Name: GABRIEL S FERREIRA
Telephone: +49 7071 29 77594

Palaeobiology and Comparative Morphology

A crocodyliform quadrate from the Late Cretaceous of the Bauru Basin, Brazil

Stress plots resulting from finite element analyses of the shell of Proganochelys quenstedtii, the earliest turtle

Collecting samples for geochemical analyses with Miriam Forancelli

A crocodyliform quadrate from the Late Cretaceous of the Bauru Basin, Brazil

ABOUT ME

I’m interested in the evolution of functional morphology. I am currently a research associate and head of the 3D Imaging Lab of the Senckenberg HEP at the University of Tübingen, Germany.

My research focuses on the use of computational tools and methods, such as micro-computed tomography (µCT), finite element analyses and geometric morphometrics, to explore patterns of morphofunctional evolution in recent and extinct lineages, mostly reptiles.

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MY RESEARCH

Exploring shape evolution in the deep time

COMPARATIVE & FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY

MACROEVOLUTION & PALAEONTOLGY

SYSTEMATICS & TAXONOMY OF REPTILES

Highlighted Publications

Ferreira GS, Hermanson G, Kyriakouli C, Dróżdż D, Szczygielski T. 2024. Shell biomechanics suggests an aquatic palaeoecology at the dawn of turtle evolution. Scientific Reports, doi:10.1038/s41598-024-72540-7

Ferreira GS, Nascimento ER, Cadena EA, Cozzuol MA, Farina BM, Pacheco MLAF, Rizzutto MA, Langer MC. 2024. The latest freshwater giants: a new Peltocephalus (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) turtle from the Late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Amazon. Biology Letters, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0010

Farina BM, Godoy PL, Benson RBJ, Langer MC, Ferreira GS. 2023. Turtle body size evolution is determined by lineage-specific specializations rather than global trends. Ecology & Evolution, doi: 10.1002/ece3.10201

Ferreira GS, Werneburg I, Lautenschlager S, Evers SW. 2023. Contrasting brains and bones: neuroanatomical evolution in turtles (Testudinata). In: Paleoneurology of Amniotes, Dozo MT, Paulina-Carabajal A, Macrini TE, Walsh S (Eds). Springer, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-13983-3_4

Hermanson G, Benson RBJ, Farina BM, Ferreira GS, Langer MC, Evers SW. 2022. Cranial ecomorphology of turtles and neck retraction as a possible trigger of ecological diversification. Evolution, doi: 10.1111/evo.14629

Montefeltro FC, Lautenschlager S, Godoy PL, Ferreira GS, Butler RJ. 2020. A unique predator in a unique ecosystem: modelling the apex predator within a Late Cretaceous crocodyliform-dominated fauna from Brazil. Journal of Anatomy, doi: 10.1111/joa.13192

Ferreira GS, Lautenschlager S, Evers SW, Pfaff C, Kriwet J, Raselli I, Werneburg I. 2020. Feeding biomechanics suggests progressive correlation of skull architecture and neck evolution in turtles. Scientific Reports, doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62179-5

Ferreira GS, Bronzati M, Langer MC, Sterli J. 2018. Phylogeny, biogeography and diversification patterns of side-necked turtles (Testudines: Pleurodira). Royal Society Open Science, doi: 10.1098/rsos.171773