New insights into pterosaur cranial anatomy: X-ray imaging reveals palatal structure and evolutionary trends

doi:10.1038/s42003-024-06132-6

IVPP-IR

	New insights into pterosaur cranial anatomy: X-ray imaging reveals palatal structure and evolutionary trends
	Chen, He 1,2,3; Jiang, Shunxing 2; Kellner, Alexander W. A.4; Wang, Xiaolin2,3
	2024-04-12
发表期刊	COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
卷号	7 期号:1 页码:11
通讯作者	Wang, Xiaolin(wangxiaolin@ivpp.ac.cn)
摘要	Among the least studied portion of the pterosaur skeleton is the palate, which tends to be poorly preserved and commonly only visible from one side (the ventral portion). Even in well-preserved specimens, the bones tend to be fused, with the limits of individual palatal elements obscured. To shed new light on this region, we employed advanced X-ray imaging techniques on the non-pterodactyloid Kunpengopterus (Wukongopteridae), and the pterodactyloids Dsungaripterus (Dsungaripteridae), Hongshanopterus (Istiodactylidae), and Hamipterus (Hamipteridae). Our analyses revealed the presence of sutures between palatal bones in Dsungaripterus and Kunpengopterus, which resulted in different interpretations of the relation between palatine, ectopterygoid, and pterygoid, leading to a new identification of the palatal openings. Furthermore, our study shows six main observations such as the variation of the angle between the palatine rami and the variation in the relative sizes of the palatal openings. We also point out that the presence of a maxillopalatine fenestra (previously identified as postpalatine fenestra), is unique within Diapsida. Although much more work needs to be done, we showed that advanced X-ray imaging techniques open a window for understanding pterosaur cranial anatomy and provide a new perspective for investigating the evolutionary history of these flying reptiles. A study on the palatal region of pterosaurs suggests different bone interpretations and new identification of the palatal openings, pointing out that the maxillopalatine fenestra in pterosaurs is unique within Diapsida.
DOI	10.1038/s42003-024-06132-6
关键词[WOS]	TAXONOMY ; PHYLOGENY ; SPECIMEN
收录类别	SCI
语种	英语
资助项目	National Natural Science Foundation of China[42288201] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[42072028] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[41572020] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[42302003] ; Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of CAS[XDB26000000] ; Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences[2019075] ; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)[308707/2023-0] ; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)[406779/2021-0] ; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)[406902/2022-4] ; Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)[E-26/201.095/2022]
项目资助者	National Natural Science Foundation of China ; Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of CAS ; Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences ; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) ; Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)
WOS研究方向	Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics ; Science & Technology - Other Topics
WOS类目	Biology ; Multidisciplinary Sciences
WOS记录号	WOS:001201826500005
出版者	NATURE PORTFOLIO
引用统计
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.205/handle/311034/23571
专题	中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所
通讯作者	Wang, Xiaolin
作者单位	1.Sun Yat Sen Univ, Sch Ecol, Shenzhen 510006, Peoples R China 2.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Vertebrate Paleontol & Paleoanthropol, Key Lab Vertebrate Evolut & Human Origins, Beijing 100044, Peoples R China 3.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China 4.Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Geol & Paleontol, Lab Systemat & Taphon Fossil Vertebrates, Museu Nacl, BR-20940040 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Chen, He,Jiang, Shunxing,Kellner, Alexander W. A.,et al. New insights into pterosaur cranial anatomy: X-ray imaging reveals palatal structure and evolutionary trends[J]. COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY,2024,7(1):11.
APA	Chen, He,Jiang, Shunxing,Kellner, Alexander W. A.,&Wang, Xiaolin.(2024).New insights into pterosaur cranial anatomy: X-ray imaging reveals palatal structure and evolutionary trends.COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY,7(1),11.
MLA	Chen, He,et al."New insights into pterosaur cranial anatomy: X-ray imaging reveals palatal structure and evolutionary trends".COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY 7.1(2024):11.