Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs
A complex and confusing taxonomy has concealed the diversity dynamics of Cretaceous ichthyosaurs (Reptilia) for decades. The near totality of Albian-Cenomanian remains from Eurasia has been assigned, by default, to the loosely defined entity Platypterygius campylodon, whose holotype was supposed to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-10-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2604.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797418168856084480 |
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| author | Valentin Fischer |
| author_facet | Valentin Fischer |
| author_sort | Valentin Fischer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A complex and confusing taxonomy has concealed the diversity dynamics of Cretaceous ichthyosaurs (Reptilia) for decades. The near totality of Albian-Cenomanian remains from Eurasia has been assigned, by default, to the loosely defined entity Platypterygius campylodon, whose holotype was supposed to be lost. By thoroughly examining the Cenomanian ichthyosaur collections from the UK, I redescribe the syntypic series of Platypterygius campylodon. This material, along with a handful of other coeval remains, is diagnostic and seemingly differs from the vast majority of Cretaceous remains previously assigned to this taxon. A lectotype for Platypterygius campylodon is designated and I reassign this species to Pervushovisaurus campylodon nov. comb. The feeding ecology of this species is assessed and conforms to the scenario of an early Cenomanian diversity drop prior to the latest Cenomanian final extinction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:28:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a65441288444222be762776dbf49e06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:28:37Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a65441288444222be762776dbf49e062023-12-03T11:10:24ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-10-014e260410.7717/peerj.2604Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaursValentin Fischer0UR Geology, Université de Liège, Liège, BelgiumA complex and confusing taxonomy has concealed the diversity dynamics of Cretaceous ichthyosaurs (Reptilia) for decades. The near totality of Albian-Cenomanian remains from Eurasia has been assigned, by default, to the loosely defined entity Platypterygius campylodon, whose holotype was supposed to be lost. By thoroughly examining the Cenomanian ichthyosaur collections from the UK, I redescribe the syntypic series of Platypterygius campylodon. This material, along with a handful of other coeval remains, is diagnostic and seemingly differs from the vast majority of Cretaceous remains previously assigned to this taxon. A lectotype for Platypterygius campylodon is designated and I reassign this species to Pervushovisaurus campylodon nov. comb. The feeding ecology of this species is assessed and conforms to the scenario of an early Cenomanian diversity drop prior to the latest Cenomanian final extinction.https://peerj.com/articles/2604.pdfIchthyosauriaCretaceousExtinctionOphthalmosauridaePlatypterygiinaeBiodiversity |
| spellingShingle | Valentin Fischer Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs PeerJ Ichthyosauria Cretaceous Extinction Ophthalmosauridae Platypterygiinae Biodiversity |
| title | Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs |
| title_full | Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs |
| title_fullStr | Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs |
| title_short | Taxonomy of Platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs |
| title_sort | taxonomy of platypterygius campylodon and the diversity of the last ichthyosaurs |
| topic | Ichthyosauria Cretaceous Extinction Ophthalmosauridae Platypterygiinae Biodiversity |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2604.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT valentinfischer taxonomyofplatypterygiuscampylodonandthediversityofthelastichthyosaurs |