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| Nipponosaurus sachalinensis Nagao, 1936
in Takasaki, Chiba, Kobayashi, et al., 2018
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Abstract
Nipponosaurus sachalinensis is the only definitive lambeosaurine hadrosaurid from Sakhalin Island of Russia. Previous studies suggested it was a member of Lambeosaurini (derived lambeosaurines). However, its phylogenetic status within Lambeosaurini remains controversial. In addition, some studies argued the juvenile ontogenetic stage of the holotype and regarded Nipponosaurus as an invalid taxon. In order to solve these problems, its definite growth stage is determined through histological studies. Absence of a line of arrested growth, presence of osteons with large vascular spaces, and presence of primary bone remnants even in the highly modified regions of the femur confirm that the holotype was a juvenile. More than a hundred of the 350 characters used to determine the phylogenetic position of Nipponosaurus are ontogenetically variable characters based on the different ontogenetic stages of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals that Nipponosaurus is a basal lambeosaurine hadrosaurid, much further down in the tree than previously suggested, and shows a polytomy with Blasisaurus and Arenyisaurus. This study also indicates that Nipponosaurus is a valid taxon because it possesses unique characters within the Lambeosaurinae (presence of massive surangular anterodorsal process, presence of lateral shelf of the dentary, and a relatively short ulna), which are independent of ontogeny.
Keywords: Dinosaur, Ornithopoda, Hadrosauridae, Nipponosaurus, ontogeny, histology
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| Cross section of a thighbone of Nipponosaurus (A) with an enlarged photo of the rectangular area (B). The latter shows the changing directions of the vascular canals. |
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Conclusions:
Histological observations provide the first direct evidence that Nipponosaurus is an immature specimen. By comparing different ontogenetic stages of H. stebingeri and reviewing previous studies, up to 102 characters previously used in phylogenetic analyses are considered ontogenetically controlled within Hadrosauridae. Our phylogenetic analysis positions Nipponosaurus within a monophyletic clade of Arenysaurus and Blasisaurus, which has a sister clade relationship with the clade comprised of Parasaurolophini and Lambeosaurini. This newly recovered phylogenetic position supports a strong affinity of Asian and European lambeosaurids. The resulting relationships of this genus suggest that this taxon is valid, and represents one of the few hadrosaur specimens in Far East Asia.
Ryuji Takasaki, Kentaro Chiba, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Philip J. Currie and Anthony R. Fiorillo. 2018. Reanalysis of the Phylogenetic Status of Nipponosaurus sachalinensis (Ornithopoda: Dinosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Southern Sakhalin. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. 5; 694-711. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2017.1317766
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【動画】NスペPlus 7200万年前の巨大恐竜“むかわ竜”がよみがえる！ - 世界でも珍しい全身骨格化石を手がかりに、“むかわ竜”の姿をよみがえらせました。 #むかわ竜 #恐竜 #化石 nhk.or.jp/special/plus/videos/20170522/index.html
Unraveling the mysteries of Nipponosaurus phys.org/news/2017-06-unraveling-mysteries-nipponosaurus.html via @physorg_com
Duck-Billed Dinosaur Is Japan’s Largest Complete Fossil asianscientist.com/2017/06/in-the-lab/largest-dinosaur-skeleton-nipponosaurus
