1
|
Weryński Ł, Błażejowski B, Szczygielski T, Young MT. The first occurrence of machimosaurid crocodylomorphs from the Oxfordian of south-central Poland provides new insights into the distribution of macrophagous teleosauroids. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17153. [PMID: 38560470 PMCID: PMC10981889 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Teleosauroid thalattosuchians were a clade of semi-aquatic crocodylomorphs that achieved a broad geographic distribution during the Mesozoic. While their fossils are well documented in Western European strata, our understanding of teleosauroids (and thalattosuchians in general) is notably poorer in Central-Eastern Europe, and from Poland in particular. Herein, we redescribe a teleosauroid rostrum (MZ VIII Vr-72) from middle Oxfordian strata of Załęcze Wielkie, in south-central Poland. Until now, the specimen has been largely encased in a block of limestone. After preparation, its rostral and dental morphology could be evaluated, showing the specimen to be a non-machimosaurin machimosaurid, similar in morphology to taxa Neosteneosaurus edwardsi and Proexochokefalos heberti. The well-preserved teeth enable us to study the specimen feeding ecology through the means of comparing its teeth to other teleosauroids through PCoA analysis. Comparisons with inferred closely related taxa suggest that the referred specimen was a macrophagous generalist. Notably, MZ VIII Vr-72 displays a prominent pathological distortion of the anterior rostrum, in the form of lateral bending. The pathology affects the nasal passage and tooth size and position, and is fully healed, indicating that, despite its macrophagous diet, it did not prevent the individual from food acquisition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Weryński
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland
| | - Błazej Błażejowski
- Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
| | - Tomasz Szczygielski
- Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
| | - Mark T. Young
- Grant Institute, The King’s Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Blackburn DC, Boyer DM, Gray JA, Winchester J, Bates JM, Baumgart SL, Braker E, Coldren D, Conway KW, Rabosky AD, de la Sancha N, Dillman CB, Dunnum JL, Early CM, Frable BW, Gage MW, Hanken J, Maisano JA, Marks BD, Maslenikov KP, McCormack JE, Nagesan RS, Pandelis GG, Prestridge HL, Rabosky DL, Randall ZS, Robbins MB, Scheinberg LA, Spencer CL, Summers AP, Tapanila L, Thompson CW, Tornabene L, Watkins-Colwell GJ, Welton LJ, Stanley EL. Increasing the impact of vertebrate scientific collections through 3D imaging: The openVertebrate (oVert) Thematic Collections Network. Bioscience 2024; 74:169-186. [PMID: 38560620 PMCID: PMC10977868 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biad120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The impact of preserved museum specimens is transforming and increasing by three-dimensional (3D) imaging that creates high-fidelity online digital specimens. Through examples from the openVertebrate (oVert) Thematic Collections Network, we describe how we created a digitization community dedicated to the shared vision of making 3D data of specimens available and the impact of these data on a broad audience of scientists, students, teachers, artists, and more. High-fidelity digital 3D models allow people from multiple communities to simultaneously access and use scientific specimens. Based on our multiyear, multi-institution project, we identify significant technological and social hurdles that remain for fully realizing the potential impact of digital 3D specimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David C Blackburn
- Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Blackburn served as the lead principal investigator for the oVert Thematic Collections Network
| | - Doug M Boyer
- Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Jaimi A Gray
- Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Blackburn served as the lead principal investigator for the oVert Thematic Collections Network
| | | | - John M Bates
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Stephanie L Baumgart
- University of Chicago and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Emily Braker
- University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Daryl Coldren
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Kevin W Conway
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States
| | | | - Noé de la Sancha
- Chicago State University DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | | | - Jonathan L Dunnum
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
| | - Catherine M Early
- FLMNH Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
| | - Benjamin W Frable
- Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Matt W Gage
- Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - James Hanken
- Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - Ben D Marks
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zachary S Randall
- Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Blackburn served as the lead principal investigator for the oVert Thematic Collections Network
| | | | | | - Carol L Spencer
- University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Adam P Summers
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Leif Tapanila
- Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, United States
| | | | - Luke Tornabene
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | | | - Luke J Welton
- University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States
| | | | - Edward L Stanley
- Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Blackburn served as the lead principal investigator for the oVert Thematic Collections Network
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Perrichon G, Hautier L, Pochat-Cottilloux Y, Raselli I, Salaviale C, Dailh B, Rinder N, Fernandez V, Adrien J, Lachambre J, Martin JE. Ontogenetic variability of the intertympanic sinus distinguishes lineages within Crocodylia. J Anat 2023; 242:1096-1123. [PMID: 36709416 PMCID: PMC10184552 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The phylogenetic relationships within crown Crocodylia remain contentious due to conflicts between molecular and morphological hypotheses. However, morphology-based datasets are mostly constructed on external characters, overlooking internal structures. Here, we use 3D geometric morphometrics to study the shape of the intertympanic sinus system in crown crocodylians during ontogeny, in order to assess its significance in a taxonomic context. Intertympanic sinus shape was found to be highly correlated with size and modulated by cranial shape during development. Still, adult sinus morphology distinguishes specimens at the family, genus and species level. We observe a clear distinction between Alligatoridae and Longirostres, a separation of different Crocodylus species and the subfossil Malagasy genus Voay, and a distinction between the Tomistoma and Gavialis lineages. Our approach is independent of molecular methods but concurs with the molecular topologies. Therefore, sinus characters could add significantly to morphological datasets, offering an alternative viewpoint to resolve problems in crocodylian relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gwendal Perrichon
- CNRS UMR 5276, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Lionel Hautier
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France.,Mammal Section, Life Sciences, Vertebrate Division, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Yohan Pochat-Cottilloux
- CNRS UMR 5276, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Irena Raselli
- Geoscience Department, Chemin de Musée 6, University of Fribourg, Jurassica Museum, Porrentruy, Switzerland
| | - Céline Salaviale
- CNRS UMR 5276, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Benjamin Dailh
- CNRS UMR 5276, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Nicolas Rinder
- CNRS UMR 5276, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Jérôme Adrien
- Laboratoire Matériaux, Ingénierie et Science, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Joël Lachambre
- Laboratoire Matériaux, Ingénierie et Science, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jeremy E Martin
- CNRS UMR 5276, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement, Villeurbanne, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Young MT, Bowman CIW, Erb A, Schwab JA, Witmer LM, Herrera Y, Brusatte SL. Evidence for a novel cranial thermoregulatory pathway in thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15353. [PMID: 37151298 PMCID: PMC10162039 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs were a diverse clade that lived from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. The subclade Metriorhynchoidea underwent a remarkable transition, evolving from semi-aquatic ambush predators into fully aquatic forms living in the open oceans. Thalattosuchians share a peculiar palatal morphology with semi-aquatic and aquatic fossil cetaceans: paired anteroposteriorly aligned grooves along the palatal surface of the bony secondary palate. In extant cetaceans, these grooves are continuous with the greater palatine artery foramina, arteries that supply their oral thermoregulatory structures. Herein, we investigate the origins of thalattosuchian palatal grooves by examining CT scans of six thalattosuchian species (one teleosauroid, two early-diverging metriorhynchoids and three metriorhynchids), and CT scans of eleven extant crocodylian species. All thalattosuchians had paired osseous canals, enclosed by the palatines, that connect the nasal cavity to the oral cavity. These osseous canals open into the oral cavity via foramina at the posterior terminus of the palatal grooves. Extant crocodylians lack both the external grooves and the internal canals. We posit that in thalattosuchians these novel palatal canals transmitted hypertrophied medial nasal vessels (artery and vein), creating a novel heat exchange pathway connecting the palatal vascular plexus to the endocranial region. Given the general hypertrophy of thalattosuchian cephalic vasculature, and their increased blood flow and volume, thalattosuchians would have required a more extensive suite of thermoregulatory pathways to maintain stable temperatures for their neurosensory tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark T. Young
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- LWL-Museum für Naturkunde, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Arthur Erb
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Julia A. Schwab
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence M. Witmer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States
| | - Yanina Herrera
- Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ristevski J. Neuroanatomy of the mekosuchine crocodylian Trilophosuchus rackhami Willis, 1993. J Anat 2022; 241:981-1013. [PMID: 36037801 PMCID: PMC9482699 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although our knowledge on crocodylomorph palaeoneurology has experienced considerable growth in recent years, the neuroanatomy of many crocodylomorph taxa has yet to be studied. This is true for Australian taxa, where thus far only two crocodylian crocodylomorphs have had aspects of their neuroanatomy explored. Here, the neuroanatomy of the Australian mekosuchine crocodylian Trilophosuchus rackhami is described for the first time, which significantly increases our understanding on the palaeoneurology of Australian crocodylians. The palaeoneurological description is based on the taxon's holotype specimen (QMF16856), which was subjected to a μCT scan. Because of the exceptional preservation of QMF16856, most neuroanatomical elements could be digitally reconstructed and described in detail. Therefore, the palaeoneurological assessment presented here is hitherto the most in‐depth study of this kind for an extinct Australian crocodylomorph. Trilophosuchus rackhami has a brain endocast with a distinctive morphology that is characterized by an acute dural peak over the hindbrain region. While the overall morphology of the brain endocast is unique to T. rackhami, it does share certain similarities with the notosuchian crocodyliforms Araripesuchus wegeneri and Sebecus icaeorhinus. The endosseous labyrinth displays a morphology that is typical for crocodylians, although a stand‐out feature is the unusually tall common crus. Indeed, the common crus of T. rackhami has one of the greatest height ratios among crocodylomorphs with currently known endosseous labyrinths. The paratympanic pneumatic system of T. rackhami is greatly developed and most similar to those of the extant crocodylians Osteolaemus tetraspis and Paleosuchus palpebrosus. The observations on the neuroanatomy of T. rackhami are also discussed in the context of Crocodylomorpha. The comparative palaeoneurology reinforces previous evaluations that the neuroanatomy of crocodylomorphs is complex and diverse among species, and T. rackhami has a peculiar neuromorphology, particularly among eusuchian crocodyliforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorgo Ristevski
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Holliday CM, Schachner ER. Dispatches from the age of crocodiles: New discoveries from ancient lineages. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022; 305:2343-2352. [PMID: 35912969 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Crocodilians inspire researchers and the public alike with their explosive hunting methodologies, distinct craniofacial and dental morphology, and resplendent fossil record. This special issue highlights recent advances in the biology and paleontology of this fascinating lineage of vertebrates. The authors in this volume bring crocodylians and their extinct ancestors to life using a variety of approaches including fieldwork, imaging, 3D modeling, developmental biology, physiological monitoring, dissection, and a host of other comparative methods. Our journey begins with early crocodylomorphs from the Triassic, carries us through the radiation of crocodyliforms during the rest of the Mesozoic Era, and finally celebrates the diversification development and biology of extant crocodylians. Crocodyliform science has grown appreciably the past few decades. New fossil species and genetic evidence continue to keep phylogenies and our understanding of relationships wavering in key places of the tree such as the relationships of the extinct marine thalattosuchians as well as still living species like gharials. The application of imaging approaches and 3D modeling to both preserved tissues as well as living specimens is now revealing patterns in brain and lung evolution and function, growth strategies, and feeding and locomotor behaviors across the lineage. Comparative anatomical studies are offering new data on genitals, cephalic venous drainage and thoracoabdominal pressures. The new discoveries found here only reveal there is far more work to be done to understand the biology and behavior responsible for the great radiation extinct suchians and their crocodylian descendants experienced during their conquest of Mesozoic and Tertiary ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casey M Holliday
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Emma R Schachner
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
OUP accepted manuscript. Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
8
|
Fernández MS, Herrera Y. Active airflow of the paranasal sinuses in extinct crocodyliforms: Evidence from a natural cast of the thalattosuchian
Dakosaurus andiniensis. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:2604-2619. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marta S. Fernández
- CONICET, División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo Universidad Nacional de La Plata La Plata Argentina
| | - Yanina Herrera
- CONICET, División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo Universidad Nacional de La Plata La Plata Argentina
| |
Collapse
|