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2012 02 23 PR Fossils Evidence for a Crime Fossils: Evidence for a Crime? PRESS RELEASE 23.02.2012 Special Issue of the Senckenberg Journal “Palaeobiodiversity and Contact Palaeoenvironments” Dr. Michael Wuttke Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Tel. 06131-2016400 Frankfurt, 23.02.2012. Today the special issue “Taphonomic [email protected] processes in terrestrial and marine environments” of the Dipl.-Geol Achim G. Reisdorf Senckenberg journal “Palaeobiodiversity and Universität Basel Geologisch- Palaeoenvironments” is being published online. In seven Paläontologisches Institut Tel. 0041-61-267-3611 articles new scientific findings in the palaeontological discipline [email protected] “taphonomy” – such as on the much discussed weird posture of dinosaurs – are published. Press office Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung We do know it from good crime stories: the thrilling search for traces Judith Jördens at a crime scene and the question regarding when and why the victim Tel. 069- 7542 1434 [email protected] died. While forensic scientists and detectives often have a comparatively easy job finding traces of a natural or violent death, Press images palaeontologists in their “cases” must take into account the endlessly large period of time that has passed since the “offence”. Many of the clues at the site have changed drastically; have been removed, or even destroyed over the millions of years. Despite, or perhaps because of these difficulties, palaeontology has developed its own field of science –taphonomy or the study of fossilisation– which is addressed to processes that happened to an organism after its death. By observing present-day natural phenomena, performing experiments and using data of forensic science, taphonomists attempt to find criteria for a “preservation of evidence” that can be applied to fossil remains. Compsognathus longipes from the limestone at the famous The special issue “Taphonomic processes in terrestrial and marine fossil site at Solnhofen. The neck and the tail are recurved over the environments” of the Senckenberg journal “Palaeobiodiversity and back of the dinosaur © G. Palaeoenvironments” provides a deep insight into the research of Janßen, O. Rauhut, Bayerische taphonomists. In seven articles the taphonomists report on the Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie precise decipherment of fossil skeletons, and on experiments on the decomposition of vertebrates. For example, the guest editors Michael Wuttke (Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz) and Achim Reisdorf (University of Basle) discuss the origin of the legendary “death pose” of dinosaurs. Skeletons of long-necked and long-tailed dinosaurs often display a Ichthyosaur ( Stenopterygius ) weird pose in which both the head and the tail are recurved over the skeleton with approximately10 embryos from the famous fossil back of the animal. This posture has been fascinating site at Holzmaden. Most of the palaeontologists for more than 150 years. It often has been heavily disarticulated embryo interpreted as a fossilised expression of death throes. Based on the skeletons were transported away from the mother’s body by world famous dinosaur Compsognathus longipes from the vicinity of bottom currents. © Staatlichens SENCKENBERG GESELLSCHAFT FÜR NATURFORSCHUNG Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart Dr. Sören B. Dürr | Alexandra Donecker | Judith Jördens Senckenberganlage 25 | D-60325 Frankfurt am Main T +49 (0) 69 7542 - 1561 F +49 (0) 69 7542 - 1517 [email protected] www.senckenberg.de SENCKENBERG Gesellschaft für Naturforschung | Senckenberganlage 25 | D-60325 Frankfurt am Main | Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main HRA 6862 Mitglied der Leibniz Gemeinschaft the Bavarian fossil site at Solnhofen, the scientists have conducted a comprehensive analysis of this much-discussed hypothesis. “We were convinced that this dinosaur does not display death spasms, but rather a process which happened after death, namely during the decomposition of the corpse,” explains Michael Wuttke and adds: “For this reason we exposed plucked chicken necks – Cover of the publication fresh from the poultry butcher – to different conditions. As soon as “Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeo- they were submerged in water the necks bent backwards at an angle environments“ © Springer of more than 90 degrees.” These images are released for The degree of re-curving continued to increase during the press publication via the putrefaction process under water. The re-curving can be attributed to Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung. a ligament structure, the so-called “Ligamentum elasticum”, which connects the vertebrae to each other on the upper side. This ligament Publications: was of great importance for long-necked and long-tailed dinosaurs. Wuttke M, Reisdorf AG (eds.) Taphonomic processes in terrestrial and marine “The pre-stressed ligament helped them passively to save energy – environments. Palaeobiodiversity otherwise it would have been necessary to hold neck and tail upright and Palaeoenvironments 92(1) http://www.springerlink.com/cont by muscular strength. After death many dinosaurs found a watery ent/v593n4502643/ grave; there, the stored energy along the vertebra was strong enough to arch back the neck and the tail. Corresponding to the advancing Reisdorf AG & Wuttke M (2012): Re-evaluating Moodie's disintegration of the muscles of the dinosaurs, the head and tail Opisthotonic-Posture Hypothesis continued to curve further back over the trunk,” says Michael Wuttke. in fossil vertebrates. Part I: Reptiles - The taphonomy of the bipedal dinosaurs The topics covered by other articles of the “taphonomic special issue” Compsognathus longipes and range from decomposition experiments on a dormouse to the fate of Juravenator starki from the deceased ichthyosaurs and marine crocodile-like animals. These Solnhofen Archipelago (Jurassic, Germany). DOI: papers contradict old perceptions that these animals would have 10.1007/s12549-011-0068-y initially float after death at the sea surface where they exploded due http://www.springerlink.com/cont to the pressure of putrefaction gases. Instead, they sank immediately ent/311101262274k114/ and decomposed at the sea bottom. Another highlight of the special Reisdorf et al. (2012) Float, issue are two articles which elucidate the causation of the exceptional explode or sink: post-mortem preservation of vertebrate skeletons from the UNESCO-World fate of lung-breathing marine vertebrates. DOI: Heritage of the famous Messel pit near Darmstadt (Germany) which 10 .1007/s12549-011-0067-z is based on the formation of grave wax. http://www.springerlink.com/cont ent/952610xv7h737814/ Summarizing their results, all palaeo-detectives of the special issue Beardmore et al. (2012) Float or came to the conclusion: “Usually it’s hard to say if the place of sink: modelling the taphonomic discovery is identical with the place of death. However, we’re able to pathway of marine crocodiles (Mesoeucrocodylia, explain certain principles for the formation of extraordinarily well Thalattosuchia) during the preserved fossils.” That is a fascinating result of investigation. death–burial interval. DOI: 10.1007/s12549-011-0066-0 The research of life forms in their diversity and their ecosystems, climate research http://www.springerlink.com/cont and geology, the search for past life and finally the understanding of the entire ent/8l54506310l5842h / earth/life system – that is what the SENCKENBERG Gesellschaft für Naturforschung works towards. Exhibitions and museums are the windows to The press release and image material can also be found at natural history research, by which means the Senckenberg shares the latest www.senckenberg.de/presse scientific knowledge with the public and provides an insight into past ages and the diversity of nature. More information is available at www.senckenberg.de . Page 2 of 2 .
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