Crocodile in a Tree - An Exhibition on Evolution and Biodiversity

Evolution and tree-thinking, The origin of crocodylians, Fossil crocodylians from Urumaco, The group of modern crocodylians, Which information does body shape of a crocodylian convey? Form and function, in crocodylians, Biology of crocodylians (Breathing , Locomotion, Heart anatomy, Communication, Skin, Threat and protection, Distribution, Lifespan and reproduction, Diet), Overview of taxa on display, Behind the curtain - the models in the exhibition

Schematic drawings of xenarthran long bones showing alternative sampling sites (dashed lines).

<p><b>A.</b> Right humerus of PIMUZ A/V 4807 <i>Tamandua tetradactyla,</i> sectioned between the deltoid tubercle (DT) and the lateral epicondyle (LE). <b>B.</b> Right ulna of ZMZ 17223 <i>Choloepus didactylus,</i> sectioned at halfway distance from the coronoid process (CP) to the most distal point of the bone. <b>C.</b> Left femur of AMU-CURS 169 <i>Urumaquia robusta,</i> sectioned by core-drilling in the proximal half of the bone so as to avoid the mediolateral crack. Note that bones are not drawn to scale.</p

Histology of long bones of folivorans with a body mass smaller than 20 kg.

<p><b>A.</b> Overview of the cortical bone tissue in the humerus of <i>Choloepus didactylus</i> ZMZ 17223. <b>B.</b> Overview of the cortical bone tissue in the humerus of <i>Bradypus torquatus</i> ZMZ 11102. <b>C.</b> Lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in the outer cortex of the humerus of <i>Bradypus tridactylus</i> NMB 10488 in normal light and <b>D.</b> in cross-polarized light with λ-compensator. Note the double LAG consisting of two very closely spaced LAGs visible in F. rc resorption cavities, of open foramina of radial canals.</p

Histology of the femur of <i>Mirandabradys zabasi</i> AMU-CURS 128.

<p>Irregular arrangement of secondary osteons and areas of lamellar bone (arrows) representing secondary osteons with an oblique orientation within the three-dimensional bone tissue. <b>A.</b> In normal light and <b>B.</b> in cross-polarized light with λ-compensator. <b>C.</b> Close-up of area indicated by the black box in A and B showing overlapping generations of secondary osteons (so) in normal and <b>D.</b> in cross-polarized light. Note the flattened osteocyte lacunae typical of lamellar bone.</p

Average bone global compactness (<i>Cg</i>) of the humerus plotted against <i>Cg</i> values of the femur.

<p>Values were plotted for xenarthran species for which both bones were available. Black circles represent members of Cingulata, empty circles represent members of Folivora, and grey circles represent members of Vermilingua. The identity line is indicated (dashed line).</p

Bone global compactness (<i>Cg</i>) values of humeri (a) and femora (b) included in this study.

<p>Black bars represent members of Cingulata, white bars members of Folivora, and grey bars represent members of Vermilingua. Values for extant taxa are based on the average <i>Cg</i> values of two thin sections produced from the same bone. Juvenile specimens are marked with ‘juv’.</p

Phylogenetic relationships between taxa included in this study.

<p>The phylogeny is based on <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069275#pone.0069275-Gaudin3" target="_blank">[96]</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069275#pone.0069275-Gaudin1" target="_blank">[38]</a>, and placement of some fossil taxa follows <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069275#pone.0069275-McKenna1" target="_blank">[31]</a>.</p

List of taxa studied, including taxonomic information and catalogue numbers.

*<p>Core samples.</p

Histology of the humerus of <i>Euphractus sexcinctus</i> ZMZ 17834.

<p><b>A.</b> Overview of the three layers with different tissue types present in the cortex under normal light. <b>B.</b> The same as in A in cross-polarized light. <b>C.</b> Close-up on the dense Haversian tissue with irregularly shaped secondary osteons under cross-polarized light. <b>D.</b> Close-up on the internal layer of parallel-fibered and lamellar tissue under cross-polarized light. hav radial Haversian system, la lamellar tissue, pf parallel-fibered tissue, sr secondary remodeling.</p

Comparison of <i>Cg</i> values between adult and juvenile specimens.

<p><b>A.</b> Values for humeri and <b>B.</b> values for femora of species for which both juvenile and adult specimens were available. Juvenile specimens are marked with ‘juv’.</p