FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS

Tholodus schmidi, a rare marine reptile of debated affinity and with a peculiar durophagous dentition, is for the first time recorded outside the Muschelkalk Basin of Central Europe. Parts of a mandibular ramus and a maxilla, both bearing teeth and nearly uncrushed, have been found in the upper Anis...

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Main Author: FABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2004-07-01
Series:Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/5818
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author FABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIA
author_facet FABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIA
author_sort FABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIA
collection DOAJ
description Tholodus schmidi, a rare marine reptile of debated affinity and with a peculiar durophagous dentition, is for the first time recorded outside the Muschelkalk Basin of Central Europe. Parts of a mandibular ramus and a maxilla, both bearing teeth and nearly uncrushed, have been found in the upper Anisian (Balatonicus Subzone) of northeastern Italy. The tooth implantation is relatively complex, with both "alveolate" and "ankylosed" teeth. Disarticulated postcranial bones of an ichthyosaur have been found close to, but not in articular association with, the dentigerous bones of Tholodus. The humerus resembles that of immature individuals of the Chinese genus Chaohusaurus. This association, and some features of teeth and dentigerous bones, suggests that Tholodus might be a grippiid ichthyosaur.
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spelling doaj.art-7d0e313f7d904a33abd1f0fd16ab4dac2023-09-03T03:59:23ZengMilano University PressRivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia0035-68832039-49422004-07-01110210.13130/2039-4942/58185134FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPSFABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIATholodus schmidi, a rare marine reptile of debated affinity and with a peculiar durophagous dentition, is for the first time recorded outside the Muschelkalk Basin of Central Europe. Parts of a mandibular ramus and a maxilla, both bearing teeth and nearly uncrushed, have been found in the upper Anisian (Balatonicus Subzone) of northeastern Italy. The tooth implantation is relatively complex, with both "alveolate" and "ankylosed" teeth. Disarticulated postcranial bones of an ichthyosaur have been found close to, but not in articular association with, the dentigerous bones of Tholodus. The humerus resembles that of immature individuals of the Chinese genus Chaohusaurus. This association, and some features of teeth and dentigerous bones, suggests that Tholodus might be a grippiid ichthyosaur.https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/5818
spellingShingle FABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIA
FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS
Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
title FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS
title_full FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS
title_fullStr FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS
title_full_unstemmed FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS
title_short FIRST RECORD OF THE RARE MARINE REPTILE <em>THOLODUS SCHMIDI </em> FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS
title_sort first record of the rare marine reptile em tholodus schmidi em from the middle triassic of the southern alps
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/5818
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