Complex rostral neurovascular system in a giant pliosaur

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Marine Biology
• Functional Morphology

Background:

• Pliosaurs were large, successful Mesozoic marine predators.
• Prey detection mechanisms in pliosaurs remain poorly understood.
• Neurovascular systems in vertebrate rostra are crucial for sensory functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neurovascular system of a well-preserved pliosaur rostrum.
• To determine the potential sensory functions of this system for prey detection.

Main Methods:

• Computed tomography (CT) scanning of a Kimmeridgian pliosaur fossil.
• Detailed analysis of neurovascular channels within the rostrum.
• Comparison with sensory systems in extant vertebrates.

Main Results:

• An extensive, bifurcating neurovascular complex was identified in the pliosaur's snout.
• Channels extended from the rostrum to teeth and surface foramina.
• Surface structures and nerve concentrations suggest a sensory function.

Conclusions:

• The pliosaur possessed a sophisticated sensory system in its snout.
• This system may have functioned similarly to modern crocodile pressure or shark electroreceptors.
• Provides new insights into the predatory adaptations of Mesozoic marine reptiles.