Sphenofontis velserae gen. et sp. nov., a new rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Brunn (Solnhofen Archipelago, southern Germany)

PeerJ

article

Andrea Villa¹  Roel Montie²  Martin Röper²  Monika Rothgaenger²  Oliver W.M. Rauhut² 

[1] SNSB—Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie;Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino;Museum Solnhofen;Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität;GeoBioCenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität

关键词: Rhynchocephalia;    Sphenodontia;    Sphenodontidae;    Mesozoic;    Europe;    Sphenodon;    Sphenodontinae;    Kimmeridgian;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.11363

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

The Solnhofen Archipelago is well known for its fossil vertebrates of Late Jurassic age, among which figure numerous rhynchocephalian specimens, representing at least six and up to nine genera. A new taxon, named Sphenofontis velserae gen. et sp. nov., increases rhynchocephalian diversity in the Solnhofen Archipelago and is herein described based on a single, well-preserved specimen originating from the Late Kimmeridgian of the Brunn quarry, near Regensburg. The exquisite preservation of the holotype allowed a detailed description of the animal, revealing a skeletal morphology that includes both plesiomorphic and derived features within rhynchocephalians. Sphenofontis is herein referred to Neosphenodontia and tentatively to sphenodontine sphenodontids. It notably differs from all other rhynchocephalians known from the Jurassic of Europe, showing instead closer resemblance with the Middle Jurassic Cynosphenodon from Mexico and especially the extant Sphenodon. This is evidence for a wide distribution of taxa related to the extant tuatara early in the Mesozoic, and also for the presence of less-specialized rhynchocephalians coexisting with more derived forms during the earliest time in the history of the Solnhofen Archipelago.

【 授权许可】

CC BY