Developmental Failure of Segmentation in a Caudal Vertebra ofApatosaurus(Sauropoda)

2014 ◽  
Vol 297 (7) ◽  
pp. 1262-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Lovelace
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Feiko Miedema ◽  
Anne S. Schulp ◽  
John W.M. Jagt ◽  
Eric W.A. Mulder

Abstract Here we report on a newly collected, well-preserved vertebral centrum of a plesiosaur from the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage in southern Limburg. The specimen is interpreted as a caudal vertebra that originated from an osteologically immature or juvenile individual, as evidenced by the position of the pedicular facets, the presence of a notochord pit and the absence of fused neural arches. It adds to the meagre record of sauropterygians in the area.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246620
Author(s):  
Alexander Averianov ◽  
Hans-Dieter Sues

Dzharatitanis kingi gen. et sp. nov. is based on an isolated anterior caudal vertebra (USNM 538127) from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) Bissekty Formation at Dzharakuduk, Uzbekistan. Phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon within the diplodocoid clade Rebbachisauridae. This is the first rebbachisaurid reported from Asia and one of the youngest rebbachisaurids in the known fossil record. The caudal is characterized by a slightly opisthocoelous centrum, ‘wing-like’ transverse processes with large but shallow PRCDF and POCDF, and the absence of a hyposphenal ridge and of TPRL and TPOL. The neural spine has high SPRL, SPDL, SPOL, and POSL and is pneumatized. The apex of neural spine is transversely expanded and bears triangular lateral processes. The new taxon shares with Demandasaurus and the Wessex rebbachisaurid a high SPDL on the lateral side of the neural spine, separated from SPRL and SPOL. This possibly suggests derivation of Dzharatitanis from European rebbachisaurids. This is the second sauropod group identified in the assemblage of non-avian dinosaurs from the Bissekty Formation, in addition to a previously identified indeterminate titanosaurian.


2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 1501-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitsugu Kobayashi ◽  
Rinchen Barsbold

The holotype of Garudimimus brevipes, discovered from the Upper Cretaceous sediments of Mongolia and named by Barsbold in 1981, is redescribed in detail in this paper. Reexamination of the holotype reveals a great deal of anatomical information, which allows us to revise the original diagnosis of this taxon and make comparisons with other ornithomimosaur taxa to understand the evolution of ornithomimosaurs. This paper suggests that characters used to differentiate this taxon in the original paper (short ilia, short metatarsals, exposure of the proximal end of metatarsal III, presence of pedal digit I, and absence of pleurocoels) are not apomorphies but represent the primitive conditions in ornithomimosaurs and are symplesiomorphies. Revised diagnoses are assigned for G. brevipes (posteriorly positioned jaw articulation, fossae at base of dorsal process of supraoccipital, paired depressions on neural spines of proximal caudal vertebra, and deep groove on lateral surface of pedal phalanges III-1 and III-2). Metatarsals of Garudimimus display a non-arctometatarsalian condition as in an Early Cretaceous form, Harpymimus, but the constriction of metatarsal III in Garudimimus is intermediate between Harpymimus and the arctometatarsalian condition in Gallimimus and other derived ornithomimosaurs (ornithomimids). Garudimimus is the only non-ornithomimid ornithomimosaur with edentulous jaws, which were probably covered by rhamphothecae. The loss of teeth with evolution of rhamphothecae and development of a cutting edge in the dentary of Garudimimus suggest the acquisition of feeding habits that included plucking food at the anterior portion of the jaw and cutting at the middle portion, similar to ornithomimids.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3027 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM D. ANDERSON, JR. ◽  
AVI BARANES ◽  
MENACHEM GOREN

Symphysanodon disii was described in 2008 from a single specimen collected in October 1999 from the Gulf of Aqaba. More recently, March 2008, four additional specimens of this species were collected in the Gulf. The following characters in combination distinguish S. disii from the other species in the genus: parapophyses on the first caudal vertebra, tubed scales in the lateral line 48 to 50, total number of first-arch gillrakers 34 to 37, sum of total number of gillrakers plus lateral-line scales (in individual specimens) 82 to 87, pectoral-fin rays 16 or 17, fleshy orbit diameter 7.2 to 8.3 % SL, and second anal-spine length 8.3 to 9.7 % SL. We redescribe S.disii, comment on S. pitondelafournaisei from the southwestern Indian Ocean off Reunion Island, and discuss sexual dimorphism in the genus.


Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 996 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM D. ANDERSON ◽  
VICTOR G. SPRINGER

Symphysanodon mona, a new species of perciform fish, is described from a single specimen collected in Mona Passage off the west coast of Puerto Rico. It differs from all other species of Symphysanodon in having fewer gillrakers on the first gill arch (4 or 5 + 19–21 = 24 or 25 total vs. 8–14 + 20–29 = 28–42 total) and, additionally, from the other two Atlantic species of the genus (S. berryi and S. octoactinus) in two other features of gill-arch morphology, viz., in having a ventral branch of the obliquus dorsalis 3 muscle (vs. its absence in the other two species) and in having a posteriorly projecting extension of the cartilaginous lateral end of ceratobranchial 4 (vs. its absence in the other two species; S. berryi has a small accessory cartilage associated with the lateral end of ceratobranchial 4 which may also be present in S. octoactinus). Symphysanodon parini, new species, known from 10 specimens collected over Sala y Gómez Ridge in the eastern South Pacific, can be distinguished from all other species of Symphysanodon, except S. maunaloae from the central and western Pacific, by the following combination of characters: segmented anal-fin rays 7, tubed lateral-line scales 45–50, total gillrakers on first gill arch 31– 34 (9 or 10 + 22–24), sum of lateral-line scales and gillrakers on individual specimens 77–84, depth of body 22.5–24.7 % SL (4.0–4.4 times in SL), length of depressed anal fin 24.8–26.4 % SL, hypurals 1 & 2 autogenous, hypurals 3 & 4 represented by a single plate, and first caudal vertebra without parapophyses. It is distinguished from S. maunaloae by differences in mean numbers of tubed lateral-line scales (mean = 47.89 for S. parini vs. mean = 44.94 for S. maunaloae) and pectoral-fin rays (mean = 16.90 for S. parini vs. mean = 16.13 for S. maunaloae) and by differences in a few morphometric characters. Symphysanodon rhax, new species, known from specimens collected off the Maldive Islands, northern Indian Ocean, is separable from all other species of Symphysanodon, except S. berryi from the Atlantic, by the following combination of characters: segmented rays in the anal fin 7, tubed lateral-line scales 50, gillrakers on the first gill arch 35–38 (10 or 11 + 25–27), sum of lateral-line scales and gillrakers on individual specimens 85–88, depth of body 20.6–24.8 % SL (4.0–4.9 times in SL), length of depressed anal fin 21.8–23.9 % SL, hypurals 1 & 2 autogenous, hypurals 3 & 4 represented by a single plate, and first caudal vertebra without parapophyses. It can be distinguished from S. berryi by its shorter second anal-fin spine and a suite of other morphometric characters. A key to Symphysanodon and a review of the other species of the genus are also presented.


2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
A. Palumbo Piccionello ◽  
A. Salvaggio ◽  
A. Volta

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-459
Author(s):  
Luiza Loebens ◽  
Selma Maria Almeida-Santos ◽  
Sonia Zanini Cechin

Abstract We described the reproductive cycle, size-fecundity relationships, reproductive effort, and sexual maturity of Tomodon dorsatus in South Brazil. We examined 87 individuals (25 males and 62 females) from herpetological collections. The description of the reproductive cycle was based on the morpho-anatomical and histological changes in male testes, ductus deferens, and kidney and in female ovary and oviduct. The age at the onset of sexual maturity was estimated by skeletochronology of the caudal vertebra. The reproduction is seasonal semi-synchronous with most of the individuals showing a reproductive peak in the spring. Males and females have developed sperm storage strategies, increasing the reproductive success. Males store sperm in the ductus deferens during the autumn and winter, while females storage takes place in the utero-vaginal junction furrows during the autumn and early winter. Larger females produce a higher number of larger follicles and eggs. Females invest more in growth before reaching sexual maturity than males. Females reach sexual maturity earlier (4 years old) than males (5 years old) and have larger bodies but lower longevity. Reproductive strategies of Tachymenini specie are highly conserved.


2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabete Malafaia ◽  
Pedro Mocho ◽  
Fernando Escaso ◽  
Pedro Dantas ◽  
Francisco Ortega

AbstractA new specimen of a theropod dinosaur found in the Upper Jurassic (Freixial Formation, late Tithonian) of the Lusitanian Basin is described. It corresponds to a single individual and includes a sequence of articulated caudal vertebrae, an almost complete right pes, and other fragments of the appendicular skeleton. The specimen includes the most complete pes of a theropod dinosaur currently known in the Lusitanian Basin and represents one of the youngest skeletal records of theropod dinosaurs currently known in the Portuguese Upper Jurassic.A systematic analysis of this specimen is performed and it shows a combination of characters that allows us to interpret it as belonging to an allosauroid taxon. Within this clade, the material from Cambelas shares a few features with some carcharodontosaurids, including the presence of a lateral lamina extending along the anterior end of the centrum in the caudal vertebra and of a low vertical crest on the lateral surface of the femoral lesser trochanter. The set of remains described here shares some unusual features with another specimen previously described in the Portuguese fossil record, which also presents some synapomorphies of Carcharodontosauria. However, no autapomorphy or exclusive character combination can be recognized in the specimen here described in order to describe it as a new form. The presence of this specimen suggests a greater diversity in the allosauroid theropod fauna from the Late Jurassic of the Lusitanian Basin than currently known and probably expands the temporal record of Carcharodontosauria up to upper Tithonian of south-western Europe.


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