Macroevolutionary trends in Ceratosauria body size: insights of phylogenetic comparative methods

BMC Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1)

Published: April 12, 2025

Patterns of body size evolution in dinosaurs are relevant for understanding the evolutionary trends that have shaped disparity phenotypes observed fossil record. In this sense, previous studies suggested Abelisauridae followed Cope´s rule and Noasauridae exhibited a phylogenetic trend towards decreasing size. However, absence comprehensive analysis including ecological, socio-sexual factors make it necessary to reevaluate Ceretatosauria under modern comparative approach. Therefore, we aimed test whether evolved Ceratosauria accordance with rule, evaluate what best explain differences within examine patterns rates, selection strength constrain diversification Ceratosauria. Differences were found between specialized taxa (= Late Cretaceous abelisaurids) "generalized taxa" Outgroups + Noasauridae). This results presence feeding strategy abelisaurids was associated size, regardless topology model used. Additionally, low levels morphological disparity, rates specialist behavior Brownian motion record suggest constrained. The cursorial abilities joined predation could constrained increase after extinction carcharodontosaurids. On other hand, decreased likely avoid niche overlap medium theropods minimize structural maintenance cost while living stressful environments having generalist diet. Understanding how dynamics dinosaur communities, such as competition predator-prey interactions, operated South America during is crucial reconstructing ecological processes its unique faunal assemblage. Futures works should be focus on process-based community-evolution species distribution modeling further understand macroevolution community.

Language: Английский

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Deep learning-aided segmentation combined with finite element analysis reveals a more natural biomechanic of dinosaur fossil

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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Farlowichnus rapidus new ichnogen., new ichnosp.: A speedy and small theropod in the Early Cretaceous Botucatu paleodesert (Paraná Basin), Brazil

Cretaceous Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 153, P. 105720 - 105720

Published: Sept. 29, 2023

Language: Английский

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The Dinosaur Footprints in the Cretaceous Aeolian Deposits of Sanfranciscana Basin

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Morphological evolution and functional consequences of giantism in tyrannosauroid dinosaurs

iScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(9), P. 110679 - 110679

Published: Aug. 5, 2024

Language: Английский

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