References
Reference
Araújo, Ricardo et. al. (2015) A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs; Available on CJ
A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs
Principal Author
Ricardo Araújo
Other Authors
Michael J. Polcyn, Anne S Schulp, Louis L Jacobs, A Olímpio Gonçalves, Maria Louisa Morais
Header
Academic paper
Volume
Available on CJ
Abstract
We report here a new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian at Bentiaba, southern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon as the sister taxon to Styxosaurus snowii, and that clade as the sister of a clade composed of (Hydrotherosaurus alexandrae (Libonectes morgani + Elasmosaurus platyurus)). The new taxon has a reduced dorsal blade of the scapula, a feature unique amongst elasmosaurids, but convergent with cryptoclidid plesiosaurs, and indicates a longitudinal protraction-retraction limb cycle rowing style with simple pitch rotation at the glenohumeral articulation. Morphometric phylogenetic analysis of the coracoids of 40 eosauropterygian taxa suggests that there was a broad range of swimming styles within the clade.
Keywords
Plesiosauria, locomotion, pectoral girdle, Elasmosauridae, marine reptiles
Language
English