Although born in Recife, Tito moved to Brasília as a child, with his parents and sister. During his childhood, he became interested in paleontology.[1] He studied and worked at the University of Brasília,[2] until he completed his degree in Geology at the Federal University of Pernambuco. He later earned a master's and doctorate in science from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). He specializes in the study of fossilized tissues and his doctoral research was a study of the evolution of the dinosaur respiratory system through paleohistology.[3][4]
Science communication and Colecionadores de Ossos
In January 2010, he joined the blog created by scientist Aline GhilardiColecionadores de Ossos (Bone Collectors), focused on science outreach about paleontology.[5] The blog became a YouTube channel in 2014 and has established itself as one of the main productions of its subject in Brazil.[6][7] The YouTube channel evolved into the world's largest Paleontology and Geosciences channel carried out independently by experts in the area, offering direct dialogue between audience and active researchers.[8] The initiative produces literary, audiovisual, and gaming material with more than 200 works distributed in over 40 countries.[9]
Paleohistology and postcranial skeletal pneumaticity
Dr. Aureliano is recognized as a leading expert in the study of postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in dinosaurs, examining how air sac systems similar to those in modern birds evolved in extinct archosaurs.[11] His groundbreaking research provided evidence that postcranial skeletal pneumaticity evolved independently multiple times in different dinosaur lineages.[3] His 2022 study in Scientific Reports demonstrated that the absence of invasive air sacs in early dinosaurs suggests multiple origins for vertebral pneumaticity in pterosaurs, theropods, and sauropodomorphs.[12]
One of his most significant discoveries was the identification of protocamerae tissue in the Late Triassic sauropodomorph Macrocollum itaquii.[13] This represents the chronologically oldest and phylogenetically earliest unambiguous evidence of an invasive air sac system in a dinosaur, challenging previous hypotheses about skeletal pneumatization evolution.[14]
Paleopathology breakthrough
Aureliano and his colleagues identified the first fossilized parasites found inside the vascular canals of a dinosaur bone.[15][16] Working with a titanosaur specimen (Ibirania), they discovered over 70 blood parasites preserved within an 83-million-year-old fibula that also showed evidence of acute osteomyelitis.[17] This groundbreaking find, published in Cretaceous Research, opened new avenues for understanding prehistoric diseases and their evolutionary implications.[15][18]
Morphometry and taxonomic studies
His morphometric research includes detailed analysis of Purussaurus brasiliensis, an extinct giant crocodilian, where he utilized regression equations based on modern crocodilians to provide novel bite-force estimations.[19] The study revealed that this Late Miocene "super crocodile" had bite forces approximately twice as strong as Tyrannosaurus rex.[20]
Taphonomic research
Aureliano's work has advanced understanding of how taphonomic processes affect the preservation of histological evidence for vertebral pneumaticity.[21] His research with the Brazilian titanosaur Uberabatitan ribeiroi demonstrated that diagenetic processes can obliterate traces of pneumosteal bone, emphasizing the importance of understanding diagenetic history when studying pneumatic tissues.[22]
Species discoveries
As part of his studies, Tito took part in research into the extinct super crocodilian Purussaurus,[23][24] and Sousatitan.[25] He also co-described Ibirania parva, one of the smallest known titanosaurs at only 5.7 meters long, representing the first confirmed dwarf titanosaur species in the Americas.[26][27][3][15][28]
Science communication and advocacy
He is also active in scientific communication, and his studio produces literary, audiovisual and gaming material with more than 200 works and distribution in more than 40 countries.[29]
Ubirajara repatriation campaign
Aureliano was also one of the major supporters of the #UbirajaraBelongstoBR campaign (Ubirajara belongs to Brazil), a campaign created by paleontologistAline Ghilardi so that, 27 years after being removed from Brazil illegally and brought to a German museum, the fossil of the dinosaur Ubirajara jubatus would return to its country of origin.[30][31] The campaign was successful, with the fossil being officially returned to Brazil in June 2023 and now housed at the Plácido Cidade Nuvens Paleontology Museum at the Universidade Regional do Cariri.[32][33][34]
↑ Aureliano, Tito; Ghilardi, Aline M.; Fernandes, Marcelo A.; Ricardi-Branco, Fresia (2023). "The origin of an invasive air sac system in sauropodomorph dinosaurs". The Anatomical Record. 306 (9): 2316–2324. doi:10.1002/ar.25209. ISSN1932-8494. PMID36971057.
↑ Aureliano, Tito; Ghilardi, Aline M.; Fernandes, Marcelo A.; Ricardi-Branco, Fresia (2023). "The origin of an invasive air sac system in sauropodomorph dinosaurs". The Anatomical Record. 306 (9): 2316–2324. doi:10.1002/ar.25209. ISSN1932-8494. PMID36971057.
↑ Aureliano, Tito; Ghilardi, Aline M.; Nascimento, Carolina R.; Fernandes, Marcelo A.; Ricardi-Branco, Fresia; Lacerda, Marcus V. G. (2021). "Blood parasites and acute osteomyelitis in a non-avian dinosaur". Cretaceous Research. 118: 104683. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104683. ISSN0195-6671.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
↑ Aureliano, Tito; Ghilardi, Aline M.; Ricardi-Branco, Fresia (2019). "Influence of taphonomy on histological evidence for pneumosteal bone in a sauropod vertebra". Cretaceous Research. 104: 104179. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.07.010. ISSN0195-6671.
↑ Aureliano, Tito; Ghilardi, Aline M.; Ricardi-Branco, Fresia (2019). "Influence of taphonomy on histological evidence for pneumosteal bone in a sauropod vertebra". Cretaceous Research. 104: 104179. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.07.010. ISSN0195-6671.
↑ Navarro, Bruno A.; Ghilardi, Aline M.; Aureliano, Tito; Díez Díaz, Verónica; Bandeira, Kamila L. N.; Cattaruzzi, André G. S.; Iori, Fabiano V.; Martine, Ariel M.; Carvalho, Alberto B.; Anelli, Luiz E.; Fernandes, Marcelo A.; Zaher, Hussam (2022-09-14). "A new nanoid titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Brazil". Ameghiniana. 59 (5): 317–354. Bibcode:2022Amegh..59..477N. doi:10.5710/AMGH.25.08.2022.3477. ISSN0002-7014.
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