Claudiosaurus: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
reformatted refs and prep for citation bot cleanup
Line 19: Line 19:
== Biology and description ==
== Biology and description ==
[[File:Claudiosaurus_BW.jpg|thumb|left|Life restoration of ''Claudiosaurus germaini'']]
[[File:Claudiosaurus_BW.jpg|thumb|left|Life restoration of ''Claudiosaurus germaini'']]
''Claudiosaurus'' was one of the first members of the [[Neodiapsida]],<ref>{{cite journal |first=R. L. |last=Carroll |authorlink=Robert L. Carroll |year=1981 |title=Plesiosaur ancestors from the upper permian of Madagascar |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society |series=B |volume=293 |issue=1066 |pages=315–383 |doi=10.1098/rstb.1981.0079 |bibcode=1981RSPTB.293..315C |doi-access=free }}</ref> a group of reptiles containing diapsids more derived than the primitive [[Araeoscelidia]]. It had a relatively long body and neck, reaching on overall length of about {{convert|60|cm|ft}}. It is presumed to have been partially [[ocean]]ic, living its life in a way similar to the modern [[marine iguana]]. The main reason for this theory is that the skeleton included substantial amounts [[cartilage]], instead of [[bone]], indicating it had trouble supporting its weight on land. In particular, the [[sternum]] was poorly developed, which would have made walking difficult out of water. Instead, it probably swam by undulating its body and tail, and holding its legs close to the body to increase streamlining.<ref name=EoDP>{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 72|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}</ref> A more recent study however indicates that its vertebral column tail and leg proportions are closer to those of terrestrial reptiles, though it is noted that [[marine iguana]]s similarly only differ from terrestrial counterparts very subtly.<ref>Pablo Nuñez Demarco ''et al.'' 2018. Was Mesosaurus a Fully Aquatic Reptile? Front. Ecol. Evol, published online July 27, 2018; doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00109</ref> The mean vertebral is approximately twice of ''[[Hovasaurus]]''. ''Claudiosaurus'' have a more slender tail than ''[[Hovasaurus]]''. The frontal contributes the dorsal orbital margin. This prevents the prefrontal from contacting the post frontal. The post frontal is ventrally expanded posteriorly and contributes to the orbital rim. The anterior process of the pterygoid is straight. The closest skull comparison can be with the genus ''[[Anarosaurus]]''. ''Claudiosaurus'' differs from ''[[Acerosodontosaurus]]'' and ''Hovasaurus'' in the presence of a proportionately long neck.{{cn|date=March 2020}}
''Claudiosaurus'' was one of the first members of the [[Neodiapsida]],<ref>{{cite journal |first=R. L. |last=Carroll |authorlink=Robert L. Carroll |year=1981 |title=Plesiosaur ancestors from the upper permian of Madagascar |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society |series=B |volume=293 |issue=1066 |pages=315–383 |doi=10.1098/rstb.1981.0079 |bibcode=1981RSPTB.293..315C |doi-access=free }}</ref> a group of reptiles containing diapsids more derived than the primitive [[Araeoscelidia]]. It had a relatively long body and neck, reaching on overall length of about {{convert|60|cm|ft}}. It is presumed to have been partially [[ocean]]ic, living its life in a way similar to the modern [[marine iguana]]. The main reason for this theory is that the skeleton included substantial amounts [[cartilage]], instead of [[bone]], indicating it had trouble supporting its weight on land. In particular, the [[sternum]] was poorly developed, which would have made walking difficult out of water. Instead, it probably swam by undulating its body and tail, and holding its legs close to the body to increase streamlining.<ref name=EoDP>{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 72|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}</ref> A more recent study however indicates that its vertebral column tail and leg proportions are closer to those of terrestrial reptiles, though it is noted that [[marine iguana]]s similarly only differ from terrestrial counterparts very subtly.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nuñez Demarco |first1=Pablo |last2=Meneghel |first2=Melitta |last3=Laurin |first3=Michel |last4=Piñeiro |first4=Graciela |title=Was Mesosaurus a Fully Aquatic Reptile? |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |date=27 July 2018 |volume=6 |pages=109 |doi=10.3389/fevo.2018.00109 }}</ref> The mean vertebral is approximately twice of ''[[Hovasaurus]]''. ''Claudiosaurus'' have a more slender tail than ''[[Hovasaurus]]''. The frontal contributes the dorsal orbital margin. This prevents the prefrontal from contacting the post frontal. The post frontal is ventrally expanded posteriorly and contributes to the orbital rim. The anterior process of the pterygoid is straight. The closest skull comparison can be with the genus ''[[Anarosaurus]]''. ''Claudiosaurus'' differs from ''[[Acerosodontosaurus]]'' and ''Hovasaurus'' in the presence of a proportionately long neck.{{cn|date=March 2020}}


== Behavior ==
== Behavior ==
Line 29: Line 29:


== Classification ==
== Classification ==
''Claudiosaurus'' is recovered as a relative of turtles by Li ''et al.'' (2018), forming a clade with the basal neodiapsid ''[[Acerosodontosaurus]]''.<ref>Chun Li; Nicholas C. Fraser; Olivier Rieppel; Xiao-Chun Wu (2018). "A Triassic stem turtle with an edentulous beak". Nature. 560 (7719): 476–479. doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0419-1.</ref>
''Claudiosaurus'' is recovered as a relative of turtles by Li ''et al.'' (2018), forming a clade with the basal neodiapsid ''[[Acerosodontosaurus]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Chun |last2=Fraser |first2=Nicholas C. |last3=Rieppel |first3=Olivier |last4=Wu |first4=Xiao-Chun |title=A Triassic stem turtle with an edentulous beak |journal=Nature |date=August 2018 |volume=560 |issue=7719 |pages=476–479 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0419-1 }}</ref>


== Paleoenvironment ==
== Paleoenvironment ==
The Lower Sakamamena Formation was deposited in a wetland environment situated within a North-South orientated [[rift valley]], perhaps similar to [[Lake Tanganyika]]. The climate at the time of deposition was temperate, warm, and humid, with seasonal rainfall and possible monsoons<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Buffa|first1=Valentin|last2=Frey|first2=Eberhard|last3=Steyer|first3=J.-Sébastien|last4=Laurin|first4=Michel|date=2021-07-12|title=A new cranial reconstruction of Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Diapsida, Weigeltisauridae) and its implications on the paleoecology of the first gliding vertebrates|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2021.1930020|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|language=en|volume=41|issue=2|pages=e1930020|doi=10.1080/02724634.2021.1930020|issn=0272-4634|s2cid=237517962}}</ref> Flora from the formation includes the [[Equisetales|equisetalean]] ''[[Schizoneura]]'', the [[Glossopteridales|glossopterid]] gymnosperm ''[[Glossopteris]]'', and seed fern ''[[Lepidopteris]].'' Other vertebrates known from the Lower Sakamena Formation include the [[palaeoniscoid]] fish ''[[Atherstonia]]'', the [[Procolophonidae|procolophonid]] parareptile ''[[Barasaurus]]'', the gliding [[Weigeltisauridae|weigeltisaurid]] reptile ''[[Coelurosauravus]]'', the neodiapsids ''[[Hovasaurus]], [[Thadeosaurus]]'', and ''[[Acerodontosaurus]]'', fragments of [[Rhinesuchidae|rhinesuchid]] [[temnospondyls]], an indeterminate [[Theriodontia|theriodont]] [[therapsid]] and the [[dicynodont]] ''[[Oudenodon]].''<ref>Smith, R. M. H. 2000. Sedimentology and taphonomy of Late Permian vertebrate fossil localities in Southwestern Madagascar. Paleontologia Africana 36:25–41</ref>
The Lower Sakamamena Formation was deposited in a wetland environment situated within a North-South orientated [[rift valley]], perhaps similar to [[Lake Tanganyika]]. The climate at the time of deposition was temperate, warm, and humid, with seasonal rainfall and possible monsoons.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Buffa |first1=Valentin |last2=Frey |first2=Eberhard |last3=Steyer |first3=J.-Sébastien |last4=Laurin |first4=Michel |title=A new cranial reconstruction of Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Diapsida, Weigeltisauridae) and its implications on the paleoecology of the first gliding vertebrates |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |date=4 March 2021 |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=e1930020 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2021.1930020 |s2cid=237517962 }}</ref> Flora from the formation includes the [[Equisetales|equisetalean]] ''[[Schizoneura]]'', the [[Glossopteridales|glossopterid]] gymnosperm ''[[Glossopteris]]'', and seed fern ''[[Lepidopteris]].'' Other vertebrates known from the Lower Sakamena Formation include the [[palaeoniscoid]] fish ''[[Atherstonia]]'', the [[Procolophonidae|procolophonid]] parareptile ''[[Barasaurus]]'', the gliding [[Weigeltisauridae|weigeltisaurid]] reptile ''[[Coelurosauravus]]'', the neodiapsids ''[[Hovasaurus]], [[Thadeosaurus]]'', and ''[[Acerodontosaurus]]'', fragments of [[Rhinesuchidae|rhinesuchid]] [[temnospondyls]], an indeterminate [[Theriodontia|theriodont]] [[therapsid]] and the [[dicynodont]] ''[[Oudenodon]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Roger M. H. |title=Sedimentology and taphonomy of Late Permian vertebrate fossil localities in southwestern Madagascar |date=2000 |hdl=10539/16377 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 38: Line 38:


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* McMenamin, M. Permian Aquatic Reptiles. Preprints 2019, 2019080033 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201908.0033.v1). McMenamin, M. Permian Aquatic Reptiles. Preprints 2019, 2019080033 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201908.0033.v1).
* {{cite journal |last1=McMenamin |first1=Mark |title=Permian Aquatic Reptiles |date=5 August 2019 |doi=10.20944/preprints201908.0033.v1 }}
* Caldwell, M. (1995). Developmental Constraints and Limb Evolution in Permian and Extant Lepidosauromorph Diapsids. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 14(4), 459-471. Retrieved February 5, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/4523588
* {{cite journal |last1=Caldwell |first1=Michael W. |title=Developmental Constraints and Limb Evolution in Permian and Extant Lepidosauromorph Diapsids |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |date=1995 |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=459–471 |jstor=4523588 }}
* Sues, H. (2019). The Rise of Reptiles: 320 Million Years of Evolution. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press., doi:10.1353/book.67468.
* {{cite book |last1=Sues |first1=Hans-Dieter |title=The Rise of Reptiles: 320 Million Years of Evolution |date=2019 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=978-1-4214-2868-0 |doi=10.1353/book.67468 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Cuthbertson |first1=Robin S. |last2=Russell |first2=Anthony P. |last3=Anderson |first3=Jason S. |title=Cranial morphology and relationships of a new grippidian (Ichthyopterygia) from the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member (Lower Triassic) of British Columbia, Canada |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |date=July 2013 |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=831–847 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2013.755989 |jstor=42568652 }}
* CUTHBERTSON, R., RUSSELL, A., & ANDERSON, J. (2013). CRANIAL MORPHOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIPS OF A NEW GRIPPIDIAN (ICHTHYOPTERYGIA) FROM THE VEGA-PHROSO SILTSTONE MEMBER (LOWER TRIASSIC) OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 33(4), 831-847. Retrieved March 3, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/42568652
* Stomach stones for feeding or buoyancy? The occurrence and function of gastroliths in marine tetrapods341Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1993.0100
* {{cite journal |title=Stomach stones for feeding or buoyancy? The occurrence and function of gastroliths in marine tetrapods |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences |date=29 July 1993 |volume=341 |issue=1296 |pages=163–175 |doi=10.1098/rstb.1993.0100 }}


{{Eureptilia|N.}}
{{Eureptilia|N.}}

Revision as of 14:31, 6 May 2022

Claudiosaurus
Temporal range: Lopingian
~259–252 Ma
Specimen of Claudiosaurus germaini, on display at the Redpath Museum, Montreal
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Family: †Claudiosauridae
Carroll 1981
Genus: †Claudiosaurus
Carroll 1981
Type species
†Claudiosaurus germaini

Claudiosaurus (claud is Latin for "lameness" and saurus means "lizard") is an extinct genus of diapsid reptiles from the Permian Sakamena Formation of the Morondava Basin, Madagascar. The pattern of the vertebrate, girle, and limbs indicates that Claudiosaurus and Thadeosaurus share a common ancestor.

History and discovery

Claudiosaurus is known from the Sakamena Formation of Madagascar. Originally claudiosaurs were found from the Late Permian, but they have been recently also found in Early Triassic deposits of Madagascar.

Biology and description

Life restoration of Claudiosaurus germaini

Claudiosaurus was one of the first members of the Neodiapsida,[1] a group of reptiles containing diapsids more derived than the primitive Araeoscelidia. It had a relatively long body and neck, reaching on overall length of about 60 centimetres (2.0 ft). It is presumed to have been partially oceanic, living its life in a way similar to the modern marine iguana. The main reason for this theory is that the skeleton included substantial amounts cartilage, instead of bone, indicating it had trouble supporting its weight on land. In particular, the sternum was poorly developed, which would have made walking difficult out of water. Instead, it probably swam by undulating its body and tail, and holding its legs close to the body to increase streamlining.[2] A more recent study however indicates that its vertebral column tail and leg proportions are closer to those of terrestrial reptiles, though it is noted that marine iguanas similarly only differ from terrestrial counterparts very subtly.[3] The mean vertebral is approximately twice of Hovasaurus. Claudiosaurus have a more slender tail than Hovasaurus. The frontal contributes the dorsal orbital margin. This prevents the prefrontal from contacting the post frontal. The post frontal is ventrally expanded posteriorly and contributes to the orbital rim. The anterior process of the pterygoid is straight. The closest skull comparison can be with the genus Anarosaurus. Claudiosaurus differs from Acerosodontosaurus and Hovasaurus in the presence of a proportionately long neck.[citation needed]

Behavior

Locomotion

It is theorized[by whom?] that Claudiosaurus was semi-aquatic.[citation needed] The discovery of pachyostotic thickening of the limb bones and vertebrae supports this theory. The margins of contact in the carpals are poorly defined and therefore retained a lot of cartilage, providing a greater ‘degree of flexibility’ that would be beneficial for swimming.

Feeding ecology

There is evidence of aquatic feeding habits. Supporting this is the small size of the skull, nature of the palate and marginal dentition and the long neck.[citation needed]

Classification

Claudiosaurus is recovered as a relative of turtles by Li et al. (2018), forming a clade with the basal neodiapsid Acerosodontosaurus.[4]

Paleoenvironment

The Lower Sakamamena Formation was deposited in a wetland environment situated within a North-South orientated rift valley, perhaps similar to Lake Tanganyika. The climate at the time of deposition was temperate, warm, and humid, with seasonal rainfall and possible monsoons.[5] Flora from the formation includes the equisetalean Schizoneura, the glossopterid gymnosperm Glossopteris, and seed fern Lepidopteris. Other vertebrates known from the Lower Sakamena Formation include the palaeoniscoid fish Atherstonia, the procolophonid parareptile Barasaurus, the gliding weigeltisaurid reptile Coelurosauravus, the neodiapsids Hovasaurus, Thadeosaurus, and Acerodontosaurus, fragments of rhinesuchid temnospondyls, an indeterminate theriodont therapsid and the dicynodont Oudenodon.[6]

References

  1. ^ Carroll, R. L. (1981). "Plesiosaur ancestors from the upper permian of Madagascar". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. B. 293 (1066): 315–383. Bibcode:1981RSPTB.293..315C. doi:10.1098/rstb.1981.0079.
  2. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 72. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  3. ^ Nuñez Demarco, Pablo; Meneghel, Melitta; Laurin, Michel; Piñeiro, Graciela (27 July 2018). "Was Mesosaurus a Fully Aquatic Reptile?". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 6: 109. doi:10.3389/fevo.2018.00109.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  4. ^ Li, Chun; Fraser, Nicholas C.; Rieppel, Olivier; Wu, Xiao-Chun (August 2018). "A Triassic stem turtle with an edentulous beak". Nature. 560 (7719): 476–479. doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0419-1.
  5. ^ Buffa, Valentin; Frey, Eberhard; Steyer, J.-Sébastien; Laurin, Michel (4 March 2021). "A new cranial reconstruction of Coelurosauravus elivensis Piveteau, 1926 (Diapsida, Weigeltisauridae) and its implications on the paleoecology of the first gliding vertebrates". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 41 (2): e1930020. doi:10.1080/02724634.2021.1930020. S2CID 237517962.
  6. ^ Smith, Roger M. H. (2000). "Sedimentology and taphonomy of Late Permian vertebrate fossil localities in southwestern Madagascar". hdl:10539/16377. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading

  • McMenamin, Mark (5 August 2019). "Permian Aquatic Reptiles". doi:10.20944/preprints201908.0033.v1. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  • Caldwell, Michael W. (1995). "Developmental Constraints and Limb Evolution in Permian and Extant Lepidosauromorph Diapsids". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 14 (4): 459–471. JSTOR 4523588.
  • Sues, Hans-Dieter (2019). The Rise of Reptiles: 320 Million Years of Evolution. Johns Hopkins University Press. doi:10.1353/book.67468. ISBN 978-1-4214-2868-0.
  • Cuthbertson, Robin S.; Russell, Anthony P.; Anderson, Jason S. (July 2013). "Cranial morphology and relationships of a new grippidian (Ichthyopterygia) from the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member (Lower Triassic) of British Columbia, Canada". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (4): 831–847. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.755989. JSTOR 42568652.
  • "Stomach stones for feeding or buoyancy? The occurrence and function of gastroliths in marine tetrapods". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 341 (1296): 163–175. 29 July 1993. doi:10.1098/rstb.1993.0100.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claudiosaurus&oldid=1086500860"