Institute of Geography and Geology, Palaeontology and Historical Geology, University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):144. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03599-9.
Nodosauridae is a group of thyreophoran dinosaurs characterized by a collar of prominent osteoderms. In comparison to its sister group, the often club-tailed ankylosaurids, a different lifestyle of nodosaurids could be assumed based on their neuroanatomy and weaponry, e.g., regarding applied defensive strategies. The holotype of the nodosaurid Struthiosaurus austriacus consists of a single partial braincase from the Late Cretaceous of Austria. Since neuroanatomy is considered to be associated with ecological tendencies, we created digital models of the braincase based on micro-CT data. The cranial endocast of S. austriacus generally resembles those of its relatives. A network of vascular canals surrounding the brain cavity further supports special thermoregulatory adaptations within Ankylosauria. The horizontal orientation of the lateral semicircular canal independently confirms previous appraisals of head posture for S. austriacus and, hence, strengthens the usage of the LSC as proxy for habitual head posture in fossil tetrapods. The short anterior and angular lateral semicircular canals, combined with the relatively shortest dinosaurian cochlear duct known so far and the lack of a floccular recess suggest a rather inert lifestyle without the necessity of sophisticated senses for equilibrium and hearing in S. austriacus. These observations agree with an animal that adapted to a comparatively inactive lifestyle with limited social interactions.
结节龙科是甲龙下目恐龙的一个科，其特征为有一圈突出的甲板。相较于其姊妹分类群，经常具有棒状尾巴的甲龙类，结节龙类的神经解剖学与武器装备显示出它们可能过着不同的生活方式，例如在防御策略的应用上。结节龙类的模式种，奥地利龙的正模标本是来自于奥地利晚白垩世的单一部分头颅骨。由于神经解剖学被认为与生态倾向有关，我们根据微 CT 数据创建了头颅骨的数位模型。奥地利龙的颅腔内部大致上与近亲类似。围绕在脑腔周围的血管网络进一步支持了甲龙类具有特殊的体温调节适应能力。外侧半规管的水平方位独立地证实了先前对奥地利龙头部姿势的评估，因此，加强了将外侧半规管作为化石四足动物习惯性头部姿势的代理指标的使用。短而有角度的前外侧半规管，加上已知的恐龙类耳蜗管中最短的，以及缺乏绒球小结叶，这显示出奥地利龙的生活方式相当不活跃，不需要复杂的平衡和听觉感官。这些观察结果与一种适应相对不活跃的生活方式、社交互动有限的动物相符。
