The first specimen of the M iddle T riassic P halarodon atavus ( I chthyosauria: M ixosauridae) from S outh C hina, showing postcranial anatomy and peri‐ T ethyan distribution
2013; Wiley; Volume: 56; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/pala.12021
ISSN1475-4983
AutoresJun Liu, Ryosuke Motani, Da‐Yong Jiang, Shi‐Xue Hu, Jonathan C. Aitchison, Olivier Rieppel, Michael J. Benton, Qiyue Zhang, Changyong Zhou,
Tópico(s)Ichthyology and Marine Biology
ResumoAbstract P halarodon atavus from the G ermanic M uschelkalk B asin was previously represented only by cranial elements. Here we report a nearly complete and articulated specimen of P . atavus from the M iddle T riassic L uoping B iota, Y unnan, S outh C hina. This is the first specimen of P . atavus from outside the G ermanic B asin. This discovery demonstrates a peri‐ T ethyan distribution of P . atavus . The new specimen is also the first one preserving the postcranial anatomy of this species, providing the opportunity to evaluate its sustained swimming ability. Inferences made on its functional morphology suggest that this species was probably adapted for active foraging. Tooth crown morphology suggests that P . atavus may have preferred externally soft prey.
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