Publication Cover
Historical Biology
An International Journal of Paleobiology
Volume 29, 2017 - Issue 3
819
Views
9
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Nuchal ligament reconstructions in diplodocid sauropods support horizontal neck feeding postures

Pages 308-319 | Received 23 Oct 2015, Accepted 22 Feb 2016, Published online: 24 Mar 2016

References

  • Alexander RM. 1984. Elastic energy stores in running vertebrates. Am Zool. 24:85–94.10.1093/icb/24.1.85
  • Alexander RM. 1985. Mechanics of posture and gait of some large dinosaurs. Zool J Linn Soc. 83:1–25.10.1111/j.1096-3642.1985.tb00871.x
  • Alexander R, Dimery NJ, Ker RF. 1985. Elastic structures in the back and their role in galloping in some mammals. J Zool. 207:467–482.
  • Alexander R, Maloiy GMO, Ker RF, Jayes AS, Warui CN. 1982. The role of tendon elasticity in the locomotion of the camel (Camelus dromedarius). J Zool. 198:293–313.
  • Allain R, Aquesbi N, Dejax J, Meyer C, Monbaron M, Montenat C, Richir P, Rochdy M, Russell D, Taquet P, Moha M. 2004. A basal sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of Morocco. Comptes Rendus Palevol. 3:199–208.10.1016/j.crpv.2004.03.001
  • Apesteguía S. 2004. Bonitasaura salgadoi gen. et sp. nov.: a beaked sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Naturwissenschaften 91:493–497.10.1007/s00114-004-0560-6
  • Apesteguía S. 2005. Thunder-lizards: the Sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Chapter 12, Evolution of the Hyposphene-Hypantrum Complex within Sauropoda. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press; p. 248.
  • Apesteguía S, Gallina PA, Haluza A. 2010. Not just a pretty face: anatomical peculiarities in the postcranium of Rebbachisaurids (Sauropoda: Diplodocoidea). Hist Biol. 22:165–174.10.1080/08912960903411580
  • Bailey JB. 1997. Neural spine elongation in dinosaurs: sailbacks or buffalo-backs? J Paleontol. 71:1124–1146.
  • Bakker RT. 1971. Dinosaur physiology and the origin of mammals. Evolution. 25:636–658.10.2307/2406945
  • Bakker RT. 1986. The dinosaur heresies. New York (NY): William Morrow and Company; p. 481.
  • Biewener AA. 1998. Muscle-tendon stresses and elastic energy storage during locomotion in the horse. Comp Biochem Physiol. 120:73–87.10.1016/S0305-0491(98)00024-8
  • Borsuk-Bialynicka M. 1977. A new camarasaurid sauropod Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii, gen. n., sp. n. from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. Acta Palaeontologia Polonica. 37:1–64.
  • Brown CM, Russell AP. 2012. Homology and architecture of the caudal basket of Pachycephalosauria (Dinosauria: Ornithischia): The First Occurrence of Myorhabdoi in Tetrapoda. PLoS ONE. 7:e30212. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030212
  • Campos DA, Kellner AWA, Bertini RJ, Santucci RM. 2005. On a titanosaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) vertebral column from the Bauru group, Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Arquivos do Museum Nacional. 63:565–593.
  • Carballido JL, Sander PM. 2014. Postcranial axial skeleton of Europasaurus holgeri (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Jurassic of Germany: implications for sauropod ontogeny and phylogenetic relationships of basal Macronaria. J Syst Paleontol. 12:1–53.
  • Christian A. 2002. Neck posture and overall body design in sauropods. Mitt Museum Naturkunde Berlin Geowissenschaftl Reihe. 5:271–281.
  • Christian A. 2010. Some sauropods raised their necks: evidence for high browsing in Euhelopus zdanskyi. Biol Lett. 6:823–825. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0359
  • Christian A, Dzemski G. 2007. Reconstruction of the cervical skeleton posture of Brachiosaurus brancai Janensch, 1914 by an analysis of the intervertebral stress along the neck and a comparison with the results of different approaches. Fossil Rec. 10:37–48.
  • Clauss M. 2011. Sauropod biology and the evolution of gigantism: what do we know? In: Klein N, Remes K, Gee CT, Sander PM, editors. Biology of the Sauropods: understanding the life of gaits. Bloomington: Indiana University Press; p. 1–7.
  • Cobley MJ, Rayfield EJ, Barrett PM. 2013. Inter-vertebral flexibility of the ostrich neck: implications for estimating sauropod neck flexibility. PLoS ONE. 8:e72187. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072187
  • Coombs WPJ. 1975. Sauropod habits and habitats. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol. 17:1–33.10.1016/0031-0182(75)90027-9
  • Cope ED. 1877. On the vertebrata of the Dakota Epoch of Colorado. Proc Am Philos Soc. 17:233–247.
  • Cope ED. 1878. A new species of Amphicoelias. Am Nat. 13:563–564.
  • Curry-Rogers K. 2009. The postcranial osteology of Rapetosaurus krausei (Sauropoda: Titanosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. J Vertebr Paleontol. 29:1046–1086.10.1671/039.029.0432
  • Dimery NJ, Alexander R. 1985. Elastic properties of the hind foot of the Donkey, Equus asinus. J Zool. 207:9–20.
  • Dimery NJ, Alexander R, Ker RF. 1986. Elastic extension of leg tendons in the locomotion of horses (Equus caballus). J Zool. 210:415–425.
  • Dodson P, Harris JD. 2001. Necks of sauropod dinosaurs: support of a nuchal ligament? J Morphol. 248:224.
  • Dong Z. 1997. A gigantic sauropod (Hudiesaurus sinojapanorum gen. et sp. nov.) from the Turpan Basin, China. In: Dong Z, editor. Sino-Japanese silk road dinosaur expedition. Beijing: China Ocean Press; p. 102–110.
  • Dong Z, Zhou S, Zhang Y. 1983. Dinosaurs from the Jurassic of Sichuan. Palaeontologica Sinica, New Series C. 162:1–136.
  • Dzemski G, Christian A. 2007. Flexibility along the neck of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) and consequences for the reconstruction of dinosaurs with extreme neck length. J Morphol. 268:701–714.10.1002/(ISSN)1097-4687
  • Fearon J. 2013. Scratch-digging in the Cretaceous basal ornithopod dinosaur Oryctodromeus cubicularis: evidence from morphometric analyses and reconstruction of the forelimb musculature. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University unpublished Master’s Thesis.
  • Gallina PA. 2011. Notes on the axial skeleton of the titanosaur Bonitasaura salgadoi (Dinosauria–Sauropoda). Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 83: 1–11.
  • Gilmore Charles W. 1936. Osteology of Apatosaurus, with special reference to specimens in the Carnegie Museum. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum. 11:175–300.
  • Grey H. 1858. Anatomy: descriptive and surgical. London: Parker & Son; p. 983.
  • Guggisberg CAW. 1972. Crocodiles: their natural history, folklore, and conservation. Harrisburg (PA): Stackpole; p. 203.
  • Habib M, Chiappe L. 2015. Elastic titans: functional analysis of sauropod necks reveals potential for elastic dampening and a novel blood flow assistance mechanism. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2015 Program and Abstract Volume.
  • Hatcher JB. 1901. Diplodocus (Marsh): its osteology, taxonomy, and probable habits, with a restoration of the skeleton. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum. 1:1–63.
  • Hay OP. 1908. On the habits and the pose of the sauropodous dinosaurs, especially of diplodocus. Am Nat. 42:672–681.10.1086/278992
  • Holland WJ. 1910. A review of some recent criticisms of the restorations of sauropod dinosaurs existing in the museums of the United States, with special reference to that of Diplodocus carnegiei in the Carnegie Museum. Am Nat. 44:259–283.
  • Horner JR, Woodward HN, Bailleul AM. 2016. Mineralized tissues in dinosaurs interpreted as having formed through metaplasia: a preliminary evaluation. Comptes Rendus Palevol. 15:176–196. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2015.01.006
  • Ibiricu LM, Casal GA, Lamanna MC, Martinez RD, Harris JD, Lacovara KJ. 2012. The southernmost records of Rebbachisauridae (Sauropoda: Diplodocoidea), from the early Late Cretaceous deposits in central Patagonia. Cretaceous Res. 34:220–232.10.1016/j.cretres.2011.11.003
  • Janensch W. 1929. Die Wirbelsaule der Gattung Dicraeosaurus [The spine of the genus Dicraeosaurus]. Palaeontographica. Suppl: 7 (I), 2:1–34.
  • Janensch W. 1938. Gestalt und Grösse von Brachiosaurus und anderen riesenwüchsigen Sauropoden [Shape and size of Brachiosaurus and other sauropods]. Biologe. 7:130–134.
  • Janensch W. 1950. Die Skelettrekonstruktion von Brachiosaurus brancai [The skeletal reconstruction of Brachiosaurus brancai]. Palaeontographica. Suppl: 7, 3:97–103.
  • Klein N, Christian A, Sander PM. 2012. Histology shows that elongated neck ribs in sauropod dinosaurs are ossified tendons. Biol Lett. 8:1032–1035.10.1098/rsbl.2012.0778
  • Kram R, Dawson TJ. 1998. Energetics and biomechanics of locomotion by red kangaroos (Macropus rufus). Comp Biochem Physiol. 120:41–49.10.1016/S0305-0491(98)00022-4
  • Ksepka DT, Norell MA. 2006. Erketu ellisoni, a long-necked sauropod from Bor Guvé (Dornogov Aimag, Mongolia). American Museum Novitates. 3508:1–16.10.1206/0003-0082(2006)3508[1:EEALSF]2.0.CO;2
  • Lull RS. 1919. The sauropod dinosaur barosaurus marsh: Connecticut academy of arts and sciences. 6:1–42.
  • Mannion PD. 2011. A of reassessment Mongolosaurus haplodon Gilmore, 1933, a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China. J Syst Paleontol. 10:355–378.10.1080/14772019.2010.527379
  • Manning PL, Payne D, Pennicott J, Barrett PM, Ennos RA. 2006. Dinosaur killer claws or climbing crampons? Biol Lett. 2:110–112.10.1098/rsbl.2005.0395
  • Mannion PD, Upchurch P, Mateus O, Barnes RB, Jones MEH. 2011. New information on the anatomy and systematic position of (Sauropoda: Diplodocoidea) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal, with a review of European diplodocoids. J Syst Paleontol. 10:1477–2019.
  • Martin J. 1987. Mobility and feeding of Cetiosaurus (Saurischia, Sauropoda) why the long neck? In: Currie PJ, Koster EH, editors. Fourth Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems. Short Papers. Drumheller: Boxtree Books; p. 154–159.
  • Martin V, Buffetaut E, Suteethorn V. 1994. A new genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Sao Khua formation (Late Jurassic or early Cretaceous) of northeastern Thailand. Comptes Rendus de l’ Academie des Science de Paris. 319:1085–1092.
  • Martin J, Martin-Rolland V, Frey E. 1998. Not cranes or masts, but beams: the biomechanics of sauropod necks. Oryctos. 1:113–120.
  • McIntosh J, Brett-Surman MK, Farlow JO. 1997. Sauropods. In: Farlow JO, Brett-Surman MK, editors. The complete dinosaur. Bloomington: Indiana University Press; p. 264–290.
  • Organ CL. 2006a. Thoracic epaxial muscles in living archosaurs and ornithopod dinosaurs. Anat Rec. 288:782–793.10.1002/(ISSN)1552-4892
  • Organ CL. 2006b. Biomechanics of ossified tendons in ornithopod dinosaurs. Paleobiology. 32:652–665.10.1666/05039.1
  • Osborn HF. 1899. A skeleton of Diplodocus. Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History. 1:191–214.
  • Osborn HF, Mook CC. 1921. Camarasaurus, Amphicoelias, and other sauropods of Cope. Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History. 3:247–387.
  • Osborn HF. 1931. Cope: master naturalist. Science. 73:225–227.
  • Ouyang H, Ye Y. 2002. The first mamenchisaurian skeleton with complete skull: mamenchisaurus youngi. Chengdu: Sichuan Science and Technology Press; 111 p.
  • Paul GS. 1997. Dinosaur models: the good, the bad, and using them to estimate the mass of dinosaurs. In: Wolberg DL, Stump E, Rosenberg GD, editors. DinoFest international: proceedings of a symposium sponsored by Arizona State University. Philadelphia, PA: Academy of Natural Sciences; p. 129–154.
  • Paul GS. 2000. The scientific American book of dinosaurs. New York (NY): St. Martin’s Press; p. 432.
  • Preuschoft H, Klein N. 2013. Torsion and bending in the neck and tail of sauropod dinosaurs and the function of cervical ribs: insights from functional morphology and biomechanics. PLoS ONE. 8:e78574.10.1371/journal.pone.0078574
  • Rauhut OWM, Remes K, Fechner R, Cladera G, Puerta P. 2005. Discovery of a short-necked sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period of Patagonia. Nature. 435:670–672.10.1038/nature03623
  • Riggs ES. 1904. Structure and relationships of opisthocoelian dinosaurs. Part II, the brachiosauridae. Field Columbian Museum. Geological Series 2. 6:229–247.
  • Royo-Torres R, Cobos A, Alcala L. 2006. A giant European dinosaur and a new sauropod clade. Science. 314:1925–1927.10.1126/science.1132885
  • Salgado L, Bonaparte JF. 1991. Unnuevo saurópodo Dicraeosauridae, Amargasaurus cazaui gen.et sp. nov. de la Formación La Amarga, Neocomiano de la Provincia del Neuquén, Argentina [A new sauropod dicraeosauridae, Amargasaurus gen.et sp. nov. the La Amarga Formation, Neocomian of the Province of Neuquen, Argentina]. Ameghiniana. 28:333–346.
  • Sander PM, Christian A, Clauss M, Fechner R, Gee CT, Griebeler E-M, Gunga HC, Hummel J, Mallison H, Perry SF, et al. 2011. Biology of the sauropod dinosaurs: the evolution of gigantism. Biol Rev. 86:117–155.10.1111/j.1469-185X.2010.00137.x
  • Schwarz D, Frey E, Meyer CA. 2007. Pneumaticity and soft-tissue reconstructions in the neck of diplodocid and dicraeosaurid sauropods. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 52:167–188.
  • Schwarz-Wings D. 2009. Reconstruction of the thoracic epaxial musculature of diplodocid and dicraeosaurid sauropods. J Vertebr Paleontol. 29:517–534.10.1671/039.029.0229
  • Schwarz-Wings D, Frey E. 2008. Is there an option for a pneumatic stabilization of sauropod necks? – an experimental and anatomical approach. Palaeontologia Electronica. 11:1–26.
  • Senter P. 2007. Necks for sex: sexual selection as an explanation for sauropod dinosaur neck elongation. J Zool. 271:45–53.10.1111/jzo.2007.271.issue-1
  • Sereno PC, Beck AL, Dutheil DB, Larsson HCE, Lyon GH, Moussa B, Sadleir RW, Sidor CA, Varricchio DJ, Wilson GP, Wilson JA. 1999. Cretaceous sauropods from the Sahara and the uneven rate of skeletal evolution among dinosaurs. Science. 286:1342–1347.10.1126/science.286.5443.1342
  • Sereno PC, Wilson JA, Witmer LM, Whitlock JA, Maga A, Ide O, Rowe TA. 2007. Structural extremes in a cretaceous dinosaur. PLoS ONE. 2:e1230.10.1371/journal.pone.0001230
  • Seymour RS. 2009. Raising the sauropod neck: it costs more to get less. Biol Lett. 5:317–319.10.1098/rsbl.2009.0096
  • Splinter WE. 1976. Center-pivot irrigation. Sci Am. 234:90–99.10.1038/scientificamerican0676-90
  • Stevens KA. 2013. The articulation of sauropod necks: methodology and mythology. PLoS ONE. 8:e78572.10.1371/journal.pone.0078572
  • Stevens KA, Parrish JM. 1999. Neck posture and feeding habits of two Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs. Science. 284:798–800.10.1126/science.284.5415.798
  • Stevens KA, Parrish JM. 2002. Mass-based biomechanical computations on sauropod dinosaurs. J Vertebr Paleontol. 22:111A.
  • Stevens KA, Parrish MJ. 2005a. Digital reconstructions of sauropod dinosaurs and implications for feeding. In: Curry Rogers, KA, Wilson, JA, editors. The sauropods – evolution and paleobiology. Berkeley, California: University of California Press; p. 178–200.
  • Stevens KA, Parrish JM. 2005b. Neck posture, dentition and feeding strategies in Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs. In: Tidwell V, Carpenter K, editors, Thunder-lizards: the sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Bloomington: Indiana University Press; p. 212–232.
  • Stewart JS. 1994. Ratites. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, editors. Avian medicine: principles and application. Lake Worth, Fla: Wingers Publ. Inc; p. 1284–1326.
  • Suteethorn S, Le Loeuff J, Buffetaut E, Suteethorn V, Talubmook C. 2009. A new skeleton of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from NE Thailand. In: Buffetaut E, Cuny G, Le Loeuff J, Suteethorn V, editors. Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic ecosystems in SE Asia. London: The Geological Society Special Publications 315; p. 189–215.
  • Tang F, Jin X, Kang X, Zhang G. 2001. Omeisaurus maoianus. A complete sauropod from Jingyan, Sichuan. Research Works of the Zhejiang Natural Museum. China Ocean Press, Beijing; 128 p.
  • Taylor MP. 2014. Quantifying the effect of intervertebral cartilage on neutral posture in the necks of sauropod dinosaurs. PeerJ. 2:e712. doi:10.7717/peerj.712
  • Taylor MP, Wedel MJ. 2012. Why sauropods had long necks; and why giraffes have short necks. PeerJ. 1:e36. doi:10.7717/peerj.36
  • Taylor MP, Wedel MJ. 2013. The effect of intervertebral cartilage on neutral posture and range of motion in the necks of sauropod dinosaurs. PLoS ONE. 8:e78214.10.1371/journal.pone.0078214
  • Taylor MP, Wedel MJ, Naish D. 2009. Head and neck posture in sauropod dinosaurs inferred from extant animals. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 54:213–220.10.4202/app.2009.0007
  • Thompson D’AW. 1942. On growth and form. 2nd ed. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press.
  • Tsuihiji T. 2004. The ligament system in the neck of Rhea americana and its implication for the bifurcated neural spines of sauropod dinosaurs. J Vertebr Paleontol. 24:165–172.10.1671/A1129-12
  • Tsuihiji T. 2005. Homologies of transversospinalis muscles in the anterior presacral region of Saurian (crown Diapsida). J Morphol. 263:151–178.10.1002/(ISSN)1097-4687
  • Tsuihiji T. 2007. Homologies of the longissimus, iliocostalis, and hypaxial muscles in the anterior presacral region of extant Diapsida. J Morphol. 268:986–1020.10.1002/(ISSN)1097-4687
  • Waddell JAL. 1916. Bridge Engineering. John Wily & Sons, Inc., New York, NY; 488 p.
  • Wedel MJ. 2003. The evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in sauropod dinosaurs. J Vertebr Paleontol. 23:344–357.10.1671/0272-4634(2003)023[0344:TEOVPI]2.0.CO;2
  • Wedel MJ, Cifelli RL, Sanders RK. 2000. Osteology, paleobiology, and relationships of the sauropod dinosaur Sauroposeidon. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 45:343–388.
  • Wedel MJ, Taylor MP. 2013. Neural spine bifurcation in sauropod dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation: ontogenetic and phylogenetic implications. Palarch’s J Vertebr Paleontol. 10:1–34.
  • Wilson J. 2002. Sauropod dinosaur phylogeny: critique and cladistic analysis. Zool J Linn Soc. 136:215–275.10.1046/j.1096-3642.2002.00029.x
  • Wilson JA. 1999. A nomenclature for vertebral laminae in sauropods and other saurischian dinosaurs. J Vertebr Paleontol. 19:639–653.10.1080/02724634.1999.10011178
  • Wilson JA, D’Emic MD, Ikejiri T, Moacdieh EM, Whitlock JA. 2011. A Nomenclature for Vertebral Fossae in Sauropods and Other Saurischian Dinosaurs. PLoS ONE. 6:e17114.10.1371/journal.pone.0017114
  • Wilson JA, Upchurch P. 2009. Redescription and reassessment of the phylogenetic affinities of Euhelopus zdanskyi (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the early cretaceous of China. J Syst Paleontol. 7:199–239.10.1017/S1477201908002691
  • Witmer LM. 1995. The extant phylogenetic bracket and the importance of reconstructing soft tissues in fossils. In: Thomason JJ, editor. Functional morphology in vertebrate paleontology. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press; p. 19–33.
  • Witmer LM. 2001. Nostril positions in dinosaurs and other vertebrates and its significance for nasal function. Science. 293:850–853.10.1126/science.1062681
  • Woodruff DC. 2014. The anatomy of the bifurcated neural spine and its occurrence within Tetrapoda. J Morphol. 275:1053–1065.10.1002/jmor.v275.9
  • Woodruff DC, Fowler DW. 2012. Ontogenetic influence on neural spine bifurcation in diplodocoidea (Dinosauria: Sauropoda): a critical phylogenetic character. J Morphol. doi:10.1002/jmor.20021
  • Xu X, Zhang X, Tan Q, Zhao X, Tan L. 2006. A new titanosaurian sauropod from Late Cretaceous of Nei Mongol, China. Acta Geologica Sinica. 80:20–26.
  • You HL, Li DQ. 2009. The first well-preserved Early Cretaceous brachiosaurid dinosaur in Asia. Proc R Soc B: Biol Sci. 276:4077–4082.10.1098/rspb.2009.1278
  • Young CC, Zhao X-J. 1972. Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis sp. nov. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Monographs. 8:1–30.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.