Journal
PEERJ
Volume 11, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
PEERJ INC
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14898
Keywords
Histology; Permian; Computed tomography; Varanopid; Postcranial anatomy; Age determination
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The discovery of articulated pelvic region and additional isolated material of Varanops brevirostris supports the existence of this large varanopid species at the Richards Spur locality. The presence of distinct anatomical features, such as blade-like neural spines and excavated pubis, confirms the autapomorphies previously suggested for this species. Histological analysis and neutron computed tomography indicate that the articulated specimen likely belonged to an adult individual.
An articulated pelvic region and additional isolated material of Varanops brevirostris, which are indistinguishable from those of the generotype from the Cacops bonebed, demonstrate the presence of this large varanopid at the Richards Spur locality. The articulated specimen includes lumbar, sacral, and anterior caudal vertebrae, partial pelvis, femur, and proximal part of tibia, confirming the autapomorphies previously suggested for this species. These include the presence of distinct blade-like shapes of the neural spines in the sacral region, the presence of deeply excavated pubis, and the presence of a distinct transverse ridge on the ventral surface of the femur distal to the intertrochanteric fossa. It has also been found that the transverse ridges and grooves become larger during ontogeny since the juvenile specimen did not exhibit a well-developed ridge. Histological analysis of isolated limb bones and neutron computed tomography (nCT) of the articulated specimen indicate that the latter likely belonged to an adult individual. This is in contrast to the other varanopid at Richards Spur, the significantly smaller, more gracile predator Mesenosaurus efremovi, which also shows the presence of growth lines and the external fundamental system with an estimated minimum age of fourteen.
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