2023-07-02 18:25:43
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – How did dinosaurs transform from tiny creatures into mighty giants? Researchers at Campinas State University (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, believe they finally have the answer. In a new study, they show that the structures of the air sacs in the ancient dinosaur Macrocollum itaquii are the key to understanding the evolution of dinosaurs that still captivate our imaginations. Macrocollum itaquii, which roamed southern Brazil regarding 225 million years ago, is the oldest studied dinosaur with air sac structures. These bony cavities, also found in modern birds, played a vital role in helping dinosaurs take in more oxygen, regulate their body temperature, and survive the harsh conditions of their era. These adaptations are what allowed some dinosaurs, such as the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex and Brachiosaurus, to grow into massive creatures. “The air sacs made their bones less dense, allowing them to grow to be more than 30 meters in length,” says Tito Aureliano, lead author of the study. Media release. The research, which was conducted as part of Aureliano’s PhD thesis, sheds light on how the largest dinosaurs of their time evolved from a mere one meter to reaching astonishing lengths. The study was part of the broader project “Taphonomic Landscapes” funded by the Foundation for Research in São Paulo (FAPESP) to investigate the conservation and fossilization of organisms. Skeletal reconstruction of the sauropodomorph macrocollum (CAPPA/UFSM 0001b) showing vertebral elements along the vertebral column and putative reconstruction of the air sac systems involved. (a) Posterior pneumatic cervical vertebra and CT slice in b. (c) Pneumatically compressed anterior dorsal vertebra with segmental segmental segment in d, and details of the foramen foramen in e. (f) Details of the foramen in a reconstructed 3D model of the element. (g) Anterior cervical element (antenna). (h) The posterior dorsal vertebrae show no traces of PSP. The sacral chain (i), as well as the anterior (k) and mid-caudal chain (j) are pneumatic. a, g, h, j and k in left side view. c, e and f in right side view. I’m in the dorsal view. ABD, abdominal diverticulum. CER, cervical diverticulum; Lun and lung. foramen. The reconstruction was done by Rodrigo T. Müller. Scale bar for skeletal reconstruction = 500 mm; a – j = 20 mm. (Courtesy of FAPESP) Frisia Riccardi Branco, professor at UNICAMP and lead researcher on the project, highlighted the importance of M. itaquii in the context of dinosaur evolution. “This dinosaur walked the earth during the Triassic period and paved the way for the wonderful diversity that we see in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The presence of air sacs gave dinosaurs an evolutionary advantage over other groups, allowing them to diversify rapidly,” explains Riccardi Branco. The latest discovery challenges previous assumptions regarding the evolution of air sacs. The team found internal air chambers in M. itaquii, a new type of tissue with a mesomorphic texture that they propose to call “protocameras”. This finding contradicts the widely accepted hypothesis that air sacs evolved from the structures of cams to those of camels. The researchers also discovered that the air sacs were found in the cervical and dorsal regions of the dinosaur’s spine, contrary to previous theories that they only appeared in the abdominal region. “It seems that evolution experimented with different shapes until it reached the final system, in which the air sacs extended from the cervical region to the tail. It was not a linear process,” Aureliano explains. By revealing the role of air sacs in dinosaur evolution, this study provides invaluable insights into the extraordinary world of these prehistoric creatures. discovery m. itaquii’s unique anatomical features revolutionize our understanding of dinosaur evolution, paving the way for more exciting discoveries regarding their ancient existence. The results have been published in the journal Anatomical Record. You may also be interested in: “Infuriatingly Humble Internet Hobbyist. Proud hooligans. web lover. businessman. Award-winning music attorney.”
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