Wahlisaurus

Wahlisaurus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic, Hettangian–Hettangian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Ichthyosauria
Family: Leptonectidae
Genus: Wahlisaurus
Lomax 2016
Type species
Wahlisaurus massare
Lomax, 2016
Species
  • W. massare Lomax, 2016

Wahlisaurus massare is a small ichthyosaur species of the family Leptonectidae of the United Kingdom.It was found in Nottinghamshire previous to the year 1951 and described for the first time only in 2016 by Dean Lomax [1].

Description

The so far only preserved specimen comprises a skull and an incomplete skeleton. It shares features, such as a slender and long snout with other leptonectids of that time (e.g. Eurhinosaurus, Excalibosaurus, etc.). The extend of the overbite is minor than that of Eurhinosaurus. Differences can be found in Wahlisaurus` shoulder girdle. In fact both the coracoid and the contact between the coracoid and the scapula possess a foramen.[1]

Etymology

LEICT G454.1951.5 was named in honour of William Wahl and Professor Judy Massare, both specialist in mesozoic marine reptiles.[1]

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.