Giganotosaurus endocast described

[bh480@scn.org]

From: Ben Creisler
bh480@scn.org

In case this paper has not been mentioned yet:

Carabajal, Ariana Paulina; Canale, Juan Ignacio, 2010.
Cranial endocast of the carcharodontosaurid theropod 
Giganotosaurus carolinii Coria & Salgado, 1995 
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - 
Abhandlungen 258(2): 249-256.

A complete endocast of Giganotosaurus carolinii Coria & 
Salgado, 1995 was made in latex after removing 
mechanically the sediment filling of the cerebral cavity 
of the braincase, thereby allowing the description of the 
endocranial anatomy of the specimen. The endocast was 
compared with the other few known natural or artificial 
theropod endocasts, including the two species of the 
African allosauroid species Carcharodontosaurus saharicus 
and C. idiguensis. As in Carcharodontosaurus, the 
olfactory bulbs in Giganotosaurus are aligned with the 
forebrain, the midbrain is posteroventrally inclined and 
the hindbrain is parallel but ventral to the forebrain, 
showing similarly angled cephalic and pontine flexures. 
The cranial nerves and blood vessels have a similar 
disposition as in Carcharodontosaurus saharicus. However, 
in Giganotosaurus there is only one branch for cranial 
nerve XII, and cranial nerve XI has a separate internal 
opening from the vagus foramen (metotic foramen). In C. 
saharicus, there is a separate opening as well, but it is 
anterior in position and was probably utilized by cranial 
nerve IX. The length of the endocast of Giganotosaurus, 
including the olfactory bulbs, is approximately 19 % 
longer than the endocast in Carcharodontosaurus 
saharicus. 

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/schweiz/njbgeol/2010
/00000258/00000002/art00010