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Skin Anatomy, Bone Histology and Taphonomy of a Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) Ichthyosaur (Reptilia: Ichthyopterygia) from Luxembourg, with Implications for Paleobiology

Bonnevier Wallstedt, Ida ; Sjövall, Peter ; Thuy, Ben ; De La Garza, Randolph G. LU ; Eriksson, Mats E. LU and Lindgren, Johan LU (2024) In Diversity 16(8).
Abstract

A partial ichthyosaur skeleton from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) bituminous shales of the ‘Schistes Carton’ unit of southern Luxembourg is described and illustrated. In addition, associated remnant soft tissues are analyzed using a combination of imaging and molecular techniques. The fossil (MNHNL TV344) comprises scattered appendicular elements, together with a consecutive series of semi-articulated vertebrae surrounded by extensive soft-tissue remains. We conclude that TV344 represents a skeletally immature individual (possibly of the genus Stenopterygius) and that the soft parts primarily consist of fossilized skin, including the epidermis (with embedded melanophore pigment cells and melanosome organelles) and dermis. Ground... (More)

A partial ichthyosaur skeleton from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) bituminous shales of the ‘Schistes Carton’ unit of southern Luxembourg is described and illustrated. In addition, associated remnant soft tissues are analyzed using a combination of imaging and molecular techniques. The fossil (MNHNL TV344) comprises scattered appendicular elements, together with a consecutive series of semi-articulated vertebrae surrounded by extensive soft-tissue remains. We conclude that TV344 represents a skeletally immature individual (possibly of the genus Stenopterygius) and that the soft parts primarily consist of fossilized skin, including the epidermis (with embedded melanophore pigment cells and melanosome organelles) and dermis. Ground sections of dorsal ribs display cortical microstructures reminiscent of lines of arrested growth (LAGs), providing an opportunity for a tentative age determination of the animal at the time of death (>3 years). It is further inferred that the exceptional preservation of TV344 was facilitated by seafloor dysoxia/anoxia with periodical intervals of oxygenation, which triggered phosphatization and the subsequent formation of a carbonate concretion.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
bone histology, ichthyosaur, molecular paleontology, paleocolour, phosphatization, Schistes Carton, soft tissues
in
Diversity
volume
16
issue
8
article number
492
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85202544862
ISSN
1424-2818
DOI
10.3390/d16080492
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
eafba1da-298f-43af-a9f4-0859e56d3d48
date added to LUP
2025-01-09 13:15:43
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:03:23
@article{eafba1da-298f-43af-a9f4-0859e56d3d48,
  abstract     = {{<p>A partial ichthyosaur skeleton from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) bituminous shales of the ‘Schistes Carton’ unit of southern Luxembourg is described and illustrated. In addition, associated remnant soft tissues are analyzed using a combination of imaging and molecular techniques. The fossil (MNHNL TV344) comprises scattered appendicular elements, together with a consecutive series of semi-articulated vertebrae surrounded by extensive soft-tissue remains. We conclude that TV344 represents a skeletally immature individual (possibly of the genus Stenopterygius) and that the soft parts primarily consist of fossilized skin, including the epidermis (with embedded melanophore pigment cells and melanosome organelles) and dermis. Ground sections of dorsal ribs display cortical microstructures reminiscent of lines of arrested growth (LAGs), providing an opportunity for a tentative age determination of the animal at the time of death (&gt;3 years). It is further inferred that the exceptional preservation of TV344 was facilitated by seafloor dysoxia/anoxia with periodical intervals of oxygenation, which triggered phosphatization and the subsequent formation of a carbonate concretion.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bonnevier Wallstedt, Ida and Sjövall, Peter and Thuy, Ben and De La Garza, Randolph G. and Eriksson, Mats E. and Lindgren, Johan}},
  issn         = {{1424-2818}},
  keywords     = {{bone histology; ichthyosaur; molecular paleontology; paleocolour; phosphatization; Schistes Carton; soft tissues}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Diversity}},
  title        = {{Skin Anatomy, Bone Histology and Taphonomy of a Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) Ichthyosaur (Reptilia: Ichthyopterygia) from Luxembourg, with Implications for Paleobiology}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d16080492}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/d16080492}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}