Abstract
The Middle Triassic Luoping Biota in south-west China represents the inception of modern marine ecosystems, with abundant and diverse arthropods, fishes and marine reptiles, indicating recovery from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Here we report a new specimen of the predatory marine reptile Diandongosaurus, based on a nearly complete skeleton. The specimen is larger than most other known pachypleurosaurs, and the body shape, caniniform teeth, clavicle with anterior process, and flat distal end of the anterior caudal ribs show its affinities with Diandongosaurus acutidentatus, while the new specimen is approximately three times larger than the holotype. The morphological characters indicate that the new specimen is an adult of D. acutidentatus, allowing for ontogenetic variation. The fang-like teeth and large body size confirm it was a predator, but the amputated hind limb on the right side indicate itself had been predated by an unknown hunter. Predation on such a large predator reveals that predation pressure in the early Mesozoic was intensive, a possible early hint of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 21818 (2021) |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Volume | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Nov 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We are grateful for support from Grant nos. 41972014, 42030513 and 41661134047 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant NE/P013724/1 from the Natural Environment Research Council of UK, European Research Council Grant 788203 (INNOVATION), and Grant DD20190811 from China Geological survey.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
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