Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax
Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention. In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked, although they present a unique configuration of pneumat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Paleobiology PAS
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app68/app011052023.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827373026510897152 |
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| author | MICHAEL P. TAYLOR MATHEW J. WEDEL |
| author_facet | MICHAEL P. TAYLOR MATHEW J. WEDEL |
| author_sort | MICHAEL P. TAYLOR |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention.
In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked,
although they present a unique configuration of pneumatic features. One rib, with a pneumatic foramen some
distance down the shaft, was briefly described and illustrated in the early 20th century by Elmer S. Riggs. A second rib
with a pneumatic foramen in the tuberculum of the rib has not previously been described or illustrated. This previously
undescribed foramen is similar in location to those in some dorsal ribs of Brontosaurus excelsus and Giraffatitan brancai,
but differs from them in both size and shape. The contrasting sites of costal pneumaticity in the holotype individual of
Brachiosaurus altithorax emphasize the generally opportunistic mode of postcranial pneumatization, in both sauropods
and other ornithodirans, but conform to models of pneumatization following vascularization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:09:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8858c311b90440bb85223e13d869cea3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0567-7920 1732-2421 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:09:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Paleobiology PAS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |
| spelling | doaj.art-8858c311b90440bb85223e13d869cea32024-01-26T12:51:59ZengInstitute of Paleobiology PASActa Palaeontologica Polonica0567-79201732-24212023-12-0168470971810.4202/app.01105.2023Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithoraxMICHAEL P. TAYLOR0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1003-5675MATHEW J. WEDEL1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4897-3111Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK.College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and College of Podiatric Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA.Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention. In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked, although they present a unique configuration of pneumatic features. One rib, with a pneumatic foramen some distance down the shaft, was briefly described and illustrated in the early 20th century by Elmer S. Riggs. A second rib with a pneumatic foramen in the tuberculum of the rib has not previously been described or illustrated. This previously undescribed foramen is similar in location to those in some dorsal ribs of Brontosaurus excelsus and Giraffatitan brancai, but differs from them in both size and shape. The contrasting sites of costal pneumaticity in the holotype individual of Brachiosaurus altithorax emphasize the generally opportunistic mode of postcranial pneumatization, in both sauropods and other ornithodirans, but conform to models of pneumatization following vascularization.https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app68/app011052023.pdfsauropodadinosauriabrachiosauridaepneumaticitycostal pneumaticity |
| spellingShingle | MICHAEL P. TAYLOR MATHEW J. WEDEL Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax Acta Palaeontologica Polonica sauropoda dinosauria brachiosauridae pneumaticity costal pneumaticity |
| title | Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax |
| title_full | Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax |
| title_fullStr | Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax |
| title_short | Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax |
| title_sort | novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur brachiosaurus altithorax |
| topic | sauropoda dinosauria brachiosauridae pneumaticity costal pneumaticity |
| url | https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app68/app011052023.pdf |
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