Observaciones histológicas en reptiles marinos (Elasmosauridae y Mosasauridae) del Cretácico Tardío de Patagonia y Antártida

SALGADO, L. ; FERNÁNDEZ, M. Y TALEVI, M.

AMEGHINIANA

ASOCIACION PALEONTOLOGICA ARGENTINA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2007 vol. 44 p. 513 - 523

0002-7014

Abstract. HISTOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON MARINE REPTILES (ELASMOSAURIDAE AND MOSASAURIDAE) FROM THE LATEHISTOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON MARINE REPTILES (ELASMOSAURIDAE AND MOSASAURIDAE) FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS OF PATAGONIA AND ANTARCTICA. Bones of two elasmosaurid plesiosaurs (one subadult and one adult) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia (Argentina), and one adult mosasaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica are histologically described in order to obtain information related to their lifestyles. The bones of the subadult elasmosaurid from Lago Pellegrini (Río Negro, Argentina), display a well developed endosteal compaction or osteosclerosis, the degree of osteosclerosis being higher in the vertebra than in the humerus or pelvic girdle. By contrast, the bones analyzed in the adult elasmosaurid (cf. Mauisaurus from the Salinas de Trapalcó area, Río Negro), display internal vacuities leading to a lightening of the bone (osteoporotic-like bone structure). The distribution of osteosclerotic bone structure in juvenile plesiosaurs and osteoporotic-like structure in adults is similar to the one described in plesiosaurs from New Zealand, and could be related to adaptations to different aquatic environments: estuaries and shallow waters for juveniles, and open seas for adults. Both situations are in agreement with paleoenvironment reconstructions of the Allen and Jagüel Formations in Lago Pellegrini and Salinas de Trapalcó respectively. In the bones of the mosasaur from the López de Bertodano Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Isla Marambio, Antarctica), compact bone is in the inner part of the vertebra, while in the transverse process there is a high degree of osteoporotic tissue. RETACEOUS OF PATAGONIA AND ANTARCTICA. Bones of two elasmosaurid plesiosaurs (one subadult and one adult) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia (Argentina), and one adult mosasaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica are histologically described in order to obtain information related to their lifestyles. The bones of the subadult elasmosaurid from Lago Pellegrini (Río Negro, Argentina), display a well developed endosteal compaction or osteosclerosis, the degree of osteosclerosis being higher in the vertebra than in the humerus or pelvic girdle. By contrast, the bones analyzed in the adult elasmosaurid (cf. Mauisaurus from the Salinas de Trapalcó area, Río Negro), display internal vacuities leading to a lightening of the bone (osteoporotic-like bone structure). The distribution of osteosclerotic bone structure in juvenile plesiosaurs and osteoporotic-like structure in adults is similar to the one described in plesiosaurs from New Zealand, and could be related to adaptations to different aquatic environments: estuaries and shallow waters for juveniles, and open seas for adults. Both situations are in agreement with paleoenvironment reconstructions of the Allen and Jagüel Formations in Lago Pellegrini and Salinas de Trapalcó respectively. In the bones of the mosasaur from the López de Bertodano Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Isla Marambio, Antarctica), compact bone is in the inner part of the vertebra, while in the transverse process there is a high degree of osteoporotic tissue. Mauisaurus from the Salinas de Trapalcó area, Río Negro), display internal vacuities leading to a lightening of the bone (osteoporotic-like bone structure). The distribution of osteosclerotic bone structure in juvenile plesiosaurs and osteoporotic-like structure in adults is similar to the one described in plesiosaurs from New Zealand, and could be related to adaptations to different aquatic environments: estuaries and shallow waters for juveniles, and open seas for adults. Both situations are in agreement with paleoenvironment reconstructions of the Allen and Jagüel Formations in Lago Pellegrini and Salinas de Trapalcó respectively. In the bones of the mosasaur from the López de Bertodano Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Isla Marambio, Antarctica), compact bone is in the inner part of the vertebra, while in the transverse process there is a high degree of osteoporotic tissue.