Land or water: using taphonomic models to determine the lifestyle of the Triassic protorosaur Tanystropheus (Diapsida, Archosauromorpha)

Beardmore, Susan R.; Furrer, Heinz

doi:10.1007/s12549-017-0299-7

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The comparatively elongate and gracile semicircular canals and common crus of PIMUZ T 2790 are clearly in correspondence to the type observed in terrestrial and nearshore aquatic taxa, and therefore it can be excluded that Tanystropheus hydroides was a deep-diving pelagic animal. These findings are also supported by a taphonomical analysis of Tanystropheus specimens from the Besano Formation of Monte San Giorgio (Beardmore & Furrer, 2017).…”

Section: Endocranial Anatomysupporting

confidence: 69%

The cranial morphology ofTanystropheus hydroides(Tanystropheidae, Archosauromorpha) as revealed by synchrotron microtomography

Spiekman

Neenan

Fraser

et al. 2020

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The postcranial morphology of the extremely long-necked Tanystropheus hydroides is well-known, but observations of skull morphology were previously limited due to compression of the known specimens. Here we provide a detailed description of the skull of PIMUZ T 2790, including a partial endocast and endosseous labyrinth, based on synchrotron microtomographic data, and compare its morphology to that of other early Archosauromorpha. In many features, such as the wide and flattened snout and the configuration of the temporal and palatal regions, Tanystropheus hydroides differs strongly from other early archosauromorphs. The braincase possesses a combination of derived archosaur traits, such as the presence of a laterosphenoid and the ossification of the lateral wall of the braincase, but also differs from archosauriforms in the morphology of the ventral ramus of the opisthotic, the horizontal orientation of the parabasisphenoid, and the absence of a clearly defined crista prootica. Tanystropheus hydroides was a ram-feeder that likely caught its prey through a laterally directed snapping bite. Although the cranial morphology of other archosauromorph lineages is relatively well-represented, the skulls of most tanystropheid taxa remain poorly understood due to compressed and often fragmentary specimens. The recent descriptions of the skulls of Macrocnemus bassanii and now Tanystropheus hydroides reveal a large cranial disparity in the clade, reflecting wide ecological diversity, and highlighting the importance of non-archosauriform Archosauromorpha to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems during the Triassic.

show abstract

Section: Endocranial Anatomysupporting

confidence: 69%

The cranial morphology ofTanystropheus hydroides(Tanystropheidae, Archosauromorpha) as revealed by synchrotron microtomography

Spiekman

Neenan

Fraser

et al. 2020

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The comparatively elongate and gracile semicircular canals and common crus of PIMUZ T 2790 are clearly in correspondence to the type observed in terrestrial and nearshore aquatic taxa, and therefore it can be excluded that Tanystropheus hydroides was a deepdiving pelagic animal. These findings are also supported by a taphonomical analysis of Tanystropheus specimens from the Besano Formation of Monte San Giorgio (Beardmore & Furrer 2017).…”

Section: Endocranial Anatomysupporting

confidence: 69%

Peer Review #1 of "The cranial morphology of Tanystropheus hydroides (Tanystropheidae, Archosauromorpha) as revealed by synchrotron microtomography (v0.1)"

Pinheiro¹

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The postcranial morphology of the extremely long-necked Tanystropheus hydroides is wellknown, but observations of skull morphology were previously limited due to compression of the known specimens. Here we provide a detailed description of the skull of PIMUZ T 2790, including the endocast and endosseous labyrinth, based on synchrotron microtomographic data, and compare its morphology to that of other early Archosauromorpha. In many features, such as the wide and flattened snout and the configuration of the temporal and palatal regions, Tanystropheus hydroides differs strongly from other early archosauromorphs. The braincase possesses a combination of derived archosaur traits, such as the presence of a laterosphenoid and the ossification of the lateral wall of the braincase, but also differs from archosauriforms in the morphology of the ventral ramus of the opisthotic, the horizontal orientation of the parabasisphenoid, and the absence of a clearly defined crista prootica. Tanystropheus hydroides was a ram-feeder that likely caught its prey through a laterally directed snapping bite. Although the cranial morphology of other archosauromorph lineages is relatively well-represented, the skulls of most tanystropheid taxa remain poorly understood due to compressed and often fragmentary specimens. The recent descriptions of the skulls of Macrocnemus bassanii and now Tanystropheus hydroides reveal a large cranial disparity in the clade, reflecting wide ecological diversity, and highlighting the importance of non-archosauriform Archosauromorpha to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems during the Triassic.

show abstract

“…Early Eosauropterygia have not been discovered with well-preserved skin (Wachtler, 2018, p. 55). A reinforced integument in these aquatic reptiles has been inferred from taphonomic indicators, however (Renesto, 2006;Bearmore and Furrer, 2017). Placodontia reflect a generally scaly condition, as osteoderm patterns are usually reflected by scutes (Scheyer et al, 2012;Maderson [1972] noted the extant Dermochelys as an exception; there is also a general reduction of scutes in many Trionychidae).…”

Section: Comparisons With Other Marine Reptilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The integument of pelagic crocodylomorphs (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae)

Spindler¹,

Lauer²,

Tischlinger

et al. 2021

Palaeontol Electron

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Metriorhynchidae are the only archosaurs that show adaptations to a highly pelagic lifestyle. This morphology is paralleled by ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, which share a streamlined, largely scaleless skin surface. Although published metriorhynchid material indicates a similar condition, no detailed description of their integument has been carried out. New data from several specimens representing at least three genera are shown here, revealing a uniform skin type lacking any traces of scales or scutes and instead showing folded and transverse fibers. A hypocercal tail fluke comparable to that of ichthyosaurs is present in metrorhynchids. Surface anomalies on metriorhynchid skin are interpreted as potential epizootic scars, similar to those from barnacles, or bite marks. A broad comparison implies deep homologies with plesiosaur and ichthyosaur skin. We also describe skin details of early (teleosauroid) thalattosuchians for the first time. Unlike Metriorhynchidae, their integument is demonstrated to be very similar to that of extant crocodylians, which can be partially explained by their inferred onshore behavior. There is generally a high threshold for extensive skin modifications in aquatic reptiles.

show abstract

Land or water: using taphonomic models to determine the lifestyle of the Triassic protorosaur Tanystropheus (Diapsida, Archosauromorpha)

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

The cranial morphology ofTanystropheus hydroides(Tanystropheidae, Archosauromorpha) as revealed by synchrotron microtomography

The cranial morphology ofTanystropheus hydroides(Tanystropheidae, Archosauromorpha) as revealed by synchrotron microtomography

Peer Review #1 of "The cranial morphology of Tanystropheus hydroides (Tanystropheidae, Archosauromorpha) as revealed by synchrotron microtomography (v0.1)"

The integument of pelagic crocodylomorphs (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About