=135362059 |doi-access=free }}
• A study on the taphonomy of the skeletons of Tanystropheus longobardicus from the Middle Triassic Besano Formation (Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland) and its implications for inferring whether Tanystropheus was terrestrial or aquatic is published by Beardmore & Furrer (2018).{{cite journal |author1=Susan R. Beardmore |author2=Heinz Furrer |year=2018 |title=Land or water: using taphonomic models to determine the lifestyle of the Triassic protorosaur Tanystropheus (Diapsida, Archosauromorpha) |journal=Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments |volume=98 |issue=2 |pages=243–258 |doi=10.1007/s12549-017-0299-7 |bibcode=2018PdPe...98..243B |s2cid=133762329 }}
• A re-analysis of the osteology of Tanystropheus, a reconstruction of the musculature of the tail, pelvic girdle and hindlimbs of the taxon and a study on the locomotion and lifestyle of the taxon is published by Renesto & Saller (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Silvio Renesto |author2=Franco Saller |year=2018 |title=Evidences for a semi aquatic life style in the Triassic diapsid reptile Tanystropheus |journal=Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia |volume=124 |issue=1 |pages=23–34 |doi=10.13130/2039-4942/9541 }}
• Description of the maxillary tooth plate and dentary teeth of the rhynchosaur species Hyperodapedon sanjuanensis is published by Gentil & Ezcurra (2018).{{Cite journal|author1=Adriel R. Gentil |author2=Martín D. Ezcurra |year=2018 |title=Reconstruction of the masticatory apparatus of the holotype of the rhynchosaur Hyperodapedon sanjuanensis (Sill, 1970) from the Late Triassic of Argentina: implications for the diagnosis of the species |journal=Ameghiniana |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=137–149 |doi=10.5710/AMGH.17.10.2017.3132 |s2cid=134557963 |hdl=11336/98098 |hdl-access=free }}
• Description of a new skeleton of Prolacerta broomi from the Lower Triassic (Induan) Fremouw Formation (Antarctica), constituting the most complete Antarctic specimen to date, is published by Spiekman (2018).{{cite journal |author=Stephan N. F. Spiekman |year=2018 |title=A new specimen of Prolacerta broomi from the lower Fremouw Formation (Early Triassic) of Antarctica, its biogeographical implications and a taxonomic revision |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=Article number 17996 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-36499-6 |pmid=30573764 |pmc=6301955 |bibcode=2018NatSR...817996S }}
• A study on the morphological variation of the fifth metatarsals of Early Triassic diapsid reptiles from the Czatkowice locality (Poland), assessed in functional and phylogenetic terms, is published by Borsuk-Białynicka (2018).{{cite journal |author=Magdalena Borsuk-Białynicka |year=2018 |title=Diversity of diapsid fifth metatarsals from the Lower Triassic karst deposits of Czatkowice, southern Poland—functional and phylogenetic implications |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=63 |issue=3 |pages=417–434 |doi=10.4202/app.00444.2017 |s2cid=55541971 |doi-access=free }}

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Category:2018 in paleontology

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Category:2018 in science

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