Life and ideas of Giovanni Capellini (1833–1922): a palaeontological revolution in Italy

<p>During the nineteenth century Europe and then America were the focal points for major advances in the study of palaeontology and the great, often acrimonious, debate on evolutionary theory. Natural history was one of the great educational disciplines of the day and those involved were part of an educated elite who practised as medics, clergymen, chemists and anatomists. Some were shy and retiring, others forceful even bombastic, sometimes evil by intent. Many were driven by fame and it was their wish to discover the best, the biggest and the most important specimens they could get their hands on. Others were great orators who could defend a cause; some were the first of many who became diligent and careful in the collection and storage of material or brilliant field scientists who taught us the importance of observation, data gathering and interpretation of sedimentary successions worldwide. Being considered worthy of joining such an elite social, scientific circle was an immense tribute to their contribution to the natural sciences. It was an honour denied William Smith who lacked the educational background of the middle classes of the time, but given in abundance to the Italian scientist Giovanni Capellini who was born into an upper middle-class Italian family and who received a classic ecclesiastical training before venturing into the natural sciences. </p

Hands of <i>Nemegtomaia barsboldi</i>.

<p>A, preserved elements and reconstructed manus of MPC-D 107/15 in dorsal (a1) and lateral (a2) views: B, right manus of MPC-D 107/16 in dorsal (b1) and medial (b2) views; C, left manus of MPC-D 107/16 in medial (c1) and dorsal (c2) views, with the preserved distal portions of radius and ulna. <b>lr</b>, left radius; <b>lu</b>, left ulna. Scale bar 5 cm. Illustration by Marco Auditore.</p

Feeding traces left by colonies of dermestid beetles in specimen MPC-D 107/15.

<p>Articular surfaces have been completely obliterated in the left forearm (A), left leg and pes (B), as well as in the right forearm (C). Circular borings are particularly evident in the left side of the skull (D–F). G, Bone-chip burrow found under the skull of the specimen. H, large traces of reworked sediment under the skeleton.</p

Skeletons of <i>Nemegtomaia barsboldi</i> specimens (known elements in grey).

<p>A, the holotype (MPC-D 100/2112); B, MPC-D 107/15 (the left side of the skull, left forelimb, pubis and toes are reversed and superimposed to the right side). C, MPC-D 107/16 (the left forelimb is reversed and superimposed to the right side). In D, the preserved elements of MPC-D 107/15 and 16 are scaled to and superimposed on the holotype (the skull depicted is that of the better preserved MPC-D 100/2112). Scale bar 20 cm. Illustration by Marco Auditore.</p

The nest of <i>Nemegtomaia barsboldi</i>, MPC-D 107/15.

<p>A, disposition of preserved eggs within the nest. Eggshells have been recovered under the skull (B), left pes (C) and leg (D), suggesting the direct apposition of the oviraptorid on top of the eggs. During the early excavation of the nest, it was possible to document a lower layer of eggs lying approximately 10 cm below the body (E–G).</p

Skull of <i>Nemegtomaia barsboldi</i> (MPC-D 107/15).

<p>A, preserved elements of the right side; B, preserved elements of the left side; C, reversed elements of the left side superimposed to those of the right side (where elements of both sided overlap, the grey is darker); D, reconstruction of the skull. <b>an</b>, angular; <b>d</b>, dentary; <b>ec</b>, ectopterygoid; <b>eo</b>, exoccipital; <b>f</b>, frontal; <b>j</b>, jugal; <b>l</b>, lacrimal; <b>m</b>, maxilla; <b>n</b>, nasal; <b>p</b>, parietal; <b>pm</b>, premaxilla; <b>po</b>, postorbital; <b>q</b>, quadrate; <b>qj</b>, quadratojugal; <b>sa</b>, surangular; <b>sq</b>, squamosal; <b>sr</b>, sclerotic ring. Scale bar 10 cm. Illustration by Marco Auditore.</p

Location map showing the position of the measured section discussed in the text.

<p>A, Northern <i>Sayr</i>, where specimen MPC-D 107/15 was collected. B, lithostratigraphic logs showing the relative stratigraphic occurrence of the interfingering Baruungoyot and Nemegt formations. C, In-situ and partially reworked caliche glaebules and concretions, Baruungoyot Formation. D, tubular burrow fills interpreted as nonmarine invertebrate feeding traces, Baruungoyot Formation. E, cross-bedded deposits in the basal deposits of the Nemegt Formation. F, photograph showing the interfingering contact between the Baruungoyot and Nemegt formations in the Northern Sayr (litho-log c). MPC-D 107/15 was collected just below the Nemegt tongue deposits.</p

The Nemegt locality the Gobi Desert, southern Mongolia.

<p>A, map showing the location of the study area within southern Mongolia; B, the Nemegt area is located a few kilometers south of the massif of the same name; C, a detail of the Nemegt locality (<i>sensu</i> 5), showing the exact locations of specimens described in this study.</p

Phylogeny of Oviraptoridae.

<p>Phylogenetic analysis of Oviraptoridae was performed by adapting the matrix of Longrich et al. (3) and using the exhaustive search algorithm of PAUP* 4.0b10. Numbers next to clades indicate bootstrap support value/decay value.</p

Eggs of <i>Nemegtomaia barsboldi</i>.

<p>Details of eggs preserved in the upper layer of eggs in specimen MPC-D 107/15. Scale bar A–E 5 cm.</p