References
Reference
Hurum, Jørn H et. al. (2014) The first recovered ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic of Edgeøya, Svalbard; Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Bulletin, (11), pp.97-111
The first recovered ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic of Edgeøya, Svalbard
Principal Author
Jørn H Hurum
Other Authors
Aubrey J Roberts, Hans Arne Nakrem, Jan A Stenløkk, Atle Mørk
Header
Academic paper
Journal
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Bulletin
Issue
11
Pages
97-111
Abstract
The Blanknuten Member of the Botneheia Formation preserves ichthyopterygians of various body-sizes. Due to the fragmentary nature of their remains, their systematic positions are controversial. The most complete skeleton of a mixosaur from Svalbard (PMO 219.250) described in this paper adds new data to the Phalarodon-Mixosaurus controversy, which is directly connected to the Svalbard taxa, starting with the description of Ichthyosaurus nordenskioeldii by Hulke in 1873. The ratios of the posterior dorsal vertebrae to the mid caudal vertebrae are a mixture of what is stated to be typical for P. callawayi, M. nordenskioeldii and M. cornalianus. We conclude that PMO 219.250 most likely should be assigned to the genus Phalarodon, but refrain from further assignment to a species
Keywords
Ichthyosaurs, Mixosauridae, Ichthyopterygia , Triassic, Edgeøya, Svalbard.
Language
English