A giant specimen of Rhamphorhynchus muensteri and comments on the ontogeny of rhamphorhynchines

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13, P. e18587 - e18587

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

Rhamphorhynchus is one of the best-known pterosaurs, with well over 100 specimens being held in public collections. Most these represent juvenile animals, and adults known are typically around 1 m wingspan. Here we describe a near complete skeleton, preserved partially 3D, an animal wingspan 1.8 m, that considerably larger than other specimens, among largest non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs. This shows differences anatomy not seen smaller revealing details late-stage ontogeny this genus. The specimen exhibits disproportionate reduction size orbit increase lower temporal fenestra, proportional mandibular symphysis, unusually laterally flattened teeth, which may point to changing diet as animals grew. These features show transition from also appear large rhamphorhyhchines consistent pattern their development.

Language: Английский

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Varanid Teeth Asymmetry and Correlation to Body Size

Journal of Developmental Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(1), P. 9 - 9

Published: March 10, 2025

Stressors such as injuries, embryonic instability during development, and higher levels of stress hormones testosterone can result in increases fluctuating asymmetry reptiles other vertebrates. Digit asymmetry, digit ratio variability, skull trait eye jaw size have been correlated with level both snakes lizards. Teeth has also used a biomarker for brain laterality. Body is many potential stressors, yet there little research on how body relates to asymmetry. We investigate teeth within the lizard family Varanidae, clade diverse range sizes consisting largest living lizard, Varanus komodoensis. Using landmark/semi-landmark analysis, we derived Centroid Size 671 pairs from 13 varanid species, was each pair. Right-biased significantly greater upper tooth row, but breaking up positions into further sections did not yield significant difference. found positive linear correlation between right-biased directional Varanus, only when excluding V. This may fewer predators more food items, thus resulting less overall stress. When analyzed separately, komodoensis individuals <180 mm head length demonstrated positive, non-significant, trend along similar trajectory their congenerics high goodness fit. On hand, > 180 showed degree scatter, several specimens having pronounced left-biased suspect that this dramatic change due combination ontogenetic niche shift, bigger home ranges, susceptibility negative anthropogenic influences, and/or male bias sampled, larger sample required determine if statistical significance these intra-specific trends. reflect laterality, which be driver seen here.

Language: Английский

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On Trophic Adaptations of Ornithosuchids (Archosauria)

Paleontological Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 59(1), P. 87 - 99

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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