Anatomy informs geology: Hydrodynamic dispersal of alligator bones, with implications for taphonomic interpretations of fossil deposits of crocodylians, dinosaurs, and other morphologically novel taxa.

Abstract

Distinctive anatomical features of bones can influence not only how these structures perform in living animals but also the tendency of elements to be transported by flowing water after death. Such transport can be critical in the concentration of fossils from animals that live near freshwater habitats, providing important context for interpreting the composition of paleocommunities. Measurements of the tendency of flowing water to disperse skeletal elements have been collected for diverse taxa, including mammals, turtles, and birds. However, these extant models may not be entirely appropriate for many morphologically distinct extinct lineages, such as non-avian dinosaurs. To expand the range of models available for evaluating the influence of hydrodynamic transport on the assembly of fossil deposits, we used a flow tank to measure the water speeds that disperse bones from a subadult American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), with the skull and mandible tested in multiple starting orientations. Alligator bones are sorted into three main dispersal groups: early (vertebrae, most girdle elements), intermediate (ribs, most limb bones), and late (pubis, femur), with the skull and mandible varying between intermediate and late depending on orientation. Late dispersing elements tended to be heavy or very flat. These results can refine interpretations of the taphonomic context for deposits of fossil crocodylians and morphologically similar taxa (e.g., choristoderes, phytosaurs) and provide an additional comparative model for deposits of non-avian dinosaurs. Moreover, variation in hydrodynamic sorting across lineages highlights how distinctive anatomical features can influence the concentration of fossils, shaping understanding of assemblage composition and paleofaunal evolution.