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Bolosaurus ear study does NOT provide phylogenetic insights. Only adding taxa does that.

Friday, November 22, 2024 10:38

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Jenkins et al 2024 provided greatly appreciated µCT data

for Bolosaurus (Fig 1), an Early Permian bolosaurid diadectid in the LRT (subset Fig 4).

Figure 1. Color image of Bolosaurus µCT scans from Jenkins et al 2024, here compared to line art of the related taxon, Belebey. ” data-image-caption=”

Figure 1. Color image of Bolosaurus µCT scans from Jenkins et al 2024, here compared to line art of the related taxon, Belebey.

” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg?w=297″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89977″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Color image of Bolosaurus µCT scans from Jenkins et al 2024, here compared to line art of the related taxon, Belebey. ” width=”584″ height=”590″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg?w=584&h=590 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg?w=148&h=150 148w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg?w=297&h=300 297w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/belebey-bolosaurus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />

Figure 1. Color image of Bolosaurus µCT scans from Jenkins et al 2024, here compared to line art of the related taxon, Belebey.

Prior to the Jenkins et al study
data for Bolosaurus came from Watson 1954 (Fig 2) who provided line art typical of that period, some 70 years ago.

Figure 2. Line drawings from Watson 1954. Colors added here. ” data-image-caption=”

Figure 2. Line drawings from Watson 1954. Colors added here.

” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg?w=290″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89979″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Line drawings from Watson 1954. Colors added here. ” width=”584″ height=”604″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg?w=584&h=604 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg?w=145&h=150 145w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg?w=290&h=300 290w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />

Figure 2. Line drawings from Watson 1954. Colors added here. Premaxilla restored by Watson.

From the Jenkins et al 2024 abstract:
“Resolving the phylogenetic relationships of early amniotes, in particular stem reptiles, remains a difficult problem.

This is false. The large reptile tree (LRT, 2327 taxa) resolved early amniote relationships a decade ago. Regardless, the Jenkins et al study (Fig 3) did not resolve this ‘difficult problem’ due to taxon exclusion = too few taxa.

“Three‐dimensional morphological analysis of well‐preserved stem‐reptile specimens can reveal important anatomical data and clarify regions of phylogeny.

More importantly a wider gamut of taxa data taken from engravings, line drawings (Fig 2), color photos and µCT scans is the first step to set a cladogram that more accurately models evolutionary events. Jenkins et al did not take that first step.

“Here, we present the first thorough description of the unusual early Permian stem reptile Bolosaurus major, including the first comprehensive description of a bolosaurid braincase. We describe previously obscured details of the palate, allowing for insight into bolosaurid feeding mechanics.

Good to have, but a wider gamut analysis, like the LRT, is needed first.

Figure 3. Cladogram from Jenkins et al 2024, Color added here. Red taxa are related to one another in the LRT as members of the Archosauromorpha, splitting from Lepidosauromorpha in the Viséan. ” data-image-caption=”

Figure 3. Cladogram from Jenkins et al 2024, Color added here. Red taxa are related to one another in the LRT as members of the Archosauromorpha, splitting from Lepidosauromorpha in the Viséan.

” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg?w=248″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89984″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Cladogram from Jenkins et al 2024, Color added here. Red taxa are related to one another in the LRT as members of the Archosauromorpha, splitting from Lepidosauromorpha in the Viséan.” width=”584″ height=”706″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg?w=584&h=706 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg?w=124&h=150 124w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg?w=248&h=300 248w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bolosaurid-relationships-588-1.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />

Figure 3. Cladogram from Jenkins et al 2024, Color added here. Red taxa are related to one another in the LRT as members of the Archosauromorpha, splitting from Lepidosauromorpha in the Viséan.

Continuing from the Jenkins et al 2024 abstract:

“Aspects of the rostrum, palate, mandible, and neurocranium suggest that B. major had a particularly strong bite. We additionally found B. major has a surprisingly slender stapes, similar to that of the middle Permian stem reptile Macroleter poezicus, which may suggest enhanced hearing abilities compared to other Paleozoic amniotes (e.g., captorhinids).

Good to know, but these fine details first need to be seen within a wide-gamut phylogenetic context, like the LRT.

“We incorporated our new anatomical information into a large phylogenetic matrix (150 OTUs, 590 characters) to explore the relationship of Bolosauridae among stem reptiles.

The LRT employs 2327 OTUs = taxa and 238 characters demonstraing that character count is not more important than taxon number. The Jenkins et al results (Fig 3) fall far short of their goals due to taxon exclusion.

Figure 3. Subset of the LRT focusing on basal Lepidosauromorpha and Diadectidae. ” data-image-caption=”

Figure 3. Subset of the LRT focusing on basal Lepidosauromorpha and Diadectidae.

” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg?w=165″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg?w=563″ class=”size-full wp-image-87199″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Subset of the LRT focusing on basal Lepidosauromorpha and Diadectidae.” width=”584″ height=”1062″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg?w=584&h=1062 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg?w=83&h=150 83w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg?w=165&h=300 165w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadectids-lepidosauromorpha588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />

Figure 4. Subset of the LRT focusing on basal Lepidosauromorpha and Diadectidae.

Continuing from the Jenkins et al 2024 abstract:
“Our analyses generally recovered a paraphyletic “Parareptilia,” and found Bolosauridae to diverge after Captorhinidae + Araeoscelidia.

The LRT found the traditional clade ‘Parareptilia‘ to be invalid over a decade ago and captorhinids are not related to araeoscelids. Add taxa to find this out for yourself.

“We also included B. major within a smaller matrix (10 OTUs, 27 characters) designed to explore the interrelationships of Bolosauridae and found all species of Bolosaurus to be monophyletic. While reptile relationships still require further investigation, our phylogeny suggests repeated evolution of impedance‐matching ears in Paleozoic stem reptiles.”

This study was hobbled by taxon exclusion. Bolosaurs and procolophonids nest with diadectids when taxon exclusion is minimized. And these taxa nest with pareiasaurs and turtles within an expanded Lepidosauromorpha (traditional definition). Macroleter is basal to the rest of this clade that leads to lepidosaurs.

Saurorictus, Macroleter and Lanthanosuchus ” data-image-caption=”

Figure 3. Saurorictus, Macroleter and Lanthanosuchus demonstrating the evolution of one to another and another of these sister taxa.

” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-3770″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg” alt=”Saurorictus, Macroleter and Lanthanosuchus” width=”584″ height=”343″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg?w=584&h=343 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg?w=150&h=88 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg?w=300&h=176 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lanthanosuchus-kin588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />

Figure 3. From 2012, prior to the standard DGS colors used now. Saurorictus, Macroleter and Lanthanosuchus demonstrating the evolution of one to another and another of these sister taxa.

Lead author Dr Kelsey Jenkins of Yale University
studies and reports on the evolutionary history of sense organs, hence the study of Bolosaurus hearing. See YouTube videos listed below.

References
Jenkins KM et al (5 co-authors) 2024. Cranial anatomy and phylogenetic affinities of Bolosaurus major, with new information on the unique bolosaurid feeding apparatus and evolution of the impedance‐matching ear. The Anatomical Record @ ResearchGate.net

Sensory evolution lecture featuring lead author Dr Kelsey Jenkins, Yale University.

2021 YouTube video on the evolution of the stapes by Kelsey Jenikins

2023 YouTube video on the pineal eye by Kelsey Jenkins

Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/11/22/bolosaurus-ear-study-does-not-provide-phylogenetic-insights-only-adding-taxa-does-that/

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