PECULIAR PRESERVATION OF A JUVENILE PACHYPLEUROSAURID FROM BESANO (ITALY)

A small pachypleurosaurid collected in the Besano area of Italy, is described. A comparative analysis of size and proportions with other pachipleurosaurids suggest it represents a juvenile specimen of Neusticosaurus pusillus. The specimen represents a peculiar taphonomic case: the centra of the dors...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: SILVIO RENESTO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2006-11-01
Series:Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6347
Description
Summary:A small pachypleurosaurid collected in the Besano area of Italy, is described. A comparative analysis of size and proportions with other pachipleurosaurids suggest it represents a juvenile specimen of Neusticosaurus pusillus. The specimen represents a peculiar taphonomic case: the centra of the dorsal vertebrae are clustered together in the pectoral area while the rest of the trunk is virtually undisturbed, suggesting that disarticulation of dorsal vertebral elements may have occurred before decay of integumental soft parts, possibly before the carcass reached the bottom of the basin.
ISSN:0035-6883
2039-4942