New Brachiosaur Material from the Late Jurassic of Utah and Colorado

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

New Brachiosaur Material from the Late Jurassic of Utah and Colorado Great Basin Naturalist Volume 47 Number 4 Article 19 10-31-1987 New brachiosaur material from the Late Jurassic of Utah and Colorado James A. Jensen Provo, Utah Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation Jensen, James A. (1987) "New brachiosaur material from the Late Jurassic of Utah and Colorado," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 47 : No. 4 , Article 19. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol47/iss4/19 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. NEW BRACHIOSAUR MATERIAL FROM THE LATE JURASSIC OF UTAH AND COLORADO James A. Jensen' Abstract —Little is known about the Brachiosauridae, which includes some of the largest known sauropods, such as the genus Brachiosaurus, discovered in western Colorado by Elmer S. Riggs in 1900. Additional diagnostic material, previously unknown in the western hemisphere, is reported from three comparatively recent quarries: the Jensen/ Jensen Quarry in eastern Utah and the Dry Mesa and Potter Creek quarries on the Uncompahgre Upwarp in western Colorado. An unknown, well-preserved, articulated sauropod atlas/axis, seven cervical vertebrae, and an interesting flora were associated with the Potter Creek Quarry brachiosaur material. Taphonomic factors in that quarry are noted. The Jensen/Jensen and Dry Mesa deposits occur in basal sediments of the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation, and the Potter Creek Quarry in an intermediate section of that member. No complete, articulated skeleton of the A decade later a second discovery of bra- sauropod genus Brachiosaurus has been re- chiosaur bones was collected by a German ported from North America. However, an in- paleontologist, Janensch, in Tendaguru, Tan- complete skeleton was collected in Colorado zania, formerly East Africa. He recovered a in 1901, and disarticulated bones of the genus fairly complete skeleton that he named B. have been found in at least four other locali- brancai (Janensch 1914); the restored skele- ties. Elements described here, not previously ton is now mounted in the Museum fiir reported from the western hemisphere, in- Naturkunde in East Berlin, East Germany. clude a partial scapula, a distal cervical verte- Subsequent work by British expeditions, and bra, a radius, a metacarpal, and a humerus. possibly other European institutions, recov- The radius, metacarpal, and humerus appear ered other brachiosaur materials from Tanza- to represent a novel species but will not be nia, but for more than 80 years no additional described here as such. brachiosaur remains were scientifically re- In 1900 the type-species of the genus Bra- ported from the western hemisphere. chiosaurus was collected by Elmer S. Riggs, Circa 1943 a brachiosaur skeleton in an ad- of the Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, vanced state of erosion was discovered on the who discovered a partial skeleton of this re- Uncompahgre Upwarp in western Colorado markable sauropod near Grand Junction, Col- by the late Daniel E. Jones and his wife, Vi- orado. This skeleton possessed the previously vian, of Delta, Colorado. The humerus (Figs. unknown feature of front legs equal in length 2B, 3A-D, 4B) was collected and donated to to the rear (Fig. 1), which elevated the base of the U.S. National Museum in Washington, the neck and thorax far above any spinal incli- D.C., but was never described. The discov- nation previously reported in sauropods. ery site, approximately 70 km SSE of the Riggs (1903) appropriately named it Bra- Riggs locality, was named the Potter Creek chiosaurus altithorax. He recovered approxi- Quarry. Its stratigraphic position is approxi- mately 20 bones, including seven articulated mately in the middle of the Brushy Basin presacral and two caudal vertebrae, a sacrum Member of the Morrison Formation. I and the right ilium, a left coracoid, right worked there two seasons (1971, 1975), col- humerus, right femur (Fig. 1), and four ribs. lecting five disarticulated elements of a large The femur and humerus were greatly com- sauropod (? B. altithorax), bones of a second, pressed, with the distal end of the latter being smaller sauropod genus, and teeth of an un- partially destroyed by surface erosion (Fig. 1). known theropod. The brachiosaur elements This material is now preserved in the Field collected include part of the discovery Museum of Natural History, Chicago. humerus (Figs. 3E, 5A-D, 6B), a medial '2821 North 700 East, Provo, Utah 84604. 592 JENSEN; New Dinosaur Material 593 Bi C Fig. 1. A-D, F-H, elements of the type o( Brachiosaurns altithorax (from Riggs 1904): A, humerus, anterior view; proximal Ai, end; B, femur, anterior view; Bi, proximal end view; C, right ilium; D, fifth presacral vertebra; E, Potter Creek Quarry brachiosaur, fourth or fifth presacral vertebra; F, thoracic rib head, anterior view; G, B. altithorax, thoracic rib head, mesio-anterior view; H, B. altithorax. lateral view of left coracoid. Scale: A-D, F-H, approximately 1/12 natural size. dorsal vertebra (Figs. 3D, 4A-A3), an incom- vertebral series from the atlas/axis to the sev- plete left ilium (Fig. SA-A^), and a left radius enth cervical vertebra. This series was found and metacarpal (Figs. 3B, 5E-Ei). Materials intact but excavated in fragments by the Jones of the smaller, indeterminate sauropod in- family and given to me. I was able to reassem- clude the broken fragments of an articulated ble an articulated atlas/axis and third cervical 594 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 47, No. 4 i^ i^»fe iiT * Mm Fig. 2. A, Jensen/Jensen Quarry: scapula with coracoid in foreground (the only existing illustration of these unprepared brachiosaur elements); worker in upper right corner is sawing around border of 9' brachiosaur rib; B, Potter Creek Quarry. vertebra (Fig. lOA-E) from this broken mate- elements noted here are much too short and rial because of its excellent preservation. A small for any described brachiosaurid. detailed study of some of this material is in In 1960 I discovered a dinosaur bone de- progress, but a preliminary examination re- posit in basal Brushy Basin Member sedi- veals it to be from a mature sauropod. The ments of the Morrison Formation near October 1987 JENSEN: New Dinosaur Material 595 Fig. 3. Potter Creek Quarry brachiosaur: A-A2, left ilium (dorsal border, ischiadic peduncle restored); B, radius; C, metacarpal; D, fourth or fifth dorsal vertebra; E, left humerus. Abbreviations: dc, deltoid crest; ms, muscle fossa. Jensen, Utah. This deposit (the Jensen/Jensen with the scapula does not appear to match the Quarry) is located south of the Green River, a coracoid of B. altithorax, the specific identity few miles from the Dinosaur National Monu- of the elements is presently in question. ment Quarry. Two years' work (1962, 1966) in When fully prepared, the material may repre- this quarry (Figs. 11, 13) produced several sent an undescribed species; but an in- brachiosaur elements including a rib 2. 75 m (9 sufficient number of elements duplicating ft) long (Fig. 6B), a distal cervical vertebra, those of the type-species presently precludes the proximal half of a scapula, and a coracoid. such a determination. Additional, well- Many worthless slivers and fragments of shat- preserved brachiosaur material, cited in the tered brachiosaur cervical vertebrae were en- Uncompahgre fauna (Jensen 1985), is de- countered. Because the coracoid associated scribed here from the Potter Creek Quarry. 596 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 47, No. 4 Fig. 4. Dorsal vertebrae: A-A3, Potter Creek Quarry brachiosaur, fourth or fifth dorsal vertebra, right lateral view; B-B2, Dystijlosaurus edivini, type (B), anterior (B,), posterior (B,), right lateral views, probably anterior dorsal; C, Ultrasaurus macintoshi, type posterior dorsal vertebra, 1.45 m tall, lett lateral view. October 1987 JENSEN; New Dinosaur Material 597 Fig. Potter 5. Creek Quarry: A-D, brachiosaur humerus. A, proximal end; B, mid-shaft section; C, detail of bulbous deltoid crest; D, anterior, distal end; E, metacarpal MC I, mesial view; Ej, same, lateral view. Abbreviations: dr, deltoid ridge; ms, muscle fossa/scar. 598 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 47, No. 4 Fig. 6. A, Scapulocoracoid referred to Ultra.saunis nuicintoshi. prone figure 6'.3" tall; B, Jensen/Jensen Quarry brachiosaur rib, Dry Mesa Quarry Ultrasaunts scapulocoracoid. Potter Creek Quarry brachiosaur left humerus. All three elements cast in fiberglass resin. October 1987 JENSEN: New Dinosaur Material 599 y?fiL:^dl^ J I m Fig. 7A-B. Reconstructed front limb with cast scapulocoracoid of Ultrasaurus macintoshi (figure 6'3" tall): A, mid-cervical vertebra, Supersaurus vivianae, anterior view (original seen in Fig. 8); B, same, left lateral view. Vertebra restored from original and cast in fiberglass resin. This material is much better preserved than nosis (see Systematic Paleontology). that of the type of B. altithorax (Riggs 1903) In 1972 I opened a quarry near Dry Mesa and justifies some revision of the generic diag- (Dry Mesa Quarry) in basal Brushy Basin 600 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 47, No. 4 poc Fig. 8. A, Proximal end of brachiosaur femur, proximal end 5'6" in circumference, from Recapture Member of the Morrison Formation; B, Siipersatirus vivianae, right lateral view of mid-cervical vertebra; C, mid-cervical vertebra, Supersaurus vivianae right lateral view (restoration seen in Fig. 7). Abbreviations: acx, anterior convexity; bns, bifurcate neural spine; idl, infradiagonal lamina; poc, posterior concavity; pp, parapophysis; prdl, prediapophysial lamina; prz, prezygapophysis; pz, postzygapophysis; sdl, supradiagonal lamina; tp, transverse process; vl, ventral lamina. Member sediments on the NE monocline of related materials including bones of several the Uncompahgre Upwarp in western Colo- unusually large sauropods (Jensen 1985), rado.
Recommended publications
  • CPY Document
    v^ Official Journal of the Biology Unit of the American Topical Association 10 Vol. 40(4) DINOSAURS ON STAMPS by Michael K. Brett-Surman Ph.D. Dinosaurs are the most popular animals of all time, and the most misunderstood. Dinosaurs did not fly in the air and did not live in the oceans, nor on lake bottoms. Not all large "prehistoric monsters" are dinosaurs. The most famous NON-dinosaurs are plesiosaurs, moso- saurs, pelycosaurs, pterodactyls and ichthyosaurs. Any name ending in 'saurus' is not automatically a dinosaur, for' example, Mastodonto- saurus is neither a mastodon nor a dinosaur - it is an amphibian! Dinosaurs are defined by a combination of skeletal features that cannot readily be seen when the animal is fully restored in a flesh reconstruction. Because of the confusion, this compilation is offered as a checklist for the collector. This topical list compiles all the dinosaurs on stamps where the actual bones are pictured or whole restorations are used. It excludes footprints (as used in the Lesotho stamps), cartoons (as in the 1984 issue from Gambia), silhouettes (Ascension Island # 305) and unoffi- cial issues such as the famous Sinclair Dinosaur stamps. The name "Brontosaurus", which appears on many stamps, is used with quotation marks to denote it as a popular name in contrast to its correct scientific name, Apatosaurus. For those interested in a detailed encyclopedic work about all fossils on stamps, the reader is referred to the forthcoming book, 'Paleontology - a Guide to the Postal Materials Depicting Prehistoric Lifeforms' by Fran Adams et. al. The best book currently in print is a book titled 'Dinosaur Stamps of the World' by Baldwin & Halstead.
    [Show full text]
  • Baltimorean Debunks Dinosaur Finds :Specialist B Comparison of Bones Shows 'New' Species Long Known
    1I1(1St) THE WASIfINGTON POST WEDNESDAY, MAY ll, 1988 A3 I ,I .Baltimorean Debunks Dinosaur Finds :Specialist B Comparison of Bones Shows 'New' Species Long Known several partial skeletons of different By Boyce Rensberger seum collections. He has also dis- Washington Po.'1l Stolff Writer covered several errors in previous sizes. reconstructions of the Brachiosau- Paul found that, while the Ultra- It is time to rewrite the record rus skeleton and corrected them in saurus bone is bigger than the com- book for dinosaurs, according to a his illustrations to reveal the ani- parable bone displayed in East Ber- leading expert on the extinct giants. mals as having a shorter trunk and lin, it is about the same size as a ' Contrary to a series of allegedly taller forelimbs, which give it a Brachiosaurus shoulder bone not on record-breaking discoveries' that more giraffe-like image than pre- display. began in 1972, the largest known vious experts have suggested. In fact, Paul concluded, the bones dinosaur really is a species known Brachiosaurus "is the only Quad- are so similar that Supersaurus and since the early 1900s, the familiar rupedal dinosaur which one would Ultrasaurus are "almost certainly" Brachiosaurus. have to reach up to slap the belly as not separate species but simply ad- The newest finding by Gregory one walked under it," Paul said. ditional examples of Brachiosaurus. S. Paul, a self-taught dinosaur spe- "Most unusual for a tetrapod [four- Paul's reconstruction of the skel- cialist from Baltimore, debunks legged animal]. much less a dino- eton also scales back estimates of "discovery" of Supersaurus in 1972, saur, it is an exceptionally elegant the beasts' weight.
    [Show full text]
  • Valérie Martin, Varavudh Suteethorn & Eric Buffetaut, Description of the Type and Referred Material of Phuwiangosaurus
    ORYCTOS, V ol . 2 : 39 - 91, Décembre 1999 DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPE AND REFERRED MATERIAL OF PHUWIANGOSAURUS SIRINDHORNAE MARTIN, BUFFETAUT AND SUTEETHORN, 1994, A SAUROPOD FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF THAILAND Valérie MARTIN 1, Varavudh SUTEETHORN 2 and Eric BUFFETAUT 3 1 Musée des Dinosaures, 11260 Espéraza, France 2 Geological Survey Division, Department of Mineral Resources, Rama VI Road, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand 3 CNRS (UMR 5561), 16 cour du Liégat, 75013 Paris, France Abstract : The type specimen of P. sirindhornae Martin, Buffetaut and Suteethorn, 1994 is an incomplete, partly articulated, skeleton discovered in the Phu Wiang area of northeastern Thailand). Most of the abundant sauropod material from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous), collected on the Khorat Plateau, in northeastern Thailand, is referable to this species. Phuwiangosaurus is a middle-sized sauropod, which is clearly different from the Jurassic Chinese sauropods (Euhelopodidae). On the basis of a few jaw elements and teeth, P. sirindhornae may be considered as an early representative of the family Nemegtosauridae. Key words : Sauropoda, Osteology, Early Cretaceous, Thailand Description du type et du matériel rapporté de Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae Martin, Buffetaut et Suteethorn, 1994, un sauropode du Crétacé inférieur de Thaïlande Résumé : Le spécimen type de Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae est un squelette incomplet, partiellement articulé, découvert dans la région de Phu Wiang (Nord-Est de la Thaïlande). Phuwiangosaurus est un sauropode de taille moyenne (15 à 20 m de longueur) très différent des sauropodes du Jurassique chinois. La majeure partie de l’abondant matériel de sauropodes, récolté sur le Plateau de Khorat (Formation Sao Khua, Crétacé inférieur), est rap - portée à cette espèce.
    [Show full text]
  • Biology Assessment Plan Spring 2019
    Biological Sciences Department 1 Biology Assessment Plan Spring 2019 Task: Revise the Biology Program Assessment plans with the goal of developing a sustainable continuous improvement plan. In order to revise the program assessment plan, we have been asked by the university assessment committee to revise our Students Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). Proposed revisions Approach: A large community of biology educators have converged on a set of core biological concepts with five core concepts that all biology majors should master by graduation, namely 1) evolution; 2) structure and function; 3) information flow, exchange, and storage; 4) pathways and transformations of energy and matter; and (5) systems (Vision and Change, AAAS, 2011). Aligning our student learning and program goals with Vision and Change (V&C) provides many advantages. For example, the V&C community has recently published a programmatic assessment to measure student understanding of vision and change core concepts across general biology programs (Couch et al. 2019). They have also carefully outlined student learning conceptual elements (see Appendix A). Using the proposed assessment will allow us to compare our student learning profiles to those of similar institutions across the country. Revised Student Learning Objectives SLO 1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of core concepts spanning scales from molecules to ecosystems, by analyzing biological scenarios and data from scientific studies. Students will correctly identify and explain the core biological concepts involved relative to: biological evolution, structure and function, information flow, exchange, and storage, the pathways and transformations of energy and matter, and biological systems. More detailed statements of the conceptual elements students need to master are presented in appendix A.
    [Show full text]
  • Neural Spine Bifurcation in Sauropods Palarch’S Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology, 10(1) (2013)
    Wedel & Taylor, Neural Spine Bifurcation in Sauropods PalArch’s Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology, 10(1) (2013) NEURAL SPINE BIFURCATION IN SAUROPOD DINOSAURS OF THE MORRISON FORMATION: ONTOGENETIC AND PHYLOGENETIC IMPLICATIONS Mathew J. Wedel* & Michael P. Taylor# *Corresponding author. College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and College of Podiatric Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second Street, Pomona, California 91766-1854, USA. [email protected] #Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK. [email protected] Wedel, Mathew J. & Michael P. Taylor. 2013. Neural Spine Bifurcation in Sauropod Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation: Ontogenetic and Phylogenetic Implications. – Pal- arch’s Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology 10(1) (2013), 1-34. ISSN 1567-2158. 34 pages + 25 figures, 2 tables. Keywords: sauropod, vertebra, neural spine, ontogeny, Morrison Formation AbsTrAcT It has recently been argued that neural spine bifurcation increases through ontogeny in several Morrison Formation sauropods, that recognition of ontogenetic transforma- tion in this ‘key character’ will have sweeping implications for sauropod phylogeny, and that Suuwassea and Haplocanthosaurus in particular are likely to be juveniles of known diplodocids. However, we find that serial variation in sauropod vertebrae can mimic on- togenetic change and is therefore a powerful confounding factor, especially when deal- ing with isolated elements whose serial position cannot be determined. When serial po- sition is taken into account, there is no evidence that neural spine bifurcation increased over ontogeny in Morrison Formation diplodocids. Through phylogenetic analysis we show that neural spine bifurcation is not a key character in sauropod phylogeny and that Suuwassea and Haplocanthosaurus are almost certainly not juveniles of known diplodo- cids.
    [Show full text]
  • 71St Annual Meeting Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Paris Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, USA November 2 – 5, 2011 SESSION CONCURRENT SESSION CONCURRENT
    ISSN 1937-2809 online Journal of Supplement to the November 2011 Vertebrate Paleontology Vertebrate Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Society of Vertebrate 71st Annual Meeting Paleontology Society of Vertebrate Las Vegas Paris Nevada, USA Las Vegas, November 2 – 5, 2011 Program and Abstracts Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 71st Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM POSTER SESSION/ CONCURRENT CONCURRENT SESSION EXHIBITS SESSION COMMITTEE MEETING ROOMS AUCTION EVENT REGISTRATION, CONCURRENT MERCHANDISE SESSION LOUNGE, EDUCATION & OUTREACH SPEAKER READY COMMITTEE MEETING POSTER SESSION ROOM ROOM SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL LAS VEGAS, NV, USA NOVEMBER 2–5, 2011 HOST COMMITTEE Stephen Rowland, Co-Chair; Aubrey Bonde, Co-Chair; Joshua Bonde; David Elliott; Lee Hall; Jerry Harris; Andrew Milner; Eric Roberts EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Philip Currie, President; Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Past President; Catherine Forster, Vice President; Christopher Bell, Secretary; Ted Vlamis, Treasurer; Julia Clarke, Member at Large; Kristina Curry Rogers, Member at Large; Lars Werdelin, Member at Large SYMPOSIUM CONVENORS Roger B.J. Benson, Richard J. Butler, Nadia B. Fröbisch, Hans C.E. Larsson, Mark A. Loewen, Philip D. Mannion, Jim I. Mead, Eric M. Roberts, Scott D. Sampson, Eric D. Scott, Kathleen Springer PROGRAM COMMITTEE Jonathan Bloch, Co-Chair; Anjali Goswami, Co-Chair; Jason Anderson; Paul Barrett; Brian Beatty; Kerin Claeson; Kristina Curry Rogers; Ted Daeschler; David Evans; David Fox; Nadia B. Fröbisch; Christian Kammerer; Johannes Müller; Emily Rayfield; William Sanders; Bruce Shockey; Mary Silcox; Michelle Stocker; Rebecca Terry November 2011—PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS 1 Members and Friends of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, The Host Committee cordially welcomes you to the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Las Vegas.
    [Show full text]
  • Transfer of the Type Species of the Genus Themobacteroides to the Genus Themoanaerobacter As Themoanaerobacter Acetoethylicus (Ben-Bassat and Zeikus 1981) Comb
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICBACTERIOLOGY, Oct. 1993, p. 857-859 Vol. 43, No. 4 0020-7713/93/040857-03$02.00/0 Copyright 0 1993, International Union of Microbiological Societies Transfer of the Type Species of the Genus Themobacteroides to the Genus Themoanaerobacter as Themoanaerobacter acetoethylicus (Ben-Bassat and Zeikus 1981) comb. nov., Description of Coprothemobacter gen. nov., and Reclassification of Themobacteroides proteolyticus as Coprothennobacter proteolyticus (Ollivier et al. 1985) comb. nov. FRED A. RAINEY AND ERKO STACKEBRANDT* DSM-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroolganisrnen und Zellkulturen, Mascheroder Weg lb, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany Phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence demonstrates the taxonomic heterogeneity of the genus Thennobac- teroides and indicates a close relationship between Thennobacteroides acetoethylicus and members of the genus Thennoanaerobacter. Since T. acetoethylicus is the type species of Thennobacteroides, its removal invalidates the genus. As a consequence, the remaining species Thennobacteroides proteolyticus is proposed as the type species of the new genus Coprothennobacter gen. nov., as Coprothennobacter proteolyticus comb. nov. Recent phylogenetic studies (8, 9) of anaerobic thermo- hybridization studies with all members of Thermoanaero- philic species demonstrated that the majority of strains fall bacter (6, 10) despite the fact that, like Thermoanaerobacter within the phylogenetic confines of the Clostridium-Bacillus species, Thermobacteroides acetoethylicus is an anaerobic, subphylum of gram-positive bacteria. In contrast to the thermophilic, glycolytic bacterium capable of growth above phylog enet ically coherent genera Thermoana erobac ter (6) 70°C that has been isolated from geothermal environments. and Thermoanaerobacterium (6), members of Thermobac- The reclassifications of the recent study of Lee et al. (6) teroides (1,7) belonged to phylogenetically very diverse taxa increased the numbers of species of Thermoanaerobacter to (8).
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Botany
    Introduction to Botany Jan Zientek Senior Program Coordinator Cooperative Extension of Essex County [email protected] Basic Botany • The study of the growth, structure and function of plants Plant Functions BOTANY • Evolution • Taxonomy • Plant morphology • Plant physiology and cell biology • Plant reproduction • Plant hormones and growth regulators PLANTAE • Eukaryotic (with a • Chloroplasts nucleus) (green) • Cell walls with • Non-motile cellulose • Several phlyum • Food stored as • Development of carbohydrate pollen • Multi-cellular autotrophs DOMAIN KINGDOM PHYLUM CLASS ORDER FAMILY Genus species Plant phylums Mosses Cycads Liverworts Ginkgoes Hornworts Gnetophytes Club mosses Conifers Horsetails Ferns Common Name vs Scientific Name Foxglove Digitalis purpurea • Maybe local name • Universally recognized • General • Specific Common Name vs Scientific Name Fire bush Scarlet bush Texas firecracker Corail (or is it Koray?) Hamelia patens Polly red head Hummingbird bush Ix-canan Plant Types • Monocots: have a single cotyledon, flower parts in multiples of three, parallel venation of leaves, scattered vascular bundles in stems. Dicots: have two cotyledons, flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5, netted veins, and stems which are organized in a ring pattern. Humans sort things many different ways • Plants can be classified by the type of their seed structure – Gymnosperm: “naked seed” – Angiosperm: seed within a fruiting body • Lifecycles help gardeners distinguish between plants: • Annuals • Biennials • Perennials Annuals complete life cycles in one season Biennials live for 2 years, flower, then die Perennials live for 3 or more years, flower each year and usually do not die after flowering. Structures of Plants Roots Stems Leaves Flowers Seeds Examples of Stem Structure Herbaceous monocot and dicot stem Root cross-section • Apical meristem: point of vigorous cell division and growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Description of the Sauropod Dinosaur Amanzia (“Ornithopsis
    Schwarz et al. Swiss J Geosci (2020) 113:2 https://doi.org/10.1186/s00015-020-00355-5 Swiss Journal of Geosciences ORIGINAL PAPER Open Access Re-description of the sauropod dinosaur Amanzia (“Ornithopsis/Cetiosauriscus”) greppini n. gen. and other vertebrate remains from the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) Reuchenette Formation of Moutier, Switzerland Daniela Schwarz1* , Philip D. Mannion2 , Oliver Wings3 and Christian A. Meyer4 Abstract Dinosaur remains were discovered in the 1860’s in the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) Reuchenette Formation of Moutier, northwestern Switzerland. In the 1920’s, these were identifed as a new species of sauropod, Ornithopsis greppini, before being reclassifed as a species of Cetiosauriscus (C. greppini), otherwise known from the type species (C. stewarti) from the late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of the UK. The syntype of “C. greppini” consists of skeletal elements from all body regions, and at least four individuals of diferent sizes can be distinguished. Here we fully re-describe this material, and re-evaluate its taxonomy and systematic placement. The Moutier locality also yielded a theropod tooth, and fragmen- tary cranial and vertebral remains of a crocodylomorph, also re-described here. “C.” greppini is a small-sized (not more than 10 m long) non-neosauropod eusauropod. Cetiosauriscus stewarti and “C.” greppini difer from each other in: (1) size; (2) the neural spine morphology and diapophyseal laminae of the anterior caudal vertebrae; (3) the length-to-height proportion in the middle caudal vertebrae; (4) the presence or absence of ridges and crests on the middle caudal cen- tra; and (5) the shape and proportions of the coracoid, humerus, and femur.
    [Show full text]
  • Mi Querido Brontosaurus.Indd
    A pesar de haberse extinguido hace 65 millones de años, los dinosaurios ocupan un lugar primordial en el imaginario po- pular. Su portentosa presencia llena mu- seos de historia natural y protagoniza pe- lículas, y sin embargo es poco lo que aún sabemos sobre ellos. Con un entusiasmo contagioso, Brian Switeck nos acerca a la vida de estas criaturas y nos descubre al- gunos de sus fascinantes secretos. «Una delicia. Es el libro defi nitivo sobre dinosaurios.» Th e New York Times BRIAN SWITEK es periodista científi co, y actualmente trabaja como reportero para National Geographic. PVP 20,90 € 10038994 www.ariel.es ,!7II4D4-ebhcdg! 25 mm Brian Switek Mi querido Brontosaurus Una expedición científi ca al encuentro de nuestros dinosaurios favoritos Traducción de Joandomènec Ros, catedrático de Ecología de la Universidad de Barcelona Título original: My Beloved Brontosaurus Publicado originalmente por Scientifi c American en colaboración con Farrar Straus & Giroux 1.ª edición: marzo de 2014 © 2013, Brian Switeck © 2014, de la traducción Joandomènec Ros Derechos exclusivos de edición en español reservados para todo el mundo y propiedad de la traducción: © 2014: Editorial Planeta, S. A. Avda. Diagonal, 662-664 - 08034 Barcelona Editorial Ariel es un sello editorial de Planeta, S. A. www.ariel.es www.espacioculturalyacademico.com ISBN: 978-84-344-1723-6 Depósito legal: B. 2.190 - 2014 Impreso en España Por Huertas Industrias Gráfi cas El papel utilizado para la impresión de este libro es cien por cien libre de cloro y está califi cado como papel ecológico. No se permite la reproducción total o parcial de este libro, ni su incorporación a un sistema informático, ni su transmisión en cualquier forma o por cualquier medio, sea éste electrónico, mecánico, por fotocopia, por grabación u otros métodos, sin el permiso previo y por escrito del editor.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Camarasaurid Sauropod Opisthocoelicaudia Skarzynskii Gen
    MAGDALENA BORSUK-BIALYNICKA A NEW CAMARASAURID SAUROPOD OPISTHOCOELICAUDIA SKARZYNSKII GEN. N., SP. N. FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF MONGOLIA (plates 1-14) Abstract. - An almost complete postcranial skeleton lacking cervicals of Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii gen. n., sp. n. (Sauropoda, Camarasauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation, Gobi Desert , is described and figured. The reconstruction of the muscle system and sternum as well as the restoration of the whole animal is made. It is shown that Opisthocoelicaudia was a straight backed sauropod with the tail carried in a horizontal position. The neck is supposed to have been of medium length (about 5 m) and was carried low. The possibility of habitual assuming a tirpodal position is suggested by the opisthocoelous structure of the ant erior caudals. The importance of some osteologic features of sauropods for the understanding of their attitudes as well as for the systematics is discussed. It is argued that the length of neural spines depends on both the curvature of the back-bone and the length of the neck and tail in sauropods. Forked neural spines are indicative ot the habitual lowering of the neck, or even of the low carrying of the neck, if the anterior dorsals lack traces of the nuchal ligament insertion. Some titanosaurid characters of Opisthocoelicaudia are regarded as progressive ones in sauropods, whereas its camarasaurid features seem to indicate a true relationship in spite of their highly behavioural character. CONTENTS Page Introduction. 6 Description ... 8 Vertebral column 9 Thoracic ribs . 18 Sternum . 19 Pectoral girdle 22 Fore limbs . 24 Pelvic girdle . 32 Hind limbs .
    [Show full text]
  • Trapezius Origin: Occipital Bone, Ligamentum Nuchae & Spinous Processes of Thoracic Vertebrae Insertion: Clavicle and Scapul
    Origin: occipital bone, ligamentum nuchae & spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae Insertion: clavicle and scapula (acromion Trapezius and scapular spine) Action: elevate, retract, depress, or rotate scapula upward and/or elevate clavicle; extend neck Origin: spinous process of vertebrae C7-T1 Rhomboideus Insertion: vertebral border of scapula Minor Action: adducts & performs downward rotation of scapula Origin: spinous process of superior thoracic vertebrae Rhomboideus Insertion: vertebral border of scapula from Major spine to inferior angle Action: adducts and downward rotation of scapula Origin: transverse precesses of C1-C4 vertebrae Levator Scapulae Insertion: vertebral border of scapula near superior angle Action: elevates scapula Origin: anterior and superior margins of ribs 1-8 or 1-9 Insertion: anterior surface of vertebral Serratus Anterior border of scapula Action: protracts shoulder: rotates scapula so glenoid cavity moves upward rotation Origin: anterior surfaces and superior margins of ribs 3-5 Insertion: coracoid process of scapula Pectoralis Minor Action: depresses & protracts shoulder, rotates scapula (glenoid cavity rotates downward), elevates ribs Origin: supraspinous fossa of scapula Supraspinatus Insertion: greater tuberacle of humerus Action: abduction at the shoulder Origin: infraspinous fossa of scapula Infraspinatus Insertion: greater tubercle of humerus Action: lateral rotation at shoulder Origin: clavicle and scapula (acromion and adjacent scapular spine) Insertion: deltoid tuberosity of humerus Deltoid Action:
    [Show full text]