Regulation of Body Temperature by Some Mesozoic Marine Reptiles

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1187443
• Publication Date: 2010-06-10T19:20:35Z
• Authors: Aurélien Bernard; Christophe Lécuyer; Peggy Vincent; Romain Amiot; Nathalie Bardet; Eric Buffetaut; Gilles Cuny; François Fourel; François Martineau; Jean-Michel Mazin; Abel Prieur
• Keywords: 570; Geologic Sediments; 550; OXYGEN ISOTOPES; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Oceans and Seas; ICHTHYOSAURS; METABOLISM; Oxygen Isotopes; Extinction, Biological; Body Temperature; Phosphates; 03 medical and health sciences; FISH; PHOSPHATE; WATER; Animals; Seawater; 14. Life underwater; Swimming; Paleodontology; ENDOTHERMY; 0303 health sciences; Fossils; DINOSAURS; Fishes; Temperature; Reptiles; Adaptation, Physiological; Biological Evolution; EVOLUTION; [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Predatory Behavior; [SDU.STU.PG] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; [SDU.STU.PG]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; BONE; Tooth; Body Temperature Regulation

Warm-Blooded Reptiles? Existing reptiles are not thought to be endothermic, but what about extinct species? Three large swimming reptiles, the ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs, were active predators in Mesozoic oceans. Bernard et al. (p. 1379 ; see Perspective by Motani ) investigated their metabolism analyzing oxygen isotopes teeth, compared with fish deposits from a variety of ocean environments. The data imply that ichthyosaurs which both pursuit predators, probably controlled own temperature. for have hunted ambush, more equivocal.