J. Habersetzer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by J. Habersetzer

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2012

ABSTRACT The skeletons of the left and right hands of Ida (Darwinius masillae) were analysed with... more ABSTRACT The skeletons of the left and right hands of Ida (Darwinius masillae) were analysed with micro-CT. Evidently, a severe trauma has affected the wrist of the right hand at a time when the carpals were not yet ossified. The background of this accident is discussed.

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2013

Biologie in unserer Zeit, 2008

F ledertiere (Fledermäuse und Flughunde) sind die einzigen Säugetiere, die aktiv fliegen können. ... more F ledertiere (Fledermäuse und Flughunde) sind die einzigen Säugetiere, die aktiv fliegen können. An ihren Flügeln fallen sofort die extrem verlängerten Handknochen ins Auge, zwischen denen sich eine dünne, hochelastische, aber dennoch extrem reißfeste Flughaut ausspannt. Die gewölbte Tragfläche setzt sich vom Arm über den Rumpf bis zu den Hinterbeinen fort. Es ist diese Erfolgskonstruktion mit ihren zahlreichen Spezialvarianten, die jedes fünfte heute lebende Säugetier, also insgesamt weit über 1000 Arten, zu meisterhaften Akrobaten des Luftraums hat werden lassen.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 1980

The hunting activity of tropical bats was observed during a lunar eclipse at night. During the ec... more The hunting activity of tropical bats was observed during a lunar eclipse at night. During the eclipse, the activity was significantly higher than before and after when the bright full moon was visible. The decrease of hunting activity in bright light is interpreted as a direct adaptation to the light conditions, whereas endogenous factors seem not to be involved. The possible role of predators feeding on bats is discussed.

Journal of Human Evolution, 2010

PLoS ONE, 2009

Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near... more Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany. Although the site was surrounded by a para-tropical rain forest in the Eocene, primates are remarkably rare there, and only eight fragmentary specimens were known until now. Messel has now yielded a full primate skeleton. The specimen has an unusual history: it was privately collected and sold in two parts, with only the lesser part previously known. The second part, which has just come to light, shows the skeleton to be the most complete primate known in the fossil record.

CFS Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg

The hyaenodontids from the lower Middle Eocene (MP 11) locality Messel are revised. Two proviverr... more The hyaenodontids from the lower Middle Eocene (MP 11) locality Messel are revised. Two proviverrine species with a total of four specimens are preserved. All specimens are juveniles and represent the only described juvenile skeletons of creodonts. A new genus, Lesmesodon, is founded on cf. Proviverra edingeri SPRINGHORN 1982. A second species of the genus is represented by L. behnkeae n. gen. n. sp. The only known specimen is preserved as a nearly complete skeleton with body outline. Postcrania of both species lack specializations, thus a generalized terrestrial locomotor pattern is proposed for both. Remarkable characters are unfissured claws and a bushy tail. While the first character was already known from L. edingeri, outline of the fur is described for the first time in creodonts. Differential diagnoses to all described European proviverrine species and the record of their related specimens are given. Concerning their tooth eruption sequence, Proviverrinae differ from Hyaenodontinae s. str. in a much earlier eruption of the upper canines. In this paper we present, for the first time, a combination of microfocus radiography and an image intensifier technique with continuous online recalibration (CORR). This technique makes it possible to study the richness of details in the fossils even if they are masked by glass fibres.

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 1984

Abbreviations." CF constant frequency; FM frequency modulated; RF resting frequency emitted by a ... more Abbreviations." CF constant frequency; FM frequency modulated; RF resting frequency emitted by a non-moving bat quency shifted artificial echoes in the bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. J Comp Physiol 89:275-286 Schuller G, Beuter K, Rfibsamen R (1975) Dynamic properties of the compensation system for Doppler shifts in the bat, Rhinolophusferrumequinum. J Comp Physiol 97:113 125

Naturwissenschaften, 1992

Journal of Comparative Physiology ? A, 1983

1. Myot& myotis was trained to discriminate a plate with 8 mm deep holes from plates of stepwise ... more 1. Myot& myotis was trained to discriminate a plate with 8 mm deep holes from plates of stepwise varied hole depth. Depth differences in the two plates equal or larger than 1 mm were discriminated by the echolocating bat .

PLoS ONE, 2012

Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstä... more Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstätten. However, the reasons for their fossilisation and their biological implications remain to be thoroughly explored. This is particularly true with arthropods – typically the most diverse fossilised organisms in Cambrian ecosystems – where digestive structures represent an as-yet underexploited alternative to appendage morphology for inferences on their biology. Here we describe the phosphatised digestive structures of three trilobite species from the Cambrian Weeks Formation Lagerstätte (Utah). Their exquisite, three-dimensional preservation reveals unique details on trilobite internal anatomy, such as the position of the mouth and the absence of a differentiated crop. In addition, the presence of paired pygidial organs of an unknown function is reported for the first time. This exceptional material enables exploration of the relationships between gut phosphatisation and the biology of organisms. Indeed, soft-tissue preservation is unusual in these fossils as it is restricted to the digestive structures, which indicates that the gut played a central role in its own phosphatisation. We hypothesize that the gut provided a microenvironment where special conditions could develop and harboured a source of phosphorus. The fact that gut phosphatization has almost exclusively been observed in arthropods could be explained by their uncommon ability to store ions (including phosphorous) in their digestive tissues. However, in some specimens from the Weeks Formation, the phosphatisation extends to the entire digestive system, suggesting that trilobites might have had some biological particularities not observed in modern arthropods. We speculate that one of them might have been an increased capacity for ion storage in the gut tissues, related to the moulting of their heavily-mineralised carapace.

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2012

ABSTRACT Pedal distal phalanges of the Eocene adapoids Europolemur and Darwinius from Messel and ... more ABSTRACT Pedal distal phalanges of the Eocene adapoids Europolemur and Darwinius from Messel and Notharctus from Wyoming have been compared morphologically and metrically to representatives of all six superfamilies of extant primates. A detailed system of morphological types is established that differentiates pedal distal phalanges. Four major groups and 12 types can be recognised in primates. Primates additionally show a primary interruption of homogeneity (PIH) between the hallux and other pedal rays, as well as two distinct secondary interruptions of homogeneity (SIH) within more lateral pedal rays. Using morphology, PIH and SIH, we have developed a formula for pedal distal phalanges. Differences among Adapoidea are unexpectedly large. Notharctus shows less differentiation in the pedal phalanges than does Europolemur. Our analyses show that both species of Europolemur had a differentiated grooming claw. Preservation of the second distal phalanx in Darwinius is not sufficient for a detailed classification. Despite similarities of the grooming claws of Europolemur to those of some lemurs and lorises, we hesitate to classify adapoids with Lemuroidea and Lorisoidea as there are significant differences and a possibility of parallelism.

PLoS ONE, 2009

Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near... more Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany. Although the site was surrounded by a para-tropical rain forest in the Eocene, primates are remarkably rare there, and only eight fragmentary specimens were known until now. Messel has now yielded a full primate skeleton. The specimen has an unusual history: it was privately collected and sold in two parts, with only the lesser part previously known. The second part, which has just come to light, shows the skeleton to be the most complete primate known in the fossil record.

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 1986

Abbreviations: CF= constant frequency; FM= frequency modulated 5. The ontogeny of the two types o... more Abbreviations: CF= constant frequency; FM= frequency modulated 5. The ontogeny of the two types of sounds (CF/FM and complex harmonic FM) of adult Hipposideros speoris is discussed and compared with the vocalisations of other bat species.

Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near... more Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany. Although the site was surrounded by a para-tropical rain forest in the Eocene, primates are remarkably rare there, and only eight fragmentary specimens were known until now. Messel has now yielded a full primate skeleton. The specimen has an unusual history: it was privately collected and sold in two parts, with only the lesser part previously known. The second part, which has just come to light, shows the skeleton to be the most complete primate known in the fossil record.

Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstä... more Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstätten. However, the reasons for their fossilisation and their biological implications remain to be thoroughly explored. This is particularly true with arthropods—typically the most diverse fossilised organisms in Cambrian ecosystems—where digestive structures represent an as-yet underexploited alternative to appendage morphology for inferences on their biology. Here we describe the phosphatised digestive structures of three trilobite species from the Cambrian Weeks Formation Lagerstätte (Utah). Their exquisite, three-dimensional preservation reveals unique details on trilobite internal anatomy, such as the position of the mouth and the absence of a differentiated crop. In addition, the presence of paired pygidial organs of an unknown function is reported for the first time. This exceptional material enables exploration of the relationships between gut phosphatisation and the biology of organisms. Indeed, soft-tissue preservation is unusual in these fossils as it is restricted to the digestive structures, which indicates that the gut played a central role in its own phosphatisation. We hypothesize that the gut provided a microenvironment where special conditions could develop and harboured a source of phosphorus. The fact that gut phosphatization has almost exclusively been observed in arthropods could be explained by their uncommon ability to store ions (including phosphorous) in their digestive tissues. However, in some specimens from the Weeks Formation, the phosphatisation extends to the entire digestive system, suggesting that trilobites might have had some biological particularities not observed in modern arthropods. We speculate that one of them might have been an increased capacity for ion storage in the gut tissues, related to the moulting of their heavily-mineralised carapace.

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2012

ABSTRACT The skeletons of the left and right hands of Ida (Darwinius masillae) were analysed with... more ABSTRACT The skeletons of the left and right hands of Ida (Darwinius masillae) were analysed with micro-CT. Evidently, a severe trauma has affected the wrist of the right hand at a time when the carpals were not yet ossified. The background of this accident is discussed.

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2013

Biologie in unserer Zeit, 2008

F ledertiere (Fledermäuse und Flughunde) sind die einzigen Säugetiere, die aktiv fliegen können. ... more F ledertiere (Fledermäuse und Flughunde) sind die einzigen Säugetiere, die aktiv fliegen können. An ihren Flügeln fallen sofort die extrem verlängerten Handknochen ins Auge, zwischen denen sich eine dünne, hochelastische, aber dennoch extrem reißfeste Flughaut ausspannt. Die gewölbte Tragfläche setzt sich vom Arm über den Rumpf bis zu den Hinterbeinen fort. Es ist diese Erfolgskonstruktion mit ihren zahlreichen Spezialvarianten, die jedes fünfte heute lebende Säugetier, also insgesamt weit über 1000 Arten, zu meisterhaften Akrobaten des Luftraums hat werden lassen.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 1980

The hunting activity of tropical bats was observed during a lunar eclipse at night. During the ec... more The hunting activity of tropical bats was observed during a lunar eclipse at night. During the eclipse, the activity was significantly higher than before and after when the bright full moon was visible. The decrease of hunting activity in bright light is interpreted as a direct adaptation to the light conditions, whereas endogenous factors seem not to be involved. The possible role of predators feeding on bats is discussed.

Journal of Human Evolution, 2010

PLoS ONE, 2009

Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near... more Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany. Although the site was surrounded by a para-tropical rain forest in the Eocene, primates are remarkably rare there, and only eight fragmentary specimens were known until now. Messel has now yielded a full primate skeleton. The specimen has an unusual history: it was privately collected and sold in two parts, with only the lesser part previously known. The second part, which has just come to light, shows the skeleton to be the most complete primate known in the fossil record.

CFS Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg

The hyaenodontids from the lower Middle Eocene (MP 11) locality Messel are revised. Two proviverr... more The hyaenodontids from the lower Middle Eocene (MP 11) locality Messel are revised. Two proviverrine species with a total of four specimens are preserved. All specimens are juveniles and represent the only described juvenile skeletons of creodonts. A new genus, Lesmesodon, is founded on cf. Proviverra edingeri SPRINGHORN 1982. A second species of the genus is represented by L. behnkeae n. gen. n. sp. The only known specimen is preserved as a nearly complete skeleton with body outline. Postcrania of both species lack specializations, thus a generalized terrestrial locomotor pattern is proposed for both. Remarkable characters are unfissured claws and a bushy tail. While the first character was already known from L. edingeri, outline of the fur is described for the first time in creodonts. Differential diagnoses to all described European proviverrine species and the record of their related specimens are given. Concerning their tooth eruption sequence, Proviverrinae differ from Hyaenodontinae s. str. in a much earlier eruption of the upper canines. In this paper we present, for the first time, a combination of microfocus radiography and an image intensifier technique with continuous online recalibration (CORR). This technique makes it possible to study the richness of details in the fossils even if they are masked by glass fibres.

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 1984

Abbreviations." CF constant frequency; FM frequency modulated; RF resting frequency emitted by a ... more Abbreviations." CF constant frequency; FM frequency modulated; RF resting frequency emitted by a non-moving bat quency shifted artificial echoes in the bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. J Comp Physiol 89:275-286 Schuller G, Beuter K, Rfibsamen R (1975) Dynamic properties of the compensation system for Doppler shifts in the bat, Rhinolophusferrumequinum. J Comp Physiol 97:113 125

Naturwissenschaften, 1992

Journal of Comparative Physiology ? A, 1983

1. Myot& myotis was trained to discriminate a plate with 8 mm deep holes from plates of stepwise ... more 1. Myot& myotis was trained to discriminate a plate with 8 mm deep holes from plates of stepwise varied hole depth. Depth differences in the two plates equal or larger than 1 mm were discriminated by the echolocating bat .

PLoS ONE, 2012

Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstä... more Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstätten. However, the reasons for their fossilisation and their biological implications remain to be thoroughly explored. This is particularly true with arthropods – typically the most diverse fossilised organisms in Cambrian ecosystems – where digestive structures represent an as-yet underexploited alternative to appendage morphology for inferences on their biology. Here we describe the phosphatised digestive structures of three trilobite species from the Cambrian Weeks Formation Lagerstätte (Utah). Their exquisite, three-dimensional preservation reveals unique details on trilobite internal anatomy, such as the position of the mouth and the absence of a differentiated crop. In addition, the presence of paired pygidial organs of an unknown function is reported for the first time. This exceptional material enables exploration of the relationships between gut phosphatisation and the biology of organisms. Indeed, soft-tissue preservation is unusual in these fossils as it is restricted to the digestive structures, which indicates that the gut played a central role in its own phosphatisation. We hypothesize that the gut provided a microenvironment where special conditions could develop and harboured a source of phosphorus. The fact that gut phosphatization has almost exclusively been observed in arthropods could be explained by their uncommon ability to store ions (including phosphorous) in their digestive tissues. However, in some specimens from the Weeks Formation, the phosphatisation extends to the entire digestive system, suggesting that trilobites might have had some biological particularities not observed in modern arthropods. We speculate that one of them might have been an increased capacity for ion storage in the gut tissues, related to the moulting of their heavily-mineralised carapace.

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2012

ABSTRACT Pedal distal phalanges of the Eocene adapoids Europolemur and Darwinius from Messel and ... more ABSTRACT Pedal distal phalanges of the Eocene adapoids Europolemur and Darwinius from Messel and Notharctus from Wyoming have been compared morphologically and metrically to representatives of all six superfamilies of extant primates. A detailed system of morphological types is established that differentiates pedal distal phalanges. Four major groups and 12 types can be recognised in primates. Primates additionally show a primary interruption of homogeneity (PIH) between the hallux and other pedal rays, as well as two distinct secondary interruptions of homogeneity (SIH) within more lateral pedal rays. Using morphology, PIH and SIH, we have developed a formula for pedal distal phalanges. Differences among Adapoidea are unexpectedly large. Notharctus shows less differentiation in the pedal phalanges than does Europolemur. Our analyses show that both species of Europolemur had a differentiated grooming claw. Preservation of the second distal phalanx in Darwinius is not sufficient for a detailed classification. Despite similarities of the grooming claws of Europolemur to those of some lemurs and lorises, we hesitate to classify adapoids with Lemuroidea and Lorisoidea as there are significant differences and a possibility of parallelism.

PLoS ONE, 2009

Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near... more Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany. Although the site was surrounded by a para-tropical rain forest in the Eocene, primates are remarkably rare there, and only eight fragmentary specimens were known until now. Messel has now yielded a full primate skeleton. The specimen has an unusual history: it was privately collected and sold in two parts, with only the lesser part previously known. The second part, which has just come to light, shows the skeleton to be the most complete primate known in the fossil record.

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 1986

Abbreviations: CF= constant frequency; FM= frequency modulated 5. The ontogeny of the two types o... more Abbreviations: CF= constant frequency; FM= frequency modulated 5. The ontogeny of the two types of sounds (CF/FM and complex harmonic FM) of adult Hipposideros speoris is discussed and compared with the vocalisations of other bat species.

Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near... more Background: The best European locality for complete Eocene mammal skeletons is Grube Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany. Although the site was surrounded by a para-tropical rain forest in the Eocene, primates are remarkably rare there, and only eight fragmentary specimens were known until now. Messel has now yielded a full primate skeleton. The specimen has an unusual history: it was privately collected and sold in two parts, with only the lesser part previously known. The second part, which has just come to light, shows the skeleton to be the most complete primate known in the fossil record.

Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstä... more Despite being internal organs, digestive structures are frequently preserved in Cambrian Lagerstätten. However, the reasons for their fossilisation and their biological implications remain to be thoroughly explored. This is particularly true with arthropods—typically the most diverse fossilised organisms in Cambrian ecosystems—where digestive structures represent an as-yet underexploited alternative to appendage morphology for inferences on their biology. Here we describe the phosphatised digestive structures of three trilobite species from the Cambrian Weeks Formation Lagerstätte (Utah). Their exquisite, three-dimensional preservation reveals unique details on trilobite internal anatomy, such as the position of the mouth and the absence of a differentiated crop. In addition, the presence of paired pygidial organs of an unknown function is reported for the first time. This exceptional material enables exploration of the relationships between gut phosphatisation and the biology of organisms. Indeed, soft-tissue preservation is unusual in these fossils as it is restricted to the digestive structures, which indicates that the gut played a central role in its own phosphatisation. We hypothesize that the gut provided a microenvironment where special conditions could develop and harboured a source of phosphorus. The fact that gut phosphatization has almost exclusively been observed in arthropods could be explained by their uncommon ability to store ions (including phosphorous) in their digestive tissues. However, in some specimens from the Weeks Formation, the phosphatisation extends to the entire digestive system, suggesting that trilobites might have had some biological particularities not observed in modern arthropods. We speculate that one of them might have been an increased capacity for ion storage in the gut tissues, related to the moulting of their heavily-mineralised carapace.