INVESTIGADORES
PAULINA CARABAJAL ariana
artículos
Título:
Braincase anatomy of Pterodaustro guinazui, pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina
Autor/es:
CODORNIÚ, L.; PAULINA CARABAJAL, A.; GIANECHINI, F.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
Editorial:
SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
Referencias:
Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2015 vol. 36
ISSN:
0272-4634
Resumen:
The braincase anatomy in pterosaurs is poorly known due to the fact that scarce specimens of these flying reptiles had been preserved with this region of the skull. The information is even scarcer for most basal pterodactyloid pterosaurs (Archaeopterodactyloidea or Ctenochasmatoidea). We present novel information on the braincase morphology of the Early Cretaceous Argentine ctenochasmatid Pterodaustro guinazui. The morphological evidence collected from several skulls allowed the recognition of many features of this area of the skull. The braincase of Pterodaustro is characterized by a skull roof with subtriangular, elongated frontals and rounded and posteroventrally oriented parietals; low nuchal crest; ossified ethmoidal elements; ossified interorbital septum; short and fan-like shaped paroccipital processes with wavy lateral and medial surfaces; occipital condyle formed mainly by the exoccipitals; forked-shaped basioccipital; long anteroventrally directed basisphenoid body, with keel-shaped ventral surface, and short basipterygoid processes; well-developed lateral tympanic recess; rod-like shaped columella; separated foramina for cranial nerves XII and IX-XI within a common sub-divided recess. We were able to identify foramina for cranial nerves I, II, V, VI and VII; vascular foramina, such as the rostral and caudal middle cerebral veins, and the internal carotid artery; and the columellar recess. This research reveals many features of the braincase of Pterodaustro -some of which were considered as potential autapomorphies - for the first time. It also provides new insights into the neurocranial morphology of pterosaurs, and in turn, it aims to contribute to the understanding of the evolution of the braincase in Pterosauria