1
|
Beeston SL, Poropat SF, Mannion PD, Pentland AH, Enchelmaier MJ, Sloan T, Elliott DA. Reappraisal of sauropod dinosaur diversity in the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, through 3D digitisation and description of new specimens. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17180. [PMID: 38618562 PMCID: PMC11011616 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal remains of sauropod dinosaurs have been known from Australia for over 100 years. Unfortunately, the classification of the majority of these specimens to species level has historically been impeded by their incompleteness. This has begun to change in the last 15 years, primarily through the discovery and description of several partial skeletons from the Cenomanian-lower Turonian (lower Upper Cretaceous) Winton Formation in central Queensland, with four species erected to date: Australotitan cooperensis, Diamantinasaurus matildae, Savannasaurus elliottorum, and Wintonotitan wattsi. The first three of these appear to form a clade (Diamantinasauria) of early diverging titanosaurs (or close relatives of titanosaurs), whereas Wintonotitan wattsi is typically recovered as a distantly related non-titanosaurian somphospondylan. Through the use of 3D scanning, we digitised numerous specimens of Winton Formation sauropods, facilitating enhanced comparison between type and referred specimens, and heretofore undescribed specimens. We present new anatomical information on the holotype specimen of Diamantinasaurus matildae, and describe new remains pertaining to twelve sauropod individuals. Firsthand observations and digital analysis enabled previously proposed autapomorphic features of all four named Winton Formation sauropod species to be identified in the newly described specimens, with some specimens exhibiting putative autapomorphies of more than one species, prompting a reassessment of their taxonomic validity. Supported by a specimen-level phylogenetic analysis, we suggest that Australotitan cooperensis is probably a junior synonym of Diamantinasaurus matildae, but conservatively regard it herein as an indeterminate diamantinasaurian, meaning that the Winton Formation sauropod fauna now comprises three (rather than four) valid diamantinasaurian species: Diamantinasaurus matildae, Savannasaurus elliottorum, and Wintonotitan wattsi, with the latter robustly supported as a member of the clade for the first time. We refer some of the newly described specimens to these three species and provide revised diagnoses, with some previously proposed autapomorphies now regarded as diamantinasaurian synapomorphies. Our newly presented anatomical data and critical reappraisal of the Winton Formation sauropods facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the mid-Cretaceous sauropod palaeobiota of central Queensland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Beeston
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stephen F. Poropat
- Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Philip D. Mannion
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adele H. Pentland
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia
- Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - David A. Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dhami NK, Greenwood PF, Poropat SF, Tripp M, Elson A, Vijay H, Brosnan L, Holman AI, Campbell M, Hopper P, Smith L, Jian A, Grice K. Microbially mediated fossil concretions and their characterization by the latest methodologies: a review. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1225411. [PMID: 37840715 PMCID: PMC10576451 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1225411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of well-preserved organic matter (OM) within mineral concretions has provided key insights into depositional and environmental conditions in deep time. Concretions of varied compositions, including carbonate, phosphate, and iron-based minerals, have been found to host exceptionally preserved fossils. Organic geochemical characterization of concretion-encapsulated OM promises valuable new information of fossil preservation, paleoenvironments, and even direct taxonomic information to further illuminate the evolutionary dynamics of our planet and its biota. Full exploitation of this largely untapped geochemical archive, however, requires a sophisticated understanding of the prevalence, formation controls and OM sequestration properties of mineral concretions. Past research has led to the proposal of different models of concretion formation and OM preservation. Nevertheless, the formation mechanisms and controls on OM preservation in concretions remain poorly understood. Here we provide a detailed review of the main types of concretions and formation pathways with a focus on the role of microbes and their metabolic activities. In addition, we provide a comprehensive account of organic geochemical, and complimentary inorganic geochemical, morphological, microbial and paleontological, analytical methods, including recent advancements, relevant to the characterization of concretions and sequestered OM. The application and outcome of several early organic geochemical studies of concretion-impregnated OM are included to demonstrate how this underexploited geo-biological record can provide new insights into the Earth's evolutionary record. This paper also attempts to shed light on the current status of this research and major challenges that lie ahead in the further application of geo-paleo-microbial and organic geochemical research of concretions and their host fossils. Recent efforts to bridge the knowledge and communication gaps in this multidisciplinary research area are also discussed, with particular emphasis on research with significance for interpreting the molecular record in extraordinarily preserved fossils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Navdeep K. Dhami
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Paul F. Greenwood
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen F. Poropat
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Madison Tripp
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Amy Elson
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Hridya Vijay
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Luke Brosnan
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Alex I. Holman
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Matthew Campbell
- The Trace and Environmental DNA lab (trEND), School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Peter Hopper
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Lisa Smith
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Andrew Jian
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kliti Grice
- Western Australian – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Institute for Geoscience Research, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Poropat SF, Mannion PD, Rigby SL, Duncan RJ, Pentland AH, Bevitt JJ, Sloan T, Elliott DA. A nearly complete skull of the sauropod dinosaur Diamantinasaurus matildae from the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Australia and implications for the early evolution of titanosaurs. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:221618. [PMID: 37063988 PMCID: PMC10090887 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs were diverse and abundant throughout the Cretaceous, with a global distribution. However, few titanosaurian taxa are represented by multiple skeletons, let alone skulls. Diamantinasaurus matildae, from the lower Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, was heretofore represented by three specimens, including one that preserves a braincase and several other cranial elements. Herein, we describe a fourth specimen of Diamantinasaurus matildae that preserves a more complete skull-including numerous cranial elements not previously known for this taxon-as well as a partial postcranial skeleton. The skull of Diamantinasaurus matildae shows many similarities to that of the coeval Sarmientosaurus musacchioi from Argentina (e.g. quadratojugal with posterior tongue-like process; braincase with more than one ossified exit for cranial nerve V; compressed-cone-chisel-like teeth), providing further support for the inclusion of both taxa within the clade Diamantinasauria. The replacement teeth within the premaxilla of the new specimen are morphologically congruent with teeth previously attributed to Diamantinasaurus matildae, and Diamantinasauria more broadly, corroborating those referrals. Plesiomorphic characters of the new specimen include a sacrum comprising five vertebrae (also newly demonstrated in the holotype of Diamantinasaurus matildae), rather than the six or more that typify other titanosaurs. However, we demonstrate that there have been a number of independent acquisitions of a six-vertebrae sacrum among Somphospondyli and/or that there have been numerous reversals to a five-vertebrae sacrum, suggesting that sacral count is relatively plastic. Other newly identified plesiomorphic features include: the overall skull shape, which is more similar to brachiosaurids than 'derived' titanosaurs; anterior caudal centra that are amphicoelous, rather than procoelous; and a pedal phalangeal formula estimated as 2-2-3-2-0. These features are consistent with either an early-branching position within Titanosauria, or a position just outside the titanosaurian radiation, for Diamantinasauria, as indicated by alternative character weighting approaches applied in our phylogenetic analyses, and help to shed light on the early assembly of titanosaurian anatomy that has until now been obscured by a poor fossil record.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Poropat
- Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Philip D. Mannion
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Samantha L. Rigby
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Ruairidh J. Duncan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Adele H. Pentland
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Joseph J. Bevitt
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, New South Wales 2234, Australia
| | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| | - David A. Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Poropat SF, Frauenfelder TG, Mannion PD, Rigby SL, Pentland AH, Sloan T, Elliott DA. Sauropod dinosaur teeth from the lower Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia and the global record of early titanosauriforms. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220381. [PMID: 35845848 PMCID: PMC9277269 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, has produced several partial sauropod skeletons, but cranial remains-including teeth-remain rare. Herein, we present the first description of sauropod teeth from this formation, based on specimens from three separate sites. An isolated tooth and a dentary fragment from the Diamantinasaurus matildae type locality are considered to be referable to that titanosaurian taxon. A single tooth from the D. matildae referred specimen site is similarly regarded as being part of that individual. Seventeen teeth from a new site that are morphologically uniform, and similar to the teeth from the two Diamantinasaurus sites, are assigned to Diamantinasauria. All sauropod teeth recovered from the Winton Formation to date are compressed-cone-chisel-shaped, have low slenderness index values (2.00-2.88), are lingually curved at their apices, mesiodistally convex on their lingual surfaces, and lack prominent carinae and denticles. They are markedly different from the chisel-like teeth of derived titanosaurs, more closely resembling the teeth of early branching members of the titanosauriform radiation. This provides further support for a 'basal' titanosaurian position for Diamantinasauria. Scanning electron microscope microwear analysis of the wear facets of several teeth reveals more scratches than pits, implying that diamantinasaurians were mid-height (1-10 m) feeders. With a view to assessing the spatio-temporal distribution of sauropod tooth morphotypes before and after deposition of the Winton Formation, we provide a comprehensive continent-by-continent review of the early titanosauriform global record (Early to early Late Cretaceous). This indicates that throughout the Early-early Late Cretaceous, sauropod faunas transitioned from being quite diverse at higher phylogenetic levels and encompassing a range of tooth morphologies at the start of the Berriasian, to faunas comprising solely titanosaurs with limited dental variability by the end-Turonian. Furthermore, this review highlights the different ways in which this transition unfolded on each continent, including the earliest records of titanosaurs with narrow-crowned teeth on each continent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Poropat
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Timothy G. Frauenfelder
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
| | - Philip D. Mannion
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Samantha L. Rigby
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Adele H. Pentland
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| | - David A. Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Poropat SF, White MA, Ziegler T, Pentland AH, Rigby SL, Duncan RJ, Sloan T, Elliott DA. A diverse Late Cretaceous vertebrate tracksite from the Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11544. [PMID: 34178452 PMCID: PMC8216175 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Upper Cretaceous ‘upper’ Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia is world famous for hosting Dinosaur Stampede National Monument at Lark Quarry Conservation Park, a somewhat controversial tracksite that preserves thousands of tridactyl dinosaur tracks attributed to ornithopods and theropods. Herein, we describe the Snake Creek Tracksite, a new vertebrate ichnoassemblage from the ‘upper’ Winton Formation, originally situated on Karoola Station but now relocated to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History. This site preserves the first sauropod tracks reported from eastern Australia, a small number of theropod and ornithopod tracks, the first fossilised crocodyliform and ?turtle tracks reported from Australia, and possible lungfish and actinopterygian feeding traces. The sauropod trackways are wide-gauge, with manus tracks bearing an ungual impression on digit I, and anteriorly tapered pes tracks with straight or concave forward posterior margins. These tracks support the hypothesis that at least one sauropod taxon from the ‘upper’ Winton Formation retained a pollex claw (previously hypothesised for Diamantinasaurus matildae based on body fossils). Many of the crocodyliform trackways indicate underwater walking. The Snake Creek Tracksite reconciles the sauropod-, crocodyliform-, turtle-, and lungfish-dominated body fossil record of the ‘upper’ Winton Formation with its heretofore ornithopod- and theropod-dominated ichnofossil record.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Poropat
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matt A White
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia.,School of Environmental & Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tim Ziegler
- Palaeontology, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adele H Pentland
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samantha L Rigby
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ruairidh J Duncan
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
| | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - David A Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Poropat SF, Kundrát M, Mannion PD, Upchurch P, Tischler TR, Elliott DA. Second specimen of the Late Cretaceous Australian sauropod dinosaur Diamantinasaurus matildae provides new anatomical information on the skull and neck of early titanosaurs. Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Diamantinasaurus matildae is represented by two individuals from the Cenomanian–lower Turonian ‘upper’ Winton Formation of central Queensland, north-eastern Australia. The type specimen has been described in detail, whereas the referred specimen, which includes several elements not present in the type series (partial skull, atlas, axis and postaxial cervical vertebrae), has only been described briefly. Herein, we provide a comprehensive description of this referred specimen, including a thorough assessment of the external and internal anatomy of the braincase, and identify several new autapomorphies of D. matildae. Via an expanded data matrix consisting of 125 taxa scored for 552 characters, we recover a close, well-supported relationship between Diamantinasaurus and its contemporary, Savannasaurus elliottorum. Unlike previous iterations of this data matrix, under a parsimony framework we consistently recover Diamantinasaurus and Savannasaurus as early-diverging members of Titanosauria using both equal weighting and extended implied weighting, with the overall topology largely consistent between analyses. We erect a new clade, named Diamantinasauria herein, that also includes the contemporaneous Sarmientosaurus musacchioi from southern Argentina, which shares several cranial features with the referred Diamantinasaurus specimen. Thus, Diamantinasauria is represented in the mid-Cretaceous of both South America and Australia, supporting the hypothesis that some titanosaurians, in addition to megaraptoran theropods and possibly some ornithopods, were able to disperse between these two continents via Antarctica. Conversely, there is no evidence for rebbachisaurids in Australia, which might indicate that they were unable to expand into high latitudes before their extinction in the Cenomanian–Turonian. Likewise, there is no evidence for titanosaurs with procoelous caudal vertebrae in the mid-Cretaceous Australian record, despite scarce but compelling evidence for their presence in both Antarctica and New Zealand during the Campanian–Maastrichtian. These later titanosaurs presumably dispersed into these landmasses from South America before the Campanian (~85 Mya), when seafloor spreading between Zealandia and Australia commenced. Although Australian mid-Cretaceous dinosaur faunas appear to be cosmopolitan at higher taxonomic levels, closer affinities with South America at finer scales are becoming better supported for sauropods, theropods and ornithopods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Poropat
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, QLD, Australia
| | - Martin Kundrát
- Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Technology and Innovation Park, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Philip D Mannion
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| | - Paul Upchurch
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
| | - Travis R Tischler
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, QLD, Australia
| | - David A Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
White MA, Bell PR, Poropat SF, Pentland AH, Rigby SL, Cook AG, Sloan T, Elliott DA. New theropod remains and implications for megaraptorid diversity in the Winton Formation (lower Upper Cretaceous), Queensland, Australia. R Soc Open Sci 2020; 7:191462. [PMID: 32218963 PMCID: PMC7029900 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The holotype specimen of the megaraptorid Australovenator wintonensis, from the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation (Rolling Downs Group, Eromanga Basin) of central Queensland, is the most complete non-avian theropod found in Australia to date. In fact, the holotype of A. wintonensis and isolated megaraptorid teeth (possibly referable to Australovenator) constitute the only theropod body fossils reported from the Winton Formation. Herein, we describe a new fragmentary megaraptorid specimen from the Winton Formation, found near the type locality of A. wintonensis. The new specimen comprises parts of two vertebrae, two metatarsals, a pedal phalanx and multiple unidentifiable bone fragments. Although the new megaraptorid specimen is poorly preserved, it includes the only megaraptorid vertebrae known from Queensland. The presence of pleurocoels and highly pneumatic caudal centra with camerate and camellate internal structures permit the assignment of these remains to Megaraptora gen. et sp. indet. A morphological comparison revealed that the distal end of metatarsal II and the partial pedal phalanx II-1 of the new specimen are morphologically divergent from Australovenator. This might indicate the presence of a second megaraptorid taxon in the Winton Formation, or possibly intraspecific variation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt A. White
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| | - Phil R. Bell
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
| | - Stephen F. Poropat
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Adele H. Pentland
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Samantha L. Rigby
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Alex G. Cook
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| | - David A. Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gonzàlez Riga BJ, Mannion PD, Poropat SF, Ortiz David LD, Coria JP. Osteology of the Late Cretaceous Argentinean sauropod dinosaur Mendozasaurus neguyelap: implications for basal titanosaur relationships. Zool J Linn Soc 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo J Gonzàlez Riga
- Laboratorio y Museo de Dinosaurios, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Philip D Mannion
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen F Poropat
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, Australia
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leonardo D Ortiz David
- Laboratorio y Museo de Dinosaurios, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Juan Pedro Coria
- Laboratorio y Museo de Dinosaurios, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Paulina-Carabajal A, Sterli J, Georgi J, Poropat SF, Kear BP. Comparative neuroanatomy of extinct horned turtles (Meiolaniidae) and extant terrestrial turtles (Testudinidae), with comments on the palaeobiological implications of selected endocranial features. Zool J Linn Soc 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlw024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
|
12
|
Poropat SF, Mannion PD, Upchurch P, Hocknull SA, Kear BP, Kundrát M, Tischler TR, Sloan T, Sinapius GHK, Elliott JA, Elliott DA. New Australian sauropods shed light on Cretaceous dinosaur palaeobiogeography. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34467. [PMID: 27763598 PMCID: PMC5072287 DOI: 10.1038/srep34467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Australian dinosaurs have played a rare but controversial role in the debate surrounding the effect of Gondwanan break-up on Cretaceous dinosaur distribution. Major spatiotemporal gaps in the Gondwanan Cretaceous fossil record, coupled with taxon incompleteness, have hindered research on this effect, especially in Australia. Here we report on two new sauropod specimens from the early Late Cretaceous of Queensland, Australia, that have important implications for Cretaceous dinosaur palaeobiogeography. Savannasaurus elliottorum gen. et sp. nov. comprises one of the most complete Cretaceous sauropod skeletons ever found in Australia, whereas a new specimen of Diamantinasaurus matildae includes the first ever cranial remains of an Australian sauropod. The results of a new phylogenetic analysis, in which both Savannasaurus and Diamantinasaurus are recovered within Titanosauria, were used as the basis for a quantitative palaeobiogeographical analysis of macronarian sauropods. Titanosaurs achieved a worldwide distribution by at least 125 million years ago, suggesting that mid-Cretaceous Australian sauropods represent remnants of clades which were widespread during the Early Cretaceous. These lineages would have entered Australasia via dispersal from South America, presumably across Antarctica. High latitude sauropod dispersal might have been facilitated by Albian–Turonian warming that lifted a palaeoclimatic dispersal barrier between Antarctica and South America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Poropat
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Philip D Mannion
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Upchurch
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Benjamin P Kear
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Kundrát
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, SK-84215, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, Jesenná 5, SK-04154, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Travis R Tischler
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Trish Sloan
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - George H K Sinapius
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Judy A Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| | - David A Elliott
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
White MA, Bell PR, Cook AG, Poropat SF, Elliott DA. The dentary of Australovenator wintonensis (Theropoda, Megaraptoridae); implications for megaraptorid dentition. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1512. [PMID: 26713256 PMCID: PMC4690360 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Megaraptorid theropods were an enigmatic group of medium-sized predatory dinosaurs, infamous for the hypertrophied claw on the first manual digit. Megaraptorid dentition is largely restricted to isolated teeth found in association with skeletal parts; however, the in situ maxillary dentition of Megaraptor was recently described. A newly discovered right dentary pertaining to the Australovenator holotype preserves in situ dentition, permitting unambiguous characterisation of the dentary tooth morphology. The new jaw is virtually complete, with an overall elongate, shallow profile, and fifteen visible in situ teeth at varying stages of eruption. In situ teeth confirm Australovenator exhibited modest pseudoheterodonty, recurved lateral teeth with a serrate distal carina and reduced mesial carina, similar to other megaraptorids. Australovenator also combines of figure-of-eight basal cross-section with a lanceolate shape due to the presence of labial and lingual depressions and the lingual twist of the distal carina. Computed tomography and three-dimensional imagery provided superior characterisation of the dentary morphology and enabled an accurate reconstruction to a pre-fossilised state. The newly established dental morphology also afforded re-evaluation of isolated theropod teeth discovered at the Australovenator holotype locality and from several additional Winton Formation localities. The isolated Winton teeth are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to the in situ dentary teeth of Australovenator, but are also morphometrically similar to Abelisauridae, Allosauridae, Coelophysoidea, Megalosauridae and basal Tyrannosauroidea. Qualitative characters, however, clearly distinguish the teeth of Australovenator and the isolated Winton teeth from all other theropods. Evidence from teeth suggests megaraptorids were the dominant predators in the Winton Formation, which contrasts with other penecontemporaneous Gondwanan ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt A White
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales , Australia ; Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History , Winton, Queensland , Australia
| | - Phil R Bell
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England , Armidale, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Alex G Cook
- Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History , Winton, Queensland , Australia ; School of Earth Science, University of Queensland , St Lucia, Queensland , Australia
| | - Stephen F Poropat
- Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History , Winton, Queensland , Australia
| | - David A Elliott
- Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History , Winton, Queensland , Australia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Poropat SF, Kear BP. Photographic Atlas and three-dimensional reconstruction of the holotype skull of Euhelopus zdanskyi with description of additional cranial elements. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79932. [PMID: 24278222 PMCID: PMC3836988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Euhelopus zdanskyi is one of relatively few sauropod taxa known from an almost complete skull and mandible. Recent phylogenetic analyses suggest that Euhelopus is a somphospondylan titanosauriform, and that it is a member of the clade (Euhelopodidae) which is the sister taxon to the hugely successful, dominantly Cretaceous sauropod group Titanosauria. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The skull elements of Euhelopus were CT scanned at Uppsala Akademiska Sjukhuset. Three-dimensional models of the elements were constructed from the DICOM data using Mimics 14.0, InVesalius 3.0, and GeoMagic Studio 2012, the skull was rearticulated in Rhinoceros 4.0, and the final version was rendered in GeoMagic Studio 2012. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The fact that relatively complete sauropod skulls are so rare in the fossil record, particularly among titanosauriforms, means that the skulls that are known should be as thoroughly described and well-illustrated as possible. This contribution supplements previous descriptions of the cranial elements of Euhelopus, one of the few euhelopodid taxa for which cranial material is known, by presenting a comprehensive photographic atlas of the skull elements to facilitate a better understanding of their morphology. We describe several elements which have been overlooked in past studies of Euhelopus, and also provide as accurate a reconstruction of the skull as possible (in the absence of the braincase), the most significant components of which are the articulations of the palate and the mandible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Poropat
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Uppsala County, Sweden
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Natural History Museum, The Jump-Up, Winton, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Benjamin P. Kear
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Uppsala County, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
White MA, Benson RBJ, Tischler TR, Hocknull SA, Cook AG, Barnes DG, Poropat SF, Wooldridge SJ, Sloan T, Sinapius GHK, Elliott DA. New Australovenator hind limb elements pertaining to the holotype reveal the most complete Neovenatorid leg. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68649. [PMID: 23894328 PMCID: PMC3722220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report new skeletal elements pertaining to the same individual which represents the holotype of Australovenator wintonensis, from the ‘Matilda Site’ in the Winton Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of western Queensland. The discovery of these new elements means that the hind limb of Australovenator is now the most completely understood hind limb among Neovenatoridae. The new hind limb elements include: the left fibula; left metatarsal IV; left pedal phalanges I-2, II-1, III-4, IV-2, IV-3; and right pedal phalanges, II-2 and III-1. The detailed descriptions are supported with three dimensional figures. These coupled with the completeness of the hind limb will increase the utility of Australovenator in comparisons with less complete neovenatorid genera. These specimens and the previously described hind limb elements of Australovenator are compared with other theropods classified as neovenatorids (including Neovenator, Chilantaisaurus, Fukuiraptor, Orkoraptor and Megaraptor). Hind limb length proportion comparisons indicate that the smaller neovenatorids Australovenator and Fukuiraptor possess more elongate and gracile hind limb elements than the larger Neovenator and Chilantaisaurus. Greater stride lengths to body size exist in both Fukuiraptor and Australovenator with the femur discovered to be proportionally shorter the rest of the hind limb length. Additionally Australovenator is identified as possessing the most elongate metatarsus. The metatarsus morphology varies with body size. The larger neoventorids possess a metatarsus with greater width but shorter length compared to smaller forms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt A White
- School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|