A Jurassic Tibetan theropod tooth reveals dental convergency and its implication for identifying fragmentary fossils
-
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
DownLoad:
Full size image
-
PUBLIC SUMMARY
-
A Jurassic theropod tooth was discovered from the Tibetan Plateau.
Cladistic analyses supported a dromaeosaurid affinity for this tooth.
Discriminant analyses placed this theropod within Metriacanthosauridae.
The dromaeosaurid-like dental morphology is due to convergent evolution.
Multiple lines of evidences should be used to identify fragmentary fossils.
-
-
ABSTRACT
The Tibetan Plateau is among the least explored areas in terms of dinosaur paleontology in the world. Here, we report a dromaeosaurid-like tooth from the Middle Jurassic Dongdaqiao Formation at the eastern part of the plateau. The tooth exhibits dromaeosaurid dental features such as the absence of constriction at the cervix, a relatively small crown-to-base ratio, a strongly recurved apex, and it lacks large transverse and marginal undulations. Parsimonious phylogenetic analyses using both dentition-based and complete morphological matrices support a dromaeosaurid affinity for this tooth and place this Tibetan theropod as the sister taxon to Velociraptor. However, Bayesian tip dating analyses based on the velociraptorine affinity of the Tibetan tooth place the majority of the diversifications of early-diverging Paravian within – or earlier than – the Middle Jurassic, which conflicts with the paravian fossil record. Furthermore, our discriminant analysis based on morphometric data places the Tibetan theropod within Metriacanthosauridae. These results may suggest that the broad resemblance between the Tibetan specimen and velociraptorine teeth is due to convergent evolution. Based on our results, other dromaeosaurid-like teeth reported from the Middle and Late Jurassic deposits throughout Eurasia could potentially be from non-dromaeosaurids. This study suggests the presence of an early diverged theropod lineage with a wide geographical distribution and potentially a dromaeosaurid-like dietary niche. This study also highlights the importance of using multiple lines of data to identify fragmentary fossils. -
-
REFERENCES
[1] Zhao, X. (1985). The Jurassic reptile fauna of China. In The Jurassic system of China Y. Hao, ed. (Geological Publishing House), pp. 286-291. [2] Fang, X., Zhang, Z., Lu, L., et al. (2006). Collision between the Indian plate and the paleoAsian plate and the appearance of Asian dinosaurs. Geological Bulletin of China 25, 862−873, [3] Xijin, Z. (1983). Phylogeny and evolutionary stages of dinosauria. Acta Palaeontol Pol 28, 1−2, [4] Xing, L., Jerald, D.H., and Philip, J.C. (2011). First record of dinosaur trackway from Tibet, China. Geological Bulletin of China 30, 173−178, [5] Xing, L., Xu, X., Lockley, M.G., et al. (2021). Sauropod trackways from the Middle Jurassic Chaya Group of eastern Tibet, China. Hist Biol 33, 3141−3151, [6] Xing, L., Chou, C., Lockley, M.G., et al. (2017). First report of avian tracks from the Cretaceous of Tibet, China. Acta Geol Sin 91, 2312−2313, [7] Wei, X., Wang, Q., An, X., et al. (2023). New sauropod remains from the Middle Jurassic Dongdaqiao Formation of Qamdo, eastern Tibet. Palaeoworld 32, 592−606, [8] An, X., Xu, X., Han, F., et al. (2023). A new juvenile sauropod specimen from the Middle Jurassic Dongdaqiao Formation of east Tibet. PeerJ 11, e14982, [9] Metcalfe, I. (2013). Gondwana dispersion and Asian accretion: Tectonic and palaeogeographic evolution of eastern Tethys. J Asian Earth Sci 66, 1−33, [10] Shang, F., and Amy, W. Mesozoic deposystems and evolution of the Qamdo Basin,eastern Tibet. Acta Geol Sin 85 , 582, [11] Wang, X., Williams, J., Bi, X., et al. (2019). Late Cretaceous transtension in the eastern Tibetan Plateau: evidence from postcollisional A-type granite and syenite in the Changdu Area, China. J Geophys Res-Sol Ea 124, 6409−6427, [12] Bureau-of-Geology-and-mineral-resources-of-Tibet-Autonomous-Region. (1993). Regional Geological Records of Tibet Autonomous Region (Beijing:Geological Publishing House). [13] Fei, J., Shen, L., Guan, X., and Sun, Z. (2022). S and Sr isotope compositions and trace element compositions of the Middle Jurassic evaporites in eastern Tibet: provenance and palaeogeographic implications. Minerals 12, 1039, [14] Hendrickx, C., Tschopp, E., and Ezcurra, M.d. (2020). Taxonomic identification of isolated theropod teeth: the case of the shed tooth crown associated with Aerosteon (Theropoda: Megaraptora) and the dentition of Abelisauridae. Cretaceous Res 108, 104312, [15] Hendrickx, C., Mateus, O., Araujo, R., and Choiniere, J. (2019). The distribution of dental features in non-avian theropod dinosaurs: taxonomic potential, degree of homoplasy, and major evolutionary trends. Palaeontol Electron 22, 1−110, [16] Pei, R., Pittman, M., Goloboff, P.A., et al. (2020). Potential for powered flight neared by most close avialan relatives, but few crossed its thresholds. Curr Biol 30, 4033−4046.e4038, [17] Hu, D., Clarke, J.A., Eliason, C.M., et al. (2018). A bony-crested Jurassic dinosaur with evidence of iridescent plumage highlights complexity in early paravian evolution. Nat Commun 9, 217, [18] Hendrickx, C., and Mateus, O. (2014). Abelisauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal and dentition-based phylogeny as a contribution for the identification of isolated theropod teeth. Zootaxa 3759, 1−74, [19] Hartman, S., Mortimer, M., Wahl, W.R., et al. (2019). A new paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports a late acquisition of avian flight. PeerJ 7, e7247, [20] Brusatte, S., Lloyd, G., Wang, S., and Norell, M. (2014). Gradual assembly of avian body plan culminated in rapid rates of evolution across the Dinosaur-Bird Transition. Curr Biol 24, 2386−2392, [21] Xu, X., You, H., Du, K., and Han, F. (2011). An Archaeopteryx-like theropod from China and the origin of avialae. Nature 475, 465−470, [22] Hendrickx, C., Mateus, O., and Araújo, R. (2014). The Dentition of megalosaurid theropods. Acta Palaeontol Pol 60, 627−642,616, [23] Xu, X., Clark, J.M., Forster, C.A., et al. (2006). A basal tyrannosauroid dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of China. Nature 439, 715−718, [24] Xu, X., Norell, M.A., Kuang, X., et al. (2004). Basal tyrannosauroids from China and evidence for protofeathers in tyrannosauroids. Nature 431, 680−684, [25] Hutt, S., Naish, D., Martill, D.M., et al. (2001). A preliminary account of a new tyrannosauroid theropod from the Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous) of southern England. Cretaceous Res 22, 227−242, [26] Sereno, P.C., Tan, L., Brusatte, S.L., et al. (2009). Tyrannosaurid skeletal design first evolved at small body size. Science 326, 418−422, [27] Currie, P.J. (2003). Cranial anatomy of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. Acta Palaeontol Pol 48, 191−226, [28] Smith, J.B. (2005). Heterodonty in Tyrannosaurus rex: implications for the taxonomic and systematic utility of theropod dentitions. J Vertebr Paleontol 25, 865−887, [29] Yates, A.M. (2005). A new theropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and its implications for the early evolution of theropods. Palaeontologia africana 41, 105−122, [30] Marsh, A.D., and Rowe, T.B. (2020). A comprehensive anatomical and phylogenetic evaluation of Dilophosaurus wetherilli (Dinosauria, Theropoda) with descriptions of new specimens from the Kayenta Formation of northern Arizona. J Paleontol 94, 1−103, [31] Averianov, A., Krasnolutskii, S., and Ivantsov, S. (2010). A new basal coelurosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Siberia. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute 314, 42−57, [32] Carr, T.D., and Williamson, T.E. (2010). Bistahieversor sealeyi, gen. et sp. nov., a new tyrannosauroid from New Mexico and the origin of deep snouts in tyrannosauroidea. J Vertebr Paleontol 30, 1−16, [33] Brusatte, S.L., Benson, R.B., and Norell, M.A. (2011). The anatomy of Dryptosaurus aquilunguis (Dinosauria: Theropoda) and a review of its tyrannosauroid affinities. Am Mus Novit 2011, 1−53, [34] Carr, T.D., Williamson, T.E., Britt, B.B., and Stadtman, K. (2011). Evidence for high taxonomic and morphologic tyrannosauroid diversity in the Late Cretaceous (Late Campanian) of the American Southwest and a new short-skulled tyrannosaurid from the Kaiparowits Formation of Utah. Naturwissenschaften 98, 241−246, [35] Hurum, J.H., and Sabath, K. (2003). Giant theropod dinosaurs from Asia and North America: skulls of Tarbosaurus bataar and Tyrannosaurus rex compared. Acta Palaeontol Pol 48, 161−190, [36] Hone, D.W.E., Wang, K., Sullivan, C., et al. (2011). A new, large tyrannosaurine theropod from the Upper Cretaceous of China. Cretaceous Res 32, 495−503, [37] Li, D., Norell, M.A., Gao, K.-Q., et al. (2010). A longirostrine tyrannosauroid from the Early Cretaceous of China. Proc R Soc Lond B 277, 183−190, [38] Nesbitt, S.J., Denton, R.K., Loewen, M.A., et al. (2019). A mid-Cretaceous tyrannosauroid and the origin of North American end-Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages. Nat Ecol Evol 3, 892−899, [39] Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhang, K., et al. (2012). A gigantic feathered dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Nature 484, 92−95, [40] Porfiri, J.D., Novas, F.E., Calvo, J.O., et al. (2014). Juvenile specimen of Megaraptor (Dinosauria, Theropoda) sheds light about tyrannosauroid radiation. Cretaceous Res 51, 35−55, [41] Novas, F.E., Ezcurra, M.D., and Lecuona, A. (2008). Orkoraptor burkei nov. gen. et sp., a large theropod from the Maastrichtian Pari Aike Formation, southern Patagonia, Argentina. Cretaceous Res 29, 468−480, [42] Hendrickx, C., Stiegler, J., Currie, P.J., et al. (2020). Dental anatomy of the apex predator Sinraptor dongi (Theropoda: Allosauroidea) from the Late Jurassic of China. Can J Earth Sci 57, 1127−1147, [43] Bonaparte, J.F. (1979). Dinosaurs: A Jurassic assemblage from Patagonia. Science 205, 1377−1379, [44] Rauhut, O.W.M., Foth, C., Tischlinger, H., and Norell, M.A. (2012). Exceptionally preserved juvenile megalosauroid theropod dinosaur with filamentous integument from the Late Jurassic of Germany. Proc Natl Acad of Sci USA 109, 11746−11751, [45] Rauhut, O.W.M., Milner, A.C., and Moore-Fay, S. (2010). Cranial osteology and phylogenetic position of the theropod dinosaur Proceratosaurus bradleyi (Woodward, 1910) from the Middle Jurassic of England. Zool J Linn Soc-Lond 158, 155−195, [46] Azuma, Y., and Currie, P.J. (2000). A new carnosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Japan. Can J Earth Sci 37, 1735−1753, [47] Currie, P.J., and Carpenter, K. (2000). A new specimen of Acrocanthosaurus atokensis (Theropoda, Dinosauria) from the lower Cretaceous Antlers formation (lower Cretaceous, Aptian) of Oklahoma, USA. Geodiversitas 22, 207−246, [48] Eddy, D.R., and Clarke, J.A. (2011). New information on the cranial anatomy of Acrocanthosaurus atokensis and its implications for the phylogeny of allosauroidea (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Plos one 6, e17932, [49] Brusatte, S.L., and Sereno, P.C. (2007). A new species of Carcharodontosaurus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Niger and a revision of the genus. J Vertebr Paleontol 27, 902−916, [50] Coria, R.A., and Currie, P.J. (2006). A new carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina. Geodiversitas 28, 71−118, [51] Coria, R.A., and Salgado, L. (1995). A new giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature 377, 224−226, [52] Brusatte, S.L., Carr, T.D., and Norell, M.A. (2012). The osteology of Alioramus, a gracile and long-snouted tyrannosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. B Am Mus Nat Hist 2012, 1−197, [53] Averianov, A.O., and Sues, H.D. (2007). A new troodontid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Uzbekistan, with a review of troodontid records from the territories of the former Soviet Union. J Vertebr Paleontol 27, 87−98, [54] Cau, A., Beyrand, V., Voeten, D.F.A.E., et al. (2017). Synchrotron scanning reveals amphibious ecomorphology in a new clade of bird-like dinosaurs. Nature 552, 395−399, [55] Gianechini, F.A., Makovicky, P.J., and Apesteguía, S. (2011). The Teeth of the Unenlagiine Theropod Buitreraptor from the Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina, and the unusual Dentition of the Gondwanan Dromaeosaurids. Acta Palaeontol Pol 56, 279−290,212, [56] Xu, X., and Wu, X. (2001). Cranial morphology of Sinornithosaurus millenii Xu et al. 1999 (Dinosauria: Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China. Can J Earth Sci 38 , 1739-1752, [57] Xu, X., and Wang, X. (2004). A new dromaeosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 43, 111, [58] Sankey, J.T., Brinkman, D.B., Guenther, M., and Currie, P.J. (2002). Small theropod and bird teeth from the late Cretaceous (late Campanian) Judith River Group, Alberta. J Paleontol 76, 751−763, [59] Norell, M.A., Clark, J.M., Turner, A.H., et al. (2006). A new dromaeosaurid theropod from Ukhaa Tolgod (Ömnögov, Mongolia). Am Mus Novit 2006, 1−51, [60] Currie, P.J., and Evans, D.C. (2020). Cranial anatomy of new specimens of Saurornitholestes langstoni (Dinosauria, Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae) from the Dinosaur Park Formation (Campanian) of Alberta. Anat Rec 303, 691−715, [61] Jasinski, S.E., Sullivan, R.M., and Dodson, P. (2020). New dromaeosaurid dinosaur (theropoda, dromaeosauridae) from New Mexico and biodiversity of dromaeosaurids at the end of the Cretaceous. Sci Rep 10, 5105, [62] Hwang, S.H., Norell, M.A., Qiang, J., and Keqin, G. (2002). New specimens of Microraptor zhaoianus (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) from northeastern China. Am Mus Novit 2002, 1−44, [63] Currie, P.J., and Rigby, J.K. (1990). Theropod teeth from the Judith river formation of southern Alberta, Canada. In Dinosaur Systematics: Approaches and Perspectives, K. Carpenter, and P.J. Currie, eds. (Cambridge University Press), pp. 107. [64] DePalma, R.A., Burnham, D.A., Martin, L.D., et al. (2015). The first giant raptor (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) from the Hell Creek Formation. Paleontological Contributions 14, 1−16, [65] Brownstein, C.D. (2018). A large dromaeosaurid from North Carolina. Cretaceous Res 92, 1−7, [66] Sues, H.D., and Averianov, A. (2014). Dromaeosauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Bissekty Formation (Upper Cretaceous: Turonian) of Uzbekistan and the phylogenetic position of Itemirus medullaris Kurzanov, 1976. Cretaceous Res 51, 225−240, [67] Averianov, A., Martin, T., and Bakirov, A. (2005). Pterosaur and dinosaur remains from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Svita in the northern Fergana Depression, Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia). Palaeontology 48, 135−155, [68] Fraser, N.C., and Sues, H.D. (1997). In the shadow of the dinosaurs: early Mesozoic tetrapods (Cambridge University Press). [69] Han, F., Clark, J.M., Xu, X., et al. (2011). Theropod teeth from the Middle-Upper Jurassic Shishugou Formation of northwest Xinjiang, China. J Vertebr Paleontol 31, 111−126, [70] Metcalf, S.J., Vaughan, R.F., Benton, M.J., et al. (1992). A new Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) microvertebrate site, within the Chipping Norton Limestone Formation at Hornsleasow Quarry, Gloucestershire. P Geologist Assoc 103, 321−342, [71] Prasad, G.V.R., and Parmar, V. (2020). First ornithischian and theropod dinosaur teeth from the Middle Jurassic Kota Formation of India: paleobiogeographic relationships. In Biological Consequences of Plate Tectonics: New Perspectives on Post-Gondwana Break-up–A Tribute to Ashok Sahni, G.V.R. Prasad, and R. Patnaik, eds. (Springer International Publishing), pp. 1-30. [72] Foster, J.R., and Heckert, A.B. (2011). Ichthyoliths and other microvertebrate remains from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of northeastern Wyoming: A screen-washed sample indicates a significant aquatic component to the fauna. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 305, 264−279, [73] Pittman, M., and Xu, X. (2020). Pennaraptoran theropod dinosaurs past progress and new frontiers. B Am Mus Nat Hist 440, 1−355, [74] Young, C.M.E., Hendrickx, C., Challands, T.J., et al. (2019). New theropod dinosaur teeth from the Middle Jurassic of the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Scot J Geol 55, 7−19, [75] von Huene, F. (1923). Carnivorous saurischia in Europe since the Triassic. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America 34, 449−458, [76] Torices, A., Wilkinson, R., Arbour, V.M., et al. (2018). Puncture-and-pull biomechanics in the teeth of predatory coelurosaurian dinosaurs. Curr Biol 28 , 1467-1474. e1462, -
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Cite this article:
Yu Y., Yi H., Wang S., et al., (2023). A Jurassic Tibetan theropod tooth reveals dental convergency and its implication for identifying fragmentary fossils. The Innovation Geoscience 1(3), 100040. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2023.100040
Welcome!
To request copyright permission to republish or share portions of our works, please visit Copyright Clearance Center's (CCC) Marketplace website at marketplace.copyright.com.
Figures(6)
Article Metrics
Relative Articles
Cited by
Export File
Citation
Yu Y., Yi H., Wang S., et al., (2023). A Jurassic Tibetan theropod tooth reveals dental convergency and its implication for identifying fragmentary fossils. The Innovation Geoscience 1(3), 100040. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2023.100040
Format
Content
-
Figure 1.
Map of Changdu area
-
Figure 2.
Photograph of the isolated tooth
-
Figure 3.
Microstructure of the isolated tooth
-
Figure 4.
Cladogram showing the systematic position of the isolated teeth
-
Figure 5.
Time-scaled paravian phylogeny shows the ages of major Dromaeosauridae nodes
-
Figure 6.
Result of discriminant analysis
