Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax

Michael P Taylor; Mathew J. Wedel

doi:10.4202/app.01105.2023

Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax

Michael P Taylor, Mathew J. Wedel

School of Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention. In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked, although they present a unique configuration of pneumatic features. One rib, with a pneumatic foramen some distance down the shaft, was briefly described and illustrated in the early 20th century by Elmer S. Riggs. A second rib with a pneumatic foramen in the tuberculum of the rib has not previously been described or illustrated. This previously undescribed foramen is similar in location to those in some dorsal ribs of Brontosaurus excelsus and Giraffatitan brancai, but differs from them in both size and shape. The contrasting sites of costal pneumaticity in the holotype individual of Brachiosaurus altithorax emphasize the generally opportunistic mode of postcranial pneumatization, in both sauropods and other ornithodirans, but conform to models of pneumatization following vascularization.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	709-718
Number of pages	10
Journal	Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
Volume	68
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4202/app.01105.2023
Publication status	Published - 29 Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Bill Simpson (FMNH) for arranging a collections visit for MPT at very short notice. Eric Gorscak (Midwestern University Illinois campus, Downers Grove, USA) kindly supplied photographs of the ribs of Malawisaurus dixeyi; he and Patrick O’Connor (Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA) supplied the photograph of the rib of Rukwatitan bisepultus. Kristina Curry Rogers (Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA) supplied the photograph of the rib of Rapetosaurus krausei. We thank Colin Boisvert (UC Davis, Davis, California) for permission to cite a personal communication. Daniel E. Barta (Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA) handled this manuscript efficiently, and it benefitted from three helpful and generous peer-reviews from Jerry Harris (Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah, USA), Virginia Zurriaguz (Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Rio Negro Province, Argentina) and Pat O’Connor. We are grateful to them all for their help in improving this contribution.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 M.P. Taylor and M.J. Wedel.

Keywords

Sauropoda
Dinosauria
Brachiosauridae
pneumaticity
costal pneumaticity

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title = "Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax",

abstract = "Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention. In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked, although they present a unique configuration of pneumatic features. One rib, with a pneumatic foramen some distance down the shaft, was briefly described and illustrated in the early 20th century by Elmer S. Riggs. A second rib with a pneumatic foramen in the tuberculum of the rib has not previously been described or illustrated. This previously undescribed foramen is similar in location to those in some dorsal ribs of Brontosaurus excelsus and Giraffatitan brancai, but differs from them in both size and shape. The contrasting sites of costal pneumaticity in the holotype individual of Brachiosaurus altithorax emphasize the generally opportunistic mode of postcranial pneumatization, in both sauropods and other ornithodirans, but conform to models of pneumatization following vascularization.",

keywords = "Sauropoda, Dinosauria, Brachiosauridae, pneumaticity, costal pneumaticity",

author = "Taylor, {Michael P} and Wedel, {Mathew J.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Bill Simpson (FMNH) for arranging a collections visit for MPT at very short notice. Eric Gorscak (Midwestern University Illinois campus, Downers Grove, USA) kindly supplied photographs of the ribs of Malawisaurus dixeyi; he and Patrick O{\textquoteright}Connor (Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA) supplied the photograph of the rib of Rukwatitan bisepultus. Kristina Curry Rogers (Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA) supplied the photograph of the rib of Rapetosaurus krausei. We thank Colin Boisvert (UC Davis, Davis, California) for permission to cite a personal communication. Daniel E. Barta (Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA) handled this manuscript efficiently, and it benefitted from three helpful and generous peer-reviews from Jerry Harris (Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah, USA), Virginia Zurriaguz (Universidad Nacional de R{\'i}o Negro, Rio Negro Province, Argentina) and Pat O{\textquoteright}Connor. We are grateful to them all for their help in improving this contribution. Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2023 M.P. Taylor and M.J. Wedel.",

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doi = "10.4202/app.01105.2023",

language = "English",

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AU - Taylor, Michael P

AU - Wedel, Mathew J.

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N2 - Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention. In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked, although they present a unique configuration of pneumatic features. One rib, with a pneumatic foramen some distance down the shaft, was briefly described and illustrated in the early 20th century by Elmer S. Riggs. A second rib with a pneumatic foramen in the tuberculum of the rib has not previously been described or illustrated. This previously undescribed foramen is similar in location to those in some dorsal ribs of Brontosaurus excelsus and Giraffatitan brancai, but differs from them in both size and shape. The contrasting sites of costal pneumaticity in the holotype individual of Brachiosaurus altithorax emphasize the generally opportunistic mode of postcranial pneumatization, in both sauropods and other ornithodirans, but conform to models of pneumatization following vascularization.

AB - Pneumatic dorsal ribs are known for many sauropods, but to date costal pneumaticity has received relatively little attention. In particular, the pneumatic ribs of the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax have been largely overlooked, although they present a unique configuration of pneumatic features. One rib, with a pneumatic foramen some distance down the shaft, was briefly described and illustrated in the early 20th century by Elmer S. Riggs. A second rib with a pneumatic foramen in the tuberculum of the rib has not previously been described or illustrated. This previously undescribed foramen is similar in location to those in some dorsal ribs of Brontosaurus excelsus and Giraffatitan brancai, but differs from them in both size and shape. The contrasting sites of costal pneumaticity in the holotype individual of Brachiosaurus altithorax emphasize the generally opportunistic mode of postcranial pneumatization, in both sauropods and other ornithodirans, but conform to models of pneumatization following vascularization.

KW - Sauropoda

KW - Dinosauria

KW - Brachiosauridae

KW - pneumaticity

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DO - 10.4202/app.01105.2023

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

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VL - 68

SP - 709

EP - 718

JO - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

JF - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

IS - 4

ER -

Novel pneumatic features in the ribs of the sauropod dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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