Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis

Bone histology and microanatomy of neck and dorsal vertebrae, a dorsal rib, and osteoderms from different body regions of Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi from Winterswijk, The Netherlands, are studied by petrographic thin sections and micro-computed tomographic (μCT) data. Osteohistology in the axial...

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Main Authors: Nicole Klein, Torsten M. Scheyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Paleobiology PAS 2024-12-01
Series:Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
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Online Access:https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app69/app011632024.pdf
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author Nicole Klein
Torsten M. Scheyer
author_facet Nicole Klein
Torsten M. Scheyer
author_sort Nicole Klein
collection DOAJ
description Bone histology and microanatomy of neck and dorsal vertebrae, a dorsal rib, and osteoderms from different body regions of Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi from Winterswijk, The Netherlands, are studied by petrographic thin sections and micro-computed tomographic (μCT) data. Osteohistology in the axial elements differs from that of marine reptiles and corroborates a terrestrial or semiaquatic life style for Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi. Not only the outer shape and overall microanatomy of the osteoderms, but also the association and attachment of the osteoderms to the underlying endoskeletal element (i.e., cervical vertebra, rib, appendicular element) vary depending on body region. Furthermore, chondroid bone is identified in the osteoderms of Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi, which is the oldest evidence of this tissue in osteoderms of an extinct tetrapod. For comparison, μCT data of two neural arches tentatively identifiable as pertaining to the enigmatic Middle Triassic Saurosphargis voltzi (the holotype and only specimen of this taxon is considered lost) could be included. They share with Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi the elongated transverse processes and a general similar microstructure, but also present an anteroposteriorly broadened bony sheath of the transverse process in ventral view, which is absent in Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi.
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spelling doaj-art-8338dc78851a4403a013a573687a45d92025-01-15T13:24:20ZengInstitute of Paleobiology PASActa Palaeontologica Polonica1732-24212024-12-0169463364810.4202/app.01163.2024Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid EusaurosphargisNicole Klein0Torsten M. Scheyer1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Nußallee 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany.University of Zurich, Department of Paleontology, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4, CH-8006 Zurich, Switzerland.Bone histology and microanatomy of neck and dorsal vertebrae, a dorsal rib, and osteoderms from different body regions of Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi from Winterswijk, The Netherlands, are studied by petrographic thin sections and micro-computed tomographic (μCT) data. Osteohistology in the axial elements differs from that of marine reptiles and corroborates a terrestrial or semiaquatic life style for Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi. Not only the outer shape and overall microanatomy of the osteoderms, but also the association and attachment of the osteoderms to the underlying endoskeletal element (i.e., cervical vertebra, rib, appendicular element) vary depending on body region. Furthermore, chondroid bone is identified in the osteoderms of Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi, which is the oldest evidence of this tissue in osteoderms of an extinct tetrapod. For comparison, μCT data of two neural arches tentatively identifiable as pertaining to the enigmatic Middle Triassic Saurosphargis voltzi (the holotype and only specimen of this taxon is considered lost) could be included. They share with Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi the elongated transverse processes and a general similar microstructure, but also present an anteroposteriorly broadened bony sheath of the transverse process in ventral view, which is absent in Eusaurosphargis aff. dalsassoi.https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app69/app011632024.pdfeureptiliatriassicwinterswijkmuschelkalkosteodermspalaeohistologychondroid bone
spellingShingle Nicole Klein
Torsten M. Scheyer
Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
eureptilia
triassic
winterswijk
muschelkalk
osteoderms
palaeohistology
chondroid bone
title Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis
title_full Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis
title_fullStr Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis
title_full_unstemmed Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis
title_short Vertebral, rib, and osteoderm morphology and histology of Middle Triassic diapsid Eusaurosphargis
title_sort vertebral rib and osteoderm morphology and histology of middle triassic diapsid eusaurosphargis
topic eureptilia
triassic
winterswijk
muschelkalk
osteoderms
palaeohistology
chondroid bone
url https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app69/app011632024.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT nicoleklein vertebralribandosteodermmorphologyandhistologyofmiddletriassicdiapsideusaurosphargis
AT torstenmscheyer vertebralribandosteodermmorphologyandhistologyofmiddletriassicdiapsideusaurosphargis