Rougier Lab
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About
The focus of my lab is the early evolution of mammals. Phylogeny, biogeography, and craniodental morphological transformations are the major areas of interest. Information on past evolutionary history relies mostly on fossils, embryos, and comparative studies. A dynamic field program has included fossil collecting in USA, Argentina, Bolivia, Japan, and Mongolia.
Anatomy/evolution falls broadly within the anatomical and comparative sciences. Highlights of my research to date are 13 publications in Science or Nature, including 1 cover as lead author in each one of those journals, and a paper as a lead in PNAS. I have progressively become more involved in the teaching mission of the department, assuming leadership roles in several of the courses for which ANSB is responsible, including Anatomy and Histology. In conjunction with Dr. Brian Davis, I developed ASNB 530/630: Origins of Mammalian Sensory Systems and Comparative Neurobiology. This course showcases the expertise of ASNB faculty in an evolutionary framework. I welcome students interested in any aspect of morphological and/or evolutionary research. I have mentored students pursuing a career in research, professional careers in medicine and dentistry, as well as graduate education and teaching. I have just published a book with two former students of mine...see below!
Key Research Areas
- Anatomy
- Phylogeny
- Mammalian evolution
- Dental morphology
- Biogeography
- Mesozoic vertebrates
- 3D reconstruction
- Evolution mammalian sensory systems
Current Projects
During the past four years, most of the research projects were directed toward solving the interrelationships of very primitive groups of mammals, only distantly related to living forms, particularly from South America (meridiolestids). However, recent discoveries have permitted important advances with regard to the origin of marsupials and placentals, and the establishment of the modern fauna. Several projects centered on the evolution of hearing, mastication, and systematics are currently being pursued by students in the lab and by collaborators.
I have been deeply involved in fieldwork in several parts of the globe, including South America and three different locations in Asia, with Master’s and Ph.D. students occasionally participating in these trips. These projects in particular have served as opportunities to expand the department’s student base by the inclusion and recruitment of minority and underrepresented MS and Ph.D. students.
Students and student projects
Zachary Biven-Leslie, Ph.D. student
My current research has primarily focused on the description of members of the bunodont meridiolestids, the mesungulatids, of South America, particularly those straddling the K/Pg boundary. I have also been involved in the mentorship of undergraduate and volunteer students in the lab, including those as part of the CARE program.
Brigid Connelly, Ph.D. student
My research so far has broadly involved the evolution of dryolestoids, a group of Mesozoic mammals that serve as one outgroup to therians (marsupial and placental mammals). I am currently working on several projects describing dryolestoid specimens from the Jurassic of North America and the Cretaceous of South America and discussing the significance of this group’s geographical and temporal distribution. Outside of research, I am passionate about teaching human gross anatomy to medical and dental students, and I serve as the vice president of the departmental student organization (NASSA: Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences Student Association).
Team
- Guillermo Rougier
Recent Publications
78. GONZALEZ, B., SORIA ESCOBAR, A., ROJAS DIAZ, V., PUSTOVRH, M. ,SALAZAR MONSALVE, L., ROUGIER G.W. 2020 The embryo of the Silky Shrew-Opossum, Caenolestes fuliginosus (Tomes, 1863): first description of the embryo of Paucituberculata. Journal of Morphology. 281:326-337. DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21101
79. MUZZOPAPPA, P, A.G. MARTINELLI, J.P. GARDERES and G.W. ROUGIER 2020. Exceptional avian pellet from the Paleocene of Patagonia and description of its content: a new species of calyptocephalellid (Neobatrachia) anuran. Papers in paleontology. Pp 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1333
80. KRAUSE, D. W., Y. HU, S. HOFFMANN, J. R. GROENKE, J. A. SCHULTZ, A. EVANS, G.W. ROUGIER and W. von KOENIGSWALD. 2020. Dental morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar; pp. 97-132. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 21. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (2, Supplement).
81. KRAUSE, D. W., S. HOFFMAN, J. B. ROSSIE, Y. HU, J. R. WIBLE, G. W. ROUGIER, E. C. KIRK, and J. R. GROENKE. 2020. Craniofacial morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar; 19-66. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 21. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (2, Supplement).
82. KRAUSE, D. W., S. HOFFMAN, J. R. WIBLE, G. W. ROUGIER. 2020. Lower jaw morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar; pp 81-96. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 21. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (2, Supplement).
83. HOFFMAN, S., R. M. D. BECK, J. R. WIBLE, G. W. ROUGIER, and D. W. Krause. 2020. Phylogenetic relationships of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar; pp. 213–234. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 21. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (2, Supplement).
83. KRAUSE D.W., S. Hoffmann, Y. Hu, J. R. Wible, G. W. ROUGIER, E.K. Kirk, J. R. Groenke, R. R. Rogers, J. B. Rossie, J. A. Schultz, A.R. Evans, W. von Koenigswal and L. J. Rahantarisoa. 2020. Skeleton of Cretaceous mammal from Madagascar reflects long-term insularity. Nature 581:421-427.
84. MUZZOPAPPA, P, A.G. MARTINELLI, J.P. GARDERES and ROUGIER G.W 2020. Un “vomito” revelador. Desde La Patagonia Vol 17, 30: 2-11.
85. STERLI, J., PARRAS, A., ALBINO, A., BECERRA, M., CARBALLIDO, J. L., GOURIC-CAVALLI, S., MUZZOPAPPA, P., ORIOZABALA, C. PANZERI, K., PEREZ-MORENO, A., POL, D., ROUGIER, G. W. and L. SALGADO. 2021.Vertebrados continentales de la Formación La Colonia (Campaniano-Maastrichtiano), Chubut, Argentina. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 34pp.
86. MARTINELLI, A.G., and A.M. FORASIEPI, ROUGIER, G.W. 2021. Mamíferos en tiempos de Dinosaurios. Desde la Patagonia. Vol. 18 22pp
87. FORASIEPI, A.M. MARTINELLI, A.G. and ROUGIER G.W. 2021. Breaking into the dinosaur’s world: furry, early mammals and their relatives. Prehistoric Times 139:28-30.
88. POL, D., CARBALLIDO, J.L., ROUGIER, G.W., RAUHUT, O.W.M., STERLI, J. y GOMEZ, K. 2021. Vertebrados tetrápodos mesozoicos de la cuenca Cañadón Asfalto. En: Giacosa, R.E. (Ed.), Geología y Recursos Naturales de la Provincia del Chubut. Relatorio del XXI Congreso Geológico Argentino, Puerto Madryn, Chubut 21pp.
89. ROUGIER, G.W, G. F. TURAZZINNI, M. S. CARDOZO, T. HARPER, A. I. LIRES, and L. A. CANESSA. 2021 New specimens of Reigitherium bunodontum from the late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation, Patagonia, Argentina. Meridiolestidan diversity in South America. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 28:1051-1081.
90. ROUGIER, G.W, GAUDIN. T.J. CROFT, D.A 2021 Head of the class: John R. Wible’s transformative insights into mammalian craniodental anatomy. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 28:1021-1025
91. ROUGIER,G.W.. and CONNELLY, B. (2021). Early Mammalian History Goes Public. Ameghiniana 58(6): 492-495.
92. HARPER,T, C. F. ADKINS, G. W. ROUGIER. 2022 Reconstructed masticatory biomechanics of Peligrotherium tropicalis, a non-therian mammal from the Paleocene of Argentina. Acta Paleontologica Polonica 67:177-201.
93. DAVIS, B.M., R.L. CIFELLI and G.W. ROUGIER. 2022 Mammalian petrosals from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Utah, USA) reveal non-canonical middle and inner ear character evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 28:1027-1049
94. DAVIS, B. M., JAGER, K., ROUGIER, G. W., TRUJILLO, K., and CHAMBERLAIN, K. 2022. A morganucodontan (Mammaliaformes) from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, Utah, USA. Acta Paleontologica Polonica 67:77-93
95. CONNELLY, B., Z. BIVEN-LESLIE, AND G.W. ROUGIER. 2022 Out from underfoot: Beasts Before Us brings mammalian ancestry to the forefront. Elsa Panciroli. 2021. Hardcover, 320 pp. Bloomsbury Sigma. ISBN 978-1-472983-82-4. Illustrations by April Neander. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. doi.org/10.1007/s10914-021-09598-x
96. DEL PAPA, C., J. BABOT, J. DAHLQUIST, D. GARCÍA LÓPEZ, V. DERACO, C. HERRERA, S. BERTELLI, G. W. ROUGIER, N. P. GIANNINI. 2022 Towards a chronostratigraphy of the Paleocene-Eocene sedimentary record in northwestern Argentina. J. South American Earth Sci.113:103667
97. BABOT, M. J. G. W. ROUGIER, D. A. GARCIA-LOPEZ, S. B. BERTELLI, C. M. HERRERA, V. DERACO, N. P. GIANNINI 2022. New materials of Callistoe vincei (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) and dental evolution of the large South American carnivorous metatherians. Vertebrate Zoology 72:449-485. DOI 10.3897/vz.72.e82709
98. DAVIS, B. M., JAEGER, K. R. K., ROUGIER, G. W., TRUJILLO, K., CHAMBERLAIN, K. 2022. A morganucodontan mammaliaform from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, Utah, USA. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 67: 77- 93.
99. GARBEROGLIO, F.F., R.O.GOMEZ, G.W.ROUGIER. 2024. A Late Cretaceous lizard assemblage from the Allen Formation, northern Patagonia. Historical Biology 51pp. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2024.2344789
100. CONNELLY B., CARDOZO M.S., MONTGOMERY J.D., G.W. ROUGIER. 2024 New mammals from the Late Cretaceous Allen Formation (Patagonia, Argentina) and reassessment of meridiolestidan diversity. Cretaceous Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105935
BOOK
ROUGIER, G.W., MARTINELLI, A.G., and A.M. FORASIEPI 2021 Mesozoic Mammals from South America and Their Forerunners. Springer Verlag. 388 pages (text and figure legends) + 136 figures + 1 table. Springer Verlag.
https://www.amazon.com/Mesozoic-Mammals-Forerunners-Springer-Sciences/d…;