Cranial morphology of the tanystropheid Macrocnemus bassanii unveiled using synchrotron microtomography

Synchrotron microtomography reveals the first detailed cranial morphology of Macrocnemus bassanii, a tanystropheid archosauromorph from the Middle Triassic Besano Formation at Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland. The study uncovers previously unknown features of the braincase, palatal elements, and atlas-axis complex, while confirming tooth-bearing palatal bones like the pterygoid and palatine with observed heterodonty. The morphology of circumorbital bones aligns with those of Prolacerta broomi and Protorosaurus speneri, providing new insights into the evolutionary relationships of non-archosauriform archosauromorphs.

Miedema, F., Spiekman, S. N. F., Fernandez, V., Reumer, J. W. F., & Scheyer, T. M. (2020). Cranial morphology of the tanystropheid Macrocnemus bassanii unveiled using synchrotron microtomography. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68912-4