The metabolic status of some late cretaceous dinosaurs

Science

Volumn 273, Issue 5279, 1996, Pages 1204-1207

  Ruben, John A ^a   Hillenius, Willem J ^a   Geist, Nicholas R ^a   Leitch, Andrew ^a   Jones, Terry D ^a   Currie, Philip J ^a   Horner, John R ^a   George III, Espe ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; BIRD; EVOLUTION; FACIAL BONE; FOSSIL; LUNG VENTILATION; MAMMAL; METABOLISM; NONHUMAN; NOSE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REPTILE;

AVES; DINOSAURIA; HYPACROSAURUS; MAMMALIA; NANOTYRANNUS; ORNITHISCHIA; ORNITHOMIMUS; REPTILIA; THEROPODA;

DINOSAUR; DROMAEOSAURUS; HYPACROSAURUS; METABOLIC RATE; NANOTYRANNUS; NASAL STRUCTURE; ORNITHISCHIAN; ORNITHOMIMUS; THEROPOD;

EID: 0029659886     PISSN: 00368075     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1126/science.273.5279.1204     Document Type: Article

References (22)

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4. J. A. Ruben, Annu. Rev. Physiol. 57, 69 (1995); J. F. Hubert et al., J. Sediment. Res. 66, 531 (1996).
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10. The rare exceptions in endotherms where respiratory turbinates are particularly poorly developed or absent are clearly related to secondary nasal or rostral specializations that preclude their presence. For example, turbinates and nostrils are absent in a number of diving birds of the order Pelecaniformes, including pelicans, gannets, and cormorants. Most of these birds are plunge divers and anterior open nostrils would be a potential liability in such cases [J. D. MacDonald, Proc Zool. Soc. London 135, 357 (1960)]. Similarly, respiratory turbinates are also absent or poorly developed in whales. However, in these exceptions, the presence of compensatory mechanisms serves to emphasize that endothermic lung ventilation rates necessitate some adaptation in order to counteract loss of respiratory water or heat {pelecaniformid birds maintain large nasal salt glands that probably allow them to drink sea water directly [P. C. Withers, Comparative Animal Physiology (Saunders College Press. Fort Worth, TX, 1992)]; at least some cetaceans possess a specialized nasal-cavity air compression mechanism for reduction of respiratory water and heal loss [W. H. Coulombe, S. H. Ridgeway, W. E. Elgin, Science, 149, 86 (1965)]}.
11. The rare exceptions in endotherms where respiratory turbinates are particularly poorly developed or absent are clearly related to secondary nasal or rostral specializations that preclude their presence. For example, turbinates and nostrils are absent in a number of diving birds of the order Pelecaniformes, including pelicans, gannets, and cormorants. Most of these birds are plunge divers and anterior open nostrils would be a potential liability in such cases [J. D. MacDonald, Proc Zool. Soc. London 135, 357 (1960)]. Similarly, respiratory turbinates are also absent or poorly developed in whales. However, in these exceptions, the presence of compensatory mechanisms serves to emphasize that endothermic lung ventilation rates necessitate some adaptation in order to counteract loss of respiratory water or heat {pelecaniformid birds maintain large nasal salt glands that probably allow them to drink sea water directly [P. C. Withers, Comparative Animal Physiology (Saunders College Press. Fort Worth, TX, 1992)]; at least some cetaceans possess a specialized nasal-cavity air compression mechanism for reduction of respiratory water and heal loss [W. H. Coulombe, S. H. Ridgeway, W. E. Elgin, Science, 149, 86 (1965)]}.
12. The rare exceptions in endotherms where respiratory turbinates are particularly poorly developed or absent are clearly related to secondary nasal or rostral specializations that preclude their presence. For example, turbinates and nostrils are absent in a number of diving birds of the order Pelecaniformes, including pelicans, gannets, and cormorants. Most of these birds are plunge divers and anterior open nostrils would be a potential liability in such cases [J. D. MacDonald, Proc Zool. Soc. London 135, 357 (1960)]. Similarly, respiratory turbinates are also absent or poorly developed in whales. However, in these exceptions, the presence of compensatory mechanisms serves to emphasize that endothermic lung ventilation rates necessitate some adaptation in order to counteract loss of respiratory water or heat {pelecaniformid birds maintain large nasal salt glands that probably allow them to drink sea water directly [P. C. Withers, Comparative Animal Physiology (Saunders College Press. Fort Worth, TX, 1992)]; at least some cetaceans possess a specialized nasal-cavity air compression mechanism for reduction of respiratory water and heal loss [W. H. Coulombe, S. H. Ridgeway, W. E. Elgin, Science, 149, 86 (1965)]}.
13. L. M. Witmer, J. Morphol. 225, 269 (1995).
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16. J. H. Ostrom, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 30, 1 (1969).
17. T. S. Parsons, in Biology of the Reptilia, C. Gans, d'A. Bellairs, T. S. Parsons, Eds. (Academic Press. New York. 1970), vol. 2, pp. 99-191.
18. Nasal cross-sectional areas were determined by means of microcomputer image analysis (MCID. Imaging Research, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada) either of cranial CAT-scan imagery or directly from sectioned skulls.
19. P. Dodson, personal communication.
20. D. B. Weishampel, J. Paleontol. 55, 1046 (1981).
21. J. A. Gauthier, Calif. Acad. Sci. Mem. 8, 1 (1986).
22. We thank R. Aldred; P. Beardsley: V. Buchouse; P. Constant; S. Hamilton; M. Mason; A. Stuempsl; S. Vondersaar; M. Woo; L. Yao; Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA; Good Samaritan Hosptial, Corvallis, OR; and Salem Hospital, Salem, OR, for CAT scanning; D. Auth for the loan of varanid specimens; A. Bennett, P. Dodson, and D. Weishampel for comments; B. Byrne, J. Melville, and P. Murtaugh for statistical advice: J. Farlow for review and comments; J. Joslin and C. Simpkins of the Washington Park Zoo for donation of the varanid specimen; M. Mauxpoux for image analysis; M. Meers for advice; F. Moore and C. Richardson for equipment and advice; R. Pickton for bird specimens; G. Smith and N. Smith for donation of emu specimens; G. Vaillancourt and D. Vaillancourt for donation of ostrich specimens; and the University of California, Los Angeles, Dickey Collection; the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History; and the Department of Zoology at Oregon State University for specimens. Supported by NSF grant IBN-9420290 to W.J.H. and J.A.R.