The evolution of the air sac system in theropod dinosaurs: Evidence from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar.
Africa
Dinosauria
computed tomography
morphology
respiratory system
vertebrae
Journal
Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 1469-7580
Titre abrégé: J Anat
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0137162
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
18 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024
Historique:
revised:
26
06
2024
received:
17
02
2024
accepted:
02
07
2024
medline:
18
7
2024
pubmed:
18
7
2024
entrez:
18
7
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Recent evidence suggests that the invasive air sac system evolved at least three times independently in avemetatarsalians: in pterosaurs, sauropodomorphs and theropods. Data from sauropodomorphs showed that the pneumatic architecture in vertebrae first developed in camellate-like trabeculae in the Triassic, later in camerate systems in Jurassic neosauropods, and finally camellate tissue in Cretaceous titanosaurs. This evolutionary trajectory has support from a considerable sampling of sauropodomorph taxa. However, the evolution of pneumatic bone tissues in Theropoda is less understood. We analyzed the computed tomography of Majungasaurus and Rahonavis, using densitometry rendering to differentiate the microarchitecture along the presacral axial skeleton of late Ceratosaurians and early Paravians. We also compared these results with scans of other theropod clades. Our analysis revealed an increase in pneumatic complexity in early paravians compared to the ceratosaurians. Majungasaurus presents some apneumatic neural spines, a condition also observed in Allosaurus. Majungasaurus also features some apneumatic centra despite the presence of lateral pneumatic fossae. This raises caution when evaluating PSP solely based on external morphology. We also found evidence of distinct patterns of PSP in maniraptorans. Considering that Majungasaurus, a late abelisaurid, inherited from their ceratosaurian ancestors, some apneumatic elements such as the neural spine and some centra, Rahonavis, an early paravian, took a different trajectory toward the full pneumatization of the axial skeleton. This characteristic provided paravians an advantage in gliding and flying. Also, unlike Sauropoda, pneumaticity in Theropoda apparently developed by increasing chamber volumes toward paravians. Similar studies on early Theropoda are needed to elucidate their condition and better describe the evolutionary trajectory of different groups.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
ID : FUNCAP/FPD-0213-00295.01.01/23
Organisme : Fundação Norte-Rio-Grandense de Pesquisa e Cultura
ID : FUNPEC-UFRN/PIB21712-2023
Informations de copyright
© 2024 Anatomical Society.
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