Abstract
A detailed nomenclature and a measurement system for vertebrae of Mongolian Protoceratopoidea are proposed. A key to vertebrae that allow the determination of the region of the vertebral column and the serial number of each vertebra within each region is developed. Distinctions in vertebral column between two protoceratopoid families (Protoceratopidae and Bagaceratopidae) are summarized.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
V. R. Alifanov, “Macrocephalosaurs and Early Evolutionary Stages of Lizards of Central Asia,” Tr. Paleontol. Inst. Ross. Akad. Nauk 272, 1–126 (2000).
V. R. Alifanov, “Two New Dinosaurs of the Infraorder Neoceratopsia (Ornithishia) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Nemegt Depression, Mongolia,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 5, 77–88 (2003) [Paleontol. J. 37 (5), 524–534 (2003)].
D. B. Brinkman, M. J. Ryan, and D. A. Eberth, “The Paleogeographic and Stratigraphic Distribution of Ceratopsids (Ornithischia) in the Upper Judith River Group of Western Canada,” Palaios 13(2), 160–169 (1998).
B. Brown and E. M. Schlaikjer, “The Structure and Relationship of Protoceratops,” Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 40(3), 133–265 (1940).
B. Brown and E. M. Schlaikjer, “The Skeleton of Leptoceratops with the Description of a New Species,” Am. Mus. Novit., No. 1169, 1–15 (1942).
P. Dodson and P. Currie, “Neoceratopsia,” in The Dinosauria, Ed. by D. B. Weishampel, P. Dodson, and H. Osmólska (Univ. California Press, Berkeley, 1990), pp. 593–618.
Zh.-M. Dong and Y. Azuma, “On a Primitive Neoceratopsian from the Early Cretaceous of China,” in Sino-Japanese Silk Road Dinosaur Expedition, Ed. by Zh.-M. Dong (China Ocean Press, Beijing, 1997), pp. 68–89.
F.Ya. Dzerzhinsky, Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates (Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 1998) [in Russian].
N. N. Gurtovoi, B. S. Matveev, and F. Ya. Dzerzhinsky, Practical Zootomy of Vertebrates: Amphibians and Reptiles (Vyssh. Shkol., Moscow, 1978) [in Russian].
R. Hoffstetter and J.-P. Gasc, “Vertebrae and Ribs of Modern Reptiles,” in Biology of the Reptilia, Ed. by C. Gans, A. d’A. Bellaris, and T. S. Parsons, Vol. 1: Morphology A (London-New York, 1969), pp. 201–335.
W. Janensch, “Die Wirbelsäule der Gattung Dicraeosaurus,” Palaeontographica, Suppl. No. 2, 35–133 (1929).
S. M. Kurzanov, “Gaint Protoceratopids from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 3, 81–93 (1992).
T. Maryańska and H. Osmólska, “Protoceratopsidae (Dinosauria) of Asia,” Palaeontol. Polon., No. 33, 133–182 (1975).
L. A. Nessov, Dinosaurs of Northern Eurasia: New Data on the Composition of Assemblages, Ecology, and Paleogeography (St. Petersburg, 1995) [in Russian].
L. A. Nessov, Nonmarine Vertebrates of the Cretaceous Period of Northern Asia (St. Petersburg, 1997) [in Russian].
H. E. Osborn and C. C. Mook, “Camarasaurus, Amphicoelias, and Other Sauropods of Cope,” Mem. Am. Mus. Natur. Hist. 3, 247–387 (1921).
A. S. Romer, Osteology of the Reptiles (Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, 1956).
D. A. Russell, “The Role of Central Asia in Dinosaurian Biogeography,” Can. J. Earth Sci. 30(10–11), 2002–2012 (1993).
C. M. Sternberg, “Complete Skeleton of Leptoceratops gracilis Brown from the Upper Edmonton Member on Red Deer River, Alberta,” Bull. Nat. Mus. Can., No. 123, 225–255 (1951).
V. B. Sukhanov and V. S. Tereschenko, “The Structure and Formation of the Sacrum in Dinosaurs,” in International Conference on the Problems of Paleontology of Central Asia (35 Years of Joint Russian-Mongolian Paleontological Expedition), May 27–28, 2004 (Paleontol. Inst. Ross. Akad. Nauk, Moscow, 2004), pp. 56–58 [in Russian].
V. S. Tereschenko, “On the Reconstruction of the Vertebral Column of Protoceratops,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 2, 86–96 (1991).
V. S. Tereschenko, “Sexual Dimorphism in the Postcranial Skeleton of Protoceratopids (Neoceratopsia, Protoceratopsidae) from Mongolia,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 4, 79–89 (2001) [Paleontol. J. 35 (4), 415–425 (2001)].
V. S. Tereschenko, “About Heterocelous Vertebrae in Horned Dinosaurs (Protoceratopidae, Neoceratopsia),” Paleontol. Zh., No. 2, 81–86 (2004a) [Paleontol. J. 38 (2), 200–205 (2004a)] [in Russian].
V. S. Tereschenko, “Some Adaptive Features of the Skeleton Structure of Horned Dinosaurs (Protoceratopoidea, Neoceratopsia) Mongolia,” in International Conference on the Problems of Paleontology of Central Asia (35 Years of Joint Russian-Mongolian Paleontological Expedition), May 27–28, 2004 (Paleontol. Inst. Ross. Akad. Nauk, Moscow, 2004b), pp. 60–63 [in Russian].
V. S. Tereschenko, “Morphology of the Axial Skeleton of Horned Dinosaurs (Neoceratopsia: Protoceratopoidea) from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia,” Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Paleontol. Inst. Ross. Akad. Nauk, Moscow, 2004c).
V. S. Tereschenko and V. R. Alifanov, “Bainoceratops efremovi, a New Protoceratopid (Neoceratopsia) from the Bain-Dzak Locality (Southern Mongolia),” Paleontol. Zh., No. 3, 71–80 (2003) [Paleontol. J. 37 (3), 293–302 (2003)].
J. A. Wilson, “A Nomenclature for Vertebral Laminae in Sauropods and Other Saurischian Dinosaurs,” J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 19(4), 639–653 (1999).
H.-L. You and P. Dodson, “Redescription of Neoceratopsian Dinosaur Archaeoceratops and Early Evolution of Neoceratopsia,” Acta Palaeontol. Polon. 48(2), 261–272 (2003).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Original Russian Text © V.S. Tereschenko, 2007, published in Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal, 2007, No. 2, pp. 59–72.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tereschenko, V.S. Key to Protoceratopoid vertebrae (Ceratopsia, Dinosauria) from Mongolia. Paleontol. J. 41, 175–188 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030107020086
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030107020086