Paleoneuroanatomy: 3D-Digital Endocasts of Desmatosuchus Reveal Endocranial Diversity within Aetosauria (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia)

Abstract

The paleoneuroanatomy of aetosaurs from endocranial spaces was previously reported only for Desmatosuchus based on the physical endocast (UMMP 7476) described by Case in 1921, though new material of Neoaetosauroides engaeus also contributed to the knowledge of the encephalon, inner ear, and middle ear sinus of this group. Using CT-scanning, we developed new digital endocasts of two specimens of Desmatosuchus spurensis, UCMP 27408 and 27410, which provide novel information about its inner ear, vasculature, and cranial nerves, enabling us to rectify previous interpretations of some anatomic structures and recognize interspecific variation within Aetosauria.....