On Sat, 30 May 2020 at 11:29, Ben Creisler <bcreisler@gmail.com> wrote:
Ben CreislerA new paper:Mauro Aranciaga Rolando, Jordi Garcia Marsà & Fernando Novas (2020)
Histology and pneumaticity of Aoniraptor libertatem (Dinosauria, Theropoda), an enigmatic midâsized megaraptoran from Patagonia
Journal of Anatomy (advance online publication)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13225
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joa.13225
Aoniraptor libertatem is a midâsized megaraptoran that comes from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) Huincul Formation at RÃo Negro province, Patagonia, Argentina. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of pneumaticity of the sacrum and tail of Aoniraptor . This shows a complex structure within these vertebrae, being composed by small diverticulae surrounding large pneumatic canals and a central chamber that opens outside through pleurocoels or pneumatic canals. Further, we carried out a histologic analysis which confirms the pneumatic nature of these anatomical features. Both analyses found that chevrons in Aoniraptor were invaded by pneumaticity, a feature that appears to be unique to this taxon. In addition, a comparative analysis between Aoniraptor and other theropods (e.g. Gualicho and other megaraptorans) was carried out. This resulted in the modification of previous schemes about the evolution of pneumaticity through Theropoda, the finding of some evolutionary pneumatic traits through Megaraptora, and the usefulness of pneumatic traits as a taxonomic tool.