The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs

Autores
Higgins, Robert R.; Cowgill, Thomas; Young, Mark T.; Schwab, Julia A.; Herrera, Laura Yanina; Witmer, Lawrence; Katsamenis, Orestis L.; Bowman, Charlotte; Brusatte, Stephen L.
Año de publicación
2024
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs underwent a major evolutionary transition, evolving from semiaquatic forms reminiscent of extant crocodylians, into pelagic marine forms with flippers, a tail fin and smooth scaleless skin. These fully aquatic forms – the Metriorhynchidae – evolved a novel suite of endocranial anatomies hypothesised to be related to living in saltwater. However, much remains to be discovered about the evolution of these internal braincase structures. Herein, we describe the endocranial anatomy of an early diverging metriorhynchid, Thalattosuchus superciliosus, using microfocus computed tomography (μCT) data and three-dimensional modelling. We compared it against geosaurine and metriorhynchine metriorhynchids, as well as the early diverging metriorhynchoid Pelagosaurus. We found that non-geosaurine metriorhynchids differ from geosaurines in having less laterally expanded cerebral hemispheres, shallowercurvatures of the brain’s dorsal margin, and lacking the ventral deflection of the pneumatic diverticulum ventral to the pituitary fossa chamber. However, early-diverging metriorhynchids have well-defined otoccipital diverticula and lacked the ‘extreme pelagic’ endosseous labyrinth morphology. We hypothesise that early metriorhynchids were not adapted to a sustained pursuit lifestyle. Moreover, we posit that within both metriorhynchid subfamilies there was parallel evolution towards becoming pursuit predators.
Fil: Higgins, Robert R.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Cowgill, Thomas. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Young, Mark T.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Schwab, Julia A.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Herrera, Laura Yanina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina
Fil: Witmer, Lawrence. Ohio University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Katsamenis, Orestis L.. University of Southampton; Reino Unido
Fil: Bowman, Charlotte. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Brusatte, Stephen L.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Materia
CROCODYLOMORPHA
ENDOCRANIAL ANATOMY
METRIORHYNCHIDAE
THALATTOSUCHIA
THALATTOSUCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/256334
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/256334
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphsHiggins, Robert R.Cowgill, ThomasYoung, Mark T.Schwab, Julia A.Herrera, Laura YaninaWitmer, LawrenceKatsamenis, Orestis L.Bowman, CharlotteBrusatte, Stephen L.CROCODYLOMORPHAENDOCRANIAL ANATOMYMETRIORHYNCHIDAETHALATTOSUCHIATHALATTOSUCHUS SUPERCILIOSUShttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs underwent a major evolutionary transition, evolving from semiaquatic forms reminiscent of extant crocodylians, into pelagic marine forms with flippers, a tail fin and smooth scaleless skin. These fully aquatic forms – the Metriorhynchidae – evolved a novel suite of endocranial anatomies hypothesised to be related to living in saltwater. However, much remains to be discovered about the evolution of these internal braincase structures. Herein, we describe the endocranial anatomy of an early diverging metriorhynchid, Thalattosuchus superciliosus, using microfocus computed tomography (μCT) data and three-dimensional modelling. We compared it against geosaurine and metriorhynchine metriorhynchids, as well as the early diverging metriorhynchoid Pelagosaurus. We found that non-geosaurine metriorhynchids differ from geosaurines in having less laterally expanded cerebral hemispheres, shallowercurvatures of the brain’s dorsal margin, and lacking the ventral deflection of the pneumatic diverticulum ventral to the pituitary fossa chamber. However, early-diverging metriorhynchids have well-defined otoccipital diverticula and lacked the ‘extreme pelagic’ endosseous labyrinth morphology. We hypothesise that early metriorhynchids were not adapted to a sustained pursuit lifestyle. Moreover, we posit that within both metriorhynchid subfamilies there was parallel evolution towards becoming pursuit predators.Fil: Higgins, Robert R.. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Cowgill, Thomas. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Young, Mark T.. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Schwab, Julia A.. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Herrera, Laura Yanina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Witmer, Lawrence. Ohio University; Estados UnidosFil: Katsamenis, Orestis L.. University of Southampton; Reino UnidoFil: Bowman, Charlotte. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Brusatte, Stephen L.. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoTaylor & Francis2024-11info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/256334Higgins, Robert R.; Cowgill, Thomas; Young, Mark T.; Schwab, Julia A.; Herrera, Laura Yanina; et al.; The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs; Taylor & Francis; Historical Biology; 2024; 11-2024; 1-120891-29631029-2381CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2024.2427096info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1080/08912963.2024.2427096info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-10-22T12:02:44Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/256334instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-10-22 12:02:45.042CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
title The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
spellingShingle The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
Higgins, Robert R.
CROCODYLOMORPHA
ENDOCRANIAL ANATOMY
METRIORHYNCHIDAE
THALATTOSUCHIA
THALATTOSUCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS
title_short The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
title_full The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
title_fullStr The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
title_full_unstemmed The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
title_sort The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Higgins, Robert R.
Cowgill, Thomas
Young, Mark T.
Schwab, Julia A.
Herrera, Laura Yanina
Witmer, Lawrence
Katsamenis, Orestis L.
Bowman, Charlotte
Brusatte, Stephen L.
author Higgins, Robert R.
author_facet Higgins, Robert R.
Cowgill, Thomas
Young, Mark T.
Schwab, Julia A.
Herrera, Laura Yanina
Witmer, Lawrence
Katsamenis, Orestis L.
Bowman, Charlotte
Brusatte, Stephen L.
author_role author
author2 Cowgill, Thomas
Young, Mark T.
Schwab, Julia A.
Herrera, Laura Yanina
Witmer, Lawrence
Katsamenis, Orestis L.
Bowman, Charlotte
Brusatte, Stephen L.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv CROCODYLOMORPHA
ENDOCRANIAL ANATOMY
METRIORHYNCHIDAE
THALATTOSUCHIA
THALATTOSUCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS
topic CROCODYLOMORPHA
ENDOCRANIAL ANATOMY
METRIORHYNCHIDAE
THALATTOSUCHIA
THALATTOSUCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs underwent a major evolutionary transition, evolving from semiaquatic forms reminiscent of extant crocodylians, into pelagic marine forms with flippers, a tail fin and smooth scaleless skin. These fully aquatic forms – the Metriorhynchidae – evolved a novel suite of endocranial anatomies hypothesised to be related to living in saltwater. However, much remains to be discovered about the evolution of these internal braincase structures. Herein, we describe the endocranial anatomy of an early diverging metriorhynchid, Thalattosuchus superciliosus, using microfocus computed tomography (μCT) data and three-dimensional modelling. We compared it against geosaurine and metriorhynchine metriorhynchids, as well as the early diverging metriorhynchoid Pelagosaurus. We found that non-geosaurine metriorhynchids differ from geosaurines in having less laterally expanded cerebral hemispheres, shallowercurvatures of the brain’s dorsal margin, and lacking the ventral deflection of the pneumatic diverticulum ventral to the pituitary fossa chamber. However, early-diverging metriorhynchids have well-defined otoccipital diverticula and lacked the ‘extreme pelagic’ endosseous labyrinth morphology. We hypothesise that early metriorhynchids were not adapted to a sustained pursuit lifestyle. Moreover, we posit that within both metriorhynchid subfamilies there was parallel evolution towards becoming pursuit predators.
Fil: Higgins, Robert R.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Cowgill, Thomas. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Young, Mark T.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Schwab, Julia A.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Herrera, Laura Yanina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina
Fil: Witmer, Lawrence. Ohio University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Katsamenis, Orestis L.. University of Southampton; Reino Unido
Fil: Bowman, Charlotte. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
Fil: Brusatte, Stephen L.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido
description Thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs underwent a major evolutionary transition, evolving from semiaquatic forms reminiscent of extant crocodylians, into pelagic marine forms with flippers, a tail fin and smooth scaleless skin. These fully aquatic forms – the Metriorhynchidae – evolved a novel suite of endocranial anatomies hypothesised to be related to living in saltwater. However, much remains to be discovered about the evolution of these internal braincase structures. Herein, we describe the endocranial anatomy of an early diverging metriorhynchid, Thalattosuchus superciliosus, using microfocus computed tomography (μCT) data and three-dimensional modelling. We compared it against geosaurine and metriorhynchine metriorhynchids, as well as the early diverging metriorhynchoid Pelagosaurus. We found that non-geosaurine metriorhynchids differ from geosaurines in having less laterally expanded cerebral hemispheres, shallowercurvatures of the brain’s dorsal margin, and lacking the ventral deflection of the pneumatic diverticulum ventral to the pituitary fossa chamber. However, early-diverging metriorhynchids have well-defined otoccipital diverticula and lacked the ‘extreme pelagic’ endosseous labyrinth morphology. We hypothesise that early metriorhynchids were not adapted to a sustained pursuit lifestyle. Moreover, we posit that within both metriorhynchid subfamilies there was parallel evolution towards becoming pursuit predators.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-11
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/256334
Higgins, Robert R.; Cowgill, Thomas; Young, Mark T.; Schwab, Julia A.; Herrera, Laura Yanina; et al.; The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs; Taylor & Francis; Historical Biology; 2024; 11-2024; 1-12
0891-2963
1029-2381
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/256334
identifier_str_mv Higgins, Robert R.; Cowgill, Thomas; Young, Mark T.; Schwab, Julia A.; Herrera, Laura Yanina; et al.; The internal braincase anatomy of Thalattosuchus superciliosus – with implications for the endocranial evolution of metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs; Taylor & Francis; Historical Biology; 2024; 11-2024; 1-12
0891-2963
1029-2381
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2024.2427096
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1080/08912963.2024.2427096
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Taylor & Francis
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Taylor & Francis
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 12.982451

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