Journal
PALAEONTOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT
Volume 86, Issue 4, Pages 441-449Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s12542-012-0140-6
Keywords
Sauropoda; Titanosauria; Upper Cretaceous; Air-sac system; Appendicular pneumaticity
Categories
Funding
- Conicet [PIP 6455]
- Agencia de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnica [PICT 357]
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Birds are unique among living tetrapods in possessing pneumaticity of the postcranial skeleton, with invasion of bone by the lung and air-sac system. Postcranial skeletal pneumaticity (PSP) has been reported in numerous extinct archosaurs including pterosaurs and non-avian dinosaurs. Here we report a case of extreme PSP in a group of small-bodied, armored sauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of South America. Based on osteological data, we report an extensive invasion of pneumatic diverticula along the vertebral column, reaching the distal portion of the tail. Also, we provide evidence of pneumaticity in both pectoral and pelvic girdles. Our study reveals that the extreme PSP in archosaurs is not restricted to pterosaurs and theropod dinosaurs.
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