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Table 2 Compactness parameters given by the program Bone Profiler (Girondot and Laurin 2003), global analysis

From: The long bone histology of Ceresiosaurus (Sauropterygia, Reptilia) in comparison to other eosauropterygians from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio (Switzerland/Italy)

Specimen

Element

O.c.

S (SE)

P (SE)

Min (SE)

Max (SE)

R 2

C. lanzi

 T5454

Trunk rib

0.942

0.5763385 (0.0244667)

−0.3312575 (0)

0.7589635 (0)

0.9768501 (0)

0.2222631

C. calcagnii

 T5153 (belongs to T5152)

Trunk rib

0.958

0.1363788 (0)

−1.121276 (0.0019849)

273.8826 (0)

0.9548898 (0)

0.2924631

 T5152

Tibia

0.942

0.5763595 (0.0578412)

−0.311316 (0.726452)

0.7644133 (0.1724227)

0.9769729 (0.004843)

0.221034

 T5622

Femur

0.938

0.0017743 (0.000133)

0.2525645 (0.0002465)

0.7997667 (0.0010975)

0.9481725 (0.0001502)

0.5504299

 T5622

Trunk rib

0.983

0.5492734 (0.2268195)

−2.120804 (0.8443007)

1.00e−06 (0)

0.989741 (0.0032301)

0.03123

Nothosaurus

 AIII 0002

Humerus

0.354

0.0949361 (0.0003145)

0.8464544 (0.0003001)

0.0924207 (0.0005443)

0.999999 (4.282764e−6)

0.9701097

 AIII 0001

Femur

0.299

0.0549727 (0.0001028)

0.84699 (0.0001402)

0.0313348 (0.0001911)

0.999999 (2.60317e−6)

0.9943773

  1. The observed compactness (O.c.) is comparable to other secondarily aquatic reptiles with pachyosteosclerotic bones (e.g. Hugi et al. 2011). The parameters are given as supplementary information, but are not representative because the specimens are of young ontogenetic age and later changes in the bone microstructure are expected, but hence, unknown (Wiffen et al. 1995; Klein 2010; Kolb et al. 2011). Please note that the minimum value of the rib of T5153 is not reliable. In this case, the model explains little, but may reflect the high overall compactness of this thin section. The variances (R 2) of Ceresiosaurus are low, but not necessarily unreliable. In all sections, the compactness profiles are high and values are only lowered locally by the presence of erosion cavities and vascular canals in the medullary region and the cortex (see S value in some cases)
  2. S starting point, SE standard deviation, P the distance to the centre where the most abrupt change of compactness is observed, Min minimal value measured, Max maximal value measured