The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe

Background: Dakosaurus and Plesiosuchus are characteristic genera of aquatic, large-bodied, macrophagous metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs. Recent studies show that these genera were apex predators in marine ecosystems during the latter part of the Late Jurassic, with robust skulls and strong bite forc...

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Autores principales: Young, Mark T., Brusatte, Stephen L., Brandalise de Andrade, Marco, Desojo, Julia Brenda, Beatty, Brian L., Steel, Lorna, Fernández, Marta Susana, Sakamoto, Manabu, Ruiz-Omeñaca, José Ignacio, Schoch, Rainer R.
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2012
Materias:
Paleontología
Ciencias Naturales
Jurásico tardío
craniofacial morphology
Dakosaurus
Geosaurus
Plesiosuchus
predator prey interaction
species comparison
Torvoneustes
Crocodylomorpha
Metriorhynchidae
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/34065
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0044985
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-34065
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Paleontología
Ciencias Naturales
Jurásico tardío
craniofacial morphology
Dakosaurus
Geosaurus
Plesiosuchus
predator prey interaction
species comparison
Torvoneustes
Crocodylomorpha
Metriorhynchidae
spellingShingle Paleontología
Ciencias Naturales
Jurásico tardío
craniofacial morphology
Dakosaurus
Geosaurus
Plesiosuchus
predator prey interaction
species comparison
Torvoneustes
Crocodylomorpha
Metriorhynchidae
Young, Mark T.
Brusatte, Stephen L.
Brandalise de Andrade, Marco
Desojo, Julia Brenda
Beatty, Brian L.
Steel, Lorna
Fernández, Marta Susana
Sakamoto, Manabu
Ruiz-Omeñaca, José Ignacio
Schoch, Rainer R.
The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe
topic_facet Paleontología
Ciencias Naturales
Jurásico tardío
craniofacial morphology
Dakosaurus
Geosaurus
Plesiosuchus
predator prey interaction
species comparison
Torvoneustes
Crocodylomorpha
Metriorhynchidae
description Background: Dakosaurus and Plesiosuchus are characteristic genera of aquatic, large-bodied, macrophagous metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs. Recent studies show that these genera were apex predators in marine ecosystems during the latter part of the Late Jurassic, with robust skulls and strong bite forces optimized for feeding on large prey. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we present comprehensive osteological descriptions and systematic revisions of the type species of both genera, and in doing so we resurrect the genus Plesiosuchus for the species Dakosaurus manselii. Both species are diagnosed with numerous autapomorphies. Dakosaurus maximus has premaxillary 'lateral plates'; strongly ornamented maxillae; macroziphodont dentition; tightly fitting tooth-to-tooth occlusion; and extensive macrowear on the mesial and distal margins. Plesiosuchus manselii is distinct in having: non-amblygnathous rostrum; long mandibular symphysis; microziphodont teeth; tooth-crown apices that lack spalled surfaces or breaks; and no evidence for occlusal wear facets. Our phylogenetic analysis finds Dakosaurus maximus to be the sister taxon of the South American Dakosaurus andiniensis, and Plesiosuchus manselii in a polytomy at the base of Geosaurini (the subclade of macrophagous metriorhynchids that includes Dakosaurus, Geosaurus and Torvoneustes). Conclusions/Significance: The sympatry of Dakosaurus and Plesiosuchus is curiously similar to North Atlantic killer whales, which have one larger 'type' that lacks tooth-crown breakage being sympatric with a smaller 'type' that has extensive crown breakage. Assuming this morphofunctional complex is indicative of diet, then Plesiosuchus would be a specialist feeding on other marine reptiles while Dakosaurus would be a generalist and possible suction-feeder. This hypothesis is supported by Plesiosuchus manselii having a very large optimum gape (gape at which multiple teeth come into contact with a prey-item), while Dakosaurus maximus possesses craniomandibular characteristics observed in extant suction-feeding odontocetes: shortened tooth-row, amblygnathous rostrum and a very short mandibular symphysis. We hypothesise that trophic specialisation enabled these two large-bodied species to coexist in the same ecosystem.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Young, Mark T.
Brusatte, Stephen L.
Brandalise de Andrade, Marco
Desojo, Julia Brenda
Beatty, Brian L.
Steel, Lorna
Fernández, Marta Susana
Sakamoto, Manabu
Ruiz-Omeñaca, José Ignacio
Schoch, Rainer R.
author_facet Young, Mark T.
Brusatte, Stephen L.
Brandalise de Andrade, Marco
Desojo, Julia Brenda
Beatty, Brian L.
Steel, Lorna
Fernández, Marta Susana
Sakamoto, Manabu
Ruiz-Omeñaca, José Ignacio
Schoch, Rainer R.
author_sort Young, Mark T.
title The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe
title_short The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe
title_full The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe
title_fullStr The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe
title_full_unstemmed The cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera <i>Dakosaurus</i> and <i>Plesiosuchus</i> from the late Jurassic of Europe
title_sort cranial osteology and feeding ecology of the metriorhynchid crocodylomorph genera <i>dakosaurus</i> and <i>plesiosuchus</i> from the late jurassic of europe
publishDate 2012
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/34065
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0044985
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