A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs
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 toStyxosaurus 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.
- Publication:
-
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences
- Pub Date:
- March 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1017/njg.2014.44
- Bibcode:
- 2015NJGeo..94..109A