The Metabolic Status of Some Late Cretaceous Dinosaurs

Ruben, John A.; Hillenius, Willem J.; Geist, Nicholas R.; Leitch, A.W.R.; Jones, Terry D.; Currie, Philip J.; Horner, John R.; Espe, George

doi:10.1126/science.273.5279.1204

Cited by 69 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Respiratory turbinates are present in all extant nostrilbreathing terrestrial birds and mammals (Hillenius 1994;Ruben et al 1996). The extent and complexity of the nasal cavity of birds vary with bill shape but, in general, the avian nasal passage is elongate with three successive cartilaginous or (occasionally) ossified turbinates (Bang 1971;Fig.…”

Section: Respiratory Turbinates In Living Endothermsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory and Reproductive Paleophysiology of Dinosaurs and Early Birds

Ruben

Jones²,

Geist³

2003

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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In terms of their diversity and longevity, dinosaurs and birds were/are surely among the most successful of terrestrial vertebrates. Unfortunately, interpreting many aspects of the biology of dinosaurs and the earliest of the birds presents formidable challenges because they are known only from fossils. Nevertheless, a variety of attributes of these taxa can be inferred by identification of shared anatomical structures whose presence is causally linked to specialized functions in living reptiles, birds, and mammals. Studies such as these demonstrate that although dinosaurs and early birds were likely to have been homeothermic, the absence of nasal respiratory turbinates in these animals indicates that they were likely to have maintained reptile-like (ectothermic) metabolic rates during periods of rest or routine activity. Nevertheless, given the metabolic capacities of some extant reptiles during periods of elevated activity, early birds were probably capable of powered flight. Similarly, had, for example, theropod dinosaurs possessed aerobic metabolic capacities and habits equivalent to those of some large, modern tropical latitude lizards (e.g., Varanus), they may well have maintained significant home ranges and actively pursued and killed large prey. Additionally, this scenario of active, although ectothermic, theropod dinosaurs seems reinforced by the likely utilization of crocodilian-like, diaphragm breathing in this group. Finally, persistent in vivo burial of their nests and ap-*

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Section: Respiratory Turbinates In Living Endothermsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory and Reproductive Paleophysiology of Dinosaurs and Early Birds

Ruben

Jones²,

Geist³

2003

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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“…Dinosaurian metabolic physiology has been a controversial topic (Russell 1965;Ostrom 1970;Bakker 1971Bakker , 1972Spotila et al 1973;Thomas and Olson 1980;Weaver 1983;Farlow 1990;Paladino et al 1990;Paul 1991Paul , 1994Paul , 1998Paul , 2001Barrick and Showers 1994Farlow et al 1995;Ruben 1995;Barrick et al 1996;Ruben et al 1996;Reid 1997;Horner et al 1999Horner et al , 2000O'Connor and Dodson 1999;Seebacher et al 1999;Fricke and Rogers 2000;Seymour and Lillywhite 2000;Burness et al 2001;Jones and Ruben 2001;Schweitzer and Marshall 2001;McNab 2002McNab , 2009bShowers et al 2002;Seebacher 2003;Chinsamy and Hillenius 2004;Hillenius and Ruben 2004a;Padian and Horner 2004;Seymour et al 2004;Chinsamy-Turan 2005;Amiot et al 2006;Gillooly et al 2006;Grellet-Tinner 2006;Sander and Andrassy 2006;…”

Section: Herbivorous Dinosaur Metabolic Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giants on the landscape: modelling the abundance of megaherbivorous dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation (Late Jurassic, western USA)

Farlow

Coroian

Foster³

2010

Historical Biology

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“…Blood oxygen carrying capacities, blood oxygen affinity and tissue mitochondrial volumes are characters of the soft tissue and have not been described in any fossilized remains. Nasal respiratory turbinates, which are respiratory water and heat conserving mechanisms associated with elevated avian and mammalian rates of pulmonary ventilation have been discussed at length in other publications (Ruben et al, 1996;Ruben et al, 2003;Hillenius and Ruben, 2004a) and are unknown in any theropod remains. However, there exists further evidence in the skeletal and soft tissue remains of theropod dinosaurs that provides insight to their respiratory apparatus and their bird-like or crocodilian-like aerobic capacities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardio‐pulmonary anatomy in theropod dinosaurs: Implications from extant archosaurs

Quick

Ruben

2009

Journal of Morphology

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Although crocodilian lung and cardiovascular organs are markedly less specialized than the avian heart and lung air-sac system, all living archosaurs possess four-chambered hearts and heterogeneously vascularized, faveolar lungs. In birds, normal lung function requires extensive, dorsally situated nonvascularized abdominal air-sacs ventilated by an expansive sternum and specially hinged costal ribs. The thin walled and voluminous abdominal air-sacs are supported laterally and caudally to prevent inward (paradoxical) collapse during generation of negative (inhalatory) pressure: the synsacrum, posteriorly directed, laterally open pubes and specialized femoral-thigh complex provide requisite support and largely prevent inhalatory collapse. In comparison, theropod dinosaurs probably lacked similarly enlarged abdominal air-sacs, and skeleto-muscular modifications consistent with their ventilation. In the absence of enlarged, functional abdominal air-sacs, theropods were unlikely to have possessed a specialized bird-like, air-sac lung. The likely absence of bird-like pulmonary function in theropods is inconsistent with suggestions of cardiovascular anatomy more sophisticated than that of modern crocodilians.

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The Metabolic Status of Some Late Cretaceous Dinosaurs

Cited by 69 publications

References 11 publications

Respiratory and Reproductive Paleophysiology of Dinosaurs and Early Birds

Respiratory and Reproductive Paleophysiology of Dinosaurs and Early Birds

Giants on the landscape: modelling the abundance of megaherbivorous dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation (Late Jurassic, western USA)

Cardio‐pulmonary anatomy in theropod dinosaurs: Implications from extant archosaurs

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