A new phytosaur (Archosauriformes, Phytosauria) from the Lot’s Wife beds (Sonsela Member) within the Chinle Formation (Upper Triassic) of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Stocker, Michelle R.

doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.649815

Cited by 30 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The external mandibular fenestra is anteroposteriorly long and dorsoventrally shallow as in phytosaurs (e.g., ref. 22). The long splenials of Diandongosuchus have lateral exposure for approximately one-third the length of the ventral edge of the mandible as in other phytosaurs; however, the splenials of Diandongosuchus do not meet on the midline to form a symphysis as in all other phytosaurs (160-0 9 ;28).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, because the focus was on features clearly unique to phytosaurs this was detrimental to placing the clade in a broader evolutionary framework. A recent surge in species descriptions and subsequent taxonomic revisions161718202122, especially near the base of Phytosauria, has driven a more detailed examination and atomization of the entire phytosaur skull rather than characterizations of the most prominent features (i.e. the elongation and crests of the rostrum).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Short-Snouted, Middle Triassic Phytosaur and its Implications for the Morphological Evolution and Biogeography of Phytosauria

Stocker

Zhao

Nesbitt

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Self Cite

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Following the end-Permian extinction, terrestrial vertebrate diversity recovered by the Middle Triassic, and that diversity was now dominated by reptiles. However, those reptilian clades, including archosaurs and their closest relatives, are not commonly found until ~30 million years post-extinction in Late Triassic deposits despite time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses predicting an Early Triassic divergence for those clades. One of these groups from the Late Triassic, Phytosauria, is well known from a near-Pangean distribution, and this easily recognized clade bears an elongated rostrum with posteriorly retracted nares and numerous postcranial synapomorphies that are unique compared with all other contemporary reptiles. Here, we recognize the exquisitely preserved, nearly complete skeleton of Diandongosuchus fuyuanensis from the Middle Triassic of China as the oldest and basalmost phytosaur. The Middle Triassic age and lack of the characteristically-elongated rostrum fill a critical morphological and temporal gap in phytosaur evolution, indicating that the characteristic elongated rostrum of phytosaurs appeared subsequent to cranial and postcranial modifications associated with enhanced prey capture, predating that general trend of morphological evolution observed within Crocodyliformes. Additionally, Diandongosuchus supports that the clade was present across Pangea, suggesting early ecosystem exploration for Archosauriformes through nearshore environments and leading to ease of dispersal across the Tethys.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Short-Snouted, Middle Triassic Phytosaur and its Implications for the Morphological Evolution and Biogeography of Phytosauria

Stocker

Zhao

Nesbitt

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Self Cite

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Phytosauria itself was repeatedly recovered as a monophyletic clade (e.g., Ballew, 1989;Parker and Irmis, 2006;Brusatte et al, 2010;Stocker 2010Stocker , 2012Nesbitt, 2011). Based on Stocker (2012) as main reference, our sampling thus covers basally positioned Phytosauria (Paleorhinus), as well as a more highly nested member of pseudopalatine Leptosuchomorpha (Pseudopalatus).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Working framework showing the genera included in the present study. The composite hypothetical relationships are based on Desojo et al (), Nesbitt (), and Stocker ().…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone Histology of Phytosaur, Aetosaur, and Other Archosauriform Osteoderms (Eureptilia, Archosauromorpha)

Scheyer

Desojo

Cerda

2013

The Anatomical Record

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As in other archosauriforms, phytosaurs and aetosaurs are characterized by the presence of well-developed osteoderms. Here we provide a comparative study on the microstructure of phytosaur (five taxa) and aetosaur (thirteen taxa) osteoderms. For outgroup comparison, we sampled osteoderms of the sister taxon to Aetosauria, Revueltosaurus callenderi, and the doswelliid Jaxtasuchus salomoni. Phytosaur, aetosaur, and Jaxtasuchus osteoderms are composed of a diploe structure, whereas the Revueltosaurus osteoderm microanatomy is more compact. The external cortex of phytosaurs, Revueltosaurus and Jaxtasuchus osteoderms is mainly composed of parallelfibered bone. In aetosaurs, the external cortex mainly consists of lamellar bone, with lines of resorption within the primary bone indicating successive cycles of bone erosion and deposition. The basal cortex in all the specimens is composed of parallel-fibered bone, with the cancellous internal core being more strongly developed in aetosaurs than in phytosaurs. Woven or fibro-lamellar bone was recorded in both phytosaurian and aetosaurian taxa, as well as in Jaxtasuchus. Structural fibers, which at least partly suggest metaplastic origin, were only recorded in the internal core of two phytosaurs and in the basal cortex of one aetosaur. Osteoderm thickness and cancellous to compact bone ratios appear to be subject to ontogenetic change. Minimum growth mark counts in osteoderms sampled indicate that some aetosaurs and phytosaurs lived for at least two decades. Bone microstructures are more uniform in phytosaur osteoderms and show a higher level of disparity among aetosaur osteoderms, and at least in the latter, histological features are potentially apomorphic for species/genus level. Anat Rec, 297:240-260, 2014. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

show abstract

“…Phytosaurs are among the most common tetrapods during this time interval with a nearly world-wide distribution [1], [2]. They resemble crocodiles in their habitus (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Evidence of Spondyloarthropathy in the Spine of a Phytosaur (Reptilia: Archosauriformes) from the Late Triassic of Halberstadt, Germany

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pathologies in the skeleton of phytosaurs, extinct archosauriform reptiles restricted to the Late Triassic, have only been rarely described. The only known postcranial pathologies of a phytosaur are two pairs of fused vertebrae of “Angistorhinopsis ruetimeyeri” from Halberstadt, Germany, as initially described by the paleontologist Friedrich von Huene. These pathologic vertebrae are redescribed in more detail in this study in the light of modern paleopathologic methods. Four different pathologic observations can be made in the vertebral column of this individual: 1) fusion of two thoracic vertebral bodies by new bone formation within the synovial membrane and articular capsule of the intervertebral joint; 2) fusion and conspicuous antero-posterior shortening of last presacral and first sacral vertebral bodies; 3) destruction and erosion of the anterior articular surface of the last presacral vertebra; and 4) a smooth depression on the ventral surface of the fused last presacral and first sacral vertebral bodies. Observations 1–3 can most plausibly and parsimoniously be attributed to one disease: spondyloarthropathy, an aseptic inflammatory process in which affected vertebrae show typical types of reactive new bone formation and erosion of subchondral bone. The kind of vertebral shortening present in the fused lumbosacral vertebrae suggests that the phytosaur acquired this disease in its early life. Observation 4, the smooth ventral depression in the fused lumbosacral vertebrae, is most probably not connected to the spondyloarthropathy, and can be regarded as a separate abnormality. It remains of uncertain origin, but may be the result of pressure, perhaps caused by a benign mass such as an aneurysm or cyst of unknown type. Reports of spondyloarthropathy in Paleozoic and Mesozoic reptiles are still exceptional, and our report of spondyloarthropathy in fossil material from Halberstadt is the first unequivocal occurrence of this disease in a Triassic tetrapod and in a phytosaur.

show abstract

A new phytosaur (Archosauriformes, Phytosauria) from the Lot’s Wife beds (Sonsela Member) within the Chinle Formation (Upper Triassic) of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Cited by 30 publications

References 21 publications

A Short-Snouted, Middle Triassic Phytosaur and its Implications for the Morphological Evolution and Biogeography of Phytosauria

A Short-Snouted, Middle Triassic Phytosaur and its Implications for the Morphological Evolution and Biogeography of Phytosauria

Bone Histology of Phytosaur, Aetosaur, and Other Archosauriform Osteoderms (Eureptilia, Archosauromorpha)

Evidence of Spondyloarthropathy in the Spine of a Phytosaur (Reptilia: Archosauriformes) from the Late Triassic of Halberstadt, Germany

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About