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Laboury A, Scheyer TM, Klein N, Stubbs TL, Fischer V. High phenotypic plasticity at the dawn of the eosauropterygian radiation. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15776. [PMID: 37671356 PMCID: PMC10476616 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The initial radiation of Eosauropterygia during the Triassic biotic recovery represents a key event in the dominance of reptiles secondarily adapted to marine environments. Recent studies on Mesozoic marine reptile disparity highlighted that eosauropterygians had their greatest morphological diversity during the Middle Triassic, with the co-occurrence of Pachypleurosauroidea, Nothosauroidea and Pistosauroidea, mostly along the margins of the Tethys Ocean. However, these previous studies quantitatively analysed the disparity of Eosauropterygia as a whole without focussing on Triassic taxa, thus limiting our understanding of their diversification and morphospace occupation during the Middle Triassic. Our multivariate morphometric analyses highlight a clearly distinct colonization of the ecomorphospace by the three clades, with no evidence of whole-body convergent evolution with the exception of the peculiar pistosauroid Wangosaurus brevirostris, which appears phenotypically much more similar to nothosauroids. This global pattern is mostly driven by craniodental differences and inferred feeding specializations. We also reveal noticeable regional differences among nothosauroids and pachypleurosauroids of which the latter likely experienced a remarkable diversification in the eastern Tethys during the Pelsonian. Our results demonstrate that the high phenotypic plasticity characterizing the evolution of the pelagic plesiosaurians was already present in their Triassic ancestors, casting eosauropterygians as particularly adaptable animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Laboury
- Evolution & Diversity Dynamics Lab, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Nicole Klein
- Institute of Geosciences, Paleontology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas L. Stubbs
- School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Valentin Fischer
- Evolution & Diversity Dynamics Lab, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
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Fang ZC, Li JL, Yan CB, Zou YR, Tian L, Zhao B, Benton MJ, Cheng L, Lai XL. First filter feeding in the Early Triassic: cranial morphological convergence between Hupehsuchus and baleen whales. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:36. [PMID: 37550649 PMCID: PMC10408079 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02143-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern baleen whales are unique as large-sized filter feeders, but their roles were replicated much earlier by diverse marine reptiles of the Mesozoic. Here, we investigate convergence in skull morphology between modern baleen whales and one of the earliest marine reptiles, the basal ichthyosauromorph Hupehsuchus nanchangensis, from the Early Triassic, a time of rapid recovery of life following profound mass extinction. Two new specimens reveal the skull morphology especially in dorsal view. The snout of Hupehsuchus is highly convergent with modern baleen whales, as shown in a morphometric analysis including 130 modern aquatic amniotes. Convergences in the snout include the unfused upper jaw, specialized intermediate space in the divided premaxilla and grooves around the labial margin. Hupehsuchus had enlarged its buccal cavity to enable efficient filter feeding and probably used soft tissues like baleen to expel the water from the oral cavity. Coordinated with the rigid trunk and pachyostotic ribs suggests low speeds of aquatic locomotion, Hupehsuchus probably employed continuous ram filter feeding as in extant bowhead and right whales. The Early Triassic palaeoenvironment of a restrictive lagoon with low productivity drove Hupehsuchus to feed on zooplankton, which facilitated ecosystem recovery in the Nanzhang-Yuan'an Fauna at the beginning of the Mesozoic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Chen Fang
- School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Paleontology and Geological Environment Evolution, Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China
| | - Jiang-Li Li
- Hubei Institute of Geosciences, Hubei Geological Bureau, Wuhan, 430034, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Bo Yan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Paleontology and Geological Environment Evolution, Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Rui Zou
- Hubei Institute of Geosciences, Hubei Geological Bureau, Wuhan, 430034, P. R. China
| | - Li Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, P. R. China
| | - Bi Zhao
- Hubei Institute of Geosciences, Hubei Geological Bureau, Wuhan, 430034, P. R. China
| | - Michael J Benton
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Long Cheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Paleontology and Geological Environment Evolution, Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China.
| | - Xu-Long Lai
- School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China
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3
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An injured pachypleurosaur (Diapsida: Sauropterygia) from the Middle Triassic Luoping Biota indicating predation pressure in the Mesozoic. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21818. [PMID: 34750442 PMCID: PMC8575933 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01309-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle Triassic Luoping Biota in south-west China represents the inception of modern marine ecosystems, with abundant and diverse arthropods, fishes and marine reptiles, indicating recovery from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Here we report a new specimen of the predatory marine reptile Diandongosaurus, based on a nearly complete skeleton. The specimen is larger than most other known pachypleurosaurs, and the body shape, caniniform teeth, clavicle with anterior process, and flat distal end of the anterior caudal ribs show its affinities with Diandongosaurus acutidentatus, while the new specimen is approximately three times larger than the holotype. The morphological characters indicate that the new specimen is an adult of D. acutidentatus, allowing for ontogenetic variation. The fang-like teeth and large body size confirm it was a predator, but the amputated hind limb on the right side indicate itself had been predated by an unknown hunter. Predation on such a large predator reveals that predation pressure in the early Mesozoic was intensive, a possible early hint of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution.
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Pommery Y, Scheyer TM, Neenan JM, Reich T, Fernandez V, Voeten DFAE, Losko AS, Werneburg I. Dentition and feeding in Placodontia: tooth replacement in Henodus chelyops. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:136. [PMID: 34225664 PMCID: PMC8256584 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01835-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placodontia is a Triassic sauropterygian reptile group characterized by flat and enlarged crushing teeth adapted to a durophagous diet. The enigmatic placodont Henodus chelyops has numerous autapomorphic character states, including extreme tooth count reduction to only a single pair of palatine and dentary crushing teeth. This renders the species unusual among placodonts and challenges identification of its phylogenetic position. RESULTS The skulls of two Henodus chelyops specimens were visualized with synchrotron tomography to investigate the complete anatomy of their functional and replacement crushing dentition in 3D. All teeth of both specimens were segmented, measured, and statistically compared to reveal that H. chelyops teeth are much smaller than the posterior palatine teeth of other cyamodontoid placodonts with the exception of Parahenodus atancensis from the Iberian Peninsula. The replacement teeth of this species are quite similar in size and morphology to the functional teeth. CONCLUSION As other placodonts, Henodus chelyops exhibits vertical tooth replacement. This suggests that vertical tooth replacement arose relatively early in placodont phylogeny. Analysis of dental morphology in H. chelyops revealed a concave shape of the occlusal surface and the notable absence of a central cusp. This dental morphology could have reduced dental wear and protected against failure. Hence, the concave teeth of H. chelyops appear to be adapted to process small invertebrate items, such as branchiopod crustaceans. Small gastropods were encountered in the matrix close to both studied skulls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Pommery
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP) an der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Sigwartstraße 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Hölderlinstraße 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany.,Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Esplanade Erasme, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Torsten M Scheyer
- Universität Zürich, Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - James M Neenan
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tobias Reich
- Universität Zürich, Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Fernandez
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France.,The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Dennis F A E Voeten
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France.,Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 A, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Adrian S Losko
- Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, Lichtenbergstr. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Ingmar Werneburg
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP) an der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Sigwartstraße 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. .,Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Hölderlinstraße 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany.
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Li Q, Liu J. An Early Triassic sauropterygian and associated fauna from South China provide insights into Triassic ecosystem health. Commun Biol 2020; 3:63. [PMID: 32047220 PMCID: PMC7012838 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0778-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The timing and pattern of biotic recovery from the Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction remains elusive. Here we report new material of the Early Triassic sauropterygian Lariosaurus sanxiaensis and associated fauna from the Jialingjiang Formation in Hubei Province, South China. Phylogenetic analysis based on a novel data matrix of sauropterygians recognizes L. sanxiaensis as a basal nothosaur. Stratigraphic congruence analysis shows that the new phylogenetic consensus tree matches to the stratigraphic distribution of sauropterygians very well. The diversified reptilian fauna and inferred simple food web in the Nanzhang-Yuan'an fauna where L. sanxiaensis was discovered suggest that the Triassic biotic recovery adopted a top-down pattern, in contrast to the prevailing view. Comparison with the Middle Triassic Luoping biota from the same carbonate platform suggests that the Triassic biotic recovery is delayed and healthy ecosystems were not established until the Middle Triassic in South China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Jun Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China.
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, 53115, Germany.
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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Bertin TJC, Thivichon-Prince B, LeBlanc ARH, Caldwell MW, Viriot L. Current Perspectives on Tooth Implantation, Attachment, and Replacement in Amniota. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1630. [PMID: 30519190 PMCID: PMC6258785 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Teeth and dentitions contain many morphological characters which give them a particularly important weight in comparative anatomy, systematics, physiology and ecology. As teeth are organs that contain the hardest mineralized tissues vertebrates can produce, their fossil remains are abundant and the study of their anatomy in fossil specimens is of major importance in evolutionary biology. Comparative anatomy has long favored studies of dental characters rather than features associated with tooth attachment and implantation. Here we review a large part of the historical and modern work on the attachment, implantation and replacement of teeth in Amniota. We propose synthetic definitions or redefinitions of most commonly used terms, some of which have led to confusion and conflation of terminology. In particular, there has long been much conflation between dental implantation that strictly concerns the geometrical aspects of the tooth-bone interface, and the nature of the dental attachment, which mostly concerns the histological features occurring at this interface. A second aim of this work was to evaluate the diversity of tooth attachment, implantation and replacement in extant and extinct amniotes in order to derive hypothetical evolutionary trends in these different dental traits over time. Continuous dental replacement prevails within amniotes, replacement being drastically modified only in Mammalia and when dental implantation is acrodont. By comparison, dental implantation frequently and rapidly changes at various taxonomic scales and is often homoplastic. This contrasts with the conservatism in the identity of the tooth attachment tissues (cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone), which were already present in the earliest known amniotes. Because the study of dental attachment requires invasive histological investigations, this trait is least documented and therefore its evolutionary history is currently poorly understood. Finally, it is essential to go on collecting data from all groups of amniotes in order to better understand and consequently better define dental characters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. C. Bertin
- Team Evolution of Vertebrate Dentition, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Béatrice Thivichon-Prince
- Team Evolution of Vertebrate Dentition, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Faculte d’Odontologie, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Service d’Odontologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Aaron R. H. LeBlanc
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Michael W. Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Laurent Viriot
- Team Evolution of Vertebrate Dentition, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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