Recent literature has demonstrated the importance of fieldwork in geology. However, as resources become scarce, field experiences are often targeted for cuts. This was the case at the University of Calgary when massive enrollments placed a tremendous burden on resources. In courses throughout, field trips and other excursions were eliminated, making it so students do not have any field experiences until their third year. In response, we have developed three virtual field experiences (VFEs) of geologically relevant locations near Calgary. A burgeoning technology, VFEs offer advantages of convenience and versatility when compared to actual field trips. Our VFEs comprise drone-captured images used to form high-resolution 2-D photomosaics and 3-D computer models. We piloted one VFE in an introductory geology course. We wanted to understand how students engaged with the models so that we could make the VFE as effective as possible. Observing student engagement over two iterations allowed us to make changes to the activity. We found that students had difficulties with the VFE's open endedness. They also demonstrated difficulty with the relationship between observations and inferences. This is indicative of a broader issue with how geology (or science in general) is taught. Traditional instruction in geology places great emphasis on the "what" of geology as opposed to the "how." We contend that teaching geology with more emphasis on how geology works will help students develop a better understanding of the relationship between inference and observation, enhancing their fieldwork and their understanding of science.

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Redescription of the type and only specimen of Aigialosaurus dalmaticus (BSP 1902II501), an "aigialosaurian" squamate from the Cenomanian-Turonian of Hvar, Croatia, and, at the time of collection, the Italian island of Lesina, indicates that previous reviews of the specimen include erroneous anatomical interpretations. The type specimen presents a new and unique pelvic anatomy: the ilium of A. dalmaticus is an elongate element with well-developed anterior and posterior iliac processes. A scenario is presented for mosasaurid pelvic evolution, whereby the anteriorly elongate and dorsally directed ilium of mosasauroids is not derived from the forward rotation of the posterior iliac process, but rather the reduction of that process and the elaboration of the anterior iliac process. Recent phylogenetic analysis of Mosasauroidea finds A. dalmaticus to be the sistergroup to Opetiosaurus bucchichi and all other mosasaurids and "aigialosaurs." We examine the character state assignments for A. dalmaticus in that study and refute those assignments owing to the absence of preservation of all four characters states found to separate A. dalmaticus from O. bucchichi. Résumé: Une nouvelle description du spécimen type et unique spécimen connu d'Aigialosaurus dalmaticus (BSP 1902II501), un squamate « aigialosaure » du Cénomanien-Turonien de Hvar (Croatie) et, au moment de son pré-lèvement, de l'île italienne de Lésina, indique que les examens antérieurs de ce spécimen comprennent des interpréta-tions anatomiques erronées. Le spécimen type présente une anatomie pelvienne nouvelle et unique : l'ilium d'A. dalmaticus consiste en un élément allongé comportant des processus iliaques antérieurs et postérieurs bien développés. Un scénario d'évolution du pelvis des Mosasauridés est présenté selon lequel l'ilium antérieurement allongé et dorsalement orienté des mosasauroïdes n'est pas dérivé de la rotation vers l'avant du processus iliaque postérieur, mais plutôt de la réduction de ce processus et de l'élaboration du processus iliaque antérieur. Une analyse phylogénétique récente des Mosasauroïdés établit qu'A. dalmaticus est le groupe-frère d'Opetiosaurus bucchichi et de tous les autres mosasaurides et « aigialosaures ». La présente étude se penche sur les attributions des états des caractères pour A. dalmaticus et les réfute en raison de la non-préservation de tous les états des caractères, au nombre de quatre, qui distinguent A. dalmaticus d'O. bucchichi. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Dutchak and Caldwell 1834

Aigialosaurs have been recognised as a group of semi-aquatic marine reptiles for over one hundred years. While the taxonomic status of aigialosaurs has changed little in the past century, the interfamilial relationships have been modified considerably making the phylogenetic relationships between aigialosaurs, mosasaurs, dolichosaurs, coniasaurs, varanids and other squamates a topic of much debate. The monophyly of the family Aigialosauridae has been contested by recent studies and remains highly questionable. The higher-level relationships of mosasauroids within Squamata remain problematic with studies placing mosasauroids outside of Varanidae, Varanoidea and even Anguimorpha. These findings conflict with earlier views that aigialosaurs (and by association mosasaurs) were closely related to Varanus. This study concludes that further descriptions of aigialosaur taxa are needed, and several key flaws need to be addressed in the data matrices that have been used in previous studies. This should facilitate the clarification of aigialosaur systematic relationships both within Mosasauroidea and Squamata.

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