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Modified skulls but conservative brains? The palaeoneurology and endocranial anatomy of baryonychine dinosaurs (Theropoda: Spinosauridae) Project ID: 000491312 Public
11 Media · 2 Specimens · Managed by: Ryan Ridgely, EvoPalaeoLab UoS, Lawrence Witmer

Chris Tijani Barker, Darren Naish, Jacob Trend, Lysanne Veerle Michels, Lawrence M. Witmer, Ryan C. Ridgley, Katy Rankin, Claire E. Clarkin, Philipp Schneider, and Neil J. Gostling The digital reconstruction of neurocranial endocasts has elucidated the gross brain structure and potential ecological attributes of many fossil taxa, including Irritator, a spinosaurine spinosaurid from the “mid” Cretaceous (Aptian) of Brazil. With unexceptional hearing capabilities, this taxon was inferred to integrate rapid and controlled pitch-down movements of the head that perhaps aided in the predation of small and agile prey such as fish. However, the neuroanatomy of baryonychine spinosaurids remains to be described, and potentially informs the condition of early spinosaurids. Using micro-computed tomographic scanning (μCT), we reconstruct the braincase endocasts of Baryonyx walkeri and Ceratosuchops inferodios from the Wealden Supergroup (Lower Cretaceous) of England. We show that the gross endocranial morphology is similar to other non-maniraptoriform theropods, and corroborates previous observations of overall endocranial conservatism amongst more basal theropods. Several differences of unknown taxonomic utility are noted between the pair. Baryonychine neurosensory capabilities include low frequency hearing and unexceptional olfaction, whilst the differing morphology of the floccular lobe tentatively suggests less developed gaze stabilisation mechanisms relative to spinosaurines. Given the morphological similarities observed with other basal tetanurans, baryonychines likely possessed similar behavioural sophistication, suggesting that the transition from terrestrial hypercarnivorous ancestors to semi-aquatic “generalists” during the evolution of Spinosauridae did not require substantial modification of the brain and sensory systems.

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  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000491254 Rostral braincase NHMUK:PAL:PV R 9951 a Baryonyx walkeri Volumetric Image Series 2023-01-10 Open Download  
000491247 Caudal Braincase NHMUK:PAL:PV R 9951 a Baryonyx walkeri Volumetric Image Series 2023-01-10 Open Download  
000491571 Endocast NHMUK:PAL:PV R 9951 a Baryonyx walkeri Mesh 2023-01-12 Open Download  
000491555 Rostral braincase NHMUK:PAL:PV R 9951 a Baryonyx walkeri Mesh 2023-01-12 Open Download  
000491577 Otoccipital NHMUK:PAL:PV R 9951 a Baryonyx walkeri Mesh 2023-01-12 Open Download  
000491258 Otoccipital NHMUK:PAL:PV R 9951 a Baryonyx walkeri Volumetric Image Series 2023-01-10 Open Download  
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