DOCSLIB.ORG

Water Vapor Conductance in Fossil Early Bird Eggs and Non-Avian Theropods: Implications for the Evolution of Modern Birds Exposed Nest Structure

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Water Vapor Conductance in Fossil Early Bird Eggs and Non-Avian Theropods: Implications for the Evolution of Modern Birds Exposed Nest Structure WATER VAPOR CONDUCTANCE IN FOSSIL EARLY BIRD EGGS AND NON-AVIAN THEROPODS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BIRDS EXPOSED NEST STRUCTURE Rodrigo Brincalepe Salvador 1#^%:C0:RQ`8`QR`1$Q8G$I:1C8HQI_5# Lucas Ernesto Fiorelli #^C`1Q`VCC1H`1C:`RHQJ1HV 8HQI8:`_ 1:%%V%#RV#QQCQ$1:#R:#J10V`%1R:RV#RV#>>Q#@:%CQ#^:>@_6# BVJ `Q#CV$1QJ:C#RV#DJ0V% 1$:H1QJV%#B1VJ 3`1H:%#7#G`:J%`V`VJH1:#GVHJQCS$1H:#^BCDIJCRBKLDBMG_5#JJ1CC:HQ5#I:#C1Q=:5#J`$VJ 1J: ABSTRACT em Avialae. Mais estudos que lidem com outras aves fósseis e Maniraptoriformes são necessários The functional properties of eggshells e GH 2O pode ser uma valiosa ferramenta para tal )/*&5 1#."5 *,(.&5 (-.#(!5 "0#),-5 !,.&35 (ainda que subutilizada até o momento). #( &/(5 ."5 -/--5 ) 5 ',3)!(-#-5 (5 Palavras-chave: Avialae, Enantiornithes, "."#(!85-5-/"65)(5) 5."5'#(5*"3-#)&)!#&5 Neuquenornis volans *,)*,.#-5 ) 5 ."5 !!-"&&65 ."5 1.,5 0*),5 conductance (GH 2O), of the Patagonian ((.#),(#."#(5 #,5 /+/(),(#-5 0)&(-5 1-5 INTRODUCTION .,'#(5 (5 )'*,5 1#."5 ).",5 #,5 (5 Eggshell structure and its functional O/ .",)*)5 !!5 '.,#&85 "5 &)15 j8gi5 '! 2 properties are paramount for the incubating and 3R),,5 25) 5850)&(-5!!-5*)#(.-5.)55,35 "."#(!5 -/--5 ) 5 ,*.#&5 (5 #,5 ',3)-5 2*)-5(-.5(51#."55,))#(!5*,(.5 ),5."#-5 species, similar to modern birds (the same holds B),65 gonhC85 (5 ) 5 ."5 '#(5 *"3-#)&)!#&5 *,)*,.#-5) 5(5!!5#-5."5!!-"&&5*,'#&#.365 .,/5.)5)3*.,#25'#(/.C651"#&5.,)))(.#-5(5 ),5 )(/.(65 .)5 !--65 )."5 ,-*#,.),35 !--5 0#,*.),5 -")1-5 -'#7/,#5 (-.-85 ", ),5 (5 1.,5 0*),85 -5 # /-#)(5 .",)/!"5 ."5 #.5 #-5 &#%&35 .".5 ."5 2*)-5 (-.5 #,-.5 **,5 !!-"&&5 *),-5 (5 5 +/(.# #5 -5 ."5 1.,5 #(5 0#&85 ),5 -./#-5 1#."5 ).",5 ,&35 #,-5 vapor conductance (GH O). GH and non-avian Maniraptoriformes are required 2 25#-5)'')(&35 and GH O can be a valuable tool for nesting ).#(5 2*,#'(.&&35 ),5 '),(5 #,5 (5 2 reptile eggs (Ar et al ., 1974), but in fossil material it *&)"0#),5B&#.5)0,&))%5/(.#&5()1C8 Keywords: Avialae, Enantiornithes, (55.,'#(535-#'*&5+/.#)(-65)'#(!5 5 0&/&5 *,)235 ),5 ----#(!5 ."5 ')#-./,5 Neuquenornis volans content in archosaurian nesting environments (5 *,(.&5 (-.#(!5 -.,.!#-5 B3')/,65 gomo:5 RESUMO '#(!65hfflC85 (35#()-/,5!!-5"05&,35 been studied in respect to their GH O (Deeming, As propriedades funcionais das cascas 2 2006; Grellet-Tinner et al dos ovos juntamente com os comportamentos 865-/'#..C65/.51),%-5 de nidificação dos pais influenciam o sucesso &#(!51#."5,&35#,-5,5 ,5&--5)'')(85,5 O of Neuquenornis volans da embriogênese e incubação. Assim, uma 15.,'#(5."5 2 das principais propriedades fisiológicas dos !!-65(5((.#),(#."#(5#,651")-5 #&#.#)(5#-5 more precise than most eggshell material since it O), )0)-65 5 )(/.â(#5 5 0*),5 ]á!/5 B 2 1-5#(.# #535',3)(#5,'#(-5B"1#.4,5 do enantiornitídeo Neuquenornis volans foi et al determinada e comparada com dados de outras 865hffhC85)&&)1#(!5#.6515*,-(.55)'*,#-)(5 1#."5."5 250&/-5) 5).",5 )--#&5,&35#,5 aves e terópodes. O valor baixo de 4,13 mgH 2O/ O dos ovos de N. volans indica (5 .",)*)5 !!-65 1#."5 0&/&5 .5 .)5 ) ,5 3R),,5)5 2 some implications for the evolution of modern um ninho exposto e com um pai incubando os birds nest structure. ovos para essa espécie, similar às aves modernas B)5 '-')5 ï5 0á&#)5 *,5 )3*.,#25 '#(/.C65 enquanto troodontídeos e Oviraptor apresentam MATERIALS & METHODS ninhos semi-enterrados. Portanto, é plausível que /+/(),(#-50)&(-5!!-51,5 )/(5#(5 o ninho exposto tenha surgido pela primeira vez the Upper Cretaceous Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Neuquén Group; middle-Upper Santonian), look out for them (since an egg can’t be left alone Neuquén, Argentina, and are described on in an open nest due to desiccation and predators). et al "1#.4,5 . (2002). All the information and The troodontid Troodon formosus is .5 (5 ),5 )/,5 -./35 &-)5 -.'5 ,)'5 ."#-5 %()1(5 .)5 /#&5 )*(5 (-.5 (5 -/**)-5 .)5 et al 1),%8 present brooding behavior (Varricchio ., (5 ),,5 .)5 ).#(5 ."5 1.,5 0*),5 goomC65 1"#&5 #(5 0#,*.),5 *"#&),.)*-5 )."5 conductance (GH 2C5 ),5 ."5 !!-6515 /-5 ."5 ."#-5 ",.,#-.#-5 ,5 1&&5 -.&#-"5 B),&&5 et al +/.#)(5/5 ),52.(.5#,-535,5;5"(5 865 gookC85 ,)))(.#-5 (5 0#,*.),5 -")15 BgomnC65 ),51"#"5)(&35.1)5))&)!#&5*,'.,-5 5'#2./,5) 5)*(5(-.51#."5*,.#&5/,#5!!-65 ,5,+/#,65!!5(-#.35(5!!5,#/-65."5).",5 but both taphonomic evidences and GH2O parameters are calculated base on them (Figure 0&/-5#'*&#-5.".5."5(-.-51,5*,.#&&35)*(5 et al et gC85 85 0)&(-5 !!-5 1,5 )(-#,5 &&#*-)#-5 (Figure 1B; Norell ., 1995; Varricchio al B*,)&.5-*",)#-C5 ),5-#'*&##.35(5-5-/"5.",5 865 goomC85 &-)65 ."#,5 !!-"&&-5 ,5 \0,35 0#(7 et al ,5.1)5,##5.)55)(-#,65+/.),#&5B ) and &#%]5-.,/./,&&35 B,,#"#)5 ., 1997). These polar ( !C85!!5(-#.351-5--/'5 ,)'52.(.5 /."),-5 "3*)."-#45 *,.#&&35 )*(5 (-.-5 (5 et al bird eggs, according to Paganelli . (1974). ,))#(!5 -5 -3(*)'),*"#-5 ) 5 )&/,)-/,#65 Aiming a proper comparison, information on 1"#&5)'*&.&35)*(5(-.-51)/&55,-.,#.5 GH to Aves, also stating that incubation in Troodon 250&/-5 ,)'5."5).",5-)/,-51-55 .)5."#-51),%5B#!/,5gC8 (5 0#,*.),5 ,5 #(.,'#.5 .1(5 ,))#&-5(5#,-65 ),5."35/-5)."5-#'(.-5 et al RESULTS & DISCUSSION (half-buried eggs) and brooding (Varricchio ., 1997). Their GH 265 %()1(5 )(&35 #(5 .,)))(.#5 #!/,5g5-")1-5&&5."5.5).#(5 ),5 !!-5/(.#&5()15B'#(!65hfflC65,5'/"5&)-,5 ."5 /+/(),(#-5 0)&(-5 !!-5 1"#&5 #!/,5 g5 .)5#,-5(0,."&--5B#!/,5gC85)10,65.",5 O values of N. volans eggs together -")1-5."5 2 #-5'/"5.5&%#(!5 ),5'(35!,)/*-5#(5.1(65 et al 1#."5."5,-/&.-5) 5*,0#)/-5/."),-5)(5 )--#&5#,5 ().5.%(5#(5)/(.535,,#"#)5 . (1997), be and non-avian theropod eggs and modern bird it taphonomic nest data or the eggs’ GH 2O. The O of !!-85),5850)&(-5!!-6515).#(55 2 "(!5) 5(-.5.3*-5 ,)'5/,,)1-5.)5-'#7/,#5 4.14 mgH 2I3R),,6550&/5.".5 &&51&&51#."#(5 could also have appeared in Maniraptoriformes, ."5&)1,5&/-.,5) 5'),(5#,5!!-85/"55&)15 Maniraptora or even before the Coelurosauria, in GH et al 250&/5,*,-(.-55(-.5(0#,)('(.5&)15#(5 Avetheropoda (sensu Padian ., 1999). And the "/'##.35)(.(.65(5."#-50,35,35(-.51-5')-.5 change from the semi-buried to an exposed nest ,.#(&35(52*)-5(-.51#."55,))#(!5*,(.65 )/&5"05"**(5#(50-65/.5#.]-5&-)5&#%&35 -5."5,/&5#(5'),(5#,-65).",1#-5."5',3)5 .".5#.5"**(5#(50#&651"#"51)/&5#(&/5 1)/&5"3,.5(5#5B'#(!65hfflC85"5 ."5 )--#&5,&35#,-5-/"5-5."5((.#),(#."-8 same is valid for the other enantiornithine bird, )3*.,#25'#(/.5B#!/,5gC8 CONCLUSION ",)*)-5'),5#-.(.&35,&.5.)5#,5 O values (Figure 1B), not as high O values obtained for the -")15"#!"5 2 "5 &)15 2 as other non-avian dinosaurs but still greater ((.#),(#."#(5#,-5",5(535."5BgoogC5 ."(5 (35 %()1(5 #,65 #(#.#(!5 ."-5 (#'&-]5 (5 '#(!5 BhfflC5 -.,)(!&35 *)#(.-5 .)1,-5 an exposed nest for these animals (agreeing !!-5 (5 5 0,35 "/'#5 (-.5 (0#,)('(.65 -/"5 -5 /,,)1-5 ),5 ')/(-5 B'#(!65 hffl:5 1#."5 *,&#'#(,35 .*")()'#5 )-,0.#)(-5 35 et al Grellet-Tinner 865-/'#..C85)10,65.")-5 885 #),&&#5 (5 ."5 ,#5 (5 ,35 )(.#((.&5 paleoclimate reported for the region; see Fiorelli, .",)*)-5 '),5 &)-&35 --)#.5 .)5 #,-5 &#%5 .,)))(.#-5-")15&)15 250&/-5.".5 &&51&&5 hfgfC65 1"#&5 .,)))(.#-5 (5 0#,*.),5 -")1-5 semi-buried nests (Norell et al ., 1995; Varricchio 1#."#(5."5,(!5) 52.(.5#,-5B#!/,5gC85"#-5 et al #(#.-5 ,#,5 (-.-5 .".5 1)/&5 &#%&35 5 )*(5 865goomC85)5#.5#-5&#%&35.".5."52*)-5(-.5 first appeared in Avialae after all and not in (-.-51#."55,))#(!5*,(.5.)5"."5."5!!-5(5 et al 0-5 B-5 *,)*)-5 35 ,,#"#)5 ., 1997). )10,65'),5-./#-5,5-.#&&5,+/#,65&#(!5 PDIAN, K.; HUTCHINSON, J.R. & HOLTZ, 1#."5 ).",5 ,&35 #,-5 -5 1&&5 -5 1#."5 ()(7 8865 85 gooo85 "3&)!(.#5 ŀ(#.#)(-5 avian Maniraptoriformes. GH and nomenclature of the major taxonomic 25 #-5 5 *,)235 ),5 ----#(!5(-.5"/'##.35(5."/-5(5.&&5/-5# 5."5 categories of the carnivorous Dinosauria (-.51-52*)-5),5().85 (5."5-(5) 5#,.5 (<eropoda). Journal of Vertebrate taphonomic evidence of nest structure, GH O 2 &)(.)&)!35goBgC95lo@nf8 (5 5 5 0&/&5 .))&5 B&,!&35 )0,&))%5 /(.#&5 PAGANELLI, C.V.; OLSZOWKA, A. & AR, ()1C5.)5"&*5(-1,#(!5."5+/-.#)(-5)/.5."5 A. 1974. <e avian egg: surface area, volume, **,(5) 5(15(-.5-.,/./,-5#(5."5",)*)5 lineage. (5(-#.385Ļ5)(),5ml95igo@ihk8 SABATH, K. 1991. Upper Cretaceous REFERENCES amniotic eggs from the Gobi Desert. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 36: 151–192. AR, A. & RHAN, H. 1978. Interdependence of gas conductance, incubation length, and SCHWEITZER, M.H.; JACKSON, F.D.; 1#!".5) 5."50#(5!!85 (95##*,65 85B8C85 CHIAPPE, L.M.; SCHMITT, J.G.; -*#,.),35 /(.#)(5 #(5 #,-65 /&.5 (5 CALVO, J.O. & RUBILAR, R.E. 2002. ',3)(#85*,#(!,65,&#(85*85hhm@hil8 .5 ,.)/-5 0#(5 !!-5 1#."5 ',3)-5 from Argentina.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • LETTER Doi:10.1038/Nature14423
    LETTER doi:10.1038/nature14423 A bizarre Jurassic maniraptoran theropod with preserved evidence of membranous wings Xing Xu1,2*, Xiaoting Zheng1,3*, Corwin Sullivan2, Xiaoli Wang1, Lida Xing4, Yan Wang1, Xiaomei Zhang3, Jingmai K. O’Connor2, Fucheng Zhang2 & Yanhong Pan5 The wings of birds and their closest theropod relatives share a ratios are 1.16 and 1.08, respectively, compared to 0.96 and 0.78 in uniform fundamental architecture, with pinnate flight feathers Epidendrosaurus and 0.79 and 0.66 in Epidexipteryx), an extremely as the key component1–3. Here we report a new scansoriopterygid short humeral deltopectoral crest, and a long rod-like bone articu- theropod, Yi qi gen. et sp. nov., based on a new specimen from the lating with the wrist. Middle–Upper Jurassic period Tiaojishan Formation of Hebei Key osteological features are as follows. STM 31-2 (Fig. 1) is inferred Province, China4. Yi is nested phylogenetically among winged ther- to be an adult on the basis of the closed neurocentral sutures of the opods but has large stiff filamentous feathers of an unusual type on visible vertebrae, although this is not a universal criterion for maturity both the forelimb and hindlimb. However, the filamentous feath- across archosaurian taxa12. Its body mass is estimated to be approxi- ers of Yi resemble pinnate feathers in bearing morphologically mately 380 g, using an empirical equation13. diverse melanosomes5. Most surprisingly, Yi has a long rod-like The skull and mandible are similar to those of other scansoriopter- bone extending from each wrist, and patches of membranous tissue ygids, and to a lesser degree to those of oviraptorosaurs and some basal preserved between the rod-like bones and the manual digits.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Caenagnathid Dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN A new caenagnathid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group of Shandong, China, with Received: 12 October 2017 Accepted: 7 March 2018 comments on size variation among Published: xx xx xxxx oviraptorosaurs Yilun Yu1, Kebai Wang2, Shuqing Chen2, Corwin Sullivan3,4, Shuo Wang 5,6, Peiye Wang2 & Xing Xu7 The bone-beds of the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group in Zhucheng, Shandong, China are rich in fossil remains of the gigantic hadrosaurid Shantungosaurus. Here we report a new oviraptorosaur, Anomalipes zhaoi gen. et sp. nov., based on a recently collected specimen comprising a partial left hindlimb from the Kugou Locality in Zhucheng. This specimen’s systematic position was assessed by three numerical cladistic analyses based on recently published theropod phylogenetic datasets, with the inclusion of several new characters. Anomalipes zhaoi difers from other known caenagnathids in having a unique combination of features: femoral head anteroposteriorly narrow and with signifcant posterior orientation; accessory trochanter low and confuent with lesser trochanter; lateral ridge present on femoral lateral surface; weak fourth trochanter present; metatarsal III with triangular proximal articular surface, prominent anterior fange near proximal end, highly asymmetrical hemicondyles, and longitudinal groove on distal articular surface; and ungual of pedal digit II with lateral collateral groove deeper and more dorsally located than medial groove. The holotype of Anomalipes zhaoi is smaller than is typical for Caenagnathidae but larger than is typical for the other major oviraptorosaurian subclade, Oviraptoridae. Size comparisons among oviraptorisaurians show that the Caenagnathidae vary much more widely in size than the Oviraptoridae. Oviraptorosauria is a clade of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs characterized by a short, high skull, long neck and short tail.
    [Show full text]
  • The Oldest Record of Ornithuromorpha from the Early Cretaceous of China
    ARTICLE Received 6 Jan 2015 | Accepted 20 Mar 2015 | Published 5 May 2015 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7987 OPEN The oldest record of ornithuromorpha from the early cretaceous of China Min Wang1, Xiaoting Zheng2,3, Jingmai K. O’Connor1, Graeme T. Lloyd4, Xiaoli Wang2,3, Yan Wang2,3, Xiaomei Zhang2,3 & Zhonghe Zhou1 Ornithuromorpha is the most inclusive clade containing extant birds but not the Mesozoic Enantiornithes. The early evolutionary history of this avian clade has been advanced with recent discoveries from Cretaceous deposits, indicating that Ornithuromorpha and Enantiornithes are the two major avian groups in Mesozoic. Here we report on a new ornithuromorph bird, Archaeornithura meemannae gen. et sp. nov., from the second oldest avian-bearing deposits (130.7 Ma) in the world. The new taxon is referable to the Hongshanornithidae and constitutes the oldest record of the Ornithuromorpha. However, A. meemannae shows few primitive features relative to younger hongshanornithids and is deeply nested within the Hongshanornithidae, suggesting that this clade is already well established. The new discovery extends the record of Ornithuromorpha by five to six million years, which in turn pushes back the divergence times of early avian lingeages into the Early Cretaceous. 1 Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China. 2 Institue of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276000, China. 3 Tianyu Natural History Museum of Shandong, Pingyi, Shandong 273300, China. 4 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2019, Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Anatomy of the Early Cretaceous Enantiornithine Bird Rapaxavis Pani
    Anatomy of the Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird Rapaxavis pani JINGMAI K. O’CONNOR, LUIS M. CHIAPPE, CHUNLING GAO, and BO ZHAO O’Connor, J.K., Chiappe, L.M., Gao, C., and Zhao, B. 2011. Anatomy of the Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird Rapaxavis pani. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (3): 463–475. The exquisitely preserved longipterygid enantiornithine Rapaxavis pani is redescribed here after more extensive prepara− tion. A complete review of its morphology is presented based on information gathered before and after preparation. Among other features, Rapaxavis pani is characterized by having an elongate rostrum (close to 60% of the skull length), rostrally restricted dentition, and schizorhinal external nares. Yet, the most puzzling feature of this bird is the presence of a pair of pectoral bones (here termed paracoracoidal ossifications) that, with the exception of the enantiornithine Concornis lacustris, are unknown within Aves. Particularly notable is the presence of a distal tarsal cap, formed by the fu− sion of distal tarsal elements, a feature that is controversial in non−ornithuromorph birds. The holotype and only known specimen of Rapaxavis pani thus reveals important information for better understanding the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of longipterygids, in particular, as well as basal birds as a whole. Key words: Aves, Enantiornithes, Longipterygidae, Rapaxavis, Jiufotang Formation, Early Cretaceous, China. Jingmai K. O’Connor [[email protected]], Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, 142 Xizhimenwaidajie, Beijing, China, 100044; The Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA; Luis M. Chiappe [[email protected]], The Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Ex− position Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA; Chunling Gao [[email protected]] and Bo Zhao [[email protected]], Dalian Natural History Museum, No.
    [Show full text]
  • Eric Buffetaut, First Evidence of Enantiornithine Birds from The
    ORYCTOS,VoI.1 : l3l - 136,Octobre 1998 FIRSTEVIDENCE OF ENANTIORNITHINE BIRDS FROM TITE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF EUROPE: POSTCRANIAL BONES FROM CRUZY (HÉRAUTT, SOUTHERN FRANCE) Eric BUFFBTAUT CNRS,UMR 556I , 16cour du Liégat,75013Paris Abstract : A coracoid and an incomplete femur from a newly discovered Late Campanian to Early Maastrichtian locality at Cruzy (Hérault, France) are described and identified as the first remains of enantiornithine birds to be reported from the Upper Cretaceousof Europe. This find extends to Europe the already wide known geographical distribution of Late CretaceousEnantiornithes, and confirms the important part played by this peculiar group of birds in avifaunasin many parts of the world until late in the Cretaceous. Kev words : Aves, Enantiornithes, I-ate Cretaceous. France. Premiersrestes d'Enantiornithes (Aves)du Crétacésupérieur d'Europe : ossementspost-crâniens trouvés à Cruzy (Hérault, Sud de la France) Résumé : Un coracoïde et un fémur incomplet provenant d'un nouveau gisement d'âge Campanien supérieur à Maastrichtien inférieur à Cruzy (Hérault, France) sont décrits et identifiés comme les premiers restesd'oiseaux du groupe des Enantiornithes à être signalésdans le Crétacé,supérieur d'Europe. Cette découverteétend à I'Europe la distribution géographiqueconnue déjà vastedes Enantiornithes aluCrétacésupérieur, et confirme que ce groupe par- ticulier d'oiseaux jouait un rôle important dans les avifaunes de nombreusesparties du monde jusque tard dans le Crétacé. Mots clés : Aves, Enantiornithes, Crétacé supérieur;France. Résumé français étendu : Les avifaunes du Crétacê supérieur européen demeurent mal connues. Un oiseau de grande taille, incapable de voler, a été décit sousle nom de Gargantuavisphiloinos dans quelquesgisements d'âge Campaniensupérieur à Maastrichtien inférieur du Sud de la France, mais les formes volantes de petite taille étaient jusqu'ici inconnues.
    [Show full text]
  • A Mid-Cretaceous Enantiornithine (Aves) Hatchling Preserved in Burmese Amber with Unusual Plumage
    Gondwana Research 49 (2017) 264–277 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Gondwana Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gr A mid-Cretaceous enantiornithine (Aves) hatchling preserved in Burmese amber with unusual plumage Lida Xing a,b,1, Jingmai K. O'Connor c,⁎,1, Ryan C. McKellar d,e,f,1,LuisM.Chiappeg,1,KuoweiTsengh, Gang Li i,MingBaij,⁎,1 a State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China b School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China c Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing 100044, China d Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4W7, Canada e Biology Department, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada f Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 1501 Crestline Drive – Suite 140, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA g Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA h Department of Exercise and Health Science, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, China i Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, 19B Yuquan Rd., Beijing 100049, China j Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Box 92, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China article info abstract Article history: Burmese amber has recently provided some detailed glimpses of plumage, soft tissues, and osteology of juvenile Received 23 January 2017 enantiornithine birds, but these insights have been restricted to isolated wing apices.
    [Show full text]
  • An Aberrant Island-Dwelling Theropod Dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Romania
    An aberrant island-dwelling theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Romania Zoltán Csikia,1, Mátyás Vremirb, Stephen L. Brusattec,d, and Mark A. Norellc,d aLaboratory of Paleontology, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 1 N. Bălcescu Boulevard, Bucharest 010041, Romania; bDepartment of Natural Sciences, Transylvanian Museum Society (EME), 2-4 Napoca Street, Cluj-Napoca 400009, Romania; cDivision of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024; and dDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025 Edited* by Paul E. Olsen, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, and approved July 8, 2010 (received for review May 19, 2010) Islands are noted for the occurrence of aberrant, endemic, and large carnivores on the European paleoislands. It exhibits a suite dwarfed taxa (the “island effect”). Late Cretaceous vertebrate of peculiar features, most notably an enlarged pedal digit I, which assemblages of Romania and elsewhere in Europe are classic exam- along with digit II is modified for hyperextension. Nearly 20 ad- ples of island faunas in the fossil record, and are characterized by ditional autapomorphies also characterize this taxon, many of dwarfed herbivorous dinosaurs and other endemic taxa that are which relate to extensive fusion of elements in the hand and distal noticeably primitive relative to their mainland contemporaries. hindlimb and enlarged pelvic musculature. This unique dromaeo- Fossils of the predators
    [Show full text]
  • Of All the Early Birds, Only One Lineage Survived by Susan Milius
    DINO DOOMSDAY LuckyThe Ones Of all the early birds, only one lineage survived By Susan Milius he asteroid strike (or was it the roiling volcanoes?) avian (in the Avialae/Aves group) by about 165 million to that triggered dino doomsday 66 million years ago 150 million years ago. That left plenty of time for bona fide also brought an avian apocalypse. Birds had evolved birds to diversify before the great die-off. T by then, but only some had what it took to survive. The bird pioneers included the once widespread and abun- Biologists now generally accept birds as a kind of dinosaur, dant Enantiornithes, or “opposite birds.” Compared with just as people are a kind of mammal. Much of what we think modern birds, their ball-and-socket shoulder joints were of as birdlike traits — bipedal stance, feathers, wishbones and “backwards,” with ball rather than socket on the scapula. so on — are actually dinosaur traits that popped up here and These ancient alt birds may have gone down in the big there in the vast doomed branches of the dino family tree. In extinction that left only fish, amphibians, mammals and a the diagram at right, based on one from paleontologist few reptile lineages (including birds) among vertebrates. Stephen Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh and col- There’s not a lot of information to go on. “The fossil record leagues, anatomical icons give a rough idea of when some of of birds is pretty bad,” Brusatte says. “But I think those lin- these innovations emerged. eages that go up to the red horizontal line of doom in my fig- One branch of the dinosaur tree gradually turned arguably ure are ones that died in the impact chaos.” s 1 2 Microraptor dinosaurs were relatives of the velociraptors that (in ridiculously oversized form) put the screaming gotchas into Jurassic Park.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Troodontid Dinosaur from China with Avian-Like Sleeping Posture
    letters to nature 24. Shen, Y., Knoll, A. H. & Walter, M. R. Evidence for low sulphate and anoxia in a mid-Proterozoic the basis of extremely large nares extending posteriorly over one- marine basin. Nature 423, 632–635 (2003). half of the maxillary tooth row; closely packed middle maxillary 25. Shen, Y., Canfield, D. E. & Knoll, A. H. Middle Proterozoic ocean chemistry: Evidence from the McArthur Basin, northern Australia. Am. J. Sci. 302, 81–109 (2002). teeth; maxillary tooth row extending posteriorly to the level of the 26. Brennan, S. T., Lowenstein, T. K. & Horita, J. Seawater chemistry and the advent of biocalcification. preorbital bar; a robust, sub-‘U’-shaped furcula; presence of a lateral Geology 32, 473–476 (2004). process on distal tarsal IV; and the most proximal end of the pubic 27. Knoll, A. H., Hayes, J. M., Kaufman, A. J., Swett, K. & Lambert, I. B. Secular variation in carbon isotope ratios from Upper Proterozoic successions of Svalbard and East Greenland. Nature 321, shaft is significantly compressed anteroposteriorly, and extends 832–838 (1986). laterally just ventral to the articulation with the ilium. 28. Grotzinger, J. P. Facies and evolution of Precambrian depositional systems: emergence of the modern Mei long is about 53 cm in length, similar in size to the basal platform archetype. SEPM Spec. Publ. 44, 79–106 (1989). dromaeosaurid Microraptor zhaoianus and the basal avialan Archae- 29. Berner, R. A. Modeling atmospheric O2 over Phanerozoic time. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 65, 5,8,9 685–694 (2001). opteryx lithographica . IVPP V12733 is not an adult, as several 30.
    [Show full text]
  • Avialan Status for Oviraptorosauria
    Avialan status for Oviraptorosauria TERESA MARYAŃSKA, HALSZKA OSMÓLSKA, and MIECZYSŁAW WOLSAN Maryańska, T., Osmólska, H., and Wolsan, M. 2002. Avialan status for Oviraptorosauria. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 47 (1): 97–116. Oviraptorosauria is a clade of Cretaceous theropod dinosaurs of uncertain affinities within Maniraptoriformes. All pre− vious phylogenetic analyses placed oviraptorosaurs outside a close relationship to birds (Avialae), recognizing Dromaeo− sauridae or Troodontidae, or a clade containing these two taxa (Deinonychosauria), as sister taxon to birds. Here we pres− ent the results of a phylogenetic analysis using 195 characters scored for four outgroup and 13 maniraptoriform (ingroup) terminal taxa, including new data on oviraptorids. This analysis places Oviraptorosauria within Avialae, in a sister−group relationship with Confuciusornis. Archaeopteryx, Therizinosauria, Dromaeosauridae, and Ornithomimosauria are suc− cessively more distant outgroups to the Confuciusornis−oviraptorosaur clade. Avimimus and Caudipteryx are succes− sively more closely related to Oviraptoroidea, which contains the sister taxa Caenagnathidae and Oviraptoridae. Within Oviraptoridae, “Oviraptor” mongoliensis and Oviraptor philoceratops are successively more closely related to the Conchoraptor−Ingenia clade. Oviraptorosaurs are hypothesized to be secondarily flightless. Emended phylogenetic defi− nitions are provided for Oviraptoridae, Caenagnathidae, Oviraptoroidea, Oviraptorosauria, Avialae, Eumaniraptora, Maniraptora, and Maniraptoriformes.
    [Show full text]
  • Aerodynamic Performance of the Feathered Dinosaur Microraptor and the Evolution of Feathered flight
    ARTICLE Received 10 Jun 2013 | Accepted 22 Aug 2013 | Published 18 Sep 2013 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3489 Aerodynamic performance of the feathered dinosaur Microraptor and the evolution of feathered flight Gareth Dyke1,2, Roeland de Kat3, Colin Palmer1,4, Jacques van der Kindere3, Darren Naish1 & Bharathram Ganapathisubramani2,3 Understanding the aerodynamic performance of feathered, non-avialan dinosaurs is critical to reconstructing the evolution of bird flight. Here we show that the Early Cretaceous five-winged paravian Microraptor is most stable when gliding at high-lift coefficients (low lift/ drag ratios). Wind tunnel experiments and flight simulations show that sustaining a high-lift coefficient at the expense of high drag would have been the most efficient strategy for Microraptor when gliding from, and between, low elevations. Analyses also demonstrate that anatomically plausible changes in wing configuration and leg position would have made little difference to aerodynamic performance. Significant to the evolution of flight, we show that Microraptor did not require a sophisticated, ‘modern’ wing morphology to undertake effective glides. This is congruent with the fossil record and also with the hypothesis that symmetric ‘flight’ feathers first evolved in dinosaurs for non-aerodynamic functions, later being adapted to form lifting surfaces. 1 Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK. 2 Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. 3 Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. 4 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to G.D.
    [Show full text]
  • An Infant Ornithopod Dinosaur Tibia from the Late Cretaceous of Sebeş, Romania
    AN INFANT ORNITHOPOD DINOSAUR TIBIA FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS OF SEBEŞ, ROMANIA Stephen L. BRUSATTE*, Mátyás VREMIR**, Akinobu WATANABE***, Zoltán CSIKI-SAVA****, Darren NAISH*****, Gareth DYKE******, Gregory M. ERICKSON*******, Mark A. NORELL******** Introduction Since 2010 the Transylvanian Museum Society (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), the “Ioan Raica” Municipal Museum (Sebeş, Romania), the University of Bucharest (Romania), the American Museum of Natural History (New York, USA), and the University of Southampton (UK) have collaborated on a project focused on the vertebrate paleontology and geology of the Late Cretaceous of the Sebeş region of Romania. The aim of this project is to better understand the peculiar dinosaur- bearing faunas of the European terminal Cretaceous, which included bizarre dwarfed and late-surviving relict species that inhabited an ancient island archipelago.1 The most notable result of our project thus far has been the discovery of the aberrant new dromaeosaurid theropod Balaur bondoc, a close relative of the iconic Central Asian Velociraptor mongoliensis. The type specimen of B. bondoc was discovered by M. Vremir, described by our joint Cluj-Bucharest-New York team in 2010,2 and later monographed by our group.3 Here we describe a fragmentary, but intriguing, new specimen collected during fieldwork in 2011: the tibia of a small ornithopod dinosaur that may have been less than one year old at the time of death. * Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA; and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; e- mail: [email protected]. ** Department of Natural Sciences, Transylvanian Museum Society (EME), Cluj-Napoca, Romania; e- mail: [email protected].
    [Show full text]