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Cross SRR, Marmol-Guijarro AC, Bates KT, Marrin JC, Tickle PG, Rose KA, Codd JR. Testing the form-function paradigm: body shape correlates with kinematics but not energetics in selectively-bred birds. Commun Biol 2024; 7:900. [PMID: 39048787 PMCID: PMC11269648 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06592-w] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
A central concept of evolutionary biology, supported by broad scale allometric analyses, asserts that changing morphology should induce downstream changes in locomotor kinematics and energetics, and by inference selective fitness. However, if these mechanistic relationships exist at local intraspecific scales, where they could provide substrate for fundamental microevolutionary processes, is unknown. Here, analyses of selectively-bred duck breeds demonstrate that distinct body shapes incur kinematic shifts during walking, but these do not translate into differences in energetics. A combination of modular relationships between anatomical regions, and a trade-off between limb flexion and trunk pitching, are shown to homogenise potential functional differences between the breeds, accounting for this discrepancy between form and function. This complex interplay between morphology, motion and physiology indicates that understanding evolutionary links between the avian body plan and locomotor diversity requires studying locomotion as an integrated whole and not key anatomical innovations in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R R Cross
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.
| | - Andres C Marmol-Guijarro
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany
- 3Diversity, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Karl T Bates
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
| | - John C Marrin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Peter G Tickle
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kayleigh A Rose
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK
| | - Jonathan R Codd
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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2
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Gomez KL, Pérez-Moreno A, Meso JG, Bellardini F, Baiano MA, Pol D, Garrido A, Kaluza J, Muci L, Pittman M. Unraveling sauropod diversity in the Portezuelo Formation of Patagonia through a comprehensive analysis of new and existing material. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:96. [PMID: 38982364 PMCID: PMC11234639 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02280-9] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The Portezuelo Formation preserves an outstanding record of the upper Turonian - lower Coniacian. Despite the discovery of a significant quantity of sauropod fossil material from the formation, only two species have been formally described to date: Malarguesaurus florenciae and Futalognkosaurus dukei. Here we present new sauropod material mostly composed of non-articulated caudal vertebrae (MCF-PVPH 916 and 917) that belong to two titanosauriforms on the basis of the following features: anterior caudal vertebrae with procoelous-opisthoplatyan articulations, transverse processes that reach the posterior articular face of the centrum and neural spines with a transverse width of around 50% of their anteroposterior length; anterior and middle caudal vertebrae with the neural arch restricted to the anterior half of the centrum; middle caudal centra with circular cross-section. Phylogenetic analysis recovers the new material in close relation to Malarguesaurus within a monophyletic clade at the base of Somphospondyli. This clade shares large pedicel height with a vertical anterior border on the middle caudal vertebrae, a vertical orientation of the neural spines on the distalmost middle caudal vertebrae and proximalmost posterior caudal vertebrae, and subequal relative lengths of the proximal ulnar condylar processes. The specimens presented here are distinct not only from Futalognkosaurus, but also from other indeterminate titanosaurian remains from the same formation. However, there are no significant differences between the specimen MCF-PVPH 917 and Malarguesaurus, but there are differences between the posterior caudal vertebrae of MCF-PVPH 916 and Malarguesaurus, so they could be considered different species. Whilst we err on the side of caution in not naming new taxa here, the two specimens significantly expand what we know about sauropods in the Turonian-Coniacian ecosystems of Patagonia, which will continue to do so as more material is discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Leonel Gomez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina.
- Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología (IIPG), Universidad Nacional de Río Negro (UNRN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), General Roca, Río Negro Province, 8332, Argentina.
| | - Agustín Pérez-Moreno
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina
- División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata (Anexo), Calle 122 y 60, La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, B1900WA, Argentina
| | - Jorge Gustavo Meso
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología (IIPG), Universidad Nacional de Río Negro (UNRN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), General Roca, Río Negro Province, 8332, Argentina
| | - Flavio Bellardini
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología (IIPG), Universidad Nacional de Río Negro (UNRN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), General Roca, Río Negro Province, 8332, Argentina
| | - Mattia Antonio Baiano
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Área Laboratorio e Investigación, Museo Municipal 'Ernesto Bachmann'. Dr Natali S/N, Villa El Chocon, Neuquén, 8311, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Alto Valle/Valle Medio. Estados Unidos 750, General Roca, Río Negro Province, 8332, Argentina
| | - Diego Pol
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, 1405, Argentina
| | - Alberto Garrido
- Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales, Dirección Provincial de Minería, Zapala, Neuquén Province, Q8340, Argentina
| | - Jonatan Kaluza
- Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara, Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1405, Argentina
| | - Luciana Muci
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Alto Valle/Valle Medio. Estados Unidos 750, General Roca, Río Negro Province, 8332, Argentina
| | - Michael Pittman
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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3
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D'Emic MD. The evolution of maximum terrestrial body mass in sauropod dinosaurs. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R349-R350. [PMID: 37160089 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The long-necked dinosaurs, sauropods, are famous for their extreme body sizes, evolving body masses several times greater than the next-heaviest terrestrial animals, elephant-like and rhinoceros- like mammals and 'duck-billed' dinosaurs. The pace of sauropod discovery has been exponential in recent decades, resulting in the recognition of sauropods as a global, ecologically diverse group of herbivorous dinosaurs comprising over 250 known species1. However, limitations due to missing data from their patchy fossil record have so far limited studies of sauropod body-size evolution to less than half their known diversity1. Here, I present models to confidently predict unknown limb-bone measurements in sauropods, resulting in a dataset 50% larger than previously assembled. Leveraging the emerging consilience among body mass estimation methods for fossil tetrapods, I then map sauropod body mass evolution through time in a phylogenetic context. Likelihood-based ancestral state reconstruction reveals that sauropods convergently surpassed maximum terrestrial mammalian body mass at least three dozen times over the course of 100 million years, on at least six landmasses and in at least five ecomorphologically disparate clades. Sauropod maximum body mass rapidly increased early in their evolutionary history from under 5,000 kg before levelling off around 40,000 kg (with notable exceptions)2, in a pattern similar to that observed in terrestrial mammals3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Daniel D'Emic
- Department of Biology, Adelphi University, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530, USA.
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4
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Maher AE, Burin G, Cox PG, Maddox TW, Maidment SCR, Cooper N, Schachner ER, Bates KT. Body size, shape and ecology in tetrapods. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4340. [PMID: 35896591 PMCID: PMC9329317 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32028-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size and shape play fundamental roles in organismal function and it is expected that animals may possess body proportions that are well-suited to their ecological niche. Tetrapods exhibit a diverse array of body shapes, but to date this diversity in body proportions and its relationship to ecology have not been systematically quantified. Using whole-body skeletal models of 410 extinct and extant tetrapods, we show that allometric relationships vary across individual body segments thereby yielding changes in overall body shape as size increases. However, we also find statistical support for quadratic relationships indicative of differential scaling in small-medium versus large animals. Comparisons of locomotor and dietary groups highlight key differences in body proportions that may mechanistically underlie occupation of major ecological niches. Our results emphasise the pivotal role of body proportions in the broad-scale ecological diversity of tetrapods. Here, the authors examine how body size, shape, and segment proportions correspond to ecology in models of 410 tetrapods. They find variable allometric relationships, differential scaling in small and large animals, and body proportions as a potential niche occupation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice E Maher
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.
| | - Gustavo Burin
- Natural History Museum, London, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Philip G Cox
- Department of Archaeology and Hull York Medical School, University of York, PalaeoHub, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Thomas W Maddox
- School of Veterinary Science, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Susannah C R Maidment
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Natalie Cooper
- Natural History Museum, London, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Emma R Schachner
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Karl T Bates
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
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5
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Schade M, Knötschke N, Hörnig MK, Paetzel C, Stumpf S. Neurovascular anatomy of dwarf dinosaur implies precociality in sauropods. eLife 2022; 11:82190. [PMID: 36537069 PMCID: PMC9767461 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82190] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Macronaria, a group of mostly colossal sauropod dinosaurs, comprised the largest terrestrial vertebrates of Earth's history. However, some of the smallest sauropods belong to this group as well. The Late Jurassic macronarian island dwarf Europasaurus holgeri is one of the most peculiar and best-studied sauropods worldwide. So far, the braincase material of this taxon from Germany pended greater attention. With the aid of micro-computed tomography (microCT), we report on the neuroanatomy of the nearly complete braincase of an adult individual, as well as the inner ears (endosseous labyrinths) of one other adult and several juveniles (the latter also containing novel vascular cavities). The presence of large and morphologically adult inner ears in juvenile material suggests precociality. Our findings add to the diversity of neurovascular anatomy in sauropod braincases and buttress the perception of sauropods as fast-growing and autonomous giants with manifold facets of reproductive and social behaviour. This suggests that - apart from sheer size - little separated Europasaurus from its large-bodied relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Schade
- University of Greifswald, Institute of Geography and Geology, Palaeontology and HistoricalGreifswaldGermany,University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and Evolutionary BiologyGreifswaldGermany
| | | | - Marie K Hörnig
- University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and Evolutionary BiologyGreifswaldGermany
| | - Carina Paetzel
- University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and Evolutionary BiologyGreifswaldGermany
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7
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Hocknull SA, Wilkinson M, Lawrence RA, Konstantinov V, Mackenzie S, Mackenzie R. A new giant sauropod, Australotitan cooperensis gen. et sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous of Australia. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11317. [PMID: 34164230 PMCID: PMC8191491 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A new giant sauropod, Australotitan cooperensis gen. et sp. nov., represents the first record of dinosaurs from the southern-central Winton Formation of the Eromanga Basin, Australia. We estimate the type locality to be 270–300 m from the base of the Winton Formation and compare this to the semi-contemporaneous sauropod taxa, Diamantinasaurus matildaeHocknull et al., 2009, Wintonotitan wattsiHocknull et al., 2009 and Savannasaurus elliottorumPoropat et al., 2016. The new titanosaurian is the largest dinosaur from Australia as represented by osteological remains and based on limb-size comparisons it reached a size similar to that of the giant titanosaurians from South America. Using 3-D surface scan models we compare features of the appendicular skeleton that differentiate Australotitan cooperensis gen. et sp. nov. as a new taxon. A key limitation to the study of sauropods is the inability to easily and directly compare specimens. Therefore, 3-D cybertypes have become a more standard way to undertake direct comparative assessments. Uncoloured, low resolution, and uncharacterized 3-D surface models can lead to misinterpretations, in particular identification of pre-, syn- and post-depositional distortion. We propose a method for identifying, documenting and illustrating these distortions directly onto the 3-D geometric surface of the models using a colour reference scheme. This new method is repeatable for researchers when observing and documenting specimens including taphonomic alterations and geometric differences. A detailed comparative and preliminary computational phylogenetic assessment supports a shared ancestry for all four Winton Formation taxa, albeit with limited statistical support. Palaeobiogeographical interpretations from these resultant phylogenetic hypotheses remain equivocal due to contrary Asian and South American relationships with the Australian taxa. Temporal and palaeoenvironmental differences between the northern and southern-central sauropod locations are considered to explain the taxonomic and morphological diversity of sauropods from the Winton Formation. Interpretations for this diversity are explored, including an eco-morphocline and/or chronocline across newly developed terrestrial environments as the basin fills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Hocknull
- Geosciences, Queensland Museum, Hendra, Brisbane City, Australia.,Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Stuart Mackenzie
- Eromanga Natural History Museum, Eromanga, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robyn Mackenzie
- Eromanga Natural History Museum, Eromanga, Queensland, Australia
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8
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Coatham SJ, Sellers WI, Püschel TA. Convex hull estimation of mammalian body segment parameters. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210836. [PMID: 34234959 PMCID: PMC8242930 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Obtaining accurate values for body segment parameters (BSPs) is fundamental in many biomechanical studies, particularly for gait analysis. Convex hulling, where the smallest-possible convex object that surrounds a set of points is calculated, has been suggested as an effective and time-efficient method to estimate these parameters in extinct animals, where soft tissues are rarely preserved. We investigated the effectiveness of convex hull BSP estimation in a range of extant mammals, to inform the potential future usage of this technique with extinct taxa. Computed tomography scans of both the skeleton and skin of every species investigated were virtually segmented. BSPs (the mass, position of the centre of mass and inertial tensors of each segment) were calculated from the resultant soft tissue segments, while the bone segments were used as the basis for convex hull reconstructions. We performed phylogenetic generalized least squares and ordinary least squares regressions to compare the BSPs calculated from soft tissue segments with those estimated using convex hulls, finding consistent predictive relationships for each body segment. The resultant regression equations can, therefore, be used with confidence in future volumetric reconstruction and biomechanical analyses of mammals, in both extinct and extant species where such data may not be available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J. Coatham
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - William I. Sellers
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Thomas A. Püschel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6BX, UK
- Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, 64 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PN, UK
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9
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Larramendi A, Paul GS, Hsu SY. A review and reappraisal of the specific gravities of present and past multicellular organisms, with an emphasis on tetrapods. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:1833-1888. [PMID: 33258532 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The density, or specific gravity (SG), of organisms has numerous important implications for their form, function, ecology, and other facets of beings living and dead, and it is especially necessary to apply SG values that are as accurate as practical when estimating their masses which is itself a critical aspect of living things. Yet a comprehensive review and analysis of this notable subject of anatomy has never been conducted and published. This is such an effort, being as extensive as possible with the data on hand, bolstered by some additional observations, and new work focusing on extinct animals who densities are least unknown: pterosaurs and dinosaurs with extensive pneumatic complexes, including the most sophisticated effort to date for a sauropod. Often difficult to determine even via direct observation, techniques for obtaining the best possible SG data are explained and utilized, including observations of floating animals. Neutral specific gravity (NSG) is proposed as the most important value for tetrapods with respiratory tracts of fluctuating volume. SGs of organisms range from 0.08 to 2.6, plant tissues from 0.08 to 1.39, and vertebrates from about 0.75 (some giant pterosaurs) to 1.2 (those with heavy armor and/or skeletons). Tetrapod NSGs tend to be somewhat higher than widely thought, especially those theropod and sauropod dinosaurs and pterosaurs with air-sacs because respiratory system volume is usually measured at maximum inhalation in birds. Also discussed is evidence that the ratio of the mass of skeletons relative to total body mass has not been properly assayed in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Larramendi
- Eofauna Scientific Research, Errondo 6, 10c, Donostia, Basque Country, 20010, Spain
| | | | - Shu-Yu Hsu
- Eofauna Scientific Research, Errondo 6, 10c, Donostia, Basque Country, 20010, Spain
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10
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Kanayama Y, Iwasa Y. Why did sauropod dinosaurs grow so big? - A possible answer from the life history theory. J Theor Biol 2020; 508:110485. [PMID: 32918924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110485] [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: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dinosaurs are known for their large body size. Sauropod dinosaurs (Sauropodomorpha) had an especially large body size; some species reached 30 m long and 50 tons. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. In this study we examined this question using the life history theory. We constructed a simple model of life history with the following assumptions: the body size of immature individuals increases following a logistic equation. A higher quality and availability of food plants make the initial growth rate faster and the final saturating size larger. The increase in body size stops once reproduction starts. Fertility increases with adult body size and food-plant quality. Mortality due to predation is mitigated by a larger body size. We calculated the optimal body size at maturity that would maximize the lifetime reproductive success or fitness. The analysis showed that adult body size increased with food-plant quality and availability but decreased with higher mortality due to predators and other factors. This conclusion is consistent with geological studies that suggest a high quality and availability of food plants in the Mesozoic era, efficient air-sac breathing, and the lightweight bones of sauropod dinosaurs, allowing rapid growth of small individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kanayama
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda-shi, Hyogo 669-1337, Japan
| | - Yoh Iwasa
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda-shi, Hyogo 669-1337, Japan
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11
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Campione NE, Evans DC. The accuracy and precision of body mass estimation in non-avian dinosaurs. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1759-1797. [PMID: 32869488 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inferring the body mass of fossil taxa, such as non-avian dinosaurs, provides a powerful tool for interpreting physiological and ecological properties, as well as the ability to study these traits through deep time and within a macroevolutionary context. As a result, over the past 100 years a number of studies advanced methods for estimating mass in dinosaurs and other extinct taxa. These methods can be categorized into two major approaches: volumetric-density (VD) and extant-scaling (ES). The former receives the most attention in non-avian dinosaurs and advanced appreciably over the last century: from initial physical scale models to three-dimensional (3D) virtual techniques that utilize scanned data obtained from entire skeletons. The ES approach is most commonly applied to extinct members of crown clades but some equations are proposed and utilized in non-avian dinosaurs. Because both approaches share a common goal, they are often viewed in opposition to one another. However, current palaeobiological research problems are often approach specific and, therefore, the decision to utilize a VD or ES approach is largely question dependent. In general, biomechanical and physiological studies benefit from the full-body reconstruction provided through a VD approach, whereas large-scale evolutionary and ecological studies require the extensive data sets afforded by an ES approach. This study summarizes both approaches to body mass estimation in stem-group taxa, specifically non-avian dinosaurs, and provides a comparative quantitative framework to reciprocally illuminate and corroborate VD and ES approaches. The results indicate that mass estimates are largely consistent between approaches: 73% of VD reconstructions occur within the expected 95% prediction intervals of the ES relationship. However, almost three quarters of outliers occur below the lower 95% prediction interval, indicating that VD mass estimates are, on average, lower than would be expected given their stylopodial circumferences. Inconsistencies (high residual and per cent prediction deviation values) are recovered to a varying degree among all major dinosaurian clades along with an overall tendency for larger deviations between approaches among small-bodied taxa. Nonetheless, our results indicate a strong corroboration between recent iterations of the VD approach based on 3D specimen scans suggesting that our current understanding of size in dinosaurs, and hence its biological correlates, has improved over time. We advance that VD and ES approaches have fundamentally (metrically) different advantages and, hence, the comparative framework used and advocated here combines the accuracy afforded by ES with the precision provided by VD and permits the rapid identification of discrepancies with the potential to open new areas of discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás E Campione
- Palaeoscience Research Centre, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - David C Evans
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada.,Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada
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12
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Vidal D, Mocho P, Aberasturi A, Sanz JL, Ortega F. High browsing skeletal adaptations in Spinophorosaurus reveal an evolutionary innovation in sauropod dinosaurs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6638. [PMID: 32313018 PMCID: PMC7171156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63439-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sauropods were among the most diverse lineages of dinosaurs, with an ample geographic distribution throughout the Mesozoic. This evolutionary success is largely attributed to neck elongation and its impact on feeding efficiency. However, how neck elongation influenced exactly on feeding strategies is subject of debate. The process of mounting a nearly complete virtual skeleton of Spinophorosaurus nigerensis, from the Middle (?) Jurassic of Niger, has revealed several previously unknown osteological adaptations in this taxon. Wedged sacral and posterior dorsal vertebrae cause the presacral column to deflect antero-dorsally. This, together with elongated scapulae and humeri make the anterior region of the skeleton vertically lengthened. Also, elongated prezygapophyseal facets on the cervical vertebrae and a specialized first dorsal vertebra greatly increase the vertical range of motion of the neck. These characters support this early eusauropod as a more capable high browser than more basally branching sauropods. While limb proportions and zygapophyseal facets vary among Eusauropoda, the sacrum retained more than 10° of wedging in all Eusauropoda. This implied a functional constraint for sauropod species which evolved lower browsing feeding strategies: the antero-dorsal sloping caused by the sacrum had to be counteracted with further skeletal modifications, e.g. a ventrally curved mid to anterior presacral spine to hinder the dorsal slope of the whole presacral series caused by the wedged sacrum. This suggests that at least the last common ancestor of Eusauropoda developed high browsing capabilities, partially due to the modified wedged sacrum, likely a potential synapomorphy of the clade and key in the evolutionary history of the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Vidal
- Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo Senda Del Rey, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - P Mocho
- Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo Senda Del Rey, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C6, 38Piso, sala 6.3.57, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- The Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., 90007, CA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - A Aberasturi
- Museo Paleontológico de Elche, Carrer Sant Joan, 3, 03203, Elche, Spain
| | - J L Sanz
- Unidad de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin, 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Real Academia Española de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Calle Valverde, 24, 28004, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Ortega
- Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo Senda Del Rey, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Strickson EC, Hutchinson JR, Wilkinson DM, Falkingham PL. Can skeletal surface area predict in vivo foot surface area? J Anat 2020; 236:72-84. [PMID: 31713855 PMCID: PMC6904632 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface area of feet in contact with the ground is a key morphological feature that influences animal locomotion. Underfoot pressures (and consequently stresses experienced by the foot), as well as stability of an animal during locomotion, depend on the size and shape of this area. Here we tested whether the area of a skeletal foot could predict in vivo soft tissue foot surface area. Computed tomography scans of 29 extant tetrapods (covering mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians) were used to produce models of both the soft tissues and the bones of their feet. Soft tissue models were oriented to a horizontal plane, and their outlines projected onto a surface to produce two-dimensional silhouettes. Silhouettes of skeletal models were generated either from bones in CT pose or with all autopodial bones aligned to the horizontal plane. Areas of these projections were calculated using alpha shapes (mathematical tight-fitting outline). Underfoot area of soft tissue was approximately 1.67 times that of skeletal tissue area (~ 2 times for manus, ~ 1.6 times for pes, if analysed separately). This relationship between skeletal foot area and soft tissue area, while variable in some of our study taxa, could provide information about the size of the organisms responsible for fossil trackways, suggest what size of tracks might be expected from potential trackmakers known only from skeletal remains, and aid in soft tissue reconstruction of skeletal remains for biomechanical modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Catherine Strickson
- School of Natural Sciences and PsychologyFaculty of ScienceSchool of Biological and Environmental SciencesLiverpoolUK
| | - John R. Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion LaboratoryDepartment of Comparative Biomedical SciencesThe Royal Veterinary CollegeHatfieldUK
| | | | - Peter L. Falkingham
- School of Natural Sciences and PsychologyFaculty of ScienceSchool of Biological and Environmental SciencesLiverpoolUK
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14
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Otero A, Cuff AR, Allen V, Sumner-Rooney L, Pol D, Hutchinson JR. Ontogenetic changes in the body plan of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Mussaurus patagonicus reveal shifts of locomotor stance during growth. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7614. [PMID: 31110190 PMCID: PMC6527699 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44037-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ontogenetic information is crucial to understand life histories and represents a true challenge in dinosaurs due to the scarcity of growth series available. Mussaurus patagonicus was a sauropodomorph dinosaur close to the origin of Sauropoda known from hatchling, juvenile and mature specimens, providing a sufficiently complete ontogenetic series to reconstruct general patterns of ontogeny. Here, in order to quantify how body shape and its relationship with locomotor stance (quadruped/biped) changed in ontogeny, hatchling, juvenile (~1 year old) and adult (8+ years old) individuals were studied using digital models. Our results show that Mussaurus rapidly grew from about 60 g at hatching to ~7 kg at one year old, reaching >1000 kg at adulthood. During this time, the body's centre of mass moved from a position in the mid-thorax to a more caudal position nearer to the pelvis. We infer that these changes of body shape and centre of mass reflect a shift from quadrupedalism to bipedalism occurred early in ontogeny in Mussaurus. Our study indicates that relative development of the tail and neck was more influential in determining the locomotor stance in Sauropodomorpha during ontogeny, challenging previous studies, which have emphasized the influence of hindlimb vs. forelimb lengths on sauropodomorph stance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Otero
- División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, (1900), La Plata, Argentina. .,CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Andrew R Cuff
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Vivian Allen
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren Sumner-Rooney
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.,Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Diego Pol
- CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio", Trelew, Argentina
| | - John R Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
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15
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Snively E, O'Brien H, Henderson DM, Mallison H, Surring LA, Burns ME, Holtz TR, Russell AP, Witmer LM, Currie PJ, Hartman SA, Cotton JR. Lower rotational inertia and larger leg muscles indicate more rapid turns in tyrannosaurids than in other large theropods. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6432. [PMID: 30809441 PMCID: PMC6387760 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Synopsis Tyrannosaurid dinosaurs had large preserved leg muscle attachments and low rotational inertia relative to their body mass, indicating that they could turn more quickly than other large theropods. Methods To compare turning capability in theropods, we regressed agility estimates against body mass, incorporating superellipse-based modeled mass, centers of mass, and rotational inertia (mass moment of inertia). Muscle force relative to body mass is a direct correlate of agility in humans, and torque gives potential angular acceleration. Agility scores therefore include rotational inertia values divided by proxies for (1) muscle force (ilium area and estimates of m. caudofemoralis longus cross-section), and (2) musculoskeletal torque. Phylogenetic ANCOVA (phylANCOVA) allow assessment of differences in agility between tyrannosaurids and non-tyrannosaurid theropods (accounting for both ontogeny and phylogeny). We applied conditional error probabilities a(p) to stringently test the null hypothesis of equal agility. Results Tyrannosaurids consistently have agility index magnitudes twice those of allosauroids and some other theropods of equivalent mass, turning the body with both legs planted or pivoting over a stance leg. PhylANCOVA demonstrates definitively greater agilities in tyrannosaurids, and phylogeny explains nearly all covariance. Mass property results are consistent with those of other studies based on skeletal mounts, and between different figure-based methods (our main mathematical slicing procedures, lofted 3D computer models, and simplified graphical double integration). Implications The capacity for relatively rapid turns in tyrannosaurids is ecologically intriguing in light of their monopolization of large (>400 kg), toothed dinosaurian predator niches in their habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Snively
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | - Haley O'Brien
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | | | | | - Lara A Surring
- Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller, AB, Canada
| | - Michael E Burns
- Department of Biology, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL, USA
| | - Thomas R Holtz
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Anthony P Russell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada
| | | | - Philip J Currie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Scott A Hartman
- Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - John R Cotton
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
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16
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Klinkhamer AJ, Mallison H, Poropat SF, Sloan T, Wroe S. Comparative Three‐Dimensional Moment Arm Analysis of the Sauropod Forelimb: Implications for the Transition to a Wide‐Gauge Stance in Titanosaurs. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 302:794-817. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ada J. Klinkhamer
- Function, Evolution and Anatomy Research Laboratory School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History Winton Queensland Australia
| | | | - Stephen F. Poropat
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History Winton Queensland Australia
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology Swinburne University of Technology Hawthorn Victoria Australia
| | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History Winton Queensland Australia
| | - Stephen Wroe
- Function, Evolution and Anatomy Research Laboratory School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
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17
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Klinkhamer AJ, Mallison H, Poropat SF, Sinapius GH, Wroe S. Three‐Dimensional Musculoskeletal Modeling of the Sauropodomorph Hind Limb: The Effect of Postural Change on Muscle Leverage. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:2145-2163. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ada J. Klinkhamer
- Function, Evolution, and Anatomy Research Lab, School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History Winton Queenland Australia
| | | | - Stephen F. Poropat
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History Winton Queenland Australia
- Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Technology Swinburne University of Technology Hawthorn Victoria Australia
| | - George H.K. Sinapius
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History Winton Queenland Australia
| | - Stephen Wroe
- Function, Evolution, and Anatomy Research Lab, School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
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18
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Otero A. Forelimb musculature and osteological correlates in Sauropodomorpha (Dinosauria, Saurischia). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198988. [PMID: 29975691 PMCID: PMC6033415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This contribution presents the forelimb muscular arrangement of sauropodomorph dinosaurs as inferred by comparisons with living archosaurs (crocodiles and birds) following the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket approach. Forty-one muscles were reconstructed, including lower limb and manus musculature, which prior information available was scarce for sauropodomorphs. A strong emphasis was placed on osteological correlates (such as tubercles, ridges and striae) and comparisons with primitive archosauromorphs are included in order to track these correlates throughout the clade. This should help to elucidate how widespread among other archosaurian groups are these osteological correlates identified in Sauropodomorpha. The ultimate goal of this contribution was to provide an exhaustive guide to muscular identification in fossil archosaurs and to offer solid anatomical bases for future studies based on osteology, myology, functional morphology and systematics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Otero
- CONICET - División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
- * E-mail: ,
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19
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Basu C, Wilson AM, Hutchinson JR. The locomotor kinematics and ground reaction forces of walking giraffes. J Exp Biol 2018; 222:jeb.159277. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.159277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis Linnaeus 1758) possess specialised anatomy. Their disproportionately elongate limbs and neck confer recognised feeding advantages, but little is known about how their morphology affects locomotor function. In this study, we examined the stride parameters and ground reaction forces from three adult giraffes in a zoological park, across a range of walking speeds. The patterns of GRFs during walking indicate that giraffes, similar to other mammalian quadrupeds, maintain a forelimb-biased weight distribution. The angular excursion of the neck has functional links with locomotor dynamics in giraffes, and was exaggerated at faster speeds. The horizontal accelerations of the neck and trunk were out of phase, compared with the vertical accelerations which were intermediate between in and out of phase. Despite possessing specialised morphology, giraffes’ stride parameters were broadly predicted from dynamic similarity, facilitating the use of other quadrupedal locomotion models to generate testable hypotheses in giraffes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Basu
- Structure & Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Alan M. Wilson
- Structure & Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - John R. Hutchinson
- Structure & Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
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20
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Otero A, Allen V, Pol D, Hutchinson JR. Forelimb muscle and joint actions in Archosauria: insights from Crocodylus johnstoni (Pseudosuchia) and Mussaurus patagonicus (Sauropodomorpha). PeerJ 2017; 5:e3976. [PMID: 29188140 PMCID: PMC5703147 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many of the major locomotor transitions during the evolution of Archosauria, the lineage including crocodiles and birds as well as extinct Dinosauria, were shifts from quadrupedalism to bipedalism (and vice versa). Those occurred within a continuum between more sprawling and erect modes of locomotion and involved drastic changes of limb anatomy and function in several lineages, including sauropodomorph dinosaurs. We present biomechanical computer models of two locomotor extremes within Archosauria in an analysis of joint ranges of motion and the moment arms of the major forelimb muscles in order to quantify biomechanical differences between more sprawling, pseudosuchian (represented the crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni) and more erect, dinosaurian (represented by the sauropodomorph Mussaurus patagonicus) modes of forelimb function. We compare these two locomotor extremes in terms of the reconstructed musculoskeletal anatomy, ranges of motion of the forelimb joints and the moment arm patterns of muscles across those ranges of joint motion. We reconstructed the three-dimensional paths of 30 muscles acting around the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints. We explicitly evaluate how forelimb joint mobility and muscle actions may have changed with postural and anatomical alterations from basal archosaurs to early sauropodomorphs. We thus evaluate in which ways forelimb posture was correlated with muscle leverage, and how such differences fit into a broader evolutionary context (i.e. transition from sprawling quadrupedalism to erect bipedalism and then shifting to graviportal quadrupedalism). Our analysis reveals major differences of muscle actions between the more sprawling and erect models at the shoulder joint. These differences are related not only to the articular surfaces but also to the orientation of the scapula, in which extension/flexion movements in Crocodylus (e.g. protraction of the humerus) correspond to elevation/depression in Mussaurus. Muscle action is highly influenced by limb posture, more so than morphology. Habitual quadrupedalism in Mussaurus is not supported by our analysis of joint range of motion, which indicates that glenohumeral protraction was severely restricted. Additionally, some active pronation of the manus may have been possible in Mussaurus, allowing semi-pronation by a rearranging of the whole antebrachium (not the radius against the ulna, as previously thought) via long-axis rotation at the elbow joint. However, the muscles acting around this joint to actively pronate it may have been too weak to drive or maintain such orientations as opposed to a neutral position in between pronation and supination. Regardless, the origin of quadrupedalism in Sauropoda is not only linked to manus pronation but also to multiple shifts of forelimb morphology, allowing greater flexion movements of the glenohumeral joint and a more columnar forelimb posture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Otero
- División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de la Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vivian Allen
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Diego Pol
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Museo Egidio Feruglio, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
| | - John R Hutchinson
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
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21
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Carballido JL, Pol D, Otero A, Cerda IA, Salgado L, Garrido AC, Ramezani J, Cúneo NR, Krause JM. A new giant titanosaur sheds light on body mass evolution among sauropod dinosaurs. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20171219. [PMID: 28794222 PMCID: PMC5563814 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Titanosauria was the most diverse and successful lineage of sauropod dinosaurs. This clade had its major radiation during the middle Early Cretaceous and survived up to the end of that period. Among sauropods, this lineage has the most disparate values of body mass, including the smallest and largest sauropods known. Although recent findings have improved our knowledge on giant titanosaur anatomy, there are still many unknown aspects about their evolution, especially for the most gigantic forms and the evolution of body mass in this clade. Here we describe a new giant titanosaur, which represents the largest species described so far and one of the most complete titanosaurs. Its inclusion in an extended phylogenetic analysis and the optimization of body mass reveals the presence of an endemic clade of giant titanosaurs inhabited Patagonia between the Albian and the Santonian. This clade includes most of the giant species of titanosaurs and represents the major increase in body mass in the history of Titanosauria.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Carballido
- CONICET, Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Trelew U9100GYO, Argentina
| | - Diego Pol
- CONICET, Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Trelew U9100GYO, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Otero
- CONICET, División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, La Plata B1900FWA, Argentina
| | - Ignacio A Cerda
- CONICET, Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, General Roca 8332, Argentina
| | - Leonardo Salgado
- CONICET, Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, General Roca 8332, Argentina
| | - Alberto C Garrido
- Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales 'Juan Olsacher', Zapala 8340, Argentina
- Departamento Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén 8400, Argentina
| | - Jahandar Ramezani
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Néstor R Cúneo
- CONICET, Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Trelew U9100GYO, Argentina
| | - Javier M Krause
- CONICET, Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Trelew U9100GYO, Argentina
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22
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Macaulay S, Hutchinson JR, Bates KT. A quantitative evaluation of physical and digital approaches to centre of mass estimation. J Anat 2017; 231:758-775. [PMID: 28809445 PMCID: PMC5643916 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Centre of mass is a fundamental anatomical and biomechanical parameter. Knowledge of centre of mass is essential to inform studies investigating locomotion and other behaviours, through its implications for segment movements, and on whole body factors such as posture. Previous studies have estimated centre of mass position for a range of organisms, using various methodologies. However, few studies assess the accuracy of the methods that they employ, and often provide only brief details on their methodologies. As such, no rigorous, detailed comparisons of accuracy and repeatability within and between methods currently exist. This paper therefore seeks to apply three methods common in the literature (suspension, scales and digital modelling) to three 'calibration objects' in the form of bricks, as well as three birds to determine centre of mass position. Application to bricks enables conclusions to be drawn on the absolute accuracy of each method, in addition to comparing these results to assess the relative value of these methodologies. Application to birds provided insights into the logistical challenges of applying these methods to biological specimens. For bricks, we found that, provided appropriate repeats were conducted, the scales method yielded the most accurate predictions of centre of mass (within 1.49 mm), closely followed by digital modelling (within 2.39 mm), with results from suspension being the most distant (within 38.5 mm). Scales and digital methods both also displayed low variability between centre of mass estimates, suggesting they can accurately and consistently predict centre of mass position. Our suspension method resulted not only in high margins of error, but also substantial variability, highlighting problems with this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Macaulay
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
| | - John R Hutchinson
- Structure & Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Karl T Bates
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
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23
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Mannion PD, Allain R, Moine O. The earliest known titanosauriform sauropod dinosaur and the evolution of Brachiosauridae. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3217. [PMID: 28480136 PMCID: PMC5417094 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brachiosauridae is a clade of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaurs that includes the well-known Late Jurassic taxa Brachiosaurus and Giraffatitan. However, there is disagreement over the brachiosaurid affinities of most other taxa, and little consensus regarding the clade's composition or inter-relationships. An unnamed partial sauropod skeleton was collected from middle-late Oxfordian (early Late Jurassic) deposits in Damparis, in the Jura department of eastern France, in 1934. Since its brief description in 1943, this specimen has been informally known in the literature as the 'Damparis sauropod' and 'French Bothriospondylus', and has been considered a brachiosaurid by most authors. If correctly identified, this would make the specimen the earliest known titanosauriform. Coupled with its relatively complete nature and the rarity of Oxfordian sauropod remains in general, this is an important specimen for understanding the early evolution of Titanosauriformes. Full preparation and description of this specimen, known from teeth, vertebrae and most of the appendicular skeleton of a single individual, recognises it as a distinct taxon: Vouivria damparisensis gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of a data matrix comprising 77 taxa (including all putative brachiosaurids) scored for 416 characters recovers a fairly well resolved Brachiosauridae. Vouivria is a basal brachiosaurid, confirming its status as the stratigraphically oldest known titanosauriform. Brachiosauridae consists of a paraphyletic array of Late Jurassic forms, with Europasaurus, Vouivria and Brachiosaurus recovered as successively more nested genera that lie outside of a clade comprising (Giraffatitan + Sonorasaurus) + (Lusotitan + (Cedarosaurus + Venenosaurus)). Abydosaurus forms an unresolved polytomy with the latter five taxa. The Early Cretaceous South American sauropod Padillasaurus was previously regarded as a brachiosaurid, but is here placed within Somphospondyli. A recent study contended that a number of characters used in a previous iteration of this data matrix are 'biologically related', and thus should be excluded from phylogenetic analysis. We demonstrate that almost all of these characters show variation between taxa, and implementation of sensitivity analyses, in which these characters are excluded, has no effect on tree topology or resolution. We argue that where there is morphological variation, this should be captured, rather than ignored. Unambiguous brachiosaurid remains are known only from the USA, western Europe and Africa, and the clade spanned the Late Jurassic through to the late Albian/early Cenomanian, with the last known occurrences all from the USA. Regardless of whether their absence from the Cretaceous of Europe, as well as other regions entirely, reflects regional extinctions and genuine absences, or sampling artefacts, brachiosaurids appear to have become globally extinct by the earliest Late Cretaceous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip D. Mannion
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ronan Allain
- Centre de Recherche sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Moine
- Laboratoire de Géographie Physique: Environnements Quaternaires et Actuels, CNRS/Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne/UPEC, Paris, France
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24
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Clauss M, Nurutdinova I, Meloro C, Gunga HC, Jiang D, Koller J, Herkner B, Sander PM, Hellwich O. Reconstruction of body cavity volume in terrestrial tetrapods. J Anat 2016; 230:325-336. [PMID: 27813090 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it is generally assumed that herbivores have more voluminous body cavities due to larger digestive tracts required for the digestion of plant fiber, this concept has not been addressed quantitatively. We estimated the volume of the torso in 126 terrestrial tetrapods (synapsids including basal synapsids and mammals, and diapsids including birds, non-avian dinosaurs and reptiles) classified as either herbivore or carnivore in digital models of mounted skeletons, using the convex hull method. The difference in relative torso volume between diet types was significant in mammals, where relative torso volumes of herbivores were about twice as large as that of carnivores, supporting the general hypothesis. However, this effect was not evident in diapsids. This may either reflect the difficulty to reliably reconstruct mounted skeletons in non-avian dinosaurs, or a fundamental difference in the bauplan of different groups of tetrapods, for example due to differences in respiratory anatomy. Evidently, the condition in mammals should not be automatically assumed in other, including more basal, tetrapod lineages. In both synapsids and diapsids, large animals showed a high degree of divergence with respect to the proportion of their convex hull directly supported by bone, with animals like elephants or Triceratops having a low proportion, and animals such as rhinoceros having a high proportion of bony support. The relevance of this difference remains to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Irina Nurutdinova
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlo Meloro
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Duofang Jiang
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Koller
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Herkner
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt (Main), Germany
| | - P Martin Sander
- Steinmann Institute of Palaeontology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Olaf Hellwich
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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25
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Williams EM. Giraffe Stature and Neck Elongation: Vigilance as an Evolutionary Mechanism. BIOLOGY 2016; 5:biology5030035. [PMID: 27626454 PMCID: PMC5037354 DOI: 10.3390/biology5030035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), with their long neck and legs, are unique amongst mammals. How these features evolved is a matter of conjecture. The two leading ideas are the high browse and the sexual-selection hypotheses. While both explain many of the characteristics and the behaviour of giraffe, neither is fully supported by the available evidence. The extended viewing horizon afforded by increased height and a need to maintain horizon vigilance, as a mechanism favouring the evolution of increased height is reviewed. In giraffe, vigilance of predators whilst feeding and drinking are important survival factors, as is the ability to interact with immediate herd members, young and male suitors. The evidence regarding giraffe vigilance behaviour is sparse and suggests that over-vigilance has a negative cost, serving as a distraction to feeding. In woodland savannah, increased height allows giraffe to see further, allowing each giraffe to increase the distance between its neighbours while browsing. Increased height allows the giraffe to see the early approach of predators, as well as bull males. It is postulated that the wider panorama afforded by an increase in height and longer neck has improved survival via allowing giraffe to browse safely over wider areas, decreasing competition within groups and with other herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar M Williams
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Wales CF37 1DL, UK; ; Tel.: +44-1443-483-893.
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26
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França MAG, Marsola JCDA, Riff D, Hsiou AS, Langer MC. New lower jaw and teeth referred to Maxakalisaurus topai (Titanosauria: Aeolosaurini) and their implications for the phylogeny of titanosaurid sauropods. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2054. [PMID: 27330853 PMCID: PMC4906671 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sauropod dinosaurs compose a diversified, well known, and worldwide distributed clade, with a stereotyped body plan: deep trunk, elongated neck and tail, columnar limbs and very small skull. In Brazil, the group is represented by ten formally described Cretaceous species, mostly titanosaurs. This is the case of Maxakalisaurus topai, known based on an incomplete and disarticulated skeleton, unearthed from deposits of the Adamantina Formation in Minas Gerais. Here, we report a partial right dentary, including five isolated teeth, collected from the same site as the type-series of M. topai and tentatively referred to that taxon. The bone is gently curved medially, the functional teeth are set on an anterolingual position, and two replacement teeth are seen per alveoli. New morphological data gathered from that specimen was employed to conduct a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Titanosauria (with 42 taxa and 253 characters), based on previous studies. The Aeolosaurini clade was recovered, with Gondwanatitan and Aelosaurus as sister taxa, and Maxakalisaurus, Panamericansaurus, and Rinconsaurus forming a basal polytomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A G França
- Laboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução de Petrolina, Colegiado de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Júlio C de A Marsola
- Laboratório de Paleontologia de Ribeirão Preto, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Douglas Riff
- Laboratório de Paleontologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Annie S Hsiou
- Laboratório de Paleontologia de Ribeirão Preto, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Max C Langer
- Laboratório de Paleontologia de Ribeirão Preto, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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