Osteohistological Evidence for Determinate Growth in the American Alligator

Woodward, Holly N.; Horner, John R.; Farlow, James O.

doi:10.1670/10-274.1

Cited by 131 publications

(160 citation statements)

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“…Determinate growth is assumed when in the outermost bone cortex occurs an external fundamental system (ESF) -a bone microstructure which indicates cessation of bone growth. External fundamental system has been found in long bones of some individuals of not only highly derived modern alligators (Woodward et al, 2011) and some Triassic crocodylian-line archosaurs which metabolism was higher than in recent crocodylians (Ricqlès et al, 2003) but also in dyrosaurid crocodyliforms (Andrade and Sayão 2014), pterosaurs (Steel 2008), rhynchosaurs (Veiga et al, in press), and even some lepidosaurs (Hugi and Sánchez-Villagra 2012), among others. This suggests that determinate growth is primitive for diapsids and may be "a rule rather than exception" (Woodward et al, 2011).…”

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…External fundamental system has been found in long bones of some individuals of not only highly derived modern alligators (Woodward et al, 2011) and some Triassic crocodylian-line archosaurs which metabolism was higher than in recent crocodylians (Ricqlès et al, 2003) but also in dyrosaurid crocodyliforms (Andrade and Sayão 2014), pterosaurs (Steel 2008), rhynchosaurs (Veiga et al, in press), and even some lepidosaurs (Hugi and Sánchez-Villagra 2012), among others. This suggests that determinate growth is primitive for diapsids and may be "a rule rather than exception" (Woodward et al, 2011). However, even in recent literature there are suggestions that indeterminate growth could play an important role in attaining large size by many dinosaurs (Delfino and Sánchez-Villagra 2010) but EFS is known in many dinosaur taxa (e.g.…”

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, absence of an EFS does not necessarily imply indeterminate growth, it suggests rather that individual in question died before reaching maximum size (e.g. Woodward et al, 2011). This may be due to the high mortality and/or habitat differences -as a result, only some animals attain skeletal maturity (Myhrvold 2013).…”

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some cases, EFS is present in relatively small animals while absent in bigger ones (e.g. Woodward et al, 2011) -this means that it is impossible to assess skeletal maturity based on size alone. Timing of suture closing is also problematic (e.g.…”

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrating developmental biology and the fossil record of reptiles

Skawiński¹,

Tałanda²

2014

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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Numerous new discoveries and new research techniques have influenced our understanding of reptile development from a palaeontological perspective. They suggest for example that transition from mineralized to leathery eggshells and from oviparity to viviparity appeared much more often in the evolution of reptiles than was previously thought. Most marine reptiles evolved from viviparous terrestrial ancestors and had probably genetic sex determination. Fossil forms often display developmental traits absent or rare among modern ones such as polydactyly, hyperphalangy, the presence of ribcage armour, reduction of head ornamentation during ontogeny, extreme modifications of vertebral count or a wide range of feather-like structures. Thus, they provide an empirical background for many morphogenetic considerations.

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Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Indeterminate Vs Determinate Growth Age Assessment and Taxmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Integrating developmental biology and the fossil record of reptiles

Skawiński¹,

Tałanda²

2014

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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“…Recent studies dealing with, e.g., crocodilians (Woodward et al, 2011;see also de Ricqlès et al, 2003) nevertheless show that primitive epiphyses are not necessarily indicative of unlimited growth, and that the taxa having this kind of epiphyses actually reach an asymptotic length. However, the latter is delayed and may not be attained before death of most individuals of a given population.…”

Section: Comparative Data On Bone Histologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Microstructural features of the femur in early ophiacodontids: A reappraisal of ancestral habitat use and lifestyle of amniotes

Laurin

Buffrénil

2016

Comptes Rendus Palevol

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a b s t r a c tOphiacodontids have long been considered the basalmost synapsids, and to have retained a fairly aquatic, piscivorous lifestyle typical of stem-amniotes. A restudy of their bone histology and microanatomy shows that Clepsydrops collettii, a Late Carboniferous ophiacodontid, has a thin, compact cortex and lacks a medullary spongiosa, two features that suggest a truly terrestrial lifestyle. The Early Permian Ophiacodon uniformis has a thicker cortex with a few resorption cavities and bone trabeculae surrounding the free medullary cavity. An inference model yields a terrestrial lifestyle for both taxa, though O. uniformis may have been slightly more aquatic (possibly amphibious) than C. collettii. However, an optimization of inferred lifestyle of other early stegocephalians (based on bone microanatomy) suggests that the first amniotes were terrestrial. The potentially amphibious lifestyle of O. uniformis, though not supported by our inference model, would thus be secondary. Histological features of femoral cortices in these two taxa closely resemble those previously described in extant species of large varanids and teids. This similarity, along with other comparative elements, is discussed in reference to the possible growth patterns and life history traits of Clepsydrops and O. uniformis. Mots clés : Clepsydrops OphiacodonMicro-anatomie osseuse Histologie osseuse Inférence de mode de vie Patron de croissance Paléobiologie r é s u m é Les ophiacodontidés ont longtemps été considérés comme les synapsidés les plus basaux et on leur a longtemps attribué le mode de vie aquatique et le régime piscivore typique des premiers amniotes-souches. Cette étude de micro-anatomie et d'histologie osseuse montre que le fémur de Clepsydrops collettii, un taxon du Carbonifère supérieur, possède un cortex compact peu épais et est dépourvu de spongieuse médullaire, deux caractères indicatifs d'un mode de vie franchement terrestre. Ophiacodon uniformis, du Permien inférieur, a un cortex plus épais avec quelques lacunes de résorption, ainsi que des travées osseuses autour de la cavité médullaire. L'usage d'un modèle d'inférence conduit à attribuer un mode de vie terrestre à ces deux taxons, encore que O. uniformis ait pu être un peu plus aquatique (peut-être G Model No. of Pages 13 2 M. Laurin, V. de Buffrénil / C. R. Palevol xxx (2015) xxx-xxx amphibie) que C. collettii. Cependant, l'optimisation des inférences de mode de vie effectuées chez d'autres stégocéphales en référence à la micro-anatomie de leurs os suggère que les premiers amniotes étaient terrestres. D'éventuelles moeurs amphibies chez Ophiacodon (bien qu'elles ne soient pas confirmées par l'emploi de nos modèles d'inférence) seraient donc secondaires. Les caractères histologiques du fémur dans les deux taxons étudiés ici rappellent fortement ceux attribués dans la littérature aux grands varanidés et téidés. Cette similitude, ainsi que d'autres éléments comparatifs, est discutée en référence aux modèles de croissance et aux traits d'histoire de vie qui pourraie...

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Bone Histology of the Stegosaur Kentrosaurus aethiopicus (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the Upper Jurassic of Tanzania

Redelstorff

Hübner

Chinsamy

et al. 2013

The Anatomical Record

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Using bone histology, a slow growth rate, uncommon for most dinosaurs, has been interpreted for the highly derived stegosaur Stegosaurus (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) and the basal thyreophoran Scutellosaurus. In this study, we examine whether this slow growth rate also occurs in the more basal stegosaur Kentrosaurus from the Tendaguru beds of Tanzania. The bone histology of six femora of Kentrosaurus representing an ontogenetic series from subadult to adult was studied, as well as one scapula. The primary bone is mainly highly vascularized fibro-lamellar bone with some reticular organization of the vascular canals. In addition to LAGs and annuli, distinctive shifts in the pattern of vascularization occur, which have been interpreted as potential growth marks. The variation in the development of growth marks may reflect annual climatic fluctuations. The overall bone depositional rate, and hence growth rate in Kentrosaurus appears to be higher than in Stegosaurus and Scutellosaurus. Considering that Stegosaurus is the larger-sized of the two stegosaurs, this would be contrary to an earlier supposition that small-bodied dinosaurs have slower growth rates than larger ones. Our finding of rapid rates of bone deposition in Kentrosaurus suggests that slow growth rates previously reported in Scutellosaurus and Stegosaurus are not a phylogenetic characteristic of the Thyreophora. Thus, slow growth rates are not plesiomorphic for the Thyreophora. We propose that the slow growth rates documented in the highly derived Stegosaurus could have been secondarily derived or alternatively that Kentrosaurus is the exception having increased growth rates. Anat Rec, 296:933-952, 2013

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Osteohistological Evidence for Determinate Growth in the American Alligator

Cited by 131 publications

References 28 publications

Integrating developmental biology and the fossil record of reptiles

Integrating developmental biology and the fossil record of reptiles

Microstructural features of the femur in early ophiacodontids: A reappraisal of ancestral habitat use and lifestyle of amniotes

Bone Histology of the Stegosaur Kentrosaurus aethiopicus (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the Upper Jurassic of Tanzania

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