Osteohistology of Driefontein Archosauromorphs

This study investigated the growth and development strategies of new, small bodied archosauromorphs from the Early Triassic fossil lägerstatte (upper Olenekian) Driefontein 11 Driefontein preserves thousands of microvertebrates, and presents a unique opportunity for investigating the physiological mechanisms for the early radiation of the Archosaurosauromorpha.O steohistological synchrotron imaging of limb bones from a broad range of morphologies representing diverse groups across the basal archosauromorph radiation showed an incredible diversity in growth strategies and bone tissue types. These results challenge the existing hypothesis of fast growth rates and high metabolic rates as plesiomorphies of archosauromorphs, instead showing that their initial radiation featured disparate growth strategies.