http://precedings.nature.com/tags/Titanosaur Recently posted documents tagged with 'Titanosaur' Nature Publishing Group en Nature Precedings http://precedings.nature.com/images/header_logo.gif http://precedings.nature.com http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.508.1 Though titanosaur osteoderms are not common findings, these elements are recorded widely in Gondwana and part of Laurasia. This assembly known by the date offers few resources for studies on the ecology of this group of dinosaurs. Recently, some eggs bearing titanosaur embryos with preserved skin, from Patagonia, Argentina, may shed some light on the function and disposition pattern of these dermic bones. Some of the skin patches associated with the titanosaur embryos show two distinct patterns of tuberosities: a longitudinal row and rosettes, both composed of closely attached tuberosities. These tuberosities do not seem to be ossified, but this might be due to the ontogenetic stage of the titanosaurs. Here we propose that these tuberosities might have been ossified in later ontogenetic stages, and then turning into real osteoderms providing physical defence for the juvenile titanosaurs. Amongst the remains of large titanosaurs like Mendozasaurus neguyelap some osteoderms were recovered, but it is contrasting small to the animal when compared to other dinosaurs. These bones would not provide real defensive advantage to an adult titanosaur as they are small and also have a very spongy internal structure. This apparent fragility also may be the reason that few titanosaur osteoderms have been preserved. In comparison, the tuberosity of a young titanosaur is much larger than an adult osteoderm and its body armor would be much more effective against small predators like notosuchian crocodyliforms and small theropods. And if the titanosaur osteoderms are originated from the embryo’s tuberosities, the disposition of these elements in an adult animal would be very distant to each other. The calcium reserve may be considered as functional for an adult titanosaur though. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.508.1 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:20:44 UTC Functional aspects of titanosaur osteoderms doi:10.1038/npre.2007.508.1 2009-03-04 Thiago S. Marinho Nature Precedings 2007-07-26T05:20:44Z Poster Ecology http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/