Neurovascular anatomy of dwarf dinosaur implies precociality in sauropods
- Author(s)
- Marco Schade, Nils Knötschke, Marie K. Hörnig, Carina Paetzel, Sebastian Stumpf
- Abstract
Macronaria, a group of mostly colossal sauropod dinosaurs, comprised the largest terrestrial vertebrates of Earth’s history. However, some of the smallest sauropods belong to this group as well. The Late Jurassic macronarian island dwarf Europasaurus holgeri is one of the most peculiar and best-studied sauropods worldwide. So far, the braincase material of this taxon from Germany pended greater attention. With the aid of micro-computed tomography (microCT), we report on the neuroanatomy of the nearly complete braincase of an adult individual, as well as the inner ears (endosseous labyrinths) of one other adult and several juveniles (the latter also containing novel vascular cavities). The presence of large and morphologically adult inner ears in juvenile material suggests precociality. Our findings add to the diversity of neurovascular anatomy in sauropod braincases and buttress the perception of sauropods as fast-growing and autonomous giants with manifold facets of reproductive and social behaviour. This suggests that – apart from sheer size – little separated Europasaurus from its large-bodied relatives.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Palaeontology
- External organisation(s)
- University of Greifswald, Münchner Mineralientage Fachmesse GmbH
- Journal
- eLife
- Volume
- 11
- ISSN
- 2050-084X
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.82190
- Publication date
- 12-2022
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106046 Animal anatomy, 106012 Evolutionary research, 106025 Neurobiology, 106047 Animal ecology
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Immunology and Microbiology, General Neuroscience
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/feadc768-3853-4ac5-bec6-6c034f78cb18