[dinosaur] Stenopterygius (Ichthyosauria) braincase ontogeny, from Lower Jurassic of Germany (free pdf)

Ben Creisler
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A new paper with free pdf:


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Feiko Miedema &Erin E. Maxwell (2019)
Ontogeny of the braincase in Stenopterygius (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) from
the Lower Jurassic of Germany
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Article: e1675164
doi:  https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1080_02724634.2019.1675164&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=kuWo90jVSNbsOR_R2aPXhf6NT0Ek-k_1v58sfqWyDN0&s=JohmNb2ngbdM_UF7DPde7GUSQ7yIKXZJ2A5hdeenBI8&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.tandfonline.com_doi_full_10.1080_02724634.2019.1675164&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=kuWo90jVSNbsOR_R2aPXhf6NT0Ek-k_1v58sfqWyDN0&s=XNm6fIpiJ9e_-SLsxz3AZ1t9isN4fM_twWOn-Nq1oRs&e= 

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The fossil record of the ichthyosaur genus Stenopterygius comprises a large
number of specimens of all ontogenetic stages. This makes the taxon a good
model for ontogenetic studies in a Mesozoic marine reptile. Here, we
describe the morphology of the braincase elements of Stenopterygius over
ontogeny and compare it with that of other known ichthyosaur braincases.
Substantial ontogenetic changes were observed in most elements. These
included negative allometry of the exoccipitals relative to the
basioccipital, changes in the morphology of the parabasisphenoid and
proportional reduction of the ridge separating the right and left internal
carotid arteries, variable relative length of the paroccipital process of
the opisthotic in juvenile specimens, and relative ossification of the
basioccipital peg. Furthermore, we observed variability in relative
braincase ossification between embryos within a single gravid female.