The Crocodyliformes OTIC region, evolutive and PALEOEBIOLOGICAL implications

• Grant number: 13/11358-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal researcher: Denis Otavio Vieira de Andrade
• Grantee: Felipe Chinaglia Montefeltro
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The goal of this post-doc is to analyze the otic region of extant and fossils crocodyliforms in paleoecological and evolutive spectrums. Five work fronts will be explored to achieve such goal: the study of extant crocodiliforms otic region, the study of fossil crocodiliforms otic region, the crocodyliform paleoecology, the detailed study of three particular fossil taxa, and the crocodyliform phylogeny. Both soft and hard parts of the otic region of extant crocodyliforms are underexplored. In addition, its basic components are also present since the initial radiation, even though extremely modified in some of the groups. Unique otic region morphology is recognized in Metriorhynchidae and Baurusuchidae, which occupied the fully aquatic and fully terrestrial niches respectively. The detailed study of a new Colombian metriorhynchid, the baurusuchid Pissarrachampsa sera, and a new pleistocenic Caiman allows a comprehensive study of fully terrestrial, fully aquatic and semiaquatic crocodyliform taxa in evolutive perspective. This project foments an area of biology with scarce knowledge, given the eventual input of new data acquired with a combination of techniques, including CT scanning. The results of the project will be disseminated in specialized journals. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(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)

MARSOLA, JULIO C. DE A.; BATEZELLI, ALESSANDRO; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; GRELLET-TINNER, GERALD; LANGER, MAX C. Palaeoenvironmental characterization of a crocodilian nesting site from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil and the evolution of crocodyliform nesting strategies. PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY, v. 457, p. 221-232, SEP 1 2016. Web of Science Citations: 3.

MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; ANDRADE, DENIS V.; LARSSON, HANS C. E. The evolution of the meatal chamber in crocodyliforms. Journal of Anatomy, v. 228, n. 5, p. 838-863, MAY 2016. Web of Science Citations: 14.

BRONZATI, MARIO; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; LANGER, MAX C. Diversification events and the effects of mass extinctions on Crocodyliformes evolutionary history. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE, v. 2, n. 5 MAY 2015. Web of Science Citations: 21.

MARSOLA, JULIO C. DE A.; GRELLET-TINNER, GERALD; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; LANGER, MAX C. The first Pan-Podocnemididae turtle egg from the Presidente Prudente Formation (Late Cretaceous, Bauru Group), Brazil. Zootaxa, v. 3872, n. 2, p. 187-194, OCT 8 2014. Web of Science Citations: 2.

MARSOLA, JULIO CESAR DE A.; GRELLET-TINNER, GERALD; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; SAYAO, JULIANA M.; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ; LANGER, MAX C. The first fossil avian egg from Brazil. ALCHERINGA, v. 38, n. 4, p. 563-567, OCT 2 2014. Web of Science Citations: 5.

GODOY, PEDRO L.; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; NORELL, MARK A.; LANGER, MAX C. An Additional Baurusuchid from the Cretaceous of Brazil with Evidence of Interspecific Predation among Crocodyliformes. PLoS One, v. 9, n. 5 MAY 8 2014. Web of Science Citations: 23.