Morphology and Histology of Salamander Femoral Bones of the Genus Kiyatriton (Caudata) from the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Western Siberia

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Abstract

The paper describes the morphology and histological structure of salamander femora of the genus Kiyatriton: K. krasnolutskii from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) Berezovsk Quarry locality in the Krasnoyarsk krai and K. leshchinskiyi from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Shestakovo 1 locality in the Kemerovo oblast. The femur of Kiyatriton is characterized by the presence of a large spur-shaped trochanter, a developed high trochanter crest, a large ventral fossa (fossa trochanterica) and a bean-shaped proximal end in cross-section. The histological structure is characterized by the presence of a thick, almost avascular cortex formed by both periosteal primary and secondary endosteal bone; thick periostelial cortex, consisting of a parallel-fibred bone matrix and bearing cyclical growth marks (annuli, LAGs), including double LAGs; a thick endosteal cortex consisting of a lamellar bone matrix; the presence of a small medullary cavity; the presence of the Kashchenko line; absence of calcified cartilage; absence of bone remodeling (erosion bays, secondary osteons, resorption of the walls of the medullary cavity). Similarities in the morphological and histological structure of the femora of Kiyatriton and small-sized modern metamorphosing salamanders (large spur-shaped trochanter of the femur, deep ventral fossa, rounded proximal end of the femur, avascular periosteal cortex with growth marks, thick layer of endosteal bone forming the inner part of the cortex, small medullary cavity) indicate that members of the genus Kiyatriton were metamorphosing salamanders with a terrestrial adult stage. The similarity in the structure of the femora of different-aged Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous representatives of Kiyatriton indicates that the biological characteristics (growth pattern, presence of metamorphosis) have not changed for about 40 million years.

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About the authors

P. P. Skutschas

Saint Petersburg State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: p.skutschas@spbu.ru
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, 199034

P. G. Saburov

Saint Petersburg State University

Email: p.saburov@spbu.ru
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, 199034

A. V. Uliakhin

Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: avu90@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 117647

V. V. Kolchanov

Saint Petersburg State University

Email: veniamin.kolchanov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, 199034

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2. Fig. 1. Kiyatriton leshchinskiyi Averianov et Voronkevich, 2002 from the Lower Cretaceous of the Kemerovo Region: a–g – reconstruction of the femur (based on specimens ZIN PH4/173 and PM TGU 16-5-55), view from the lower (a), back (b), upper (c), and front (g) sides; d–r – proximal fragments of the femurs: d–z – ZIN PH 20/173, view from the lower (d), back (e), upper (g), and proximal (z) sides; i–m – ZIN PH 21/173, view from the lower (i), back (k), upper (l), and proximal (m) sides; n–r – ZIN PH 22/173, view from the lower (n), back (o), upper (p), and proximal (p) sides. Legend: cdf – insertion site of the caudofemoris muscle, ilf – insertion site of the iliofemoral muscle, isf – insertion site of the ischiofemoral muscle, tr – trochanter, trc – trochanter crest, trf – ventral fossa.

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3. Fig. 2. Proximal fragments of femurs of Kiyatriton krasnolutskii Skutschas, 2016 from the Middle Jurassic of Krasnoyarsk Krai: a–d – specimen ZIN PH41/144, view from the lower (a), back (b), upper (c), front (d) and proximal (e) sides; e–k – specimen ZIN PH42/144, view from the lower (e), back (g), upper (h), front (i) and proximal (k) sides. Legend: cdf – insertion site of the caudofemoris muscle, ilf – insertion site of the iliofemoral muscle, isf – insertion site of the ischiofemoral muscle, tr – trochanter, trc – trochanter crest, trf – ventral fossa.

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4. Fig. 3. Reconstruction of the vascular system of the femur of Kiyatriton leshchinskiyi: a–e – proximal fragment, specimen ZIN PH 20/173, external view from the lower (a) and posterior (b) sides; reconstruction of the medullary cavity, large blood vessels and erosion cavities, view from the lower (c) and posterior (d) sides; reconstruction of large blood vessels, view from the lower (d) and posterior (e) sides; f–m – distal fragment, specimen PM TGU 16-5-55, external view from the lower (g) and upper (z) sides; reconstruction of the medullary cavity, large blood vessels and erosion cavities, view from the lower (i) and upper (k) sides; reconstruction of large blood vessels, view from the lower (l) and upper (m) sides. Designations: eb – erosion cavities, mc – medullary cavity, tr – trochanter, trc – trochanter crest, trf – ventral fossa, vas – blood vessels.

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5. Fig. 4. Transverse histological sections of the femur at the level of the middle of the diaphysis: a–e – Kiyatriton leshchinskiyi: a–c – specimen ZIN PH 22/173, general view (a) and enlarged sections of the section (b, c); g–f – specimen ZIN PH 20/173, general view (g) and enlarged sections of section (d, f); g, h – K. krasnolutskii, specimen ZIN PH 42/144: general view (g) and enlarged section (h). Designations: can – canaliculi, cor – cortex, Kl – Kashchenko’s line, mc – medullary cavity, os – osteocyte lacunae, ppo – primary periostelial bone, seo – secondary endostelial bone, vas – vascular canal. Green arrows indicate the lines of growth arrest (LAGs).

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