Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America
Abstract This study reports the occurrence of pneumosteum (osteohistological structure related to an avian-like air sac system) in a nanoid (5.7-m-long) saltasaurid titanosaur from Upper Cretaceous Brazil. We corroborate the hypothesis of the presence of an air sac system in titanosaurians based upo...
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Nature Portfolio
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03689-8 |
| _version_ | 1819096221323624448 |
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| author | Tito Aureliano Aline M. Ghilardi Bruno A. Navarro Marcelo A. Fernandes Fresia Ricardi-Branco Mathew J. Wedel |
| author_facet | Tito Aureliano Aline M. Ghilardi Bruno A. Navarro Marcelo A. Fernandes Fresia Ricardi-Branco Mathew J. Wedel |
| author_sort | Tito Aureliano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study reports the occurrence of pneumosteum (osteohistological structure related to an avian-like air sac system) in a nanoid (5.7-m-long) saltasaurid titanosaur from Upper Cretaceous Brazil. We corroborate the hypothesis of the presence of an air sac system in titanosaurians based upon vertebral features identified through external observation and computed tomography. This is the fifth non-avian dinosaur taxon in which histological traces of air sacs have been found. We provided a detailed description of pneumatic structures from external osteology and CT scan data as a parameter for comparison with other taxa. The camellate pattern found in the vertebral centrum (ce) of this taxon and other titanosaurs shows distinct architectures. This might indicate whether cervical or lung diverticula pneumatized different elements. A cotylar internal plate of bone tissue sustains radial camellae (rad) in a condition similar to Alamosaurus and Saltasaurus. Moreover, circumferential chambers (cc) near the cotyle might be an example of convergence between diplodocoids and titanosaurs. Finally, we also register for the first time pneumatic foramina (fo) and fossae connecting camellate structures inside the neural canal in Titanosauria and the second published case in non-avian dinosaurs. The extreme pneumaticity observed in this nanoid titanosaur contrasts with previous assumptions that this feature correlates with the evolution of gigantic sizes in sauropodomorphs. This study reinforces that even small-bodied sauropod clades could present a hyperpneumatized postcranial skeleton, a character inherited from their large-bodied ancestors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:55:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d370b3040294958a23fa69a8b995438 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:55:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d370b3040294958a23fa69a8b9954382022-12-21T18:45:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-12-011111910.1038/s41598-021-03689-8Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South AmericaTito Aureliano0Aline M. Ghilardi1Bruno A. Navarro2Marcelo A. Fernandes3Fresia Ricardi-Branco4Mathew J. Wedel5Laboratory of Paleontology and Paleohidrogeology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Campinas (Unicamp)Diversity, Ichnology and Osteohistology Laboratory (DINOlab), Department of Geology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (URFN)Laboratório de Paleoecologia e Paleoicnologia (LPP), Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva (DEBE), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)Laboratório de Paleoecologia e Paleoicnologia (LPP), Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva (DEBE), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)Laboratory of Paleontology and Paleohidrogeology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Campinas (Unicamp)College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and College of Podiatric Medicine, Western University of Health SciencesAbstract This study reports the occurrence of pneumosteum (osteohistological structure related to an avian-like air sac system) in a nanoid (5.7-m-long) saltasaurid titanosaur from Upper Cretaceous Brazil. We corroborate the hypothesis of the presence of an air sac system in titanosaurians based upon vertebral features identified through external observation and computed tomography. This is the fifth non-avian dinosaur taxon in which histological traces of air sacs have been found. We provided a detailed description of pneumatic structures from external osteology and CT scan data as a parameter for comparison with other taxa. The camellate pattern found in the vertebral centrum (ce) of this taxon and other titanosaurs shows distinct architectures. This might indicate whether cervical or lung diverticula pneumatized different elements. A cotylar internal plate of bone tissue sustains radial camellae (rad) in a condition similar to Alamosaurus and Saltasaurus. Moreover, circumferential chambers (cc) near the cotyle might be an example of convergence between diplodocoids and titanosaurs. Finally, we also register for the first time pneumatic foramina (fo) and fossae connecting camellate structures inside the neural canal in Titanosauria and the second published case in non-avian dinosaurs. The extreme pneumaticity observed in this nanoid titanosaur contrasts with previous assumptions that this feature correlates with the evolution of gigantic sizes in sauropodomorphs. This study reinforces that even small-bodied sauropod clades could present a hyperpneumatized postcranial skeleton, a character inherited from their large-bodied ancestors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03689-8 |
| spellingShingle | Tito Aureliano Aline M. Ghilardi Bruno A. Navarro Marcelo A. Fernandes Fresia Ricardi-Branco Mathew J. Wedel Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America Scientific Reports |
| title | Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America |
| title_full | Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America |
| title_fullStr | Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America |
| title_short | Exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from South America |
| title_sort | exquisite air sac histological traces in a hyperpneumatized nanoid sauropod dinosaur from south america |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03689-8 |
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