Dorsal rib histology of dinosaurs and a crocodylomorph from western Portugal: Skeletochronological implications on age determination and life history traits |
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Authors: | Katja Waskow Octavio Mateus |
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Affiliation: | 1. Steinmann Institute for Geology, Mineralogy, and Paleontology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 8, 53113 Bonn, Germany;2. Departamento de Ciências da Terra, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, FCT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-526 Caparica, Portugal;3. Museu Da Lourinhã, Rua João Luis de Moura, 2530-157 Lourinhã, Portugal |
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Abstract: | Bone histology is an important tool for uncovering life history traits of extinct animals, particularly those that lack modern analogs, such as the non-avian dinosaurs. In most studies, histological analyses preferentially focus on long bones for understanding growth rates and determining age. Here we show, by analyzing ornithischians (a stegosaur and an ornithopod), saurischians (a sauropod and a theropod), and a crocodile, rib histology is a suitable alternative. The estimated age for all sampled taxa ranges between 14 to 17 years for Lourinhanosaurus antunesi and 27 to 31 years estimated for Draconyx loureiroi. The theropod Baryonyx was skeletally mature around 23–25 years of age but showed unfused neurocentral sutures, a paedomorphic feature possibly related to aquatic locomotion. Our results show that ribs can contain a nearly complete growth record, and reveal important information about individual age, point of sexual maturity, and, in some cases, sex. Because ribs are more available than long bones, this method opens new possibilities for studying rare and incomplete fossils, including holotypes. |
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Keywords: | New histological approach for ribs Determination of ontogenetic stage Skeletal maturity Age at first reproduction Longevity in dinosaurs Nouvelle approche histologique pour les côtes Détermination du stade ontogénétique Maturité squelettique Âge à la première reproduction Longévité chez les dinosaures |
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