Search results for " palaeobiology"
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Microstructure of Triassic conodont Pseudofurnishius murcianus van den Boogaard: Functional implications
2020
Pseudofurnishius murcianus van den Boogaard is a Triassic conodont with a very characteristic morphology, a blade with a rostral platform heavily denticulated, that makes it easily distinguishable from other coeval species. It is a well-know taxon that has been the object of several palaeobiological works, focused on their apparatus reconstruction, ontogeny and, recently, their P 1 element function. In order to increase our palaeobiology knowledge of this taxon we undertook a histological analysis to corroborate the functional hypothesis established for this conodont. The histological study demonstrated the presence of different microstructural types, suggesting that they are functional ada…
Characterization of coelacanth scales from the Early Cretaceous freshwater locality of Las Hoyas, upper Barremian (Cuenca, Spain)
2020
Coelacanths are rare, mostly marine fishes, but the species from the Lower Cretaceous Spanish locality of Las Hoyas (Barremian) is a freshwater form and we know almost nothing about it. The Las Hoyas specimens are very rare and relatively incomplete, but there are still many things we can learn from the isolated skeletons and scales. First, the coelacanth scales were distinguished from other superficially similar scales (i.e., other “amioid” scales). Coelacanth scales are distinguished by the presence of a smooth central surface, a particular pattern of arrangement of concentric growth cessation marks, and mainly a relatively short posterior field with thick elongated ridges. Only a few art…
PALAEOECOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY OF THE STRAIGHT-TUSKED ELEPHANT LATE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE SITE OF POGGETTI VECCHI (SOUTHERN TUSCANY, ITALY)
2018
Works for the construction of thermal pools at Poggetti Vecchi, near Grosseto (Tuscany, Italy) exposed an accumulation of fossil bones, largely belonging to the straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus, mixed up with stone and wooden tools. The site is radiometrically dated to the late Middle Pleistocene, and the artefacts were thus created by early Neanderthals. Palaeobiological and taphonomic analyses of the fauna remains are part of a more general, multiproxy study of the site that provides new information on MIS 7-6 transition, as well as on human-animal interactions.