Function and phylogeny in sauropterygian (Diapsida) evolution

Storrs, Glenn W.

doi:10.2475/ajs.293.a.63

Cited by 93 publications

(101 citation statements)

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“…Outlines of these flippers were scanned from photographs or anatomical drawings, and their areas measured using NIH Image 1.6. AR was calculated directly from these flippers as span 2 /wing area (Storrs, 1993;Vogel, 1994). These measurements were then used to calculate a geometrical correction factor a (0.83 ± 0.06), which was used to estimate the AR of the remaining flippers using the following formula:…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two general morphotypes are recognized, the ÔpliosauromorphÕ possessing a short neck and large head, and the Ôples-iosauromorphÕ possessing a long neck and small head (Brown, 1981;Brown & Cruickshank, 1994; for discussion see below). All plesiosaurs had hydrofoil-shaped limbs, and locomotion was at least partially lift-based (Robinson, 1975(Robinson, , 1977Godfrey, 1981;Taylor, 1981;Storrs, 1993). The present study compares data on the aspect ratio (AR; a dimensionless measure of wing shape calculated as span over mean chord, Vogel, 1994) of plesiosaur fore-and hind-flippers with the wing AR of birds, bats and aircraft.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecomorphology of plesiosaur flipper geometry

O’Keefe¹

2001

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

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The Plesiosauria is an extinct group of marine reptiles once common in mesozoic seas. Previous work on plesiosaur hunting styles has suggested that short-necked, large-headed animals were pursuit predators, whereas long-necked, small-headed animals were ambush predators. This study presents new data on the aspect ratios (ARs) of plesiosaur flippers, and interprets these data via comparison with AR in birds, bats and aircraft. Performance trade-offs implicit in AR variation are well-understood in the context of aircraft design, and these trade-offs have direct ecomorphological analogues in birds and bats. Knowledge of these trade-offs allows interpretation of variation in plesiosaur AR. By analogy, short-necked taxa were specialized for manoeuvrability and pursuit, whereas long-necked taxa were generally specialized for efficiency and cruising. These interpretations agree with previous assessments of maximum swimming speed

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecomorphology of plesiosaur flipper geometry

O’Keefe¹

2001

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

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“…Among Sauropterygia, plesiosaurs show the most advanced adaptations to a marine lifestyle, being unique for displaying four enlarged hydrofoil-shaped propulsive flippers for swimming (Carpenter et al, 2010;Massare, 1994;Rieppel et al, 2002). These peculiar features make them unique among both extinct and extant marine reptiles (Massare, 1994;Carpenter et al, 2010), being the only ones with sea-turtles to swim without using an axial undulatory locomotion, relying completely on paraxial propulsion (Storrs 1993). Plesiosauria A recent study (Bernard et al, 2010) has shown that they were most likely 'warm-blooded'.…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…16 elements of the pectoral and pelvic girdles as well as a reinforced gastral ribcage (Storrs, 1993). Among Sauropterygia, plesiosaurs show the most advanced adaptations to a marine lifestyle, being unique for displaying four enlarged hydrofoil-shaped propulsive flippers for swimming (Carpenter et al, 2010;Massare, 1994;Rieppel et al, 2002).…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesozoic marine reptile palaeobiogeography in response to drifting plates

et al. 2014

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During the Mesozoic, various groups of reptiles underwent a spectacular return to an aquatic life, colonizing most marine environments. They were highly diversified both systematically and ecologically, and most were the largest top-predators of the marine ecosystems of their time. The main groups were Ichthyosauria, Sauropterygia, Thalattosauria, and several lineages of Testudinata, Crocodyliformes, Rhynchocephalia and Squamata. Here we show that the palaeobiogeographical distribution of these marine reptiles closely followed the break-up of the supercontinent Pangaea and that they globally used the main marine corridors However, if large faunal interchanges were possible at a global scale following a dispersal model, some provinces, such as the Mediterranean Tethys, were characterized by a peculiar faunal identity, illustrating an absence of migration with time despite the apparent lack of barriers. So, if Continental Drift enabled global circulations and faunal interchanges via dispersals among Mesozoic marine reptiles, others parameters, such as ecological and biological constraints, probably also played a role in the local endemic distribution of some of these marine groups, as they do today.

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“…Sauropterygians were an enormously successful group of aquatic reptiles with a worldwide distribution and a stratigraphic range that spanned the entire Mesozoic (for basic information, see Storrs, 1993;Lin and Rieppel, 1998;Benton, 2000;Ellis, 2003;Everhart, 2005). Within the diversity of sauropterygians, the relatively advanced plesiosaurs are the most familiar to general readers.…”

Section: Pachypleurosaurs and Nothosaurs (Sauropterygia)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of viviparous reproduction in Paleozoic and Mesozoic reptiles

Blackburn

Sidor²

2014

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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Although viviparity (live-bearing reproduction) is widely distributed among lizards and snakes, it is entirely absent from other extant Reptilia and many extinct forms. However, paleontological evidence reveals that viviparity was present in at least nine nominal groups of pre-Cenozoic reptiles, representing a minimum of six separate evolutionary origins of this reproductive mode. Two viviparous clades (sauropterygians and ichthyopterygians) lasted more than 155 million years, a figure that rivals the duration of mammalian viviparity. Circumstantial evidence indicates that extinct viviparous reptiles had internal fertilization, amniotic fetal membranes, and placentas that sustained developing embryos via provision of respiratory gases, water, calcium, and possibly organic nutrients. Production of offspring via viviparity facilitated the invasion of marine habitats in at least five reptilian lineages. Thus, this pattern of embryonic development and reproduction was central to the ecology and evolution of these ancient animals, much as it is to numerous extant species of vertebrates.

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Function and phylogeny in sauropterygian (Diapsida) evolution

Cited by 93 publications

References 0 publications

Ecomorphology of plesiosaur flipper geometry

Ecomorphology of plesiosaur flipper geometry

Mesozoic marine reptile palaeobiogeography in response to drifting plates

Evolution of viviparous reproduction in Paleozoic and Mesozoic reptiles

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