Overview
- A study published July 16 in Nature presents the first-ever soft tissue impressions in a Temnodontosaurus flipper from fragments discovered in Germany in 2009.
- High-resolution imaging identified serrated trailing edges supported by needlelike cartilage reinforcements, termed chondroderms, unlike any known vertebrate structure.
- Computer simulations suggest these serrations and parallel ridges can reduce swimming noise by as much as 10 decibels, akin to wearing foam earplugs.
- Some researchers now question whether the fin’s special features evolved primarily for acoustic stealth or for enhanced speed and maneuverability.
- The team and other paleontologists are revisiting additional marine reptile specimens and conducting further computational studies to test alternative functional interpretations.