%0 Journal Article %1 10.1371/journal.pone.0064978 %A Fernandez, Vincent %A Abdala, Fernando %A Carlson, Kristian J. %A Cook, Della Collins %A Rubidge, Bruce S. %A Yates, Adam %A Tafforeau, Paul %D 2013 %I Public Library of Science %J PLoS ONE %K applications imaging tomography x-rays %N 6 %P e64978 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0064978 %T Synchrotron Reveals Early Triassic Odd Couple: Injured Amphibian and Aestivating Therapsid Share Burrow %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0064978 %V 8 %X <p>Fossorialism is a beneficial adaptation for brooding, predator avoidance and protection from extreme climate. The abundance of fossilised burrow casts from the Early Triassic of southern Africa is viewed as a behavioural response by many tetrapods to the harsh conditions following the Permo-Triassic mass-extinction event. However, scarcity of vertebrate remains associated with these burrows leaves many ecological questions unanswered. Synchrotron scanning of a lithified burrow cast from the Early Triassic of the Karoo unveiled a unique mixed-species association: an injured temnospondyl amphibian (<italic>Broomistega</italic>) that sheltered in a burrow occupied by an aestivating therapsid (<italic>Thrinaxodon</italic>). The discovery of this rare rhinesuchid represents the first occurrence in the fossil record of a temnospondyl in a burrow. The amphibian skeleton shows signs of a crushing trauma with partially healed fractures on several consecutive ribs. The presence of a relatively large intruder in what is interpreted to be a <italic>Thrinaxodon</italic> burrow implies that the therapsid tolerated the amphibian’s presence. Among possible explanations for such unlikely cohabitation, <italic>Thrinaxodon</italic> aestivation is most plausible, an interpretation supported by the numerous <italic>Thrinaxodon</italic> specimens fossilised in curled-up postures. Recent advances in synchrotron imaging have enabled visualization of the contents of burrow casts, thus providing a novel tool to elucidate not only anatomy but also ecology and biology of ancient tetrapods.</p>

@article{10.1371/journal.pone.0064978, abstract = {<p>Fossorialism is a beneficial adaptation for brooding, predator avoidance and protection from extreme climate. The abundance of fossilised burrow casts from the Early Triassic of southern Africa is viewed as a behavioural response by many tetrapods to the harsh conditions following the Permo-Triassic mass-extinction event. However, scarcity of vertebrate remains associated with these burrows leaves many ecological questions unanswered. Synchrotron scanning of a lithified burrow cast from the Early Triassic of the Karoo unveiled a unique mixed-species association: an injured temnospondyl amphibian (<italic>Broomistega</italic>) that sheltered in a burrow occupied by an aestivating therapsid (<italic>Thrinaxodon</italic>). The discovery of this rare rhinesuchid represents the first occurrence in the fossil record of a temnospondyl in a burrow. The amphibian skeleton shows signs of a crushing trauma with partially healed fractures on several consecutive ribs. The presence of a relatively large intruder in what is interpreted to be a <italic>Thrinaxodon</italic> burrow implies that the therapsid tolerated the amphibian’s presence. Among possible explanations for such unlikely cohabitation, <italic>Thrinaxodon</italic> aestivation is most plausible, an interpretation supported by the numerous <italic>Thrinaxodon</italic> specimens fossilised in curled-up postures. Recent advances in synchrotron imaging have enabled visualization of the contents of burrow casts, thus providing a novel tool to elucidate not only anatomy but also ecology and biology of ancient tetrapods.</p>}, added-at = {2013-07-01T22:08:48.000+0200}, author = {Fernandez, Vincent and Abdala, Fernando and Carlson, Kristian J. and Cook, Della Collins and Rubidge, Bruce S. and Yates, Adam and Tafforeau, Paul}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2d4b49f7853be01ea2b622be3f92f61c3/alex_ruff}, description = {PLOS ONE: Synchrotron Reveals Early Triassic Odd Couple: Injured Amphibian and Aestivating Therapsid Share Burrow}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0064978}, interhash = {470c7ebf066688339e95bf69941adedd}, intrahash = {d4b49f7853be01ea2b622be3f92f61c3}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, keywords = {applications imaging tomography x-rays}, month = {06}, number = 6, pages = {e64978}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, timestamp = {2013-07-01T22:08:48.000+0200}, title = {Synchrotron Reveals Early Triassic Odd Couple: Injured Amphibian and Aestivating Therapsid Share Burrow}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0064978}, volume = 8, year = 2013 }