The large superpredators' teeth from Middle Triassic of Poland

An unusual large teeth, finding from time to time in marine sediments of Muschelkalk, Silesia, Poland indicate the superpredators occurrence. According to size and morphological features the teeth are similar to archosaurs or giant marine reptiles

Geochemical methods of inference the termoregulatory strategies in Middle Triassic marine reptiles-a pilot study

The oxygen stable isotopes investigation to elucidate thermoregulatory strategies in Middle Triassic basal sauropterygians is currently ongoing at University of Silesia and University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska. The results of similar studies on Late Mesozoic marine reptiles indicate that some of fully aquatic reptiles like plesiosaurs or ichthyosaurs could be warm-blooded animals. Our investigation is an important part of the aim of the research project "The Marine and Terrestrial reptiles in the Middle Triassic environmental background of Southern Poland" to solve the thermoregulation issue in basal marine reptiles and show how, and when did homoiothermy evolve in Sauropterygia.. Homeothermy and gigantothermy were important physiological adaptations which allowed sauropterygian ancestors to leave the shores and conquer the open seas and oceans

The results of palaeontological excavations in the Sadowa Góra quarry (2012-14)

Palaeontological fieldwork (2012-14) in the Sadowa Góra quarry carried out under the auspices of the University of Silesia, within the framework of a research project supported by the National Science Centre, helped to document the taxonomic diversity of Middle Triassic marine vertebrates from the Cracow-Silesia region. Accumulations of fossil bones are correlated with storm deposition and are time-averaged

Bone histology of eosauropterygian diapsid Proneusticosaurus silesiacus from the Middle Triassic of Poland reveals new insights into taxonomic affinities

The status of Proneusticosaurus silesiacus from the Lower Muschelkalk (lower Anisian) of Poland is controversially discussed. Its femur was histologically sampled to learn more about its taxonomic affinities and life style. It shows a reduced central medullary cavity surrounded by a narrow medullary region and followed by a thick compact cortex, displaying strong osteosclerosis. The tissue type can be summarized as lamellar-zonal. The inner third of the cortex consists of well vascularized parallel-fibred bone and is interpreted as a phase of juvenile growth, whereas the middle and outer cortex is made of highly organized parallel-fibred to lamellar bone. Except for the inner cortex and local accumulations of longitudinally primary osteons in the middle cortex, the femur is widely avascular. The cortex of P. silesiacus is regularly stratified by rest lines. Altogether seven annual growth cycles are counted. The very low growth rate of P. silesiacus, as deduced from tissue type, makes taxonomical affinities to Nothosaurus spp. or basal pistosauroids (i.e., humeri of aff. Cymatosaurus sp.) very unlikely. Proneusticosaurus silesiacus femoral histology does also not match any of the here studied femora of Eosauropterygia indet. Proneusticosaurus silesiacus shares similar low growth rates, the osteosclerotic femur, as well as pachyostotic vertebrae and ribs with the pachypleurosaurs Dactylosaurus gracilis and Neusticosaurus spp. and with the nothosaur Lariosaurus sp. These features are, however, most likely convergent and reflect the degree of secondary aquatic adaptation in shallow marine inhabitants. The high organized and low vascularized tissue, the implied low growth rate, the plesiomorphic femur morphology, and the strongly inclined zygapophyses of the vertebrae (contra roughly horizontal zygapophyses in other Eosauropterygia), makes P. silesiacus unique and evidence that this genus represents a valid genus within early Eosauropterygia. Proneusticosaurus silesiacus might represent one of the most basal members of Eosauropterygia so far known

New tomographic contribution to characterizing mesosaurid congenital scoliosis

The presence of a pathology in the vertebral column of the early Permian mesosaurid specimen ZPAL R VII/1, being one of the oldest amniotic occurrences of congenital scoliosis caused by a hemivertebra, was recently recognized. Here we provide CT data to further characterize the phenomenon. The affected hemivertebra is wedged (incarcerated) between the preceding and succeeding vertebrae. The neural canal is misshapen but continuous and the number of dorsal ribs on each side of the specimen corresponds with the number of the vertebrae, documenting its congenital (homeobox-related) derivation

Depositional conditions of vertebrate remains within the Lower Muschelkalk (Anisian) peritidal carbonates of the "Stare Gliny" quarry near Olkusz (Kraków-Silesia region, southern Poland)

A detailed sedimentological study of the Lower-Middle Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic) carbonate succession exposed at the “Stare Gliny” quarry near Olkusz (Kraków-Silesia region, southern Poland) revealed numerous vertebrate remains within its lowermost sedimentary unit. This 7-m-thick package onlaps a gently-inclined surface of a paleoisland made of the Devonian (Givetian) dolostones, and was deposited during a transgressive phase of the second Middle Triassic transgression onto the southern Poland. The package consists largely of: 1) unfossiliferous dolosiltites and fine-grained dolarenites, the tops of which commonly contain root molds and small-scale karstic forms; 2) breccias (minor conglomerates) with lithoclasts of Givetian dolostones; 3) dolocretes; and 4) dolomitic shales. This lithofacies association represents a restricted lagoon which experienced longer periods of emersion. A minor occurrence of cryptalgal laminites reflects only temporary sedimentation in the intertidal zone of a tidal flat. The bone fragments occur within all types of lithofacies, but the macroscopically distinguishable specimens have been found exclusively in the dolocretes. The poor preservation and advanced disarticulation of bones hinder unequivocal assessment of their affinity. The small size of bones suggests that they represent prolacertiforms (perhaps juvenile Macrocnemus) or other small archosauromorphs similar in sizes to Protorosaurus or Czatkowiella whose remains were found in the 1950s within cave deposits, in the same outcrop. Macrocnemus widely inhabited Middle Triassic lagoons and tidal flats across Paleo-Europe and thus seems to fit well to the peritidal setting surrounding the “Stare Gliny” paleoisland. The bone-bearing package occurs 30 metres below the 5-m-thick oncolitic package that is widely regarded as a correlation horizon over the entire Kraków-Silesia region, and 15 metres below the sequence boundary marking the top of the Górażdże Beds in the Opole region and the Olkusz Bedsin the Kraków-Silesiaregion.On the basis of the secor relations,a conclusion can be made that the vertebrate assemblage is Bithynian/Pelsonian (middle Anisian) in age

Two types of bone necrosis in the Middle Triassic Pistosaurus longaevus bones: the results of integrated studies

Avascular necrosis, diagnosed on the basis of either a specific pathological modification of the articular surfaces of bone or its radiologic appearance in vertebral centra, has been recognized in many Mesozoic marine reptiles as well as in present-day marine mammals. Its presence in the zoological and paleontologic record is usually associated with decompression syndrome, a disease that affects secondarily aquatic vertebrates that could dive. Bone necrosis can also be caused by infectious processes, but it differs in appearance from decompression syndrome-associated aseptic necrosis. Herein, we report evidence of septic necrosis in the proximal articular surface of the femur of a marine reptile, Pistosaurus longaevus, from the Middle Triassic of Poland and Germany. This is the oldest recognition of septic necrosis associated with septic arthritis in the fossil record so far, and the mineralogical composition of pathologically altered bone is described herein in detail. The occurrence of septic necrosis is contrasted with decompression syndrome-associated avascular necrosis, also described in Pistosaurus longaevus bone from Middle Triassic of Germany

Tuberculosis-like respiratory infection in 245-million-year-old marine reptile suggested by bone pathologies

An absence of ancient archaeological and palaeontological evidence of pneumonia contrasts with its recognition in the more recent archaeological record. We document an apparent infection-mediated periosteal reaction affecting the dorsal ribs in a Middle Triassic eosauropterygian historically referred to as ‘Proneusticosaurus’ silesiacus. High- resolution X-ray microtomography and histological studies of the pathologically altered ribs revealed the presence of a continuous solid periosteal reaction with multiple superficial blebs (protrusions) on the visceral surfaces of several ribs. Increased vascularization and uneven lines of arrested growth document that the pathology was the result of a multi- seasonal disease. While visceral surface localization of this periosteal reaction represents the earliest identified evidence for pneumonia, the blebs may have an additional implication: they have only been previously recognized in humans with tuberculosis (TB). Along with this diagnosis is the presence of focal vertebral erosions, parsimoniously compared to vertebral manifestation of TB in humans

The oldest record of aquatic amniote congenital scoliosis

We report the first occurrence of congenital scoliosis in an early Permian aquatic parareptile, Stereosternum tumidum from Parana ́ state, Brazil. The spine malformation is caused by a congenital hemivertebra. These observations give insight into the biomechanical aspects of underwater locomotion in an axial skeleton-compromised aquatic amniote. This is the oldest record of a hemivertebra in an aquatic animal

Tuberculosis-like respiratory infection in 245-million-year-old marine reptile suggested by bone pathologies

An absence of ancient archaeological and palaeontological evidence of pneumonia contrasts with its recognition in the more recent archaeological record. We document an apparent infection-mediated periosteal reaction affecting the dorsal ribs in a Middle Triassic eosauropterygian historically referred to as ‘Proneusticosaurus’ silesiacus. Highresolution X-ray microtomography and histological studies of the pathologically altered ribs revealed the presence of a continuous solid periosteal reaction with multiple superficial blebs (protrusions) on the visceral surfaces of several ribs. Increased vascularization and uneven lines of arrested growth document that the pathology was the result of a multiseasonal disease. While visceral surface localization of this periosteal reaction represents the earliest identified evidence for pneumonia, the blebs may have an additional implication: they have only been previously recognized in humans with tuberculosis (TB). Along with this diagnosis is the presence of focal vertebral erosions, parsimoniously compared to vertebral manifestation of TB in humans