[Paleontology • 2019] Cyamodus orientalis • A New Species of Cyamodus (Placodontia, Sauropterygia) from the early Late Triassic of south-west China

Cyamodus orientalis

Wang, Li, Scheyer & Zhao, 2019

DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2018.1535455  

   twitter.com/JournalSystPal

Abstract

The Triassic eastern Tethyan faunas have continued to yield numerous specimens of marine reptile taxa in recent years. Nevertheless, compared with other sauropterygian clades, the diversity of placodonts in these faunas is low, and remains of this group are relatively rare in the fossil assemblages. Here, we report a new cyamodontoid specimen (ZMNH M8820) from the early Late Triassic of Guizhou, south-west China. This specimen is a nearly complete skeleton lacking only the forelimbs. It is distinct from other known Chinese placodonts as it features a large skull with remarkably enlarged supratemporal fenestrae and a small and less regularly arranged carapace. Interestingly, this new specimen resembles the European Cyamodus more than any Chinese cyamodontoid genera, particularly when considering the dentition and other cranial morphology. However, it differs from known Cyamodus species in some cranial features (e.g. epipterygoid fully ossified, posttemporal fenestra large, dentition derived) and the absence of a separate pelvic shield. Furthermore, based on an updated data matrix of placodonts, our phylogenetic results support the affinity of this new Chinese specimen with European Cyamodus species, and a new species, Cyamodus orientalis sp. nov., is erected here. This new material represents the first reported Cyamodus specimen in the world that preserves a three-dimensional skull with an associated postcranial skeleton and it extends the distribution of this genus into the early Carnian of the eastern Tethys. The existence of Cyamodus, a nearshore taxon, in south-west China at this time reveals greater similarity and more rapid intercommunication than previously known between western and eastern Tethyan vertebrate faunas, although the palaeobiogeographical origin and migration history of Cyamodontidae – and of other clades of placodont reptiles – are still obscure due to the scarcity of material from the northern and southern margins of the Palaeotethys.

Keywords: Placodontia, Guanling Biota, dentition, carapace, biogeography

Figure 2. Photographs and line drawings of the skull of Cyamodus orientalis sp. nov. (ZMNH M8820) in A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, left lateral view; D, occipital view.

Figure 1. Skeleton of Cyamodus orientalis sp. nov. (ZMNH M8820) with skull in original position.

Superorder Sauropterygia Owen, 1860 

Order Placodontia Cope, 1871 

Family Cyamodontidae Nopcsa, 1923 

Genus Cyamodus Meyer, 1863 

Type species. Cyamodus rostratus M€unster, 1839.

Cyamodus orientalis sp. nov.

Derivation of name. The species name is derived from the Latin word ‘oriens’ (East), referring to the Triassic marine reptile fauna in south China being located in the eastern Tethys, while all other known species of Cyamodus are from the western Tethys. 

Wei Wang, Chun Li, Torsten M. Scheyer and Lijun Zhao. 2019. A New Species of Cyamodus (Placodontia, Sauropterygia) from the early Late Triassic of south-west China. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.  DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2018.1535455    

 twitter.com/JournalSystPal/status/1091299793563987973  

twitter.com/JournalSystPal/status/1089891157826568192

[Paleontology • 2018] Paludidraco multidentatus • New Highly Pachyostotic Nothosauroid Interpreted As A Filter-feeding Triassic Marine Reptile

Paludidraco multidentatus 

Miguel Chaves, Ortega & Pérez-García, 2018

  DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0130 

Abstract
Two well-preserved specimens of a new eosauropterygian from the Upper Triassic of Central Spain are attributed to a new taxon, Paludidraco multidentatus gen. et sp. nov. It is a member of Simosauridae that presents several exclusive characters suggesting a highly specialized trophic adaptation. This discovery increases the already high ecological disparity of the Triassic marine reptiles.

KEYWORDS: Sauropterygia, Simosauridae, Keuper, Spain

Systematic palaeontology

 Sauropterygia Owen, 1860
 Eosauropterygia Rieppel, 1994
Nothosauroidea Baur, 1889
Simosauridae Huene, 1948

Paludidraco multidentatus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is composed of the Latin words paludos, meaning marshy (in reference to the El Atance reservoir) and draco, from the Latin word for dragon. The specific name refers to the Latin words multi, meaning numerous, and dentatus, for toothed.

MUPA-ATZ0101, holotype of the new eosauropterygian Paludidraco multidentatus.
 The relative position of the two blocks and the skull corresponds to their original position in the field.

Conclusion:

 Remains belonging to two individuals of the new eosauropterygian Paludidraco multidentatus gen. et sp. nov. have been recovered from the Upper Triassic El Atance site (Central Spain). Paludidraco multidentatus is primarily characterized by a very slender mandible and numerous small and sicklelike teeth with pleurodont implantation, as well as an extremely pachyostotic axial skeleton. An ecological role analogous to that of extant manatees is interpreted for this bizarre sauropterygian. Therefore, this discovery increases the already high disparity of the sauropterygians from the Triassic.




Carlos de Miguel Chaves, Francisco Ortega and Adán Pérez-García. 2018. New Highly Pachyostotic Nothosauroid Interpreted As A Filter-feeding Triassic Marine Reptile. Biology Letters.  DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0130

  twitter.com/Tortugologo/status/1024563244390866944

 twitter.com/frco_ortega/status/1024559993863974912

 twitter.com/Godzillin/status/1024566006403018753

[Paleontology • 2018] Parahenodus atancensis • A New Placodont from the Upper Triassic of Spain provides New Insights on the Acquisition of the Specialized Skull of Henodontidae

Parahenodus atancensis

 de Miguel Chaves, Ortega & Pérez‐García, 2018

   DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1218 

Illustration: Eloy Manzanero  divulgauned.es

Abstract

Henodus chelyops Huene is considered to be a highly autapomorphic cyamodontoid placodont with specialized trophic adaptations relative to all the other members of Placodontia. It has been exclusively found in the Carnian (Upper Triassic) of Tübingen (Germany). Here we present a partial skull identified as a new cyamodontoid placodont from the Upper Triassic of El Atance (Guadalajara Province, Spain), Parahenodus atancensis gen. et sp. nov. It is recognized as the sister taxon of H. chelyops, both taxa composing the clade Henodontidae. An emended diagnosis for H. chelyops and Henodontidae is given here. Parahenodus atancensis shares with H. chelyops several cranial characters considered until now to be autapomorphic for the latter, but it also retains some states common in most cyamodontoids. Thus, the discovery of P. atancensis provides new information on the acquisition process of the highly specialized skull of the Henodontidae.

Key words: Placodontia, Cyamodontoidea, Henodontidae, Parahenodus atancensis, El Atance.

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY

SAUROPTERYGIA Owen, 1860

PLACODONTIFORMES Neenan et al., 2013

PLACODONTIA Cope, 1871

CYAMODONTOIDEA Nopcsa, 1923

CYAMODONTIDA Nopcsa, 1923

HENODONTIDAE Huene, 1936

Type species. Henodus chelyops Huene, 1936.

Included species. Henodus chelyops, Parahenodus atancensis gen. et sp. nov.

Emended diagnosis. Clade of Cyamodontida characterized by the following exclusive characters: flat skull; maxillae without tooth plates but with a deep ventral longitudinal groove; palatines with a single posterior tooth plate; upper temporal fenestrae reduced to absent; parietals broad and fan-shaped; presence of contact between the jugals and the squamosals; palatines separated from one another by long pterygoids; cephalic condyle of the quadrates posteriorly expanded and abutting a ventral flange of the squamosals.

Distribution. Upper Triassic (Carnian to Norian) of Europe (southern Germany and central Spain).

Genus HENODUS Huene, 1936 

Type species. Henodus chelyops Huene, 1936.

....

FIG. 1. Skull MUPA ATZ0104, holotype of the cyamodontoid placodont Parahenodus atancensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Triassic of El Atance.
A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, schematic interpretation of the skull in dorsal view. D, schematic interpretation of the skull in ventral view.

Scale bars represent: 20 mm (A–D) 

Genus PARAHENODUS nov. 

Type species. Parahenodus atancensis sp. nov. 

Parahenodus atancensis sp. nov. 

Derivation of name. Para (paqa), Greek for ‘near’ or ‘beside’, implying morphological closeness to Henodus Huene, 1936; atance, from El Atance, the fossil site; and ensis, a Latin adjectival suffix meaning ‘pertaining to’.

FIG. 2. Strict consensus tree obtained from our phylogenetic analysis based on the cranial data matrix of Neenan et al. (2015) showing the position of the cyamodontoid placodont Parahenodus atancensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Triassic of El Atance. Bootstrap frequencies that exceed 50% (top) and Bremer support values (bottom) are indicated.

  

Carlos de Miguel Chaves,  Francisco Ortega and Adán Pérez‐García. 2018. A New Placodont from the Upper Triassic of Spain provides New Insights on the Acquisition of the Specialized Skull of Henodontidae.  Papers in Palaeontology.  DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1218

Describen una nueva especie de placodonto que habitó en Guadalajara durante el Triásico Superior  divulgauned.es/placodonto/ via @divulgauned

 twitter.com/frco_ortega/status/999921997692846082

 twitter.com/Tortugologo/status/996073241394413573

[Paleontology • 2017] Arminisaurus schuberti • A Rare New Pliensbachian Plesiosaurian from the Amaltheenton Formation of Bielefeld in northwestern Germany

Arminisaurus schuberti  Sachs & Kear, 2017

DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2017.1367419

 Artwork by Joschua Knüppe  hyrotrioskjan.deviantart.com 

Abstract

We describe a new plesiosaurian from the upper Pliensbachian Amaltheenton Formation of Bielefeld in northwestern Germany. The taxon is based upon an incomplete associated skeleton comprising part of the right mandibular ramus, several teeth, a series of cervical, pectoral, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, as well as ribs, limb girdle elements including a nearly complete right scapula, and various distal limb bones. A unique character state combination serves to distinguish the Amaltheenton Formation remains from other previously documented Early Jurassic plesiosaurians. The most important features are the presence of a longitudinal notch incising the posterior rim of the glenoid fossa and retroarticular process, and a pronounced ventrolateral shelf on the scapula, both of which constitute derived states otherwise shared with Early Cretaceous leptocleidians. However, phylogenetic analysis using a ‘total group’ Plesiosauria data-set that specifically accommodates for Pliensbachian taxa unanimously placed the Amaltheenton Formation plesiosaurian among Early–Middle Jurassic pliosaurids. This discovery is significant because it reveals unexpected homoplasy, but also because it establishes what is only the third formally named plesiosaurian taxon thus far documented from Pliensbachian strata worldwide.

Key words: Plesiosauria, Early Jurassic, pliosaurid, ‘Pliensbachian gap’. 

Systematic palaeontology

SAUROPTERYGIA Owen, 1860

PLESIOSAURIA de Blainville, 1835

PLIOSAURIDAE Seeley, 1874

Arminisaurus gen. nov. 

Etymology. Armini-, referring to Arminius (Armin), chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest; and -saurus Latinized Greek for ‘lizard’. 

Arminisaurus schuberti sp. nov.

Etymology: The species name honours Mr. Siegfried Schubert, who recovered the holotype NAMU ES/jl 36052 for science and has contributed to palaeontological research in the Bielefeld region for the last decade.

Type locality and unit. Beukenhorst-II claypit in the Jöllenbeck district of Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Germany. Type stratum is the upper Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) middle Amaltheus subnodosus Subzone (Amaltheus margaritatus Zone) of the Amaltheenton Formation.

Sven Sachs and Benjamin P. Kear. 2017. A Rare New Pliensbachian Plesiosaurian from the Amaltheenton Formation of Bielefeld in northwestern Germany. Alcheringa.  DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2017.1367419

 Ancestor of sea reptile super-predators found in Germany http://phy.so/424681896  via @physorg_com

https://www.uu.se/en/research/news/article/?id=9324&typ=artikel

[Paleontology • 2017] Lagenanectes richterae • A New Basal Elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany

Lagenanectes richterae

 Sachs, Hornung & Kear, 2017

DOI:  10.1080/02724634.2017.1301945 

ABSTRACT

Here we report on a new basal elasmosaurid plesiosaurian, Lagenanectes richterae, gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous (probably Upper Hauterivian) of Germany. The material includes a partial skull (cranium and mandible), the atlas-axis complex, additional cervical vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, an ilium, and limb elements. The basioccipital and atlas intercentrum are pathologically deformed, probably due to an osteomyelitic infection. Two potential autapomorphies were found in the mandible: (1) the alveolar margin at the symphysis is laterally expanded with the rostral-most alveoli being markedly procumbent and situated along the lateral margins of the dentaries; and (2) the ventral midline at the symphysis is produced into a prominent wedge-shaped platform indented by numerous irregular pits. Lagenanectes richterae, gen. et sp. nov., also shows a number of typical elasmosaurid traits, including a longitudinal lateral ridge on the cervical vertebral centra (although a ventral notch is absent) and teeth with oval cross-sections. Lagenanectes richterae, gen. et sp. nov., is one of the best-preserved plesiosaurians from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe.

FIGURE 4. Lagenanectes richterae, gen. et sp. nov., BGR Ma 13328, holotype, reconstruction of the skull showing the preserved portions (shaded) in A, lateral and B, ventral views. The missing parts are reconstructed based on Libonectes spp. (partly after Carpenter 1997:figs. 2, and 5).

 Abbreviations: bo, basioccipital; den, dentary; in, internal naris; mx, maxilla; pal, palatine; pmx, premaxilla; ps, parasphenoid; pt, pterygoid; qu, quadrate; v, vomer. Scale bar equals 5 cm.

FIGURE 3. Lagenanectes richterae, gen. et sp. nov., BGR Ma 13328, holotype, cranium in ventral view. A, photograph; B, interpretive illustration. Dotting: sedimentary matrix.

 Abbreviations: dlf, dental lamina foramen; in, internal naris; pal, palatine; pmx, premaxilla; ps, parasphenoid; pt, pterygoid; rpt, replacement tooth; v, vomer. Scale bar equals 5 cm

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

SAUROPTERYGIA Owen, 1860

PLESIOSAURIA Blainville, 1835

ELASMOSAURIDAE Cope, 1869

LAGENANECTES, gen. nov.

Etymology:— Lagenanectes, ‘Leine swimmer,’ composed from Lagena, the medieval Old High German name of the Leine River, which passes the vicinity of Sarstedt and forms a major local hydrographic feature, and -nectes from latinized Greek: ‘o nektes’ - ‘swimmer’.

Type Species:— Lagenanectes richterae, sp. nov.

LAGENANECTES RICHTERAE, sp. nov.

Plesiosaurus elasmosaurus (Finzel, 1964:307, nomen nudum).

‘Elasmosaurus’ (Harms, 1982:2)

Elasmosaurus sp. (Zawischa, 1987:85)

Skelettrest eines Elasmosauriers (Sachs, 2000:33)

Schädelreste, Zähne und Wirbel eines Elasmosauriers (Sachs, 2011:12)

New basal elasmosaurid (Sachs et al., 2015:131)

Etymology:— The species epithet richterae is a patronym for Dr. Annette Richter, Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum, Hannover, honoring her various contributions and outstanding dedication to the vertebrate paleontology of Lower Saxony.

FIGURE 13. Life reconstruction of Lagenanectes richterae, gen. et sp. nov. Artwork by Frederik Spindler, 2015.

....

Sven Sachs, Jahn J. Hornung and Benjamin P. Kear. 2017. A New Basal Elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI:  10.1080/02724634.2017.1301945

"Lagenanectes" by Hyrotrioskjan

hyrotrioskjan.deviantart.com/art/Lagenanectes-701056165

twitter.com/pantheo27705718/status/901341256449540096

 

[Paleontology • 2017] Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi • A Morphometrically and Stratigraphically Intermediate New Rhomaleosaurid Plesiosaurian from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) of Lyme Regis, England

Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi  Smith & Araújo, 2017

Illustration: L. Soares. DOI: 10.1127/pala/308/2017/89  

Abstract

An excellently preserved partial skeleton of a rhomaleosaurid plesiosaurian (NLMH 106. 058) from the Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) of Lyme Regis, England, is described. The material consists of a complete cranium, mandible, and articulated cervical vertebral column. It is noteworthy because large-headed rhomaleosaurids are rare from this stratigraphic horizon and it is taxonomically distinct. The material is referred to a new taxon, Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi gen. nov. et sp. nov, diagnosed by two autapomorphies: 1. a pronounced transverse trough on the posterior margin of the dorsal ramus of the squamosal; 2. possibly paired anteriorly tapering triangular basioccipital processes. It also possesses a unique combination of other characters including a ‘short’ premaxillary rostrum (length and width subequal), five premaxillary alveoli, premaxilla-maxilla sutures parallel anterior to the external nares, frontals contact on the midline, prefrontal-frontal suture convex and gently curved medially, mandibular symphyseal region spatulate and ‘short’ (length and width subequal), prominent dorsally concave medial flange anteromedial to the articular glenoid, robust rod-like axis neural spine with a circular transverse cross section, and cervical neural spines with a mediolaterally expanded apex. The taxon shares some of these characters with earlier Hettangian rhomaleosaurids (e. g. Atychodracon, Eurycleidus), and other characters with later Toarcian rhomaleosaurids (e. g. Rhomaleosaurus sensu stricto and Meyerasaurus). Inclusion of Thaumatodracon as an additional operational taxonomic unit in several existing cladistic analyses demonstrates that it occupies a relatively derived position within Rhomaleosauridae. A morphometric multivariate analysis of Lower Jurassic rhomaleosaurids shows that Thaumatodracon is also proportionally intermediate between known rhomaleosaurid taxa. Thaumatodracon is therefore a stratigraphically and anatomically intermediate taxon that fills a gap in our knowledge of the evolution of this macro-predatory plesiosaurian clade.

Keywords: Plesiosauria, Sauropterygia, Rhomaleosauridae, Lower Jurassic, Lyme Regis

Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi

Illustration: Luzia Soares. 

 behance.net

 Adam S. Smith and Ricardo Araújo. 2017. Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi, A Morphometrically and Stratigraphically Intermediate New Rhomaleosaurid Plesiosaurian from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) of Lyme Regis. Palaeontographica, Abt. A: Palaeozoology – Stratigraphy.  4-6; 89 - 125.  DOI: 10.1127/pala/308/2017/89  

 behance.net/gallery/55582263/Thaumatodracon

 Adam S. Smith and Ricardo Araújo. 2017. Morphometric data and phylogenetic analysis of Thaumatodracon wiedenrothi. PANGAEA. DOI: 10.1594/PANGAEA.870543

   

Português descreve nova espécie dos mais antigos dinossauros marinhos  http://www.dn.pt/lusa/interior/portugues-descreve-nova-especie-dos-mais-antigos-dinossauros-marinhos-8685934.html

[Paleontology • 2015] Wangosaurus brevirostris • A New Pistosauroid (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from the late Ladinian Xingyi Marine Reptile Level, southwestern China

Wangosaurus brevirostris
Ma, Jiang, Rieppel, Motani & Tintori, 2015

Abstract

Sauropterygia is a diverse group of Mesozoic marine reptiles that includes the Plesiosauria, one of the most successful clades from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. The body plan of the Plesiosauria differs from that of basal sauropterygians by adaptations for life in the open ocean, as expressed by the propulsive, paddle-like limbs (Storrs, 1993; Sato et al., 2010; Benson et al., 2012). Triassic pistosauroids are believed to be important in the search for the origin of Plesiosauria (Rieppel et al., 2002; Sato et al., 2010). Until recently, the sister-group relationship between them was mainly based on cranial information, because of the generally poor preservation of Triassic pistosauroid specimens. Eight genera have been reported so far (Meyer, 1839; Yang, 1959, 1965; Storrs, 1991; Rieppel, 1997, 1998, 1999; Sander et al., 1997; Cheng et al., 2006; Dalla Vecchia, 2006), but some of these are known only from relatively complete cranial material (Augustasaurus Sander et al., 1997; Corosaurus Case, 1936; Cymatosaurus Fritsch, 1894; Pistosaurus Meyer, 1839; Yunguisaurus Cheng et al., 2006), whereas Yunguisaurus remains to date the only taxon represented by a complete skeleton.

Three genera of pistosauroids have been reported from the Triassic marine reptile faunas of southwestern China. Chinchenia sungi Young, 1965, from the upper Middle Triassic of Qingzhen, Guizhou Province, and Kwangsisaurus orientalis Young, 1959, from the upper Lower or lower Middle Triassic of Wuming, Guangxi Province, are both extremely fragmentary and listed as Pistosauroidea incertae sedis (Yang, 1959, 1965; Rieppel, 1999, 2000). Yunguisaurus liae Cheng, Sato, Wu, and Li, 2006, from the late Middle Triassic of Chajiang, Guizhou Province, and Fuyuan, Yunnan Province, is the only one represented by a complete skeleton, which is suggestive of early stages of adaptation towards the plesiosaurian functional style (Cheng et al., 2006; Zhao et al., 2008; Sato et al., 2010, 2014). Thus, more complete material should be described to provide new information that would better resolve the origin of Plesiosauria.

Here, we report a new pistosauroid, Wangosaurus brevirostris, gen. et sp. nov., from the late Middle Triassic of Xingyi, Guizhou Province, which shows a combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters (Fig. 1). Due to the rarity of complete and articulated skeletons of pistosauroids, and the presence of enough unique characters gleaned from the dorsal view of this specimen to establish a new genus, we here provide a preliminary description and phylogenetic analysis.

Le-Tian Ma, Da-Yong Jiang, Olivier Rieppel, Ryosuke Motani and Andrea Tintori. 2015. A New Pistosauroid (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from the late Ladinian Xingyi Marine Reptile Level, southwestern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35(1):1-6.
DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2014.881832

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/273278925_A_new_pistosauroid_(Reptilia_Sauropterygia)_from_the_late_Ladinian_Xingyi_marine_reptile_level_southwestern_China

http://thedragonstales.blogspot.com/2015/02/wangosaurus-brevirostris-new-ladinian.html

https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/at-the-nothosaurplesiosaur-node/

[Paleontology | Ichnotaxa • 2014] Dikoposichnus luopingensis • Nothosaur Foraging Tracks from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China

ABSTRACT 

The seas of the Mesozoic (266–66 Myr ago) were remarkable for predatory marine reptiles, but their modes of locomotion have been debated. One problem has been the absence of tracks, although there is no reason to expect that swimmers would produce tracks. We report here seabed tracks made by Mesozoic marine reptiles, produced by the paddles of nothosaurs (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) in the Middle Triassic of the Luoping localities in Yunnan, southwestern China. These show that the track-making nothosaurs used their forelimbs for propulsion, they generally rowed (both forelimbs operating in unison rather than alternately), and the forelimb entered medially, dug in as the paddle tip gained purchase, and withdrew cleanly. These inferences may provide evidence for swimming modes, or it could be argued that the locomotory modes indicated by the tracks were restricted to such contact propulsion. Such punting behaviour may have been used to flush prey from the bottom muds.

The nothosaur, Lariosaurus, prowls along the seafloor, searching for lobsters and fishes hiding in the soupy bottom mud. She uses her front paddles to punt along, keeping at the right height for feeding, and leaving the Dikoposichnus track behind. The reconstruction scene is based on the tracks, and our identification of the most likely track maker, as well as an interpretation of a likely function.

Original artwork Brian Choo, 2014 | gogosardina.deviantART.com
DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4973

A small nothosaur (Lariosaurus cf. hongguoenis) forages on a shallow seabed in search of lobsters and small fishes. It propels itself along with rowing motions of it's paddle-like forelimbs, leaving behind distinctive prints on the sediment (ichnotaxon Dikoposichnus luopingensis)

 Lariosaurus goes for a stroll by Gogosardina on @deviantART 

Relationship of the print impressions (lower slab) and the mould. Photograph taken within minutes of uncovering a new trackway, showing the imprint moulds on the overlying bed bottom and the imprints on the top of bed 107. The animal was moving from left to right.

photo: Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey.

Zhang Qiyue, Wen Wen, Hu Shixue, Michael J Benton, Zhou Changyong, Xie Tao, Lu Tao, Huang Jinyuan, Brian Choo, Chen Zhong-Qiang, Liu Jun, Zhang Qican. 2014. Nothosaur Foraging Tracks from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China. Nature Communications. 5(3973): 1-12. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4973

ResearchGate.net/publication/263046872_Nothosaur_foraging_tracks_from_the_Middle_Triassic_of_southwestern_China

Newly discovered paddle prints show how ancient sea reptiles swam

Trackways formed on an ancient seabed have shed new light on how nothosaurs, ancient marine reptiles that lived during the age of the dinosaurs, propelled themselves through water. The evidence is described by a team from Bristol and China in Nature Communications today.

http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2014/june/paddle-prints.html

 NH Notes: Discovery of a Marine Reptile Fossil Trackway

http://thenaturalhistorian.com/2014/06/12/nh-notes-discovery-of-a-marine-reptile-fossil-trackway/

[Paleontology • 2011] viviparous Polycotylus latipinnis • Viviparity and K-selected life history in a Mesozoic marine plesiosaur (Reptilia, Sauropterygia)

Plesiosaur Polycotylus latippinus giving birth to a single, large young, based on a fossil found in Kansas. Plesiosaurs were apparently unique among marine reptiles living during the age of dinosaurs in that they gave birth to single, large young, a trait more commonly associated with marine mammals rather than other reptiles.

CREDIT: S. Abramowicz, Dinosaur Institute, NHM

Viviparity is known in several clades of Mesozoic aquatic reptiles, but evidence for it is lacking in the Plesiosauria. Here, we report a Late Cretaceous plesiosaur fossil consisting of a fetus preserved within an adult of the same taxon. We interpret this occurrence as a gravid female and unborn young and hence as definitive evidence for plesiosaur viviparity. Quantitative analysis indicates that plesiosaurs gave birth to large, probably single progeny. The combination of viviparity, large offspring size, and small brood number differs markedly from the pattern seen in other marine reptiles but does resemble the K-selected strategy of all extant marine mammals and a few extant lizards. Plesiosaurs may have shared other life history traits with these clades, such as sociality and maternal care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycotylus_latipinnis

O'Keefe, F.R.; and Chiappe, L.M. 2011. Viviparity and K-selected life history in a Mesozoic marine plesiosaur (Reptilia, Sauropterygia). Science. 333 (6044): 870–873. doi:10.1126/science.1205689

Pregnant Fossil Suggests Ancient 'Sea Monsters' Birthed Live Young http://www.livescience.com/15517-pregnant-plesiosaur-big-live-young.html via @LiveScience

Polycotylus - The Good Mother Plesiosaur? |  http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/polycotylus-the-good-mother-plesiosaur/

Fossilized pregnant plesiosaur: 78-million-year-old fossils of adult and its embryo provide first evidence of live birth: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110811142806.htm