Skull length:
Jaw length:
Snout length:
Premaxillary length:
Prenarial length:
Orbital diameter:
Snout ratio:
Premaxillary ratio:
Prenarial ratio:
Orbital ratio:
Relative tooth size:
Length:
Width:
Aspect ratio:
Notching:
Accessory element:
Accessory digit:
Digital count:
Digital bifurcation:
Number of elements i
Preflexural vertebrae:
Presacral vertebrae:
Total length:
Measurements and Definitions of Features
(For more details see McGowan [1974A, 1976])
Skull
Distance between tip of snout and posterior edge of articular surface of quadrate:
Distance between tip of mandible and posterior edge of surangular.
Distance between tip of snout and anterior boundary of orbit.
Distance between tip of snout and. anterior tip of maxilla.
Distance between tip of snout and anterior boundary of external naris.
Maximum internal diameter of orbit.
Snout length divided by jaw length.
Premaxillary length divided by jaw length.
Prenarial length divided by jaw length.
Orbital diameter divided by jaw length. -
Height of tooth crown divided by skull width (Massare, 1987)
Fins
Distance between distal end of propodial and distal edge of most distal phalanx.
Maximum width.
Length of fin divided by width.
Elements in leading edge of fin, especially proximal ones, often hav<Ta single notch in the
middle of their anterior margin.
Forefin
A proximal element that lies in contact with, or very close to, the pre- or postaxial margin of the
distal humerus, or of the radius or ulna.
A digit whose proximal origin lies outside the distal margin of the distal-carpal series.
Total number of digits, including accessories.
When a digit appears to split in two, distally.
longest digit: Count commences"with epipodials, extending to distal-most phalanx.
Axial Skeleton
those lying anterior to the apex of the tailbend.
those lying anterior to the level of the distal end of the ilium.
Length from tip of snout to tip of tail,, measured along the vertebral column.
Table of Contents
P re fa ce .......................................................................................
A ck n ow led gm en ts ............................................................
Institutional A b b revia tio n s..........................................
Measurements and Definitions of F e a tu re s .......
Skull......................................................................................
Fins........................................................................................
Forefin............................................................................
Axial Skeleton ................................................................
Table of C o n ten ts ...............................................................
In tro d u ctio n ...........................................................................
Anatomy o f a Typical I ch th y o s au r .........................
Vertebral Column.............................................................
Atlas-Axis Complex..................................................
Remaining Presacral Vertebrae............................
Caudal Vertebrae.......................................................
Identifying Vertebrae...............................................
Taxonomic Use of Vertebrae..................................
Ribs........................................................................................
Skull..................................... : ...............................................
Skull Roof ................................................................
Temporal Region :......................................................
Orbit and Scleral Ring.............................................
Basicranium and Otic Capsule............................
Palate..............................................................................
Mandible.......................................................................
Dentition.......................................................................
Hyoid ..................................................... .......................
Forefin...................................................................................
Humerus.......................... .............................................
Remainder of the Forefin.......................................
Pectoral Girdle...................................................................
Pelvic Girdle......................................................................
Pelvic Fin.............................................................................
Femur.............................................................................
Anatomical D iv ersification..........................................
Overview of Four Body Plans and Intermediates
Review of Body Part Evolution...................................
S tra tig rap h y ...........................................................................
Lower Triassic.....................................................................
Middle Triassic..................................................................
Upper Triassic.....................................................................
Lower Jurassic....................................................................
Middle Jurassic...................................................................
Upper Jurassic....................................................................
Lower Cretaceous.............................................................
Upper Cretaceous.............................................................
Systematic P a le o n to lo g y .......................................................... 63
1. Recognized Genera and S p e c ie s .................................. 63
Superorder Ichthyopterygia Owen, 1 8 4 0 .......................... 63
Family incertae sed is ................................................... 63
Family Parvinatatoridae n o v ..................................... 63
Family Utatsusauridae nov........................................ 64
(Unranked) Eoichthyosauria Motani, 1999B............. 64
Order Grippidia Wiman, 1 9 2 9 ............................................... 64
Family Grippiidae Wiman, 1 9 3 3 .............................. 64
Order Ichthyosauria Blainville, 1 8 3 5 ................................ 65
Family Cymbospondylidae Huene, 1948 ............. 65
(Unranked) Hueneosauria Maisch et Matzke, 2000B 66
Suborder Mixosauria Motani, 1 9 9 9B ................................. 67
Family Mixosauridae Baur, 1887A......................... 67
Suborder Merriamosauriform.es nov................................... 69
Family incertae sedis................................................... 69
Family Guanlingsauridae Yin et al., 2000 ............ 70
Family Besanosauridae n o v ....................................... 70
(Unranked) Merriamosauria Motani, 1999B............. 70
Infraorder Shastasauria Motani, 1999B............................. 70
Family Shastasauridae Merriam, 1902................... 70
Infraorder Euichthyosauria Motani, 1999B...................... 72
Family incertae sed is ................................................... 72
Family Toretocnemidae Maisch et Matzke, 2000B 72
Family Califomosauridae Huene, 1948 ................ 73
(Unranked) Parvipelvia Motani, 1999B...................... 73
Family Macgowaniidae nov....................................... 73
Family Hudsonelpidiidae nov................................... 73
Family Suevoleviathanidae Maisch et Matzke, 2000B 73
Suprafamily Leptonectoidea nov................................... 75
Family Leptonectidae Maisch, 1998A.................... 75
Suprafamily Temnodontosauroidea n o v ..................... 83
Family Temnodontosauridae McGowan, 1974A 83
Superfamily Ichthyosauroidea n o v ............................... 90
Family incertae sed is ................................................... 90
Family Ichthyosauridae Bonaparte, 1 8 4 1 ............ 91
Family Stenopterygiidae Kuhn, 1934..................... 96
Family Ophthalmosauridae Baur, 1 887................ 107
2. Species inquirendae (listed a lp hab etically )............ 125
3. Nomina d u b ia .......................................................................... 129
Genera...................................................................................... 129
Species....................................................................................... 129
4. Nomina n u d a ........................................................................... 139
5. N o n -ich th y o sau rian ............................................................. 139
Phylogeny and higher ta x o n om y ....................................... 141
Outgroup........................................................................................ 141
Ingroup Relationships............................................................... 141
IV
rv
V
VI
VI
VI
VI
VI
VTI
1
5
5
7
10
12
16
16
17
20
20
/1Ä
23
25
29
29
31
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37
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48
58
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