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Article: Life‐history strategies indicate live‐bearing in Nothosaurus (Sauropterygia)

Palaeontology - Vol. 62 Part 4 - Cover Image
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 62
Part: 4
Publication Date: July 2019
Page(s): 697 713
Author(s): Eva M. Griebeler, and Nicole Klein
Addition Information

How to Cite

GRIEBELER, E.M., KLEIN, N. 2019. Life‐history strategies indicate live‐bearing in Nothosaurus (Sauropterygia) . Palaeontology, 62, 4, 697-713. DOI: /doi/10.1111/pala.12425

Author Information

  • Eva M. Griebeler - Institute of Organismic & Molecular Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology Johannes Gutenberg‐University Mainz D‐55099 Germany
  • Nicole Klein - State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart Rosenstein 1 Stuttgart D‐70191 Germany
  • Nicole Klein - Division of Palaeontology Steinmann‐Institute University of Bonn Nussallee 8 Bonn D‐53115 Germany

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 24 June 2019
  • Manuscript Accepted: 01 January 2019
  • Manuscript Received: 20 July 2018

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

In Sauropterygia, a diverse group of Mesozoic marine reptiles, fossil evidence of viviparity (live‐bearing) only exists for Pachypleurosauria and Plesiosauria, and was assumed to also be the case for nothosaurs. Previous studies have successfully applied an extant squamate model to sauropterygian life‐history traits. In extant squamates, oviparity and viviparity are associated with differences in life‐history trait combinations. We establish growth curves for Nothosaurus specimens based on their humeral histology. We then analyse life‐history traits derived from these curves and compare inferred traits to those of modern squamates and pachypleurosaurs to assess their reproduction mode. We show that birth to adult size ratios (i.e. birth size divided by the mother's size) provide good estimates of clutch sizes in extant squamates and in viviparous extinct marine reptiles, but these ratios cannot discriminate viviparous and oviparous squamates. Thus, large ratios do not indicate viviparity in fossil taxa to which the extant squamate model is applicable. Applying differences in birth size, age at maturation, and maximum longevity that are observed between extant viviparous and oviparous squamates to our Nothosaurus sample, we identified 7 out of 24 specimens as being potentially viviparous. Conversely, they suggested oviparity for many nothosaurs but also for many pachypleurosaur samples. Under the assumption that the entire clade Pachypleurosauria was viviparous, the majority of nothosaurs would also have been viviparous as they comprised trait combinations similar to those seen in pachypleurosaurs. Overall, this suggests that within nothosaurs and pachypleurosaurs both reproduction modes existed in different taxa.

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