Middle Triassic Kapes bentoni Procolophonid CT Scans and 3D Restoration

CT scanning and 3D digital restoration of a Middle Triassic Kapes bentoni procolophonid specimen from the Anisian Otter Sandstone of Devon, UK, reveal anatomical details like enlarged quadratojugal processes. The dataset includes the first substantial skull and anterior postcranial skeleton description for this genus, providing insight into ossification patterns and enabling its first inclusion in a cladistic analysis.

Use Cases

• Analyze the 3D digital restoration of the skull to study the morphology of the enlarged quadratojugal processes.
• Use CT scan data of the fused scapulocoracoid and skull sutures to investigate reptilian ossification patterns.
• Incorporate the anatomical information from the specimen into a phylogenetic analysis to place Kapes bentoni relative to other procolophonids like Kapes majmesculae.
• Study the heavily worn teeth from the scans to infer possible limitations in tooth replacement for this taxon.
• Examine the postcranial skeleton data to make inferences on fossorial (burrowing) modes of life in procolophonids.

Strengths

• Data is derived from CT scanning, a non-destructive method that reveals internal anatomical details difficult to obtain through physical preparation.
• The specimen represents one of the few mature procolophonid specimens with a preserved postcranium, offering rare skeletal data.
• The dataset enabled the first inclusion of Kapes bentoni in a cladistic analysis, establishing its phylogenetic position.

Limitations

• The dataset is based on a single specimen, limiting statistical power and generalizability for the species.
• Anatomical data is specific to Middle Triassic taxa from a limited geographic region (UK, Russia), which may not represent the full diversity of procolophonids.
• The raw CT scan data, 3D models, and specific file formats or data dimensions are not described in the provided input.

Provenance

Source

Dryad digital repository.

Collection Method

CT scanning and 3D digital restoration of a physical fossil specimen.

Time Range

Middle Triassic (Anisian age).

Freshness

2020-06-30

Geography

Otter Sandstone Formation, Devon, United Kingdom.