[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]

Re: [dinosaur] Concavenator (Theropoda) cranial osteology




Updating the ref and adding a couple of links that may be of interest:


Elena Cuesta, Daniel Vidal, Francisco Ortega & Josà L. Sanz (2018)
The cranial osteology of Concavenator corcovatus (Theropoda; Carcharodontosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain.
Cretaceous Research 91: 176-194
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2018.06.007
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667118301046


Also:



Reconstruyen el crÃneo de Concavenator

http://www.madrimasd.org/notiweb/noticias/reconstruyen-craneo-concavenator?origen=notiweb



===


Doctoral thesis on Concavenator

Cuesta Fidalgo, Elena [2017]
Concavenator corcovatus: (Theropoda, Dinosauria) from Las Hoyas fossil site (Early Cretaceous, Cuenca, Spain): taphonomic, phylogenetic and morphofunctional analyses.
(Note that a copy must be requested from the author)
embargoed till 8-10-2018

https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/678416



Theropods are a widely taxonomically, paleobiogeographically and morphologically diverse group that include the extant birds. The non-avian theropod record in the Iberian Peninsula is represented by Portuguese taxa and some fragmentary remains in Spain. However, the two taxa founded in Las Hoyas fossil site represent the most complete theropod inside the Iberian Peninsula and Europe. Las Hoyas fossil site is a Konservat-LagerstÃtte that is reconstructed as a subtropical wetland with a strong biannual seasonality. The fossils from Las Hoyas are characterized by their completeness, articulation and preservation of soft-tissues and colour patterns. Two non-avian theropods founded in this site, Pelecanimimus polyodon and Concavenator corcovatus, show these preservation features, which allow to perform an exhaustive paleoecological analysis. Concavenator is the most complete dinosaur founded in the locality and, also, it represents the largest taxon preserved. Although its taphonomic features are coherent with the preservation framework of the Las Hoyas wetland, its terrestrial condition and size are infrequent in the fossil site, and thus, its presence raises issues about its processes of preservation. One of the aims of the current PhD thesis is reconstructing the taphonomic history that affect to Concavenator carcass. The methodology consists of several methods proposed in previous studies about the archosaurian preservation in Las Hoyas fossil site. The taphonomic analysis shows that Concavenator carcass suffered several processes as: early decay, dragging and slightly transport, rehydration and, finally, entombing into the microbial mats developed in Las Hoyas pools. These processes were consistent with the dynamic of the climate in Las Hoyas during the Lower Cretaceous. Therefore, the results not only clarify the processes produced on Concavenator, but it also sheds light on the understanding of mechanism acting in Konservat-LagerstÃtten throughout the world. The exquisite preservation of Concavenator allows to discern several anatomical features in the skeleton and soft-tissues impressions. In this PhD thesis, these soft-tissues impressions have been analysed and the results have determined a new conception of various anatomical structures, such as the avian podotheca. This podotheca is consisting of three types of scales, similar to those observed in the extant birds, plantar pads with an arthral disposition and corneous sheet around the ungual phalanges. Moreover, the completeness of the skeleton has allowed to carry out an exhaustive osteological description and phylogenetic analysis. Concavenator is a basal member of Carcharodontosauridae and has several synapomorphies within the clade as the lacrimal-postorbital contact or a peg-and-socket articulation between the ilium and ischium, among others. This phylogenetic position of Concavenator has the best obtained support value of branches until now. Historically, carcharodontosaurids have been considered exclusively from Gondwana, however, recent discoveries show several taxa throughout Laurasia. The European position of Concavenator during the Early Cretaceous is key to understand the faunal interchanges between both continents. Finally, two unusual and striking features are present in Concavenator, a series of bumps on the ulnar shaft and hypertrophied neurapophyses of the posterior dorsal and anterior caudal vertebrae. Both features have been analysed in the current thesis. The muscle reconstruction of the forearm suggests that the bumps are not related to myological origin. Regarding the axial skeleton, the unusual features of its vertebrae bestow stiffness during the locomotion and these features could be related to the presence of an axial structure in the pelvic area. These results propose new future research projects in order to determinate the functional morphology of both structures.ÂÂ


On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 9:27 AM, Ben Creisler <bcreisler@gmail.com> wrote:



Ben Creisler
bcreisler@gmail.com



A new paper:

(Note that Concavenator is in the new Jurassic World film...)


Elena Cuesta, Daniel Vidal, Francisco Ortega & Josà L. Sanz (2018)
The cranial osteology of Concavenator corcovatus (Theropoda; Carcharodontosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain.
Cretaceous Research (advance online publication)


Highlights

We describe by first time the whole and detailed cranial osteology of Concavenator corcovatus.
The skull of Concavenator is one of the most complete in the carcharodontosaurid record.
Concavenator skull reveals several synapomorphies of Allosauroidea and Carcharodontosauridae.
The fist 3D reconstruction of the complete skull enhances the understanding of its osteology.

Abstract

Concavenator corcovatus is a carcharodontosaurid dinosaur represented by an almost complete and articulated skeleton from the âLas Hoyasâ fossil site (Lower Cretaceous, Spain). The skull of Concavenator is almost complete, missing only the anteriormost and posteriormost regions. Here, a review of the cranial anatomy of Concavenator has been carried out to test its phylogenetic relationships. This description provides a detailed revision of the cranial anatomy of carcharodontosaurids, which is relevant to their general phylogenetic relationships. The results show that the skull of Concavenator has several carcharodontosaurid synapomorphies such as: (1) a lacrimal-postorbital contact, (2) a well-developed postorbital boss, (3) anteroventrally oriented postorbital ventral process, (4) an intraorbital process in the postorbital, (5) rostrally projected roughness in the dorsal surface of the postorbital, (6) a notch in the ascending ramus of the maxilla, (7) a sulcus on the anterior margin of the lacrimal ventral ramus, (8) curved dorsal surface of the lacrimal, and (9) fused frontal-parietal contact. Finally, Concavenator has three cranial autapomorphies: (1) connection between the different recesses on the lateral surface of the nasal, (2) elongated and acuminate posterior narial fossa, and (3) a rounded morphology of the ventral surface of the postorbital boss. In addition, anatomical comparison has enabled to create a complete 3D reconstruction of the skull of Concavenator.