Miodentosaurus
Miodentosaurus | |
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Life restoration | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | †Thalattosauria |
Family: | †Askeptosauridae |
Genus: | †Miodentosaurus Cheng et al., 2007 |
Type species | |
Miodentosaurus brevis Cheng et al., 2007
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Miodentosaurus is a
Description
Miodentosaurus is a
Apart from its unique cranial features, Miodentosaurus also has characteristically flat front claws and the two specimens known were both more than four meters long, making it one of the largest thalattosaurs known.[2]
History and specimens
The holotype of Miodentosaurus brevis, NMNS 004727 / F003960, is a well-preserved and fairly complete articulated skeleton. It was discovered in the Carnian-age Xiaowa Formation (or Wayao Member of the Falang Formation) of China, where other thalattosaurs as Anshunsaurus huangguoshuensis and Concavispina biseridens were found. The skull and mandibles were the first elements described in 2007,[1] while the postcranial skeleton was described in 2009.[3]
An even more complete specimen, ZMNH M8742, was described in 2010. This specimen is one of the most complete thalattosaur skeletons known and also depicts pelvic, metatarsal, and coracoid features different from those of the holotype, showing instances of individual variation within the genus.[2]
A 2023 study by Chai et al. suggested that Miodentosaurus may actually represent the same animal as the contemporary Wayaosaurus, which was named in 2007, based on similarities in the skull,
References
- ^ a b Cheng, Yen-Nien; Wu, Xiao-Chun; Sato, Tamaki (2007). "A new Thalattosaurian (Reptilia: Diapsida) From the Upper Triassic of Guizhou, China". Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 45 (3): 246–260.
- ^ a b c Zhao, Li-Jun; Sato, Tamaki; Liu, Jun; Li, Chun; Wu, Xiao-Chun (2010). "A new skeleton of Miodentosaurus brevis (Diapsida: Thallatosauria) with a further study of the taxon" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 48 (1): 1–10.
- ^ a b Wu, Xiao-Chun; Cheng, Yen-Nien; Sato, Tamaki; Shan, Hsi-Yin (2009). "Miodentosaurus brevis Cheng et al. 2007 (Diapsida: Thalattosauria): Its postcranial skeleton and phylogenetic relationships". Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 47 (1): 1–20.
- S2CID 264474151.