Qianjiangsaurus hollow cranial crest in non-lambeosaurine hadrosauroid (free pdf)
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Ben Creisler
Apr 13, 2026, 11:09:37 AMApr 13
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Ben Creisler
A new paper:
Convergent evolution is a peculiar biological process in which distinct taxa or lineages independently evolve analogous features, structures and functions, to adapt to similar necessities. Here we present a classic instance of morphological and functional convergence of the hollow cranial crest among hadrosauroid dinosaurs, based on an excellently preserved skull of the early-branching hadrosauroid Qianjiangsaurus changshengi newly recovered from southwest China, as well as comparative resonant frequency evaluations of its unique endonasal (‘within the nasal bone’) cavities using CT scans and mathematic calculations. The overgrown nasal crest with a novel internal structure in Q. changshengi is morphologically comparable to but structurally non-homologous with the greatly developed hollow supracranial ornamentation and elongate nasal passages seen in lambeosaurines, and thus hugely changes our notions on the cranial evolution of late-branching ornithopod dinosaurs.
Abstract
Cranial crests have evolved multiple times in the evolutionary history of vertebrates, serving primarily for visual display. In duck-billed lambeosaurines, one of the most successful dinosaur clades of the Late Cretaceous, the cranial crest became hollow along the paired premaxillae and nasals, and was secondarily selected as a resonating structure atop the skull roof, facilitating acoustic signaling. Here we report the first instance of a hollow supracranial crest in a non-lambeosaurine ornithopod dinosaur, the early-branching hadrosauroid Qianjiangsaurus changshengi, where the paired accessory endonasal cavities just above the nasal cavity proper occur following the dorsoventral thickening of the nasals. This novel nasal cavity configuration is associated with the helmet-like hollow supracranial crest solely formed by the nasals. Comparative resonance modeling suggests that the nasal cavity of Q. changshengi could amplify low-frequency vocalizations similar to those of late-branching lambeosaurines. Seven analogous skull features (including the hollow supracranial crest) and similar low-frequency acoustic capabilities of nasal cavities between Q. changshengi and late-branching lambeosaurines reveal a striking morphological and functional convergence that would likely facilitate safer, more efficient social communication among hadrosauroids. This convergence can be explained by adaptive evolution under similar selection pressures, combined with developmental constraints due to gene pleiotropy.
Free pdf:
Qingyu Ma, Yubo Ma, Chao Tan, Jian Chen, Yu Lin, Ming Xiao, Hui Dai, Guangbiao Wei, Jordan C. Mallon, Jun Wang, Han Yao, Zhengting Zou and Hai Xing (2026)
First Report of a Hollow Cranial Crest in an Early-Diverging Duck-Billed Dinosaur, with Implications for Convergent Evolution of Acoustic Signaling
Biology 15(8): 615
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15080615
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/8/615
Simple Summary
Qingyu Ma, Yubo Ma, Chao Tan, Jian Chen, Yu Lin, Ming Xiao, Hui Dai, Guangbiao Wei, Jordan C. Mallon, Jun Wang, Han Yao, Zhengting Zou and Hai Xing (2026)
First Report of a Hollow Cranial Crest in an Early-Diverging Duck-Billed Dinosaur, with Implications for Convergent Evolution of Acoustic Signaling
Biology 15(8): 615
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15080615
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/8/615
Simple Summary
Convergent evolution is a peculiar biological process in which distinct taxa or lineages independently evolve analogous features, structures and functions, to adapt to similar necessities. Here we present a classic instance of morphological and functional convergence of the hollow cranial crest among hadrosauroid dinosaurs, based on an excellently preserved skull of the early-branching hadrosauroid Qianjiangsaurus changshengi newly recovered from southwest China, as well as comparative resonant frequency evaluations of its unique endonasal (‘within the nasal bone’) cavities using CT scans and mathematic calculations. The overgrown nasal crest with a novel internal structure in Q. changshengi is morphologically comparable to but structurally non-homologous with the greatly developed hollow supracranial ornamentation and elongate nasal passages seen in lambeosaurines, and thus hugely changes our notions on the cranial evolution of late-branching ornithopod dinosaurs.
Abstract
Cranial crests have evolved multiple times in the evolutionary history of vertebrates, serving primarily for visual display. In duck-billed lambeosaurines, one of the most successful dinosaur clades of the Late Cretaceous, the cranial crest became hollow along the paired premaxillae and nasals, and was secondarily selected as a resonating structure atop the skull roof, facilitating acoustic signaling. Here we report the first instance of a hollow supracranial crest in a non-lambeosaurine ornithopod dinosaur, the early-branching hadrosauroid Qianjiangsaurus changshengi, where the paired accessory endonasal cavities just above the nasal cavity proper occur following the dorsoventral thickening of the nasals. This novel nasal cavity configuration is associated with the helmet-like hollow supracranial crest solely formed by the nasals. Comparative resonance modeling suggests that the nasal cavity of Q. changshengi could amplify low-frequency vocalizations similar to those of late-branching lambeosaurines. Seven analogous skull features (including the hollow supracranial crest) and similar low-frequency acoustic capabilities of nasal cavities between Q. changshengi and late-branching lambeosaurines reveal a striking morphological and functional convergence that would likely facilitate safer, more efficient social communication among hadrosauroids. This convergence can be explained by adaptive evolution under similar selection pressures, combined with developmental constraints due to gene pleiotropy.
Amber
Apr 13, 2026, 7:30:19 PMApr 13
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Was left quite confused by both the text's attempts to describe the nasal passages and the figures' attempts to visualize them - anyone else? Based on the placement of the foramina where the anterodorsal and anteroventral passages of the endonasal cavity begin it seems like they must be connecting back into the "nasal cavity proper". But it's weird this is never stated directly in so many words, especially when the connection of the "special lateral passage" is made clear, and statements like "contains three distinct airflow pathways during exhalation" seem to create expectation they are entirely independent from the nasal cavity and exit the skull independently.
Jaime Headden
Apr 13, 2026, 9:46:23 PMApr 13
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Without seeing more of the material, my only response would be to aver that the median and lateral nasal tubes are blind passages extending from the paranasal sinus into the nasal bone itself. The dorsal (medial) and ventral (lateral) tubes connect to one another posteriorly, forming a loop, from which the "special lateral passage" derives, forming a blind pocket. The loop enters from the dorsal surface of the nasopharyngeal passage and exists slightly posteriorly, roughly from the anterior of the external nostril to the posterior of it (which is already rather long). This is unlike the condition in "corythosaur"-like lambeosaurines, in which nearly the entirety of the nasopharyngeal passage within the skull is contained within the crest shape and there is no separate passage for "normal" breathing. This isn't that unlike some theropods or pterosaurs in which the nasals contain a separate (blind) passage arising from the nasal diverticulum. which is what this probably is. Insofar as avian and likely theropod/pterosaur nasal diverticular aid in breathing in the same manner, which is not by much, I'd expect the same effect here.
Cheers,
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Jaime A. Headden
The Bite Stuff: http://qilong.wordpress.com/
"Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth" - P. B. Medawar (1969)
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