Morphological evolution of Ceratosauria and Tyrannosauroidea (Dinosauria: Theropoda)

• Grant number: 12/09370-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Grantee: Rafael Delcourt de Seixas Ferreira
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently the most studied group of Theropoda belongs to the clade Tyrannosauroidea that was originated from Late Jurassic, was the principal group of predators of North hemisphere during the Cretaceous and is composed by two families: Proceratosauridae and Tyrannosauridae. The first family is represented by reduced size animals and elaborate cranial crests, while the second is represented by bigger animals, with big skulls and reduced fore limbs. Other diverse group of Theropoda is the Ceratosauria that according the most recents analysis, this group originated from Late Jurassic and the more derivates forms was the principal predators of South hemisphere. Ceratosauria is composed by basal shapes + Abelisauroidea. Basal Ceratosauria were smaller than the derivates shapes and had longer fore limbs. The derivates shapes show highs and shorts skulls and reduced forelimbs. Since both clade (Tyrannosauroidea and Ceratosauria) became the top predators of their hemispheres this project aims to assess and describe, quantitatively, the morphological similarities and differences in their different morpho-functional complex using morphometric techniques, reconstruction of ancestral characters and character evolution along the phylogeny in order to investigate whether there is coordinated evolution (correlated) of the various complex morphological and if this development is similar between groups. The data to be analyzed will be obtained through digital photographs and a 3D scanner. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GRILLO, ORLANDO NELSON; DELCOURT, RAFAEL. Allometry and body length of abelisauroid theropods: Pycnonemosaurus nevesi is the new king. CRETACEOUS RESEARCH, v. 69, p. 71-89, JAN 2017. (12/09370-2)

DELCOURT, RAFAEL. Ceratosaur palaeobiology: new insights on evolution and ecology of the southern rulers. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 8, JUN 27 2018. (12/09370-2)

RAFAEL DELCOURT. A SUBADULT MAXILLA OF A TYRANNOSAURIDAE FROM THE TWO MEDICINE FORMATION, MONTANA, UNITED STATES. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo), v. 57, n. 9, p. 113-118, 2017-00-00. (12/09370-2)

DELCOURT, RAFAEL. Revised morphology of Pycnonemosaurus nevesi Kellner & Campos, 2002 (Theropoda: Abelisauridae) and its phylogenetic relationships. Zootaxa, v. 4276, n. 1, p. 1-45, JUN 9 2017. (12/09370-2)

DELCOURT, RAFAEL. Ceratosaur palaeobiology: new insights on evolution and ecology of the southern rulers (vol 8, 9730, 2018). SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 9, p. 2-pg., 2019-07-05. (12/09370-2)

DELCOURT, RAFAEL; GRILLO, ORLANDO NELSON. Reassessment of a fragmentary maxilla attributed to Carcharodontosauridae from Presidente Prudente Formation, Brazil. CRETACEOUS RESEARCH, v. 84, p. 515-524, APR 2018. (12/09370-2)

DELCOURT, RAFAEL; GRILLO, ORLANDO NELSON. Tyrannosauroids from the Southern Hemisphere: Implications for biogeography, evolution, and taxonomy. PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY, v. 511, p. 379-387, DEC 15 2018. (12/09370-2)