<i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand

A fragmentary plesiosaur skull from lower Maastrichtian levels of the Conway Formation, New Zealand, is redescribed. Originally regarded as pertaining to two separate individuals, we argue that they represent a single individual belonging to a new aristonectine elasmosaurid, <i>Alexandronectes...

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Autores principales: Otero, Rodrigo A., O'Gorman, José Patricio, Hiller, Norton, O'Keefe, F. Robin, Fordyce, R. Ewan
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2016
Materias:
Ciencias Naturales
Plesiosaur skull
Alexandronectes zealandiensis
New Zealand
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/108315
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-108315
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
Plesiosaur skull
Alexandronectes zealandiensis
New Zealand
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
Plesiosaur skull
Alexandronectes zealandiensis
New Zealand
Otero, Rodrigo A.
O'Gorman, José Patricio
Hiller, Norton
O'Keefe, F. Robin
Fordyce, R. Ewan
<i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
Plesiosaur skull
Alexandronectes zealandiensis
New Zealand
description A fragmentary plesiosaur skull from lower Maastrichtian levels of the Conway Formation, New Zealand, is redescribed. Originally regarded as pertaining to two separate individuals, we argue that they represent a single individual belonging to a new aristonectine elasmosaurid, <i>Alexandronectes zealandiensis</i> gen. et sp. nov. This new taxon has common morphologies with other aristonectines such as expansion of the pterygoids extending posteriorly beyond the occipital condyle (as observed in <i>Ar. quiriquinensis</i> and probably in<i> Kaiwhekea katiki</i>) and the presence of an ‘A’-shaped squamosal arch in dorsal view. Otherwise, it is distinguished from these latter species by having different paraoccipital processes, a different mandibular glenoid, and an adult skull comparatively smaller than <i>K. katiki</i> and <i>Aristonectes</i> spp. The new taxon is a morphologically intermediate form between the dorsoventrally high skull of <i>K. katiki</i> and the mediolaterally expanded skulls of <i>Aristonectes</i> spp. The studied specimen is the second genus and species and the third report of an aristonectine recovered from lower Maastrichtian beds of New Zealand, emphasizing the diversity of this group in New Zealand and also indicating that aristonectines could include smaller species than those already known.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Otero, Rodrigo A.
O'Gorman, José Patricio
Hiller, Norton
O'Keefe, F. Robin
Fordyce, R. Ewan
author_facet Otero, Rodrigo A.
O'Gorman, José Patricio
Hiller, Norton
O'Keefe, F. Robin
Fordyce, R. Ewan
author_sort Otero, Rodrigo A.
title <i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand
title_short <i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand
title_full <i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand
title_fullStr <i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand
title_full_unstemmed <i>Alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower Maastrichtian of New Zealand
title_sort <i>alexandronectes zealandiensisgen</i>. et sp. nov., a new aristonectine plesiosaur from the lower maastrichtian of new zealand
publishDate 2016
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/108315
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