Hypersalinity drives convergent bone mass increases in Miocene marine mammals from the Paratethys

Dewaele, Leonard; Gol’din, Pavel; Marx, Felix G.; Lambert, Olivier; Laurin, Michel; Obadă, Theodor; Buffrénil, Vivian de

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.065

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Several nominal taxa sharing this anatomy were described and recombined or synonymized, such as genera Pachycetus, Platyosphys, Basilotritus and Antaecetus, and also Eocetus (later recombined as "Eocetus", Basilotritus, Platyosphys and Pachycetus) wardii (Van Benden, 1883;Kellogg, 1936;Uhen, 1999;Gol'din and Zvonok, 2013;van Vliet et al, 2020;Gingerich et al, 2022), while others were reported as unnamed cetaceans (Uhen et al, 2011). These genera and their morphological similarity were reviewed by Gingerich, Amane and Zouhri (2022). However, due to the fragmentary nature of the specimens and, most likely, homoplasy in postcranial traits shared by cetaceans of this morphotype (Davydenko et al, 2021), the conclusions of that revision are still debated and pending phylogenetic analysis.…”

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confidence: 99%

Diverse bone microanatomy in cetaceans from the Eocene of Ukraine further documents early adaptations to fully aquatic lifestyle

2023

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Basilosauridae, fully aquatic archaeocetes from the Eocene, had osteosclerotic or pachyosteosclerotic structure of ribs and, sometimes, other bones. Such a structure is far different from osteoporotic-like bones of modern cetaceans. A microanatomical and histological study was conducted on axial and limb skeleton of several basilosaurid specimens assigned to the genus Basilotritus, from Bartonian (late middle Eocene) deposits of Ukraine, remarkable for its pachyostotic bones. The postcranial skeleton of these specimens is a complex mosaic of diverse types of bone structure, which include pachyosteosclerotic, osteosclerotic and cancellous elements. The vertebrae have a pachyostotic layered cortex reaching its greatest thickness in the lumbar region. This cortex was strongly vascularized, and its layered structure is due to concentric circles mostly made by longitudinal vascular canals, in addition to cyclical growth lines. Heavy bones are concentrated in the dorsal and ventral areas. Swollen distal ends of thoracic ribs are interpreted as serving as ballast in the ventral area, as also previously proposed for Basilosaurus cetoides. Cortical bone tissue in vertebrae and ribs showed signs of intensive resorption and remodeling. This indicates the use of the axial skeleton not only for buoyancy control but also possibly for calcium and phosphorus recycling.

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Section: Open Access Edited Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse bone microanatomy in cetaceans from the Eocene of Ukraine further documents early adaptations to fully aquatic lifestyle

2023

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“…Bone remodelling is present in all specimens and is particularly intensive in FM3596 whose cortex is made almost entirely of Haversian bone. Recently, Dewaele et al (2022) documented pachyosteosclerosis in various mid-to upper Miocene Paratethyan marine mammals. These authors interpreted the bone densification as an adaptation to the hypersaline conditions in the Central Paratethys during the 'Badenian salinity crisis'.…”

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Cetacean and hipparion fossils from the upper Miocene near General Marinovo Village, NW Bulgaria

Hristova,

Dochev,

Metodiev

et al. 2023

Rev. Bulg. Geol. Soc.

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The fossils of cetaceans are common in the Miocene marine deposits of North Bulgaria and along the Black Sea coast, however, they had received little attention until now. We report on abundant whale fossil material from the area near General Marinovo Village, NW Bulgaria. The finding of a hipparion tooth in the same area as the rest of the material implies a late Miocene age for the fossils. Taphonomical, XRD, and palaeohistological analyses reveal details about the pre-burial history and palaeobiology of part of the studied cetacean fossils.

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Evolution: Back to heavy bones in salty seas

Houssaye¹

2022

Current Biology

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Hypersalinity drives convergent bone mass increases in Miocene marine mammals from the Paratethys

Cited by 10 publications

References 34 publications

Diverse bone microanatomy in cetaceans from the Eocene of Ukraine further documents early adaptations to fully aquatic lifestyle

Diverse bone microanatomy in cetaceans from the Eocene of Ukraine further documents early adaptations to fully aquatic lifestyle

Cetacean and hipparion fossils from the upper Miocene near General Marinovo Village, NW Bulgaria

Evolution: Back to heavy bones in salty seas

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