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Lacerda MBS, Bittencourt JS, Hutchinson JR. Macroevolutionary patterns in the pelvis, stylopodium and zeugopodium of megalosauroid theropod dinosaurs and their importance for locomotor function. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230481. [PMID: 37593714 PMCID: PMC10427828 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
During the Mesozoic, non-avian theropods represented one of the most successful clades globally distributed, with a wide diversity of forms. An example is the clade Megalosauroidea, which included medium- to large-bodied forms. Here, we analyse the macroevolution of the locomotor system in early Theropoda, emphasizing the Megalosauroidea. We scored the Spinosaurus neotype in a published taxon-character matrix and described the associated modifications in character states, mapping them onto a phylogeny and using these to study disparity. In the evolution of Megalosauroidea, there was the mosaic emergence of a low swollen ridge; enlargement of the posterior brevis fossa and emergence of a posterodorsal process on the ilium in some megalosauroids; emergence of a femoral head oriented anteromedially and medially angled, and appearance of posterolaterally oriented medial femoral condyles in spinosaurids. The greatest morphological disparity is in the ilium of megalosaurids; the ischium seems to have a high degree of homoplasy; there is a clear distinction in the femoral morphospace regarding megalosauroids and other theropods; piatnitzkysaurids show considerable disparity of zeugopodial characters. These reconstructions of osteological evolution form a stronger basis on which other studies could build, such as mapping of pelvic/appendicular musculature and/or correlating skeletal traits with changes in locomotor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro B. S. Lacerda
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jonathas S. Bittencourt
- Departamento de Geologia, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - John R. Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
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2
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Barker CT, Naish D, Gostling NJ. Isolated tooth reveals hidden spinosaurid dinosaur diversity in the British Wealden Supergroup (Lower Cretaceous). PeerJ 2023; 11:e15453. [PMID: 37273543 PMCID: PMC10239232 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Isolated spinosaurid teeth are relatively well represented in the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Supergroup of southern England, UK. Until recently it was assumed that these teeth were referable to Baryonyx, the type species (B. walkeri) and specimen of which is from the Barremian Upper Weald Clay Formation of Surrey. British spinosaurid teeth are known from formations that span much of the c. 25 Ma depositional history of the Wealden Supergroup, and recent works suggest that British spinosaurids were more taxonomically diverse than previously thought. On the basis of both arguments, it is appropriate to doubt the hypothesis that isolated teeth from outside the Upper Weald Clay Formation are referable to Baryonyx. Here, we use phylogenetic, discriminant and cluster analyses to test whether an isolated spinosaurid tooth (HASMG G369a, consisting of a crown and part of the root) from a non-Weald Clay Formation unit can be referred to Baryonyx. HASMG G369a was recovered from an uncertain Lower Cretaceous locality in East Sussex but is probably from a Valanginian exposure of the Hastings Group and among the oldest spinosaurid material known from the UK. Spinosaurid affinities are both quantitatively and qualitatively supported, and HASMG G369a does not associate with Baryonyx in any analysis. This supports recent reinterpretations of the diversity of spinosaurid in the Early Cretaceous of Britain, which appears to have been populated by multiple spinosaurid lineages in a manner comparable to coeval Iberian deposits. This work also reviews the British and global records of early spinosaurids (known mainly from dental specimens), and revisits evidence for post-Cenomanian spinosaurid persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris T. Barker
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Naish
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Neil J. Gostling
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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3
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Santos-Cubedo A, de Santisteban C, Poza B, Meseguer S. A new spinosaurid dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous of Cinctorres (Spain). Sci Rep 2023; 13:6471. [PMID: 37202441 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33418-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A new spinosaurid genus and species is described based on the right maxilla and five caudal vertebrae of a single specimen from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous) at the locality of Cinctorres (Castellón, Spain). Protathlitis cinctorrensis gen. et sp. nov. is diagnosed by one autapomorphic feature as well as by a unique combination of characters. The autapomorphy includes a subcircular depression in the anterior corner of the antorbital fossa in the maxilla. The new Iberian species is recovered as a basal baryonychine. The recognition of Protathlitis cinctorrensis gen. et sp. nov. as the first baryonychine dinosaur species identified from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (late Barremian) from the same time as Vallibonavenatrix cani, the first spinosaurine dinosaur from the same formation in the Morella subbasin (Maestrat Basin, eastern Spain), indicates that the Iberian Peninsula was home to a highly diverse assemblage of medium-to-large bodied spinosaurid dinosaurs. It seems that spinosaurids appeared during the Early Cretaceous in Laurasia, with the two subfamilies occupying the western part of Europe during this period. Later, during the Barremian-Aptian, they migrated to Africa and Asia, where they would diversify. In Europe, baryonychines were dominant, while in Africa, spinosaurines were most abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Santos-Cubedo
- Àrea de Cristal·lografia i Mineralogia, Departament de Biologia, Bioquímica i Ciències Naturals, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
- Grup Guix, 12540, Vila-real, Spain.
| | - Carlos de Santisteban
- Departament de Botànica i Geologia, Universitat de València, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | | | - Sergi Meseguer
- Àrea de Cristal·lografia i Mineralogia, Departament de Biologia, Bioquímica i Ciències Naturals, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain
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4
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Lacerda MBS, Aragão PRL, Vieira FS, Sales MAF, Liparini A. On the first Baryonychinae (Theropoda, Spinosauridae) teeth from South America. Zootaxa 2023; 5264:526-544. [PMID: 37518033 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.4.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
We report the first occurrence in South America of spinosaurid specimens belonging to the clade Baryonychinae. The material comprises three tooth crowns recovered from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian-Valanginian) of the Feliz Deserto Formation, State of Sergipe, northeast Brazil. The three specimens have the typical conidont condition, displaying a fluted morphology, veined enamel texture and carinae extending to the cervix region, conditions similar to those shared among spinosaurid theropods. Furthermore, a notable feature is the presence of a serrated carinae composed of 6-7 diminutive denticles per millimetre, a key feature shared by baryonychine spinosaurids. Phylogenetic and multivariate analyses performed on dentition-based and crown-based datasets of theropod taxa confirm the relationship of the three tooth crowns described here with the well-supported spinosaurid clade. Our results retrieve the taxa which comprise the "classically" baryonychine clade as individual branches within a polytomy which includes the three tooth crowns and a subclade of spinosaurines (Spinosaurus + Angaturama/Irritator). Additionally, the discriminant and cluster analyses suggest that the materials are more similar to Suchomimus than to Baryonyx morphometrically, but clearly bearing similarities with baryonychines (sharing a similar morphospace). These new findings paleogeographically expand the occurrence of this clade to western Gondwana, and comprise one of the oldest spinosaurid records worldwide, which brings implications on hypotheses for the emergence and evolution of the clade. Furthermore, these new records indicate the presence of more than one spinosaurid taxon in the Lower Cretaceous deltaic paleoenvironment of the Feliz Deserto Formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro B S Lacerda
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Belo Horizonte; Minas Gerais 31270-901; Brazil..
| | - Paulo R L Aragão
- Departamento de Biologia; Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão; Sergipe 49100-000; Brazil..
| | - Fabiana S Vieira
- Departamento de Biologia; Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão; Sergipe 49100-000; Brazil..
| | - Marcos A F Sales
- Campus Acopiara; Instituto Federal de Educação; Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará; Acopiara; Ceará 63560-000; Brazil..
| | - Alexandre Liparini
- Departamento de Geologia; Instituto de Geociências; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Belo Horizonte; Minas Gerais 31270- 901; Brazil..
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Barker CT, Naish D, Trend J, Michels LV, Witmer L, Ridgley R, Rankin K, Clarkin CE, Schneider P, Gostling NJ. Modified skulls but conservative brains? The palaeoneurology and endocranial anatomy of baryonychine dinosaurs (Theropoda: Spinosauridae). J Anat 2023; 242:1124-1145. [PMID: 36781174 PMCID: PMC10184548 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The digital reconstruction of neurocranial endocasts has elucidated the gross brain structure and potential ecological attributes of many fossil taxa, including Irritator, a spinosaurine spinosaurid from the "mid" Cretaceous (Aptian) of Brazil. With unexceptional hearing capabilities, this taxon was inferred to integrate rapid and controlled pitch-down movements of the head that perhaps aided in the predation of small and agile prey such as fish. However, the neuroanatomy of baryonychine spinosaurids remains to be described, and potentially informs on the condition of early spinosaurids. Using micro-computed tomographic scanning (μCT), we reconstruct the braincase endocasts of Baryonyx walkeri and Ceratosuchops inferodios from the Wealden Supergroup (Lower Cretaceous) of England. We show that the gross endocranial morphology is similar to other non-maniraptoriform theropods, and corroborates previous observations of overall endocranial conservatism amongst more basal theropods. Several differences of unknown taxonomic utility are noted between the pair. Baryonychine neurosensory capabilities include low-frequency hearing and unexceptional olfaction, whilst the differing morphology of the floccular lobe tentatively suggests less developed gaze stabilisation mechanisms relative to spinosaurines. Given the morphological similarities observed with other basal tetanurans, baryonychines likely possessed comparable behavioural sophistication, suggesting that the transition from terrestrial hypercarnivorous ancestors to semi-aquatic "generalists" during the evolution of Spinosauridae did not require substantial modification of the brain and sensory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Tijani Barker
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK.,Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Darren Naish
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Jacob Trend
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Lysanne Veerle Michels
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Lawrence Witmer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Ryan Ridgley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Katy Rankin
- μ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Claire E Clarkin
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Philipp Schneider
- Bioengineering Science Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,High-Performance Vision Systems, Center for Vision, Automation and Control, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Neil J Gostling
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK
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6
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Mateus O, Estraviz-López D. A new theropod dinosaur from the early cretaceous (Barremian) of Cabo Espichel, Portugal: Implications for spinosaurid evolution. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262614. [PMID: 35171930 PMCID: PMC8849621 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinosaurids are some of the most enigmatic Mesozoic theropod dinosaurs due to their unique adaptations to aquatic environments and their relative scarcity. Their taxonomy has proven to be especially problematic. Recent discoveries from Western Europe in general, specifically Iberia, provide some of the best specimens for the understanding of their phylogeny, leading to the description of the spinosaurid Vallibonavenatrix cani and the recognition of the Iberian dinosaur Camarillasaurus cirugedae as one of them. Portuguese associated spinosaurid remains (ML1190) from the Papo Seco Formation (early Barremian) were previously assigned to Baryonyx walkeri but new material recovered in 2020 along with new phylogenetic analyses suggests a different phylogenetic placement, making their revision necessary. Here we show that these remains are not attributable to Baryonyx walkeri, but to a new genus and species, Iberospinus natarioi, gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by the presence of a single Meckelian foramen in the Meckelian sulcus, a straight profile of the ventral surface of the dentary and a distal thickening of the acromion process of the pubis between other characters. Iberospinus natarioi is recovered as a sister taxon of the clade formed by Baryonyx and Suchomimus, and outside Spinosaurinae when Vallibonaventrix cani is excluded from the analysis. The description of this taxon reinforces Iberia as a hotspot for spinosaur biodiversity, with several endemic taxa for the region. As expected for the clade, the dentary displays a highly vascularized neurovascular network. The morphometric analysis of parts of the skeleton (pedal phalanx and caudal vertebrae, among others) shows an intermediate condition between basal tetanurans and spinosaurines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octávio Mateus
- GEOBIOTEC, Department of Earth Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, Portugal
- Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã, Portugal
| | - Darío Estraviz-López
- GEOBIOTEC, Department of Earth Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, Portugal
- Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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7
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Subaqueous foraging among carnivorous dinosaurs. Nature 2022; 603:852-857. [PMID: 35322229 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04528-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Secondary aquatic adaptations evolved independently more than 30 times from terrestrial vertebrate ancestors1,2. For decades, non-avian dinosaurs were believed to be an exception to this pattern. Only a few species have been hypothesized to be partly or predominantly aquatic3-11. However, these hypotheses remain controversial12,13, largely owing to the difficulty of identifying unambiguous anatomical adaptations for aquatic habits in extinct animals. Here we demonstrate that the relationship between bone density and aquatic ecologies across extant amniotes provides a reliable inference of aquatic habits in extinct species. We use this approach to evaluate the distribution of aquatic adaptations among non-avian dinosaurs. We find strong support for aquatic habits in spinosaurids, associated with a marked increase in bone density, which precedes the evolution of more conspicuous anatomical modifications, a pattern also observed in other aquatic reptiles and mammals14-16. Spinosaurids are revealed to be aquatic specialists with surprising ecological disparity, including subaqueous foraging behaviour in Spinosaurus and Baryonyx, and non-diving habits in Suchomimus. Adaptation to aquatic environments appeared in spinosaurids during the Early Cretaceous, following their divergence from other tetanuran theropods during the Early Jurassic17.
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8
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Sereno PC, Myhrvold N, Henderson DM, Fish FE, Vidal D, Baumgart SL, Keillor TM, Formoso KK, Conroy LL. Spinosaurus is not an aquatic dinosaur. eLife 2022; 11:80092. [PMID: 36448670 PMCID: PMC9711522 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A predominantly fish-eating diet was envisioned for the sail-backed theropod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus when its elongate jaws with subconical teeth were unearthed a century ago in Egypt. Recent discovery of the high-spined tail of that skeleton, however, led to a bolder conjecture that S. aegyptiacus was the first fully aquatic dinosaur. The 'aquatic hypothesis' posits that S. aegyptiacus was a slow quadruped on land but a capable pursuit predator in coastal waters, powered by an expanded tail. We test these functional claims with skeletal and flesh models of S. aegyptiacus. We assembled a CT-based skeletal reconstruction based on the fossils, to which we added internal air and muscle to create a posable flesh model. That model shows that on land S. aegyptiacus was bipedal and in deep water was an unstable, slow-surface swimmer (<1 m/s) too buoyant to dive. Living reptiles with similar spine-supported sails over trunk and tail are used for display rather than aquatic propulsion, and nearly all extant secondary swimmers have reduced limbs and fleshy tail flukes. New fossils also show that Spinosaurus ranged far inland. Two stages are clarified in the evolution of Spinosaurus, which is best understood as a semiaquatic bipedal ambush piscivore that frequented the margins of coastal and inland waterways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C Sereno
- 1Department of Organismal Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States,Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | | | | | - Frank E Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester UniversityWest ChesterUnited States
| | | | | | - Tyler M Keillor
- 1Department of Organismal Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Kiersten K Formoso
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States,Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Lauren L Conroy
- 1Department of Organismal Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
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