Tough to digest: first record of Teleosauroidea (Thalattosuchia) in a regurgitalite from the Upper Jurassic of north‐eastern Italy

Serafini, Giovanni; Gordon, Caleb M.; Foffa, Davide; Cobianchi, Miriam; Giusberti, Luca

doi:10.1002/spp2.1474

Cited by 8 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 88 publications

(155 reference statements)

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“…Lofgren et al (2017) examined coprolite surface morphology and visible skeletal elements in 358 specimens, including 20 specimens that were mechanically prepared by removing skeletal inclusions. It is worth noting that the regular shape, phosphatic composition, low bone density, and highly digested, fragmented nature of the bones in these specimens supports their interpretation as coprolites, rather than regurgitalites (Myhrvold, 2012;Gordon et al, 2020;Serafini et al, 2022). Analysis of the measurable dimensions of this coprolite assemblage have previously revealed two distinct size classes, including smaller forms ranging from 4 to 15 mm in diameter and larger forms ranging from 16 to 29 mm in diameter (Lofgren et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 60%

X-ray tomographic microscopy of Eocene coprolites from Pipestone Springs Main Pocket, southwest Montana

et al. 2023

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The Eocene Pipestone Springs Main Pocket (Renova Formation, Jefferson County, Montana, United States of America) is a locality renowned for its diverse Chadronian (late Eocene; ∼38–33.9 million years ago) mammalian fauna and abundant coprolites. Two distinct coprolite size classes were previously identified in the trace fossil assemblage from which we selected representatives to investigate feeding behaviors and dietary selection of the producers. A subset of the selected coprolites was analyzed based on their compositional and taphonomic attributes using non-destructive x-ray tomographic microscopy in combination with more traditional methods including thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Among the features extracted in the tomographic data were skeletal fragments, including those showing evidence of bone-crushing; delicate hair molds; encrusted lithic fragments; and several irregular pores and cracks throughout the coprolites. Segmentation and volumetric renders permit quantitative assessment of the relative proportions of inclusions, revealing porosity as a primary volumetric element aside from the matrix and bone inclusions. There was no significant difference in the total volume of bone extracted between coprolite size class, though the smaller coprolites preserved a relatively higher volumetric proportion of undigested skeletal material. This multi-visualization approach provides a means to observe and evaluate differences in the coprolite gross morphology and inclusions across the two size classes, thereby offering valuable insights into the broader paleoecology of the Pipestone Springs Main Pocket coprolite producers and holding promise for comparable paleo-dietary studies of other coprolite-rich deposits.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 60%

X-ray tomographic microscopy of Eocene coprolites from Pipestone Springs Main Pocket, southwest Montana

et al. 2023

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“…6) MGP-PD 27566, osteoderms, long bones, vertebrae, and pelvic elements of an aeolodontin teleosauroid [ 28 , 34 ]. Found in 1980 at Ponte Serra (Belluno province; Fig 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fonzaso Formation); 6) nodular limestones of the Kimmeridgian p.p.-Tithonian Rosso Ammonitico Superiore (RAS); 7) micritic cherty limestones of the Lower Cretaceous Maiolica; 8) oolitic and peloidal grainstones/packstones; 9) synsedimentary breccia. Compiled based on various sources [ 34 , 47 , 51 ].…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This area, in fact, remains largely undersampled in the Bajocian-Oxfordian interval [ 24 ], compared to its Central European and British counterparts. Currently 23 marine reptile specimens (counting isolated elements as single individuals) have been discovered from RAV units including ichthyosaurs [ 29 , 33 ], plesiosaurs [ 30 , 32 , 35 ], metriorhynchoids [ 31 , 36 ] and a single aeolodontin teleosauroid [ 28 , 34 ]. Other representatives of Thalattosuchia from Italy include two putative Pelagosaurus specimens from the Calcare di Sogno (Lower Jurassic of Cesana Brianza, Lecco province, Lombardy; [ 37 ]), isolated teeth from the Rotzo Formation (Lower Jurassic of the Trentino Alto Adige region; [ 38 , 39 ]) and from the Toarcian-?Bajocian Encrinite of Monte Verzegnis (Friuli-Venezia Giulia region; [ 40 ]), a metriorhynchid partial rostrum from the Maiolica (lower Berriasian of Asiago Plateau; [ 41 ]) and a single metriorhynchid tooth from the Lower Cretaceous of Sicily [ 5 , 42 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reappraisal of the thalattosuchian crocodylomorph record from the Middle-Upper Jurassic Rosso Ammonitico Veronese of northeastern Italy: Age calibration, new specimens and taphonomic biases

Serafini,

Foffa,

Young

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Despite their extremely rare and fragmentary record, aquatic crocodylomorphs from the Middle to Upper Jurassic (Bajocian-Tithonian) Rosso Ammonitico Veronese (RAV) of northeastern Italy have sparked interest since the late 18th century. Among marine reptiles, Thalattosuchia is by far one of the best represented groups from the RAV units, especially in the Middle Jurassic. Although some specimens have been the subject of multiple studies in recent times, most of them still lack precise stratigraphic assignment and taphonomic assessment, while others remain undescribed. Here we provide a comprehensive revision of the thalattosuchian record from the RAV, alongside the most up-to-date age determination, by means of calcareous nannofossils, when available. Three new metriorhynchoid specimens are described for the first time from the Middle Jurassic of Asiago Plateau (Vicenza province). While the taphonomy of the newly described specimens hampers any taxonomic attribution below superfamily/family level, all three were confidently assigned to a precise interval between the upper Bajocian and the upper Bathonian. This revised record has major paleobiogeographical implications: the new specimens confirm an early origin and distribution of Metriorhynchoidea in the Tethys area and suggest a fast colonization of the open-ocean environment since the upper Bajocian.

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“…bite marks and regurgitates; e.g. [12,13]) suggests that-like their modern counterparts-different lineages coexisted, interacted and perhaps partitioned available resources [6,9,[14][15][16][17]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative functional morphology indicates niche partitioning among sympatric marine reptiles

Foffa,

Young,

Brusatte

2024

R. Soc. Open Sci.

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Mesozoic marine ecosystems were dominated by diverse lineages of aquatic tetrapods. For over 50 Ma in the Jurassic until the Early Cretaceous, plesiosaurians, ichthyosaurians and thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs coexisted at the top levels of trophic food webs. We created a functional dataset of continuous craniomandibular and dental characters known from neontological studies to be functionally significant in modern aquatic tetrapods. We analysed this dataset with multivariate ordination and inferential statistics to assess functional similarities and differences in the marine reptile faunas of two well-sampled Jurassic ecosystems deposited in the same seaway: the Oxford Clay Formation (OCF, Callovian–early Oxfordian, Middle–Late Jurassic) and the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF, Kimmeridgian–Tithonian, Late Jurassic) of the UK. Lower jaw-based macroevolutionary trends are similar to those of tooth-based diversity studies. Closely related species cluster together, with minimal overlaps in the morphospace. Marine reptile lineages were characterized by the distinctive combinations of features, but we reveal multiple instances of morphofunctional convergence among different groups. We quantitatively corroborate previous observations that the ecosystems in the OCF and KCF were markedly distinct in faunal composition and structure. Morphofunctional differentiation may have enabled specialization and was an important factor facilitating the coexistence of diverse marine reptile assemblages in deep time.

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Tough to digest: first record of Teleosauroidea (Thalattosuchia) in a regurgitalite from the Upper Jurassic of north‐eastern Italy

Cited by 8 publications

References 88 publications

X-ray tomographic microscopy of Eocene coprolites from Pipestone Springs Main Pocket, southwest Montana

X-ray tomographic microscopy of Eocene coprolites from Pipestone Springs Main Pocket, southwest Montana

Reappraisal of the thalattosuchian crocodylomorph record from the Middle-Upper Jurassic Rosso Ammonitico Veronese of northeastern Italy: Age calibration, new specimens and taphonomic biases

Comparative functional morphology indicates niche partitioning among sympatric marine reptiles

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