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Ponce DA, Scheyer TM, Cerda IA, Desojo JB. Palaeobiological inferences of "rauisuchians" Fasolasuchus tenax (Los Colorados Fm., Argentina) and Prestosuchus chiniquensis (Santa Maria Super sequence, Brazil) from the Middle-Upper Triassic of South America based on microstructural analyses. J Anat 2023; 243:893-909. [PMID: 37519277 PMCID: PMC10641045 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
"Rauisuchia" is a non-monophyletic group of quadrupedal and carnivorous pseudosuchians that inhabited the entire world during the Middle-Upper Triassic period (Anisian/Ladinian-Rhaetian). In South America, "rauisuchians" reached the largest sizes among continental carnivores. Despite their important ecological role, some aspects of their palaeobiology have been poorly examined. Here, we study appendicular bones, dorsal ribs and osteoderms of two genera, the Argentinean Fasolasuchus tenax (PVL 3850, holotype) and the Brazilian Prestosuchus chiniquensis (SNSB-BSPG AS XXV) respectively. The femur of F. tenax is formed by laminar fibrolamellar bone, which is composed of non-fully monorefringent woven-fibred matrix and primary osteons; the dorsal rib has a Haversian bone composition with an external fundamental system recorded and the osteoderm is formed by well-organised parallel-fibred bone. The femur, humerus and fibula of P. chiniquensis are mostly composed of strongly arranged parallel-fibred bone and a laminar vascularisation. The minimal ages obtained correspond to 9 years for F. tenax (based on the maximum number of growth marks in the osteoderm) and 4 years for P. chiniquensis (obtained from the highest count of growth marks in the femur and in the humerus). F. tenax attained somatic and skeletal maturity, while P. chiniquensis was near to reaching skeletal and sexual maturity, but it was somatically immature. The overall rapid growth rate and the high and uniform vascularisation seems to imply that these features are common in most of "rauisuchians", except in P. chiniquensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis A Ponce
- Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología (IIPG), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, General Roca, Argentina
- Museo Provincial 'Carlos Ameghino', Cipolletti, Argentina
| | | | - Ignacio A Cerda
- Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología (IIPG), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, General Roca, Argentina
| | - Julia B Desojo
- CONICET-División Paleontología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Pamfilie AM, Espinal MD, Vitek NS. Quantifying shell patterning helps identify species of Trionychidae. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022; 306:1452-1464. [PMID: 36094350 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Softshell turtles (Trionychidae) display characteristic pits and ridges, or "sculpturing," on the bony carapace. Variation in sculpturing pattern may be useful in classifying fossilized shell fragments. Although past attempts could discern qualitative differences in certain best-case scenarios, many early taxonomic uses of sculpturing traits have been reevaluated as unreliable in the face of intraspecific variation. The potential of sculpturing to contain consistently reliable, quantitative, taxonomically informative traits remains underexplored. Here, we revisit this idea by quantifying trionychid shell patterning with topographic measurement techniques more commonly applied to nonhomologous quantification of mammalian teeth and geographic surface topography. We assess potential sources of variation and accuracy of these metrics for species identification. Carapaces of extant specimens used in this study included members of the species Apalone ferox, Apalone spinifera, and Amyda cartilaginea and were obtained from the herpetology collections of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 3D scans of shells were systematically sampled to create digital "fragments." These fragments were quantified using three topographic measurements: Dirichlet Normal Energy (DNE), Relief Index (RFI), and Orientation Patch Count Rotated (OPCR). A nested MANOVA suggests there is significant variation at the species, individual, and carapace location levels of analysis. Linear discriminant analysis correctly predicts a sample's species identity from DNE, RFI, and OPCR 75.2% of the time. These promising results indicate that topographic measures may provide a method for identifying shell fragments that are currently identifiable only as Trionychidae indet. Future work should explore this approach in additional species and account for ontogenetic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Pamfilie
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Milka D Espinal
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Natasha S Vitek
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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4
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Lemierre A, Blackburn DC. A new genus and species of frog from the Kem Kem (Morocco), the second neobatrachian from Cretaceous Africa. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13699. [PMID: 35860040 PMCID: PMC9291016 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neobatrachia, a clade representing the majority of extant anuran diversity, is thought to have emerged and diversified during the Cretaceous. Most of the early diversification of neobatrachians occurred in southern Gondwana, especially the regions that are today South America and Africa. Whereas five extinct neobatrachians have been described from the Cretaceous of South America in the last decade, only one is known from Africa. This difference in the known extinct diversity is linked to the lack of well-preserved specimens, understudy of fragmentary remains, and lack of known Cretaceous sites in Africa. Study of fragmentary anuran remains from Africa could allow for the identification of previously unknown neobatrachians, allowing for a better understanding of their early diversification. We reanalysed several previously described anuran specimens from the well-known Kem Kem beds, including using CT-scanning. Through our osteological study, we determined that several cranial bones and vertebrae represent a new hyperossified taxon for which we provide a formal description. Comparison to other hyperossified anurans revealed similarities and affinity of this new taxon with the neobatrachians Beelzebufo (extinct) and Ceratophrys (extant). Phylogenetic analyses supported this affinity, placing the new taxon within Neobatrachia in an unresolved clade of Ceratophryidae. This taxon is the oldest neobatrachian from Africa, and reveals that neobatrachians were already widespread throughout southern Gondwana during the earliest Late Cretaceous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Lemierre
- Département Origine et Evolution, UMR 7207, Centre de recherche en Paléontologie, CNR/Sorbonne Université/MNHN, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - David C. Blackburn
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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Gruntmejer K, Bodzioch A, Konietzko-Meier D. Mandible histology in Metoposaurus krasiejowensis (Temnospondyli, Stereospondyli) from the Upper Triassic of Poland. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12218. [PMID: 34703667 PMCID: PMC8487625 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies that have systematically augmented our knowledge of dermal bones of the Late Triassic temnospondyl amphibian Metoposaurus krasiejowensis have mostly focused on shoulder girdle elements and the skull. So far, histological data on the mandible are still scant. For the present study, two mandibles have been examined, using 50 standard thin sections. Dermal bones of the mandible reveal a uniform diploë structure, with the external cortex consisting of moderately vascularised, parallel-fibred bone, as well as a distinct alternation of thick zones and thinner annuli. Dense bundles of well-mineralised Sharpey's fibres are seen in the external cortex over the entire length of the mandible. The trabecular middle region is highly porous and well vascularised, showing small primary vascular canals and more numerous secondary osteons; irregular erosion spaces occur in large numbers as well. The thin and poorly vascular internal cortex consists of parallel-fibred bone. The articular is not a dermal bone in origin, having been formed of a thin layer of avascular cortex and a very extensive, trabecular middle region. In contrast to the dermal bones of the mandible, the articular developed from a cartilaginous precursor, as evidenced by numerous remains of calcified cartilage in the central parts of the bone. Histological variability is extremely high along the mandible, its anterior part being characterised by high compactness and biomechanically good resistance in contrast to the highly porous posterior parts. Distinct variations of bone thickness and degree of bone porosity in specific areas of the mandible, may be due to local differences in biomechanics during feeding. The microstructure of the mandible corroborates a previous study of the active and ambush predation strategy in metoposaurids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Gruntmejer
- European Centre of Palaeontology, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
| | - Adam Bodzioch
- European Centre of Palaeontology, University of Opole, Opole, Poland.,Institute of Biology, Laboratory of Palaeobiology, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
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Blotto BL, Lyra ML, Cardoso MCS, Trefaut Rodrigues M, R Dias I, Marciano-Jr E, Dal Vechio F, Orrico VGD, Brandão RA, Lopes de Assis C, Lantyer-Silva ASF, Rutherford MG, Gagliardi-Urrutia G, Solé M, Baldo D, Nunes I, Cajade R, Torres A, Grant T, Jungfer KH, da Silva HR, Haddad CFB, Faivovich J. The phylogeny of the Casque-headed Treefrogs (Hylidae: Hylinae: Lophyohylini). Cladistics 2021; 37:36-72. [PMID: 34478174 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The South American and West Indian Casque-headed Treefrogs (Hylidae: Hylinae: Lophyohylini) include 85 species. These are notably diverse in morphology (e.g. disparate levels of cranial hyperossification) and life history (e.g. different reproductive modes, chemical defences), have a wide distribution, and occupy habitats from the tropical rainforests to semiarid scrubland. In this paper, we present a phylogenetic analysis of this hylid tribe based on sequence fragments of up to five mitochondrial (12S, 16S, ND1, COI, Cytb) and six nuclear genes (POMC, RAG-1, RHOD, SIAH, TNS3, TYR). We included most of its species (> 96%), in addition to a number of new species. Our results indicate: (i) the paraphyly of Trachycephalus with respect to Aparasphenodon venezolanus; (ii) the nonmonophyly of Aparasphenodon, with Argenteohyla siemersi, Corythomantis galeata and Nyctimantis rugiceps nested within it, and Ap. venezolanus nested within Trachycephalus; (iii) the polyphyly of Corythomantis; (iv) the nonmonophyly of the recognized species groups of Phyllodytes; and (v) a pervasive low support for the deep relationships among the major clades of Lophyohylini, including C. greeningi and the monotypic genera Itapotihyla and Phytotriades. To remedy the nonmonophyly of Aparasphenodon, Corythomantis, and Trachycephalus, we redefined Nyctimantis to include Aparasphenodon (with the exception of Ap. venezolanus, which we transferred to Trachycephalus), Argenteohyla, and C. galeata. Additionally, our results indicate the need for taxonomic work in the following clades: (i) Trachycephalus dibernardoi and Tr. imitatrix; (ii) Tr. atlas, Tr. mambaiensis and Tr. nigromaculatus; and (iii) Phyllodytes. On the basis of our phylogenetic results, we analyzed the evolution of skull hyperossification and reproductive biology, with emphasis on the multiple independent origins of phytotelm breeding, in the context of Anura. We also analyzed the inter-related aspects of chemical defences, venom delivery, phragmotic behaviour, co-ossification, and prevention of evaporative water loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris L Blotto
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana L Lyra
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Monica C S Cardoso
- Setor de Herpetologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, CEP 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Iuri R Dias
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Euvaldo Marciano-Jr
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Francisco Dal Vechio
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victor G D Orrico
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Reuber A Brandão
- Laboratório de Fauna e Unidades de Conservação, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Clodoaldo Lopes de Assis
- Museu de Zoologia João Moojen, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Amanda S F Lantyer-Silva
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mike G Rutherford
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of The West Indies Zoology Museum, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago
| | - Giussepe Gagliardi-Urrutia
- Laboratorio de Sistemática de Vertebrados, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Prédio 40, sala 110, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mirco Solé
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Diego Baldo
- Laboratorio de Genetica Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biologıa Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Félix de Azara, 1552, CPA N3300LQF Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Ivan Nunes
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus do Litoral Paulista, CEP 11330-900, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Cajade
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Av. Libertad 5470, 3400, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Ambrosio Torres
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET - Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, 4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Taran Grant
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karl-Heinz Jungfer
- Department of Biology, Institute of Integrated Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstr. 1, 56070, Koblenz, Germany
| | - Helio R da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Caixa Postal 74524, 23851-970, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Célio F B Haddad
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"-CONICET, Angel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Glynne E, Daza JD, Bauer AM. Surface sculpturing in the skull of gecko lizards (Squamata: Gekkota). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
It has previously been stated that geckos are characterized by smooth cranial bones bearing no sculpturing; however, there are many exceptions. Here we systematically characterize variation in sculpturing in cranial bones across all seven gekkotan families and examine patterns of evolutionary transitions in these traits on a multigene molecular gekkotan phylogeny to elucidate trends in phenotypic diversification in bone sculpturing. Over 195 species were reviewed using specimens where smooth, grooved, pitted and rugose sculpturing patterns were found. Of the 26 cranial bones, only seven (premaxilla, maxilla, nasal, prefrontal, frontal, parietal and postorbitofrontal) were found to bear sculpturing across more than three species. Sculpturing was found to extend beyond these seven bones onto either the dentary, surangular and/or quadrate within five species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that sculpturing evolved recently and repeatedly in several distinct lineages. The remaining 19 skull bones were smooth, except in the five species above, supporting the suggestion that smooth skull bones were ancestral in gekkotans. There is no apparent relationship between body size and the presence of bone sculpturing. The functional significance, if any, of sculpturing requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Glynne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
| | - Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
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Haridy Y, Macdougall MJ, Scott D, Reisz RR. Ontogenetic Change in the Temporal Region of the Early Permian Parareptile Delorhynchus cifellii and the Implications for Closure of the Temporal Fenestra in Amniotes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166819. [PMID: 27907071 PMCID: PMC5132164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A juvenile specimen of Delorhynchus cifellii, collected from the Early Permian fissure-fill deposits of Richards Spur, Oklahoma, permits the first detailed study of cranial ontogeny in this parareptile. The specimen, consisting of a partially articulated skull and mandible, exhibits several features that identify it as juvenile. The dermal tuberosities that ornament the dorsal side and lateral edges of the largest skull of D. cifellii specimens, are less prominent in the intermediate sized holotype, and are absent in the new specimen. This indicates that the new specimen represents an earlier ontogenetic stage than all previously described members of this species. In addition, the incomplete interdigitation of the sutures, most notably along the fronto-nasal contact, plus the proportionally larger sizes of the orbit and temporal fenestrae further support an early ontogenetic stage for this specimen. Comparisons between this juvenile and previously described specimens reveal that the size and shape of the temporal fenestra in Delorhynchus appear to vary through ontogeny, due to changes in the shape and size of the bordering cranial elements. The jugal of the juvenile specimen is tri-radiate and similar in outline with those found in other amniotes with temporal fenestrae. The available growth series of D. cifellii shows that the jugal gradually becomes a more robust, tetra-radiate element, as the proportionate size of the temporal fenestra is reduced. Ontogenetic changes of other elements that form the border of the fenestra also contribute to its reduction. This growth series provides valuable new information regarding the ontogenetic trajectory of the temporal fenestra in a Palaeozoic reptile, which may be applicable to the evolutionary event of loss of temporal fenestration in other amniotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Haridy
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Mark J. Macdougall
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Diane Scott
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert R. Reisz
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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Gruntmejer K, Konietzko-Meier D, Bodzioch A. Cranial bone histology of Metoposaurus krasiejowensis (Amphibia, Temnospondyli) from the Late Triassic of Poland. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2685. [PMID: 27843719 PMCID: PMC5103832 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, 21 skull bones of Metoposaurus krasiejowensis from the Late Triassic of Poland were investigated histologically. Dermal bones show a diploë structure, with an ornamented external surface. The ridges consist of mostly well vascularized parallel-fibered bone; the valleys are built of an avascular layer of lamellar bone. The thick middle region consists of cancellous bone, with varying porosity. The thin and less vascularized internal cortex consists of parallel-fibered bone. The numerous Sharpey's fibers and ISF are present in all bones. The cyclicity of growth is manifested as an alternation of thick, avascular annuli and high vascularized zones as well as a sequence of resting lines. The detailed histological framework of dermal bones varies even within a single bone; this seems to be related to the local biomechanical loading of the particular part of the skull. The dynamic processes observed during the ornamentation creation indicate that the positions of the ridges and grooves change during growth and could be a specific adaptation to changing biomechanical conditions and stress distribution during bone development. In the supratemporal, the cementing lines show that the remodeling process could be involved in the creations of sculpture. The common occurrence of ISF suggests that metaplastic ossification plays an important role during cranial development. Endochondral bones preserved the numerous remains of calcified cartilage. This indicates that ossification follows a pattern known for stereospondyl intercentra, with relatively slow ossification of the trabecular part and late development of the periosteal cortex. The large accumulation of Sharpey's fibers in the occipital condyles indicates the presence of strong muscles and ligaments connecting the skull to the vertebral column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Gruntmejer
- Department of Biosystematics, University of Opole, Opole, Poland; European Centre of Palaeontology, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
| | - Dorota Konietzko-Meier
- Department of Biosystematics, University of Opole, Opole, Poland; European Centre of Palaeontology, University of Opole, Opole, Poland; Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Adam Bodzioch
- Department of Biosystematics, University of Opole , Opole , Poland
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