Osteology, paleobiology, and relationships of the sauropod dinosaur Sauroposeidon

• Autorzy: Wedel M J , Cifelli R L , Sanders R K
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Sauroposeidon proteles is a large brachiosaurid sauropod recently described from the Antlers Formation (Aptian-Albian) of southeastern Oklahoma. Sauroposeidon represents the culmination of brachiosaurid trends toward lengthening and lightening the neck, and its cervical vertebrae are characterized by extensive pneumatic structures. The elaboration of vertebral air sacs during sauropod evolution produced a variety of internal structure types. We propose a new classification system for this array of vertebral characters, using computed tomography (CT) of pneumatic internal structures. Comparisons with birds suggest that the vertebrae of sauropods were pneumatized by a complex system of air sacs in the thorax and abdomen. The presence of a thoraco-abdominal air sac system in sauropods would dramatically affect current estimates of mass, food intake, and respiratory requirements. Sauroposeidon was one of the last sauropods in the Early Cretaceous of North America; sauropods disappeared from the continent by the early Cenomanian. The demise of sauropods in the Early Cretaceous of North America predates significant radiations of angiosperms, so the decline and extinction of this dinosaur group cannot be linked to changes in flora.

PL

Sauroposeidon proteles to wielki dinozaur z rodziny brachiozaurów, opisany niedawno z formacji Antlers (apt-alb) z południowo-wschodniej Oklahomy (USA). Stanowi on kulminację widocznej u brachiozaurów tendencji do wydłużania szyi i zmniejszania jej ciężaru - kręgi szyjne odznaczają się intensywną pneumatyzacją. Rozrost worków powietrznych w kręgach szyjnych doprowadził do wytworzenia rozmaitych wariantów ich budowy wewnętrznej. Autorzy proponują nowy podział owych struktur anatomicznych, oparty na obserwacji tomograficznej spneumatyzowanych kręgów. Porównania z ptakami sugerują, że kręgi zauropodów mieściły rozbudowany system worków powietrznych obejmujących też tułów. Obecność piersiowo-brzusznych worków powietrznych oznaczałaby radykalne zmiany dotychczasowych oszacowań masy ciała, zapotrzebowania pokarmowego i wydolności oddechowej zauropodów. Zauroposejdon był jednym z ostatnich zauropodów zamieszkujących Amerykę Północną we wczesnej kredzie (we wczesnym cenomanie brak już zauropodów na tym kontynencie). Zniknięcie zauropodów z Ameryki Północnej poprzedziło większe radiacje adaptacyjne roślin okrytozalążkowych, toteż nie można wiąać upadku i zaniku tej grupy dinozaurów ze zmianami flory.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Oklahoma; pneumatic structure; Sauroposeidon proteles; Sauroposeidon; paleobiology; Cretaceous; Antlers Formation; dinosaur; sauropod; North America; paleontology

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
• Rocznik: 2000
• Tom: 45
• Numer: 4
• Opis fizyczny: p.343-388,fig.

Twórcy

autor

Wedel M J

• Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072, USA

autor

Cifelli R L

• Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072, USA

autor

Sanders R K

• Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK 73109, USA

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