A cloacal opening in a non-avian dinosaur.

A cloacal opening in a non-avian dinosaur. Curr Biol. 2021 Jan 13;: Authors: Vinther J, Nicholls R, Kelly DA Abstract The Frankfurt specimen of Psittacosaurus sp. (SMF R 4970) from the Early Cretaceous Jehol deposits of Liaoning (Figure S1) exhibits the best preservation of scale-clad integument in any non-avian dinosaur yet described1. Preservation of colour patterns and countershading allowed a detailed reconstruction of this individual's physical appearance suggesting it was camouflaged for life in a shaded lighting environment2. It was previously noted that the cloacal region was preserved2, but its detailed anatomy was incorrectly reconstructed. We show here that the fine anatomy of the vent is remarkably well preserved and can be retrodeformed to illustrate its three-dimensional nature. The vent's scale anatomy and pigmentation are distinct from adjacent body regions, and although its anatomy does not reveal much information about the ecology, or sex, of this dinosaur, it suggests possible roles for visual and olfactory signalling. PMID: 33472049 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Biology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Curr Biol Source Type: research