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Hirasawa T, Pascual-Anaya J, Kamezaki N, Taniguchi M, Mine K, Kuratani S. The evolutionary origin of the turtle shell and its dependence on the axial arrest of the embryonic rib cage. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2014; 324:194-207. [PMID: 24898540 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Turtles are characterized by their possession of a shell with dorsal and ventral moieties: the carapace and the plastron, respectively. In this review, we try to provide answers to the question of the evolutionary origin of the carapace, by revising morphological, developmental, and paleontological comparative analyses. The turtle carapace is formed through modification of the thoracic ribs and vertebrae, which undergo extensive ossification to form a solid bony structure. Except for peripheral dermal elements, there are no signs of exoskeletal components ontogenetically added to the costal and neural bones, and thus the carapace is predominantly of endoskeletal nature. Due to the axial arrest of turtle rib growth, the axial part of the embryo expands laterally and the shoulder girdle becomes encapsulated in the rib cage, together with the inward folding of the lateral body wall in the late phase of embryogenesis. Along the line of this folding develops a ridge called the carapacial ridge (CR), a turtle-specific embryonic structure. The CR functions in the marginal growth of the carapacial primordium, in which Wnt signaling pathway might play a crucial role. Both paleontological and genomic evidence suggest that the axial arrest is the first step toward acquisition of the turtle body plan, which is estimated to have taken place after the divergence of a clade including turtles from archosaurs. The developmental relationship between the CR and the axial arrest remains a central issue to be solved in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Hirasawa
- Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan
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Chen XH, Motani R, Cheng L, Jiang DY, Rieppel O. A carapace-like bony 'body tube' in an early triassic marine reptile and the onset of marine tetrapod predation. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94396. [PMID: 24718682 PMCID: PMC3981804 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Parahupehsuchus longus is a new species of marine reptile from the Lower Triassic of Yuan’an County, Hubei Province, China. It is unique among vertebrates for having a body wall that is completely surrounded by a bony tube, about 50 cm long and 6.5 cm deep, comprising overlapping ribs and gastralia. This tube and bony ossicles on the back are best interpreted as anti-predatory features, suggesting that there was predation pressure upon marine tetrapods in the Early Triassic. There is at least one sauropterygian that is sufficiently large to feed on Parahupehsuchus in the Nanzhang-Yuan’an fauna, together with six more species of potential prey marine reptiles with various degrees of body protection. Modern predators of marine tetrapods belong to the highest trophic levels in the marine ecosystem but such predators did not always exist through geologic time. The indication of marine-tetrapod feeding in the Nanzhang-Yuan’an fauna suggests that such a trophic level emerged for the first time in the Early Triassic. The recovery from the end-Permian extinction probably proceeded faster than traditionally thought for marine predators. Parahupehsuchus has superficially turtle-like features, namely expanded ribs without intercostal space, very short transverse processes, and a dorsal outgrowth from the neural spine. However, these features are structurally different from their turtle counterparts. Phylogeny suggests that they are convergent with the condition in turtles, which has a fundamentally different body plan that involves the folding of the body wall. Expanded ribs without intercostal space evolved at least twice and probably even more among reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-hong Chen
- Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Ryosuke Motani
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Long Cheng
- Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Da-yong Jiang
- Laboratory of Orogenic Belt and Crustal Evolution, Ministry of Education, Department of Geology and Geological Museum, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Olivier Rieppel
- Center of Integrative Research, The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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Ezcurra MD, Scheyer TM, Butler RJ. The origin and early evolution of Sauria: reassessing the permian Saurian fossil record and the timing of the crocodile-lizard divergence. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89165. [PMID: 24586565 PMCID: PMC3937355 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sauria is the crown-group of Diapsida and is subdivided into Lepidosauromorpha and Archosauromorpha, comprising a high percentage of the diversity of living and fossil tetrapods. The split between lepidosauromorphs and archosauromorphs (the crocodile-lizard, or bird-lizard, divergence) is considered one of the key calibration points for molecular analyses of tetrapod phylogeny. Saurians have a very rich Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil record, but their late Paleozoic (Permian) record is problematic. Several Permian specimens have been referred to Sauria, but the phylogenetic affinity of some of these records remains questionable. We reexamine and review all of these specimens here, providing new data on early saurian evolution including osteohistology, and present a new morphological phylogenetic dataset. We support previous studies that find that no valid Permian record for Lepidosauromorpha, and we also reject some of the previous referrals of Permian specimens to Archosauromorpha. The most informative Permian archosauromorph is Protorosaurus speneri from the middle Late Permian of Western Europe. A historically problematic specimen from the Late Permian of Tanzania is redescribed and reidentified as a new genus and species of basal archosauromorph: Aenigmastropheus parringtoni. The supposed protorosaur Eorasaurus olsoni from the Late Permian of Russia is recovered among Archosauriformes and may be the oldest known member of the group but the phylogenetic support for this position is low. The assignment of Archosaurus rossicus from the latest Permian of Russia to the archosauromorph clade Proterosuchidae is supported. Our revision suggests a minimum fossil calibration date for the crocodile-lizard split of 254.7 Ma. The occurrences of basal archosauromorphs in the northern (30°N) and southern (55°S) parts of Pangea imply a wider paleobiogeographic distribution for the group during the Late Permian than previously appreciated. Early archosauromorph growth strategies appear to be more diverse than previously suggested based on new data on the osteohistology of Aenigmastropheus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín D. Ezcurra
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Torsten M. Scheyer
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard J. Butler
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Werneburg I, Hinz JK, Gumpenberger M, Volpato V, Natchev N, Joyce WG. Modeling neck mobility in fossil turtles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2014; 324:230-43. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingmar Werneburg
- Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
- Museum für Naturkunde; Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity; Berlin Germany
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - Juliane K. Hinz
- Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
| | | | - Virginie Volpato
- Paläoanthropologie und Messelforschung/Mammalogie; Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung; Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Nikolay Natchev
- Department of Integrative Zoology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
- Faculty of Natural Science; Shumen University; Bulgaria, Shumen 9712, Univeristetska str. 115
| | - Walter G. Joyce
- Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
- Department of Geoscience; University of Fribourg; Fribourg Switzerland
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Differential occupation of axial morphospace. ZOOLOGY 2014; 117:70-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Joyce WG, Schoch RR, Lyson TR. The girdles of the oldest fossil turtle, Proterochersis robusta, and the age of the turtle crown. BMC Evol Biol 2013; 13:266. [PMID: 24314094 PMCID: PMC4077068 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-13-266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Proterochersis robusta from the Late Triassic (Middle Norian) of Germany is the oldest known fossil turtle (i.e. amniote with a fully formed turtle shell), but little is known about its anatomy. A newly prepared, historic specimen provides novel insights into the morphology of the girdles and vertebral column of this taxon and the opportunity to reassess its phylogenetic position. Results The anatomy of the pectoral girdle of P. robusta is similar to that of other primitive turtles, including the Late Triassic (Carnian) Proganochelys quenstedti, in having a vertically oriented scapula, a large coracoid foramen, a short acromion process, and bony ridges that connect the acromion process with the dorsal process, glenoid, and coracoid, and by being able to rotate along a vertical axis. The pelvic elements are expanded distally and suturally attached to the shell, but in contrast to modern pleurodiran turtles the pelvis is associated with the sacral ribs. Conclusions The primary homology of the character “sutured pelvis” is unproblematic between P. robusta and extant pleurodires. However, integration of all new observations into the most complete phylogenetic analysis that support the pleurodiran nature of P. robusta reveals that this taxon is more parsimoniously placed along the phylogenetic stem of crown Testudines. All current phylogenetic hypotheses therefore support the basal placement of this taxon, imply that the sutured pelvis of this taxon developed independently from that of pleurodires, and conclude that the age of the turtle crown is Middle Jurassic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter G Joyce
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Hölderlinstr, 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.
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Joyce WG, Werneburg I, Lyson TR. The hooked element in the pes of turtles (Testudines): a global approach to exploring primary and secondary homology. J Anat 2013; 223:421-41. [PMID: 24102560 PMCID: PMC4399356 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hooked element in the pes of turtles was historically identified by most palaeontologists and embryologists as a modified fifth metatarsal, and often used as evidence to unite turtles with other reptiles with a hooked element. Some recent embryological studies, however, revealed that this element might represent an enlarged fifth distal tarsal. We herein provide extensive new myological and developmental observations on the hooked element of turtles, and re-evaluate its primary and secondary homology using all available lines of evidence. Digital count and timing of development are uninformative. However, extensive myological, embryological and topological data are consistent with the hypothesis that the hooked element of turtles represents a fusion of the fifth distal tarsal with the fifth metatarsal, but that the fifth distal tarsal dominates the hooked element in pleurodiran turtles, whereas the fifth metatarsal dominates the hooked element of cryptodiran turtles. The term 'ansulate bone' is proposed to refer to hooked elements that result from the fusion of these two bones. The available phylogenetic and fossil data are currently insufficient to clarify the secondary homology of hooked elements within Reptilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter G Joyce
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Lee MSY. Turtle origins: insights from phylogenetic retrofitting and molecular scaffolds. J Evol Biol 2013; 26:2729-38. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. S. Y. Lee
- Earth Sciences Section; South Australian Museum; North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA Australia
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Lyson TR, Bhullar BAS, Bever GS, Joyce WG, de Queiroz K, Abzhanov A, Gauthier JA. Homology of the enigmatic nuchal bone reveals novel reorganization of the shoulder girdle in the evolution of the turtle shell. Evol Dev 2013; 15:317-25. [DOI: 10.1111/ede.12041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R. Lyson
- Department of Geology and Geophysics; Yale University; New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Division of Vertebrate Paleontology; Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History; New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology; National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; Washington DC 20560 USA
| | - Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar
- Department of Geology and Geophysics; Yale University; New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; Harvard University; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Gabe S. Bever
- Department of Geology and Geophysics; Yale University; New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Department of Anatomy; New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine; New York NY USA
- Division of Paleontology; American Museum of Natural History; New York NY USA
| | - Walter G. Joyce
- Department of Geosciences; University of Tübingen; 72074 Tübingen Germany
- Division of Vertebrate Paleontology; Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History; New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | - Kevin de Queiroz
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology; National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; Washington DC 20560 USA
| | - Arhat Abzhanov
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; Harvard University; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Jacques A. Gauthier
- Department of Geology and Geophysics; Yale University; New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Division of Vertebrate Paleontology; Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History; New Haven CT 06511 USA
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Tokita M, Chaeychomsri W, Siruntawineti J. Skeletal gene expression in the temporal region of the reptilian embryos: implications for the evolution of reptilian skull morphology. SPRINGERPLUS 2013; 2:336. [PMID: 24711977 PMCID: PMC3970585 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Reptiles have achieved highly diverse morphological and physiological traits that allow them to exploit various ecological niches and resources. Morphology of the temporal region of the reptilian skull is highly diverse and historically it has been treated as an important character for classifying reptiles and has helped us understand the ecology and physiology of each species. However, the developmental mechanism that generates diversity of reptilian skull morphology is poorly understood. We reveal a potential developmental basis that generates morphological diversity in the temporal region of the reptilian skull by performing a comparative analysis of gene expression in the embryos of reptile species with different skull morphology. By investigating genes known to regulate early osteoblast development, we find dorsoventrally broadened unique expression of the early osteoblast marker, Runx2, in the temporal region of the head of turtle embryos that do not form temporal fenestrae. We also observe that Msx2 is also uniquely expressed in the mesenchymal cells distributed at the temporal region of the head of turtle embryos. Furthermore, through comparison of gene expression pattern in the embryos of turtle, crocodile, and snake species, we find a possible correlation between the spatial patterns of Runx2 and Msx2 expression in cranial mesenchymal cells and skull morphology of each reptilian lineage. Regulatory modifications of Runx2 and Msx2 expression in osteogenic mesenchymal precursor cells are likely involved in generating morphological diversity in the temporal region of the reptilian skull.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayoshi Tokita
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tenno-dai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572 Japan ; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Win Chaeychomsri
- Department of Zoology, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand
| | - Jindawan Siruntawineti
- Department of Zoology, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand
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