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PRESS RELEASE - New skeletons from the Age of Dinosaurs answer century-old questions

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Date: 1970-01-01 01:00:00
Blog: SVP & Paleo News
URL: http://vertpaleo.org/news/permalinks/2010/05/20/PRESS-RELEASE---New-skeletons-from-the-Age-of-Dinosaurs-answer-century-old-questions

Summary:

DEERFIELD, IL  (May, 2010) – More than 100 years ago paleontologist E. D. Cope of "Dinosaur Wars" fame found a few fragmentary bones of a reptile in the deserts of New Mexico. He named the reptile Typothorax. A century later Typothorax, which belongs to a group of reptiles called aetosaurs, remained something of a mystery, known mainly from pieces of armor, a few limb bones, and some sections of tail. Now, thanks to two remarkably complete skeletons discovered by volunteers and described in the latest issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, paleontologists are finally revealing what Typothorax really looked like, how large it was, how it walked, and myriad other questions. Typothorax is also one of the last large herbivores to evolve in the Late Triassic, before dinosaurs would come to dominate the planet. Reminiscent of giant armadillos, aetosaurs were widespread during Late Triassic times (230 – 200 million years ago). The largest species of aetosaur grew up to 5 meters long, although the two new specimens, representing a species called Typothorax coccinarum, were smaller growing up to 2.5 meters long. All were covered by a protective armor of overlapping bony plates, but some species sported massive spikes protecting the neck region — an additional deterrent to any hungry predator. Fragments of the characteristic bony armor are well known to paleontologists, but complete specimens of any aetosaur are very rare and none were known for Typothorax prior to the discovery of these specimens. The ornamentation on the plates varies from species to species and paleontologists have long recognized them as a diverse and important group of plant eaters living alongside some of the earliest dinosaurs. However, because of the rarity of more complete material they remain something of an enigma. Now we can say a lot more about these strange creatures which Dr. Andy Heckert, the lead author of the study and a geology professor at Appalachian State University, regards as an "animal designed by a committee combining a crocodile with a cow and armadillo." The two new discoveries from New Mexico are providing scientists with a clearer picture of their way of life. "We now know that some previously established ideas about these animals were mistaken,” said Heckert. “For the first time we can get a realistic estimate of the size of these animals, and at only 2.5m [~7 feet) and about 100kg (225 lb) they are not as large as previously thought. We also know that some of the bony spikes that were thought to run down the sides of the armor actually surrounded the cloaca." The new specimens show that the body was completely enclosed in bony armor even to the extent of having a series of tiny overlapping plates extending down each leg, and onto the hands and feet. The front limbs apparently sprawled, but the hind limbs were much larger and upright. "I doubt professor Cope would have ever imagined this animal quite this way," said Heckert, "one really interesting feature is that the front half of the skeleton is so slender we probably would have thought it belonged to a juvenile if it weren't articulated to the rest." The new specimens are also providing exciting new information about the way these animals moved. Fossil skeletons with complete hands and feet are so rarely preserved that it is very difficult to confidently match a skeleton to the maker of any particular trackway. However, the exquisitely preserved feet in the new specimens demonstrate for the first time that trackways known as Brachychirotherium were almost certainly made by aetosaurs. "Brachychirotherium tracks are known from various localities around the world, and they are an almost perfect match to the arrangement of bones in the aetosaur foot," said Dr. Spencer Lucas, curator at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, where the specimens are now on display, and another member of the team. "We now know that the front legs of aetosaurs sprawled to the sides, but their back legs were more robust and pillar-like." With their short and stubby necks, blunt-nosed skulls, and small leaf-shaped teeth, these distant relatives of crocodiles may also have grubbed around in the soil looking for succulent roots. Both specimens were found by volunteers at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. The first, by Paul Sealey in the late 1980s, and the second by retired U.S. Air Force major Scott Sucher on the so-called Badlands Ranch in 2005. Several students from Appalachian State University got their first taste of paleontological excavation helping excavate the second specimen in 2006, and another volunteer, Bill Ortman, spent years cleaning and gluing the second specimen back together to make this research possible  "The important contribution of amateurs to our science cannot be underestimated," said Lucas. "As the Badlands erode we look forward to many more exciting new finds that will contribute to our understanding of the world at this important time in its history." ### ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY Founded in 1940 by thirty-four paleontologists, the Society now has more than 2,400 members representing professionals, students, artists, preparators, and others interested in VP. It is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, with the object of advancing the science of vertebrate paleontology. The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (JVP) is the leading journal of professional vertebrate paleontology and the flagship publication of the Society. It was founded in 1980 by Dr. Jiri Zidek and publishes contributions on all aspects of vertebrate paleontology. Click here for complimentary access to the full article. The article appears in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3) published by Taylor and Francis. Citation: Heckert, A. B., S. G. Lucas, L. F. Rinehart, M D. Celeskey, J. A. Spielmann, and A. P Hunt. 2010.  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, volume 30, No. 3. [Featured Article] Journal Web site: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: http://www.vertpaleo.org CONTACT INFORMATION Jane Nicholson nicholsonrj@appstate.edu Tel: (828) 262 2345 Roxanne Witt Celeskey roxanne.witt@state.nm.us Tel (505) 841 2826 AUTHOR CONTACT INFORMATION Dr. Andrew Heckert Department of Geology Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 heckertab@appstate.edu Tel: (828) 262 7609 Dr. Spencer Lucas New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science spencer.lucas@state.nm.us Tel: (505) 841 2873 Larry Rinehart New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science larry.rinehart@state.nm.us Tel: (505) 841 2865   Matthew Celeskey deadanimaldesign@hmnh.org Tel: (505) 841 2870   Justin Spielmann New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science justin.spielmann1@state.nm.us Dr. Adrian Hunt AdrianHu@vulcan.com OTHER EXPERTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE STUDY  Prof. Michael Benton Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Bristol mike.benton@bris.ac.uk Tel:  +44 (0) 117 954 5433  Dr. Nicholas  Fraser National Museums Scotland nick.fraser@nms.ac.uk Tel:  +44 (0) 131 247 4007 IMAGES Image1: Reconstruction of the aetosaur, Typothorax coccinarum, in a Triassic landscape based on skeletons from the Bull Canyon Formation of eastern New Mexico. (Artwork by Matt Celeskey.)  Image 2: The team collecting the second specimen of Typothorax coccinarum in 2006. Scott Sucher, who first discovered the fossil, is pictured far right. (Photo courtesy of New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science)  

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