References
Reference
Schulp, Anne S et. al. (2016) Stable isotopes, niche partitioning and the paucity of elasmosaur remains in the Maastrichtian type area; Netherlands Journal of Geosciences � Geologie en Mijnbouw, FirstView Artic, pp.1-5
Stable isotopes, niche partitioning and the paucity of elasmosaur remains in the Maastrichtian type area
Principal Author
Anne S Schulp
Other Authors
Eric W. A. Mulder, John .W.M Jagt, Renée Janssen, Remy R van Baal, Hubert B Vonhof
Header
Academic paper
Journal
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences � Geologie en Mijnbouw
Volume
FirstView Artic
Pages
1-5
Abstract
Remains of elasmosaurid plesiosaurs are exceedingly rare in the type-Maastrichtian strata (Late Cretaceous, southeast Netherlands and northeast Belgium), in stark contrast to relatively common skeletal remains of mosasaurs. Here, we present an analysis of δ13C stable isotope values for tooth enamel of two elasmosaur teeth from the type Maastrichtian. The δ13C signal is a proxy for foraging area, trophic level and diving behaviour, the net value of which in these rare elasmosaurs turns out to be not noticeably different from that for the much commoner mosasaurs in the type Maastrichtian. Therefore, the rarity of elasmosaurs in the area probably reflects a primary near-absence of such reptiles during the latest Cretaceous, rather than a taphonomic artefact.
Language
English