SVP 2025 abstracts of interest 9
It’s SVP abstracts season ~
Time to review what workers worldwide are thinking. Here’s number 9 of 10.
Figure 1. Gephyrostegus, a basal reptile in the LRT. The scleral ring is red.
Orbit and scleral ring dimensions suggest nocturnality at the origin of amniotes and early diversification of diel activity patterns [diel = daily activity pattern]
Knaus and Fröbisch (p352)
“It has been shown that in extinct vertebrates, the relative proportions of the orbit and scleral ring can reveal to which lighting conditions the eye of a particular species was adapted.”
“This method has been primarily applied to dinosaurs and non-mammalian synapsids, suggesting that low-light vision (scotopic adaptation) was prevalent deep in amniotes.”
“However, the origins of this trait remain unclear, as key early tetrapod groups near the base of amniotes remain unstudied.”
Those key early amniotes, like Silvanerpeton, Cephalerpeton, Gephyrostegus (Fig 1) and kin, are well-studied in the LRT – but have been omitted and ignored by academia in studies like this one.
“Here, we present the first reconstructions of scleral ring and orbit dimensions in seven Permo–Carboniferous tetrapods close to the amniote stem, including diadectids as the earliest tetrapod high-fiber herbivores and Mesosaurus as the earliest aquatic amniote.”
Forgive them. They are only following their textbooks and professors. Neither diadectids nor mesosaurs are basal amniotes in the LRT. Mesosaurus may be Permian, but it far from the more primitive Early Carbonifermous amniotes = reptiles. Since the most primitive amniote in the LRT, Silvanerpeton, was one step removed from reptilomorphs that laid wet eggs lacking an amnion in water, it is more than likely that Silvanerpeton was wet now and then as it’s internal chemistry transitioned to making an amnion.
“The model classifies Seymouria sanjuanensis (Seymouriamorpha), Captorhinus aguti (Captorhinidae), and Coelostegus prothales (Protorothyrididae) as scotopic, while confirming the previously suggested scotopic adaptation of Orovenator mayorum. Diadectes absitus and Orobates pabsti (Diadectidae) are classified as mesopic (i.e., adapted to intermediate or all light conditions), while Mesosaurus brasiliensis was likely photopic (adapted to bright conditions).”
Seymoria is not an amniote in the LRT.
Captorhinus is a lepidosauromorph while Coelostegus is an archosauromorph.
Orovenator is an archosauromorph while Diadectes and Orobates are lepidosauromorphs.
Mesosaurs are pre-ichthyosaurs, members of the Enaliosauria within the Archosauromorpha in the LRT.
“Our results suggest that early amniote-relatives were adapted to varied light conditions, suggesting the full set of possible diel activity patterns found today.”
Taxon exclusion in this cherry-picked study appears to omit ALL of the basal amniotes from the Early Carboniferous, like Gephyrostegus (Fig 1).
“Ancestral state reconstruction under maximum likelihood and parsimony models reveals that the first amniote was scotopic, thus likely nocturnal”
Why go to ‘ancestral state reconstruction’ when phylogenetic analysis will recover the first = most primtive amniote?
Figure 2. Lagerpeton raised to a high digitigrade configuration. Here only two digits would have impressed with raised proximal phalanges.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg?w=176″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-10642″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg” alt=”Lagerpeton raised to a high digitigrade configuration. Here only two digits would have impressed with raised proximal phalanges.” width=”584″ height=”997″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg?w=584&h=997 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg?w=88&h=150 88w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg?w=176&h=300 176w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/lagerpeton-pes1.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Lagerpeton raised to a high digitigrade configuration. Here only two digits would have impressed with raised proximal phalanges.
An articulated hind limb of Dromomeron romeri (Lagerpetidae) and its implications for interpreting early ornithodiran footprints
Krivka et al (p260)
“One challenge often encountered with footprints is the difficulty of identifying specific trackmakers. The phylogenetic identities of two Early–Middle Triassic ichnotaxa, Prorotodactylus and Rotodactylus, have long been debated, though the current hypothesis is that these trackmakers belong to Lagerpetidae, a clade of Triassic ornithodiran archosaurs closely related to pterosaurs.”
This is a myth. Lagerpetidae are bipedal proterochampsids in the LRT and elsewhere. The authors are beating a dead horse. Lagerpeton and kin lack a pedal digit 5, which makes a small circular mark posterior to the medial four toes. Cosesaurus and kin have feet that exactly match Rotodactylus tracks and have been recognized as pterosaur ancestors since 2000.
Figure 4. Click to enlarge. Cosesaurus and Rotodactylus, a perfect match. Elevate the proximal phalanges along with the metatarsus, bend back digit 5 and Cosesaurus (left) fits perfectly into Rotodactylus (right).
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cosesaurus-rotodactylus.jpg?w=297″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cosesaurus-rotodactylus.jpg?w=300″ class=”size-full wp-image-1147″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cosesaurus-rotodactylus.jpg” alt=”Cosesaurus and Rotodactylus, a perfect match.” width=”300″ height=”303″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cosesaurus-rotodactylus.jpg 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cosesaurus-rotodactylus.jpg?w=297&h=300 297w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />
Figure 3. Click to enlarge. Cosesaurus and Rotodactylus, a perfect match. Elevate the proximal phalanges along with the metatarsus, bend back digit 5 and Cosesaurus (left) fits perfectly into Rotodactylus (right).
“Here, we reconstruct and describe the hind limb of D. romeri using segmented μCT scans to produce digital 3D models of the pes.”
I like where this is going. I did the same when reconstructing PILs (parallel interphalangeal lines).
“We observe that the hind limb of D. romeri is very similar to that of Lagerpeton and infer that it would produce didactyl footprints. Furthermore, the hind limb would not be capable of producing footprints similar to Prorotodactylus or Rotodactylus,
See figures 2 and 3.
You heard that here first. Thankfully someone out there in academia is testing the lagerpetid hypothesis and finding faults like this.
Good job Krivka et al
Figure 1. Living hippopotamus. Now I ask you, does this look like a relative to deer and giraffes? Or to mesonychids?
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-24243″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Living hippopotamus. Now I ask you, does this look like a relative to deer and giraffes? Or to mesonychids?” width=”584″ height=”411″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg?w=584&h=411 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg?w=150&h=106 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg?w=300&h=211 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hippopotamus_invivo588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 4. Living hippopotamus. Now I ask you, does this look like a relative to deer and giraffes? Or to mesonychids?
Recurrent adaptation of the Hippopotamoidea to life in water
Lihoreau et al (p382)
“As they form a unique clade within Artiodactyla, it has been suggested that Hippopotamidae and Cetacea evolved from an aquatic ancestor.”
In the LRT mysticetes did evolve from aquatic hippos and desmostylians. However, odontocetes had a different ancestry far from the artiodactyls, with tenrecs and the giant tenrec, Phiomicetus.
“However, recent studies based on anatomical features have dismissed this idea.”
What studies are those?
“Given that aquatic habits evolved independently in the Hippopotamoidea and Cetacea, and probably multiple times within the Hippopotamoidea, we explore the number of terrestrial to semiaquatic shifts within the Hippopotamoidea, and their driving factors:”
That’s a wrong ‘given’ = false assumption. Start with a phylogenetic analysis and then let the tree tell you about recovered interrelationships.
“To further explore this topic, we recently conducted a geochemical analysis focusing on the δ18O = [delta oxygen 18] ratio of fossil hippopotamoid enamel.”
Why not just build a family tree, like the LRT? Go back to basics.
“our analysis reveals that environmental aridification is a key driver of adopting aquatic habitat in this clade.”
Where are hippos found today? And in what sort of geology are oreodonts found in? That should help answer this question.
Figure 3. Evolution and dorsal migration of the oral opening in galeaspids.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg?w=96″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg?w=327″ class=”size-full wp-image-69828″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Evolution and dorsal migration of the oral opening in galeaspids.” width=”584″ height=”1828″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg?w=584&h=1828 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg?w=48&h=150 48w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg?w=96&h=300 96w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/galeaspid_evolution588-3.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 5. Evolution and dorsal migration of the oral opening in galeaspids.
A super-sized eugaleaspiform fish (Galeaspida, Stem-Gnathostomata) from the Silurian of Yunnan, China and its palaeoecological implications
Lin et al (p383)
“The early Silurian eugaleaspiforms (mainly Shuyuidae and Sinogaleaspidae) are all small-sized fishes with their headshield length less than 40 mm.”
Early Devonian Drepanaspis (Fig 5) is 30 cm long. Other Early Silurian galeaspids are in the 20cm range. Many are indeed smaller.
“The new fish exhibits the diagnostic characters of the Eugaleaspiformes, including a triangle-shaped head shield with a blunt rostral margin, posterolaterally projecting cornual and inner cornual processes, and a slit-shaped median dorsal opening. Its headshield is exceptional, with a length exceeding 200 mm,” = 20cm.
“The new super-sized eugaleaspiform fish, together with the largest known osteichthyan Megamastax and the maxillate placoderm Silurolepis, from the upper Silurian Kuanti Formation of Yunnan, corroborates the high Silurian oxygen levels predicted by GEOCARBSULF.”
Figure 2. Tiny Janusiscus and Uranolophus, re-colored with tetrapod homologies. Compare to Guiyu in figure 1.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg?w=209″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-75196″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Tiny Janusiscus and Uranolophus, re-colored with tetrapod homologies. Compare to Guiyu in figure 1.” width=”584″ height=”838″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg?w=584&h=838 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg?w=105&h=150 105w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg?w=209&h=300 209w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/janusiscus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 6. Tiny Janusiscus and Uranolophus, re-colored with tetrapod homologies. Compare to Guiyu in figure 1.
Silurian–Devonian osteichthyans from South China illuminate early sarcopterygian evolution
Lu et al (p394)
“The Silurian to Early Devonian represents a critical interval in the evolutionary history of sarcopterygians, encompassing their origin, divergence from actinopterygians, and initial diversification toward tetrapods.”
“Despite this progress, key morphological disparities between stem osteichthyans and early sarcopterygians remain unresolved, leaving the acquisition of defining sarcopterygian traits unclear.”
The LRT made this clear.
“During the past ten years, extensive new osteichthyan material from South China—spanning the Silurian to Early Devonian—has begun to fill crucial gaps.”
The LRT recovers few gaps – all small.
“These include a Janusiscus-like braincase (Fig 6) from the Xitun Formation (Lochkovian, Early Devonian), offering new perspectives on braincase evolution in stem osteichthyans; small Meemannia- and Psarolepis-like specimens from the Yulongsi Formation (Pridoli, Late Silurian).”
The issue may be resolved by lumping and splitting these taxa and many others into a more comprehensive cladogram.
“Together, these findings significantly narrow the morphological gap between stem osteichthyans and sarcopterygians,”
In the LRT sarcopterygian ancestors include basal lungfish and extend back to Ediacaran worms. Coelacanths are not related.
Figure 2. Reconstruction of Jeholopterus. This owl-like bloodslurper was covered with super soft pycnofibers to make it a silent flyer.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-33881″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Reconstruction of Jeholopterus. This owl-like bloodslurper was covered with super soft pycnofibers to make it a silent flyer.” width=”584″ height=”534″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg?w=584&h=534 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg?w=150&h=137 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg?w=300&h=274 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jeholopterus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 7. Reconstruction of Jeholopterus. This owl-like bloodslurper was covered with super soft pycnofibers to make it a silent flyer.
Assessing relationships between ungual morphology and terrestrial ecology in pterosaurs
Ludwig et al (p396)
“Pterosaurs were Mesozoic archosauromorph reptiles”
Not good when pterosaur experts don’t have a clue what pterosaurs are AND promote this myth. Once again: adding taxa moves pterosaurs over to lepidosaurs. No traits link pterosaurs to their traditional sisters, dinosaurs, that can’t be found in more abundance elsewhere.
“their modes of terrestrial locomotion remain poorly constrained.”
And that’s the way the professors want to keep it. In reality we have a variety of pterosaur tracks and can reconstruct 260 specimens from rather complete skeletons. This supposed ‘constraint’ comes from the myth and hoax of the uropatagium that binds the hind limbs and lateral toes together as Unwin promoted in the 1990s and Peters 1995 debunked as roadkill wing membranes.
“Here, the terrestrial ecology of pterosaurs is reviewed using a novel methodological approach based on ungual and claw sheath morphometrics.”
Ctenochasmatids had the smallest claws. Jeholopterus (Fig 7) had the largest and most curved (like surgical needles) unguals. The LRT and ReptileEvolution.com showed that.
“This data reveals a hitherto unrecorded morphological diversity in pterosaur manual and pedal unguals,”
Images in ReptileEvolution.com were much earlier, at least by a decade, and more diverse.
Another citation might be Peters D 2011. ‘A Catalog of Pterosaur Pedes for Trackmaker Identification’ where the focus is on the pes. Ichnos 18(2):114-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10420940.2011.573605
“This information greatly furthers our understanding of the ecological diversity within Pterosauria, as well as the morphological diversity present in amniote claws.”
Don’t be like these authors as they “Pull a Larry Martin” by focusing on claws. Best to look at the whole specimen and all the specimens in context = interrelationships.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/11/19/svp-2025-abstracts-of-interest-9/
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