Gerrothorax: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Extinct genus of amphibians}} |
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{{Automatic taxobox |
{{Automatic taxobox |
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| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Ladinian|Rhaetian|[[Ladinian]]–[[Rhaetian]] (Middle–Late [[Triassic]])}} |
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Ladinian|Rhaetian|[[Ladinian]]–[[Rhaetian]] (Middle–Late [[Triassic]])}} |
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| taxon = Gerrothorax |
| taxon = Gerrothorax |
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| authority = Nilsson, [[1934 in paleontology|1934]] |
| authority = Nilsson, [[1934 in paleontology|1934]] |
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| type_species = {{extinct}}''''' |
| type_species = {{extinct}}'''''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus''''' |
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| type_species_authority = Nilsson, 1934 |
| type_species_authority = Nilsson, 1934 |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Gerrothorax''''' ("wicker chest") is an extinct genus of [[temnospondyl]] [[amphibian]] from the [[Triassic]] period of [[Greenland]], [[Germany]], [[Sweden]], and possibly [[Thailand]]. It is known from a single species, ''G. pulcherrimus'', although several other species such as ''G. pustuloglomeratus'' have been named in the past. |
'''''Gerrothorax''''' ("wicker chest") is an extinct genus of [[temnospondyl]] [[amphibian]] from the [[Triassic]] period of [[Greenland]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], and possibly [[Thailand]]. It is known from a single species, ''G. pulcherrimus'', although several other species such as ''G. pustuloglomeratus'' have been named in the past. |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:Gerrothorax22DB.jpg|thumb|left|Life restoration of ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'']] |
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''Gerrothorax'' was about {{convert|1|m|ft}} long, and had a remarkably flattened body. It probably hid under sand or mud on river and lake bottoms, scanning for prey with its large, upward-facing eyes. ''Gerrothorax'' had an unusually shaped skull with angular protrusions on the sides. This looked vaguely similar to the skull of the earlier, unrelated, amphibian ''[[Diplocaulus]]'', but was not so developed.<ref name=EoDP>{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 53|isbn= 978-1-84028-152-1}}</ref> |
''Gerrothorax'' was about {{convert|1|m|ft}} long, and had a remarkably flattened body. It probably hid under sand or mud on river and lake bottoms, and in brackish waters,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=tJcwEAAAQBAJ&dq=Gerrothorax+brackish+environment&pg=PT730 Vertebrate Skeletal Histology and Paleohistology]</ref> scanning for prey with its large, upward-facing eyes. ''Gerrothorax'' had an unusually shaped skull with angular protrusions on the sides. This looked vaguely similar to the skull of the earlier, unrelated, amphibian ''[[Diplocaulus]]'', but was not so developed.<ref name=EoDP>{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 53|isbn= 978-1-84028-152-1}}</ref> |
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Some ''Gerrothorax'' fossils preserved [[wiktionary:hypobranchial|hypobranchials]] and [https://www.fishbase.de/glossary/Glossary.php?q=ceratobranchial ceratobranchials] (bony [[Branchial arch|gill arches]]) near the neck. This shows that ''Gerrothorax'' was [[pedomorphosis|pedomorphic]], retaining its [[larva]]l [[gill]]s as an adult. When originally described in 1946, these bones were considered to correspond to feather-like external gills similar to those of modern-day neotenic [[salamander]]s, such as the [[mudpuppy]], the [[axolotl]], and the [[olm]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nilsson|first=Tage|date=13 February 1946|title=A new find of Gerrothorax rhaeticus Nilsson, a plagiosaurid from the Rhaetic of Scania|url=http://paleoarchive.com/literature/Nilsson1946-NewGerrothoraxRhaeticusScania.pdf|journal=Lunds Universitets årsskrift|volume=42|issue=10}}</ref><ref name="EoDP" /> |
Some ''Gerrothorax'' fossils preserved [[wiktionary:hypobranchial|hypobranchials]] and [https://www.fishbase.de/glossary/Glossary.php?q=ceratobranchial ceratobranchials] (bony [[Branchial arch|gill arches]]) near the neck. This shows that ''Gerrothorax'' was [[pedomorphosis|pedomorphic]], retaining its [[larva]]l [[gill]]s as an adult. When originally described in 1946, these bones were considered to correspond to feather-like external gills similar to those of modern-day neotenic [[salamander]]s, such as the [[mudpuppy]], the [[axolotl]], and the [[olm]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nilsson|first=Tage|date=13 February 1946|title=A new find of Gerrothorax rhaeticus Nilsson, a plagiosaurid from the Rhaetic of Scania|url=http://paleoarchive.com/literature/Nilsson1946-NewGerrothoraxRhaeticusScania.pdf|journal=Lunds Universitets årsskrift|volume=42|issue=10}}</ref><ref name="EoDP" /> |
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However, a 2011 paper found that it was more likely that plagiosaurids such as ''Gerrothorax'' had internal gills, like those of fish, rather than salamander-like external gills. The authors of that study noted that plagiosaurids and other ancient amphibians which retained gills as adults had grooves on their ceratobranchials. Grooved ceratobranchials are present in both modern and ancient fish, but unknown in modern amphibians. Therefore, they were indicative of internal gills. This would have also been advantageous for survival in large animals, as internal gills would have been protected by a large skin fold and were less likely to have been damaged by the environment.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal| |
However, a 2011 paper found that it was more likely that plagiosaurids such as ''Gerrothorax'' had internal gills, like those of fish, rather than salamander-like external gills. The authors of that study noted that plagiosaurids and other ancient amphibians which retained gills as adults had grooves on their ceratobranchials. Grooved ceratobranchials are present in both modern and ancient fish, but unknown in modern amphibians. Therefore, they were indicative of internal gills. This would have also been advantageous for survival in large animals, as internal gills would have been protected by a large skin fold and were less likely to have been damaged by the environment.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Schoch|first1=Rainer R.|last2=Witzmann|first2=Florian|date=2010-06-18|title=Bystrow's Paradox – gills, fossils, and the fish-to-tetrapod transition |journal=Acta Zoologica |language=en|volume=92|issue=3|pages=251–265|doi=10.1111/j.1463-6395.2010.00456.x }}</ref> |
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A 2008 study showed that ''Gerrothorax'' lifted its head rather than dropping its jaw when catching prey, which has been compared to how a toilet seat opens.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Farish A. Jenkins, Jr. |author2=Neil H. Shubin |author3=Stephen M. Gatesy |author4=Anne Warren |year=2008 |title=''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding |journal=[[Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology]] |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=935–950 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634-28.4.935}}</ref> In 2011 the skull of ''Gerrothorax'' was scanned using [[microtomography]], revealing that the [[braincase]] and [[palatoquadrate]] regions are highly ossified.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=F. Witzmann |author2=R. R. Schoch |author3=A. Hilger |author4=N. Kardjilov |year=2011 |title=Braincase, palatoquadrate and ear region of the plagiosaurid ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' from the Middle Triassic of Germany |journal=[[Palaeontology (journal)|Palaeontology]] |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=35–50 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01116.x}}</ref> A 2013 study argued that ''Gerrothorax'' consumed prey using suction feeding. ''Gerrothorax'' had strong muscles capable of both raising the cranium and lowering the jaw rapidly. The robust internal gill apparatus would have expelled water through the gills during this motion, creating intense pressure in the throat that would suck in small prey items. The gill arches were also covered in small denticles, prohibiting any prey from escaping once devoured. Although suction feeding is common in fish and modern larval amphibians, ''Gerrothorax'' differs from these animals by its lack of [[cranial kinesis]], meaning that its cranial bones could not flex against each other to envelop prey.<ref>{{Cite journal| |
A 2008 study showed that ''Gerrothorax'' lifted its head rather than dropping its jaw when catching prey, which has been compared to how a [[toilet seat]] opens.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Farish A. Jenkins, Jr. |author2=Neil H. Shubin |author3=Stephen M. Gatesy |author4=Anne Warren |year=2008 |title=''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding |journal=[[Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology]] |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=935–950 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634-28.4.935|s2cid=86523094 }}</ref> In 2011 the skull of ''Gerrothorax'' was scanned using [[microtomography]], revealing that the [[braincase]] and [[palatoquadrate]] regions are highly ossified.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=F. Witzmann |author2=R. R. Schoch |author3=A. Hilger |author4=N. Kardjilov |year=2011 |title=Braincase, palatoquadrate and ear region of the plagiosaurid ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' from the Middle Triassic of Germany |journal=[[Palaeontology (journal)|Palaeontology]] |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=35–50 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01116.x|doi-access=free }}</ref> A 2013 study argued that ''Gerrothorax'' consumed prey using suction feeding. ''Gerrothorax'' had strong muscles capable of both raising the cranium and lowering the jaw rapidly. The robust internal gill apparatus would have expelled water through the gills during this motion, creating intense pressure in the throat that would suck in small prey items. The gill arches were also covered in small denticles, prohibiting any prey from escaping once devoured. Although suction feeding is common in fish and modern larval amphibians, ''Gerrothorax'' differs from these animals by its lack of [[cranial kinesis]], meaning that its cranial bones could not flex against each other to envelop prey.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Witzmann|first1=Florian|last2=Schoch|first2=Rainer R.|date=27 December 2012|title=Reconstruction of cranial and hyobranchial muscles in the triassic temnospondyl ''Gerrothorax'' provides evidence for akinetic suction feeding|journal=Journal of Morphology|language=en|volume=274|issue=5|pages=525–542|doi=10.1002/jmor.20113|pmid=23280767 |s2cid=25217352 |issn=0362-2525}}</ref> |
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The fossil record of ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' extends 35 million years from the [[Ladinian]] stage of the [[Middle Triassic]] to the [[Rhaetian]] stage of the [[Late Triassic]]. Throughout this time span, specimens of the species show few morphologic differences, making ''G. pulcherrimus'' an extreme example of [[Punctuated equilibrium|evolutionary stasis]]. ''G. pulcherrimus'' may have remained unchanged for so long because it could tolerate a wide range of ecological conditions. Although it always needed to live in an aquatic habitat, ''G. pulcherrimus'' may have been able to live in a variety of different water bodies with a wide range of salinity.<ref name="SW11">{{cite journal|author1=R. R. Schoch|author2=F. Witzmann|year=2011|title=Cranial morphology of the plagiosaurid ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' as an extreme example of evolutionary stasis|journal=[[Lethaia]]|volume=45|issue=3|pages=371–385|doi=10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00290.x}}</ref> |
The fossil record of ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' extends 35 million years from the [[Ladinian]] stage of the [[Middle Triassic]] to the [[Rhaetian]] stage of the [[Late Triassic]]. Throughout this time span, specimens of the species show few morphologic differences, making ''G. pulcherrimus'' an extreme example of [[Punctuated equilibrium|evolutionary stasis]]. ''G. pulcherrimus'' may have remained unchanged for so long because it could tolerate a wide range of ecological conditions. Although it always needed to live in an aquatic habitat, ''G. pulcherrimus'' may have been able to live in a variety of different water bodies with a wide range of salinity.<ref name="SW11">{{cite journal|author1=R. R. Schoch|author2=F. Witzmann|year=2011|title=Cranial morphology of the plagiosaurid ''Gerrothorax pulcherrimus'' as an extreme example of evolutionary stasis|journal=[[Lethaia]]|volume=45|issue=3|pages=371–385|doi=10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00290.x}}</ref> |
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[[Category:Triassic temnospondyls of Europe]] |
[[Category:Triassic temnospondyls of Europe]] |
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[[Category:Late Triassic amphibians of Europe]] |
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[[Category:Middle Triassic amphibians of Europe]] |
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[[Category:Triassic temnospondyls of Asia]] |
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[[Category:Late Triassic amphibians of Asia]] |
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[[Category:Middle Triassic amphibians of Asia]] |
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[[Category:Triassic temnospondyls of North America]] |
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[[Category:Late Triassic amphibians of North America]] |
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[[Category:Middle Triassic amphibians of North America]] |
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[[Category:Plagiosauridae]] |
[[Category:Plagiosauridae]] |
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[[Category:Ladinian genus first appearances]] |
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[[Category:Rhaetian genus extinctions]] |
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[[Category:Norian genera]] |
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[[Category:Carnian genera]] |
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[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1934]] |
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1934]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:18, 16 May 2024
| Gerrothorax Temporal range:
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| Fossil of Gerrothorax in the Naturmuseum Senckenberg | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Temnospondyli |
| Suborder: | †Stereospondyli |
| Family: | †Plagiosauridae |
| Genus: | †Gerrothorax Nilsson, 1934 |
| Type species | |
| †Gerrothorax pulcherrimus Nilsson, 1934
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Gerrothorax ("wicker chest") is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian from the Triassic period of Greenland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and possibly Thailand. It is known from a single species, G. pulcherrimus, although several other species such as G. pustuloglomeratus have been named in the past.
Gerrothorax was about 1 metre (3.3 ft) long, and had a remarkably flattened body. It probably hid under sand or mud on river and lake bottoms, and in brackish waters,[1] scanning for prey with its large, upward-facing eyes. Gerrothorax had an unusually shaped skull with angular protrusions on the sides. This looked vaguely similar to the skull of the earlier, unrelated, amphibian Diplocaulus, but was not so developed.[2]
Some Gerrothorax fossils preserved hypobranchials and ceratobranchials (bony gill arches) near the neck. This shows that Gerrothorax was pedomorphic, retaining its larval gills as an adult. When originally described in 1946, these bones were considered to correspond to feather-like external gills similar to those of modern-day neotenic salamanders, such as the mudpuppy, the axolotl, and the olm.[3][2]
However, a 2011 paper found that it was more likely that plagiosaurids such as Gerrothorax had internal gills, like those of fish, rather than salamander-like external gills. The authors of that study noted that plagiosaurids and other ancient amphibians which retained gills as adults had grooves on their ceratobranchials. Grooved ceratobranchials are present in both modern and ancient fish, but unknown in modern amphibians. Therefore, they were indicative of internal gills. This would have also been advantageous for survival in large animals, as internal gills would have been protected by a large skin fold and were less likely to have been damaged by the environment.[4]
A 2008 study showed that Gerrothorax lifted its head rather than dropping its jaw when catching prey, which has been compared to how a toilet seat opens.[5] In 2011 the skull of Gerrothorax was scanned using microtomography, revealing that the braincase and palatoquadrate regions are highly ossified.[6] A 2013 study argued that Gerrothorax consumed prey using suction feeding. Gerrothorax had strong muscles capable of both raising the cranium and lowering the jaw rapidly. The robust internal gill apparatus would have expelled water through the gills during this motion, creating intense pressure in the throat that would suck in small prey items. The gill arches were also covered in small denticles, prohibiting any prey from escaping once devoured. Although suction feeding is common in fish and modern larval amphibians, Gerrothorax differs from these animals by its lack of cranial kinesis, meaning that its cranial bones could not flex against each other to envelop prey.[7]
The fossil record of Gerrothorax pulcherrimus extends 35 million years from the Ladinian stage of the Middle Triassic to the Rhaetian stage of the Late Triassic. Throughout this time span, specimens of the species show few morphologic differences, making G. pulcherrimus an extreme example of evolutionary stasis. G. pulcherrimus may have remained unchanged for so long because it could tolerate a wide range of ecological conditions. Although it always needed to live in an aquatic habitat, G. pulcherrimus may have been able to live in a variety of different water bodies with a wide range of salinity.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Vertebrate Skeletal Histology and Paleohistology
- ^ a b Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-84028-152-1.
- ^ Nilsson, Tage (13 February 1946). "A new find of Gerrothorax rhaeticus Nilsson, a plagiosaurid from the Rhaetic of Scania" (PDF). Lunds Universitets årsskrift. 42 (10).
- ^ Schoch, Rainer R.; Witzmann, Florian (2010-06-18). "Bystrow's Paradox – gills, fossils, and the fish-to-tetrapod transition". Acta Zoologica. 92 (3): 251–265. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2010.00456.x.
- ^ Farish A. Jenkins, Jr.; Neil H. Shubin; Stephen M. Gatesy; Anne Warren (2008). "Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28 (4): 935–950. doi:10.1671/0272-4634-28.4.935. S2CID 86523094.
- ^ F. Witzmann; R. R. Schoch; A. Hilger; N. Kardjilov (2011). "Braincase, palatoquadrate and ear region of the plagiosaurid Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Middle Triassic of Germany". Palaeontology. 55 (1): 35–50. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01116.x.
- ^ Witzmann, Florian; Schoch, Rainer R. (27 December 2012). "Reconstruction of cranial and hyobranchial muscles in the triassic temnospondyl Gerrothorax provides evidence for akinetic suction feeding". Journal of Morphology. 274 (5): 525–542. doi:10.1002/jmor.20113. ISSN 0362-2525. PMID 23280767. S2CID 25217352.
- ^ R. R. Schoch; F. Witzmann (2011). "Cranial morphology of the plagiosaurid Gerrothorax pulcherrimus as an extreme example of evolutionary stasis". Lethaia. 45 (3): 371–385. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00290.x.
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Categories:
- Triassic temnospondyls of Europe
- Late Triassic amphibians of Europe
- Middle Triassic amphibians of Europe
- Triassic temnospondyls of Asia
- Late Triassic amphibians of Asia
- Middle Triassic amphibians of Asia
- Triassic temnospondyls of North America
- Late Triassic amphibians of North America
- Middle Triassic amphibians of North America
- Plagiosauridae
- Ladinian genus first appearances
- Rhaetian genus extinctions
- Norian genera
- Carnian genera
- Fossil taxa described in 1934