[dinosaur] Confuciusornis osteohistology and life history

Ben Creisler
[email protected]


A new paper:


Anusuya Chinsamy, Jesús Marugán‐Lobón, Francisco J. Serrano & Luis Chiappe
(2019)
Osteohistology and Life History of the Basal Pygostylian, Confuciusornis
sanctus
The Anatomical Record (advance online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1002_ar.24282&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=xkZnCrMxdiIotlv_6_HeUEYm62N45eEpkM6bsQD2To0&s=fO6gdCtpgD9C8iKf6zCHUQT1JQlf0OgWLl7-TJTc_pA&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com_doi_10.1002_ar.24282&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=xkZnCrMxdiIotlv_6_HeUEYm62N45eEpkM6bsQD2To0&s=GbqEQv30-Cprgv9ROrK3k6odY3SJVDnIODV1sL0A9AE&e= 


More than a thousand specimens of Confuciusornis sanctus have been
recovered from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Group of Northeastern China.
Here, we investigate the bone microstructure of 33 long bones sampled from
14 C. sanctus specimens in an attempt to assess the life history patterns
of this basal pygostylian bird. Analysis of the histology of various
skeletal elements (femur, humerus, tibia, radius, and ulna) revealed
differences in the histology of their bone walls. Based on the
osteohistology, we coded the examined specimens into five histology age
classes. We found that histological age was not strictly correlated with
body size. The variability in the histology of multiple bones from single
skeletons suggests differences in the growth rate of the skeleton in
response to allometry, functional demands, and pathology. We show that
although fibrolamellar bone is widespread across birds, the extent and
duration of this rapid phase of bone deposition is highly variable.
Comparisons among Mesozoic birds confirm that early ontogenetic growth was
rapid, but that later post‐hatching growth was strongly influenced by the
ontogenetic age of the individual, body size, and local environment, as
well as taxonomy. Our findings indicate that C. sanctus experienced rapid
growth from early ontogeny until almost fully grown, and thereafter
transitioned to slow, episodic growth (for at least 3–4 years) to reach
skeletal maturity.