A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs

R. Araújo*, Michael J. Polcyn, A. S. Schulp, O. Mateus, L. Jacobs, António Olímpio Gonçalves, M.L. Morais

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    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.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)109-120
    Number of pages12
    JournalNetherlands Journal of Geosciences = Geologie en Mijnbouw
    Volume94
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 21 Jul 2014

    Keywords

    • Elasmosauridae
    • locomotion
    • marine reptiles
    • pectoral girdle
    • Plesiosauria

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this