MY UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
The pneumaticity of an unidentified sauropod from the Morrison Formation of Northern Montana
THE PNEUMATICITY OF AN UNIDENTIFIED SAUROPOD FROM THE MORRISON FORMATION OF NORTH MONTANA
For my final year undergraduate thesis at Plymouth University I decided to conduct a paleontological research project. Being on an animal behaviour and welfare course, this was rather unheard of and a first for the course. Against advise to stay closer to the intended themes of the course I still proceeded as I wanted to prove my capabilities. Due to there being no vertebrate paleontologists at Plymouth University I was advised that all paleontological knowledge would have to be proof read by whomever oversees the paleontological data I collect.
CT SCANNING A SAUROPOD VERTEBRA
During my summer internship in 2016, I took a large dorsal vertebra to a local hospital in Billings Montana to be CT scanned. This was arranged and organised by Nate Murphy who had connections with the staff.Â
The data was then given to me in which I used to make critical and analytical comparisons with existing literature about pneumatic cavities in dinosaur vertebrae.
THE OUTCOME
The extent of pneumatic excavation of a sauropod's vertebra can help us identify the genus of dinosaur which the bone belonged to. Current research finds that pneumatic cavities become more extensive in more derived sauropods and therefore, this information can be used to make inferences about its evolutionary relationships.
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Because only a handful of sauropods from the Morrison Formation have been extensively researched for their pneumatic cavities, making a logical and scientifically sound conclusion on the likely genus the vertebra belonged to was fairly straight forward.
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FULL DISCLOSURE- I HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH THE JUDITH RIVER DINOSAUR INSTITUTE AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROFESSIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF DOING SO. HOWEVER, I AM STILL NONETHLESS GREATFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY NATE MURPHY PROVIDED ME AND DO NOT FORSAKE THE EXPERIENCE.