Johan Lindgren
Senior lecturer
New aristonectine elasmosaurid plesiosaur specimens from the Early Maastrichtian of Angola and comments on paedomorphism in plesiosaurs
Author
Summary, in English
New elasmosaurid plesiosaur specimens are described from the Early Maastrichtian of Angola. Phylogenetic analyses reconstruct the Angolan taxon as an aristonectine elasmosaurid and the sister taxon of an unnamed form of similar age from New Zealand. Comparisons also indicate a close relationship with an unnamed form previously described from Patagonia. All of these specimens exhibit an ostensibly osteologically immature external morphology, but histological analysis of the Angolan material suggests an adult with paedomorphic traits. By extension, the similarity of the Angolan, New Zealand and Patagonian material indicates that these specimens represent a widespread paedomorphic yet unnamed taxon.
Department/s
- Lithosphere and Biosphere Science
Publishing year
2015
Language
English
Pages
93-108
Publication/Series
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences-Geologie en Mijnbouw
Volume
94
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
VEENMAN DRUKKERS
Topic
- Geology
Keywords
- Paedomorphism
- plesiosaurs
- marine reptiles
- Africa
- Cretaceous
- histology
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0016-7746