Dataset Information

High diversity of the Ganzhou Oviraptorid Fauna increased by a new "cassowary-like" crested species.

ABSTRACT: A new oviraptorid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou, bringing oviraptrotid diversity of this region to seven taxa, is described. It is characterized by a distinct cassowary-like crest on the skull, no pleurocoels on the centra from the second through fourth cervical vertebrae, a neck twice as long as the dorsal vertebral column and slightly longer than the forelimb (including the manus). Phylogenetic analysis recovers the new oviraptorid taxon, Corythoraptor jacobsi, as closely related to Huanansaurus from Ganzhou. Osteochronology suggests that the type specimen of Corythoraptor had not reached stationary growth stage but died while decreasing growth rates. The histology implies that it would correspond to an immature individual approximately eight years old. We hypothesize, based on the inner structure compared to that in modern cassowaries, that the prominent casque of Corythoraptor was a multifunction-structure utilized in display, communication and probably expression of the fitness during mating seasons.

SUBMITTER: Lu J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5532250 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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High diversity of the Ganzhou Oviraptorid Fauna increased by a new "cassowary-like" crested species.

Lü Junchang J Li Guoqing G Kundrát Martin M Lee Yuong-Nam YN Sun Zhenyuan Z Kobayashi Yoshitsugu Y Shen Caizhi C Teng Fangfang F Liu Hanfeng H

Scientific reports 20170727 1

A new oviraptorid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou, bringing oviraptrotid diversity of this region to seven taxa, is described. It is characterized by a distinct cassowary-like crest on the skull, no pleurocoels on the centra from the second through fourth cervical vertebrae, a neck twice as long as the dorsal vertebral column and slightly longer than the forelimb (including the manus). Phylogenetic analysis recovers the new oviraptorid taxon, Corythoraptor jacobsi, as closely relate ...[more]

PMID: 28751667

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Project description:Many highly recognizable species lack genetic data important for conservation due to neglect over their hyperabundance. This likely applies to the Sulfur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), one of the world's most iconic parrots. The species is native to Australia, New Guinea, and some surrounding Melanesian islands of the latter. Four subspecies are currently recognised based on morphology. Australian subspecies and populations are abundant, but several factors threaten those in New Guinea and Melanesia. Genetic data from natural populations are scarce-information that is vital to identifying evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) important for modern conservation planning. We used whole-genome resequencing to investigate patterns of differentiation, evolutionary affinities, and demographic history across C. galerita's distribution range to assess whether currently recognised subspecies represent ESUs. We complement this with an assessment of bioacoustic variation across the species' distribution landscape. Our results point to C. galerita sensu lato (s.l.) comprising two species. We restrict C. galerita sensu stricto (s.s.) to populations in Australia and the Trans-Fly ecodomain of southern New Guinea. The second species, recognised here as Cacatua triton, likely occurs over much of the rest of New Guinea. Restricting further discussion of intraspecific diversity in C. triton, we show that within C. galerita s.s. two ESUs exist, which align to Cacatua galerita galerita in eastern Australia and southern New Guinea and Cacatua galerita fitzroyi in northern and north-western Australia. We suggest that the evolution of these species and ESUs are linked to Middle and Late Pleistocene glacial cycles and their effects on sea level and preferential habitats. We argue that conservation assessments need updating, protection of preferential forest and woodland habitats are important and reintroductions require careful management to avoid possible negative hybridization effects of non-complementary lineages.

Dataset Information

High diversity of the Ganzhou Oviraptorid Fauna increased by a new "cassowary-like" crested species.

Publications

High diversity of the Ganzhou Oviraptorid Fauna increased by a new "cassowary-like" crested species.

Similar Datasets

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