Paleozoic cave system preserves oldest-known evidence of amniote skin

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(2), P. 417 - 426.e4

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Epidermal scale growth, allometry and function in non‐avian dinosaurs and extant reptiles

Journal of Anatomy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 18, 2025

Abstract Epidermal scales in sauropsids perform a wide array of biological functions, which can relate to their shape and size. Accordingly, growth‐related changes scale morphology may reflect distinct functions between juvenile adult individuals, such as use mating interactions. Such patterns are poorly explored both extant reptiles non‐avian dinosaurs, limiting functional interpretations. Here, we investigate growth the ornithischian ceratopsid Chasmosaurus belli hadrosaurid Prosaurolophus maximus by comparing morphologies juveniles adults each taxon. Scale is generally consistent across stages taxa, C. feature length cannot reject isometry. However, there greater increase width. In practical terms, magnitude these size differences rejects hypothesis that played role interactions, suggesting instead was largely non‐adaptive. To contextualise sampled assessed allometry using an ecologically diverse sample eight reptile species belonging Crocodylidae, Scincidae, Elapidae Pythonidae. While isometry overall most frequent pattern our reptiles, demonstrate positive at least one area bodies, likely response changing body proportions. shapes studied species, retained through growth. This study provides first detailed assessment skin supporting morphological stasis scales.

Language: Английский

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A new metoposaurid (Temnospondyli) bonebed from the lower Popo Agie Formation (Carnian, Triassic) and an assessment of skeletal sorting

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(4), P. e0317325 - e0317325

Published: April 2, 2025

Metoposaurid-dominated bonebeds are relatively commonplace in Upper Triassic continental deposits with at least ten monodominant, densely-packed globally. The biostratinomy of several classic localities India, North America, and Poland have been explored detail; however, variability methods resultant conclusions point to the need for a more rigorous approach understanding both taphonomic ecological origins metoposaurid-dominated bonebeds. Here we present first monodominant metoposaurid mass mortality assemblage from Late Popo Agie Formation stratigraphically lowest known record fauna Fm including occurrence Buettnererpeton bakeri Wyoming. We employ previously tested binning based on perceived hydrodynamic equivalence (“Voorhies groups”) assess pre-burial skeletal sorting. suggest simple counting normalization method that avoids inherent bias introduced by interpretation elements taxa lack actualistic experimental data. In contrast other American bonebeds, sedimentology sorting analyses Nobby Knob quarry support an autochthonous origin this fluvio-lacustrine system little Despite differences underlying assumptions regarding dispersal potential specific elements, tend follow similar trends regardless framework used different assemblages.

Language: Английский

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Celebrating dinosaurs: their behaviour, evolution, growth, and physiology

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60(3), P. 263 - 293

Published: Feb. 21, 2023

Dinosaurs have attracted varying degrees of scientific and public interest since their initial description in 1824. Interest has steadily increased, however, the late 1960s when Dinosaur Renaissance began, Canadian Journal Earth Sciences started to publish. Since then, there been a feedback system (international scope) promoting increased activity ever-increasing attention. This led ever more dinosaur discoveries internationally; numbers museums parks displaying dinosaurs; publications, blogs, other media on (most importantly) people institutions doing research dinosaurs. About 30 new species dinosaurs are now being described every year, adding than 1000 already known. Furthermore, it is acknowledged by most biologists palaeontologists that modern birds direct descendants dinosaurs, they classified as part Dinosauria. Recognizing 11 000 living given us better understanding many aspects biology nonavian Along with technological improvements, this revealed new—and often surprising—facts about anatomy (bones, soft tissues, even colours), interrelationships, biomechanics, growth variation, ecology, physiology, behaviour, extinction. In spite intensity over last six decades, no indication discovery facts slowing down. It quite clear still lot be learned!

Language: Английский

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Decay experiments and microbial community analysis of water lily leaf biofilms: Sediment effects on leaf preservation potential

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(12), P. e0315656 - e0315656

Published: Dec. 18, 2024

Understanding the intricate dynamics of sediment-mediated microbial interactions and their impact on plant tissue preservation is crucial for unraveling complexities leaf decay processes. To elucidate earliest stages preservation, a series experiments was carried out three months Nymphaea water lily leaves in aquariums with pond one distinctly different, sterilized, fine-grained substrates—commercially purchased kaolinite clay or fine sand, natural mud. One aquarium contained only as control. We use 16S ITS rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to identify characterize complex composition bacterial fungal communities leaves. Our results reveal that mud substrate produces unique community biofilms compared other substrates. The significantly influences communities, shown by correlation between high concentrations minerals abundance. Furthermore, more biofilm formers are observed exposed after two months, contrasting declines also enhanced sediment types, providing insight into role fossilization Notably, have fewest end experiment. key biofilm-forming microbes associated each substrate. organic-rich emerges hotspot formers, showing it promotes formation may increase potential better than mud’s chemical composition, rich such silica, iron, aluminum, phosphate, slow suspend facilitate biomineralization, thus paving way toward preservation. study bridges information gap modern mineral encrustation fossil analyzing response types which commonly found.

Language: Английский

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Integumentary impressions on hadrosaurid specimens from the Upper Cretaceous (upper Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada: implications for integument patterns and hand morphologyCitation for this article: Joubarne, T., Therrien F., & Zelenitsky D. K. (2023). Integumentary impressions on hadrosaurid specimens from the Upper Cretaceous (upper Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada: implications for integument patterns and hand morphology. Journal of Vertebrate …

Tristan Joubarne,

François Therrien, Darla K. Zelenitsky

et al.

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 42(6)

Published: Dec. 14, 2022

Fossilized dinosaur skin provides information about scale morphology, patterns, and soft-tissue structures that are otherwise unknown from skeletal elements. Here, we describe three indeterminate hadrosaurid specimens with extensive impressions the Upper Cretaceous (upper Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta shed light on diversity integument patterns manus morphology within Hadrosauridae. Skin anterior torso a juvenile reveal pattern alternating vertical bands small polygonal pebbly basement scales. If these stripes corresponded to color in life then this hadrosaur species may have preferred open habitats, as modern animals often live such habitats. Integument preserved two other show digits II–III–IV were subequal length united common fleshy structure, opposed those previously described exceptionally Edmontosaurus annectens mummies, which digit II is apparently shorter independent III–IV. As such, Hadrosauridae be greater than realized.

Language: Английский

Citations

1

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The first hadrosaurid trackway from the horseshoe canyon formation (campanian/maastrichtian) of Alberta, Canada

Mark J. Powers, Matthew M. Rhodes, Aaron D. Dyer

et al.

Ichnos/Ichnos : an international journal for plant and animal traces, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 30(3), P. 179 - 206

Published: July 3, 2023

The Horseshoe Canyon Formation has provided a wealth of vertebrate skeletal fossils over the past 100 years collection. Vertebrate trace such as footprints and trackways, however, have been markedly underrepresented. Trackways can provide information regarding behaviour soft tissues reflective autopodial anatomy. Discovery several giant, high-fidelity ichnites in series from Morrin Member represents first definitive dinosaur trackway reported Formation. is composed three footprint casts series, alongside 22 associated ichnites. were formed sediment molds along non-uniform walking surface. deep substrates allowed for preservation both plantar surface dorsal components trackmakers' feet. Some show tissue morphologies like interdigital webbing, toe pads, skin impressions. Presence these features small kidney-shaped forelimb prints allow referral to Hadrosauropodus langstoni. demonstrates asymmetries useful comparison relief impression surfaces using discrete morphometric characteristics, improving confidence identifying partial or isolated various modes formation.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

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