Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/14851
Title: | Standardized Terminology and Potential Taxonomic Utility for Hadrosaurid Skin Impressions: A Case Study for 'Saurolophus' from Canada and Mongolia | Contributor(s): | Bell, Phil (author) | Publication Date: | 2012 | Open Access: | Yes | DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0031295 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/14851 | Abstract: | The characterization of palaeospecies typically relies on hard-tissue anatomy, such as bones or teeth that is more readily fossilized than soft parts. Among dinosaurs, skin impressions are commonly associated with partial and complete hadrosaurid skeletons, and consist of non-imbricating tubercles or scales. Skin impressions from various parts of the body of two species of the hadrosaurine 'Saurolophus' ('S. angustirostris' from Mongolia and 'S. osborni' from Canada) are described from multiple specimens. These species, recently validated on osteological grounds, can be differentiated based solely on soft-tissue anatomy, namely scale shape and pattern. This study demonstrates for the first time the applicability of soft-tissue (i.e., scale impressions) as a means to differentiate species within the Dinosauria. Differences are most spectacular in the tail, where 'S. angustirostris' is differentiated by the presence of vertical bands of morphologically distinct scales, a grid-like arrangement of circular feature-scales, and tabular scales along the dorsal midline. Preliminary results indicate scale architecture remained consistent throughout ontogeny in S. angustirostris. These results support previous assertions that hadrosaurid scale architecture has a positive phylogenetic signal. As such, future taxonomic descriptions should include, where possible, the standardized description of skin impressions including the position and orientation of these impressions on the body. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | PLoS One, 7(2), p. 1-12 | Publisher: | Public Library of Science | Place of Publication: | United States of America | ISSN: | 1932-6203 | Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 060301 Animal Systematics and Taxonomy 040308 Palaeontology (incl Palynology) |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 310401 Animal systematics and taxonomy 370506 Palaeontology (incl. palynology) |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 970104 Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 280107 Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article School of Environmental and Rural Science |
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