Sensory Evolution and Ecology o Early Turtles Revealed by Digital Endocranial Reconstructions

Autor(es)

Lautenschlager, Stephan ^[1] ; Ferreira, Gabriel S. ^{[2, 3, 4]} ; Werneburg, Ingmar ^{[2, 3, 5]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Birmingham, Sch Geog Earth & Environm Sci, Birmingham, W Midlands - England

^[2] Eberhard Karls Univ Tubingen, Senckenberg Ctr Human Evolut & Palaeoenvironm HEP, Tubingen - Germany

^[3] Eberhard Karls Univ Tubingen, Fachbereich Geowissensch, Tubingen - Germany

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Philosophy Sci & Letters Ribeirao Preto, Biol Dept, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[5] Leibniz Inst Evolut & Biodiversitatsforsch, Museum Nat Kunde, Berlin - Germany

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION; v. 6, FEB 5 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 7

Resumo

In the past few years, new fossil finds and novel methodological approaches have prompted intensive discussions about the phylogenetic affinities of turtles and rekindled the debate on their ecological origin, with very distinct scenarios, such as fossoriality and aquatic habitat occupation, proposed for the earliest stem-turtles. While research has focused largely on the origin of the anapsid skull and unique postcranial anatomy, little is known about the endocranial anatomy of turtles. Here, we provide 3D digital reconstructions and comparative descriptions of the brain, nasal cavity, neurovascular structures and endosseous labyrinth of Proganochelys quenstedti, one of the earliest stem-turtles, as well as other turtle taxa. Our results demonstrate that P. quenstedti retained a simple tube-like brain morphology with poorly differentiated regions and mediocre hearing and vision, but a well-developed olfactory sense. Endocast shape analysis indicates that an increase in size and regionalization of the brain took place in the course of turtle evolution, achieving an endocast diversity comparable to other amniote groups. Based on the new evidence presented herein, we further conclude that P quenstedti was a highly terrestrial, but most likely not fossorial, taxon. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/03934-2 - Evolução e desenvolvimento da câmara adutora da mandíbula em tartarugas
• Beneficiário: Gabriel de Souza Ferreira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Doutorado