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Sauropterygia
Taxonomy
Sauropterygia was named by Owen (1859).
It was reranked as the order Sauropterygia by Owen (1860), Cope (1871), Leidy (1873), Cope (1875), Günther (1886), Zittel (1890), Woodward (1898), Osborn (1904), Swinton (1934), Kuhn (1946), Kuhn (1966), Thurmond (1968), Welles and Gregg (1971), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Wiffen and Moisley (1986), Sander (1989), Storrs (1991), Hiller and Mannering (2005); it was synonymized subjectively with Plesiosauria by Hay (1902), Hay (1930); it was reranked as the superorder Sauropterygia by Osborn (1903), Carroll (1988), Smith and Araújo (2017); it was corrected as Sauropterygii by Jaekel (1910), Jaekel (1911); it was reranked as the subclass Sauropterygia by Brown (1981), Gasparini and Salgado (2000), Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki (2001), Hiller and Mannering (2004), Otero et al. (2013), Marx et al. (2021); it was reranked as the unranked clade Sauropterygia by Rieppel (1989), Storrs (1997), Jiang et al. (2006), Otero et al. (2009), Otero et al. (2014), Serratos et al. (2017), Vincent and Storrs (2019), Zverkov et al. (2023), Clark et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Enaliosauria by Owen (1859); to Synapsida by Osborn (1903); to Anomodontia by Osborn (1904); to Enaliosauri by Owen (1861), Jaekel (1910); to Holosauria by Jaekel (1911); to Dranitesauria by Nopcsa (1928); to Theromorphoidea by Huene (1954); to Synaptosauria by Roxo (1937), Carroll (1981); to Lepidosauromorpha by Carroll (1988); to Neodiapsida by Rieppel (1989); to Lepidosauromorpha by Storrs (1991); to Diapsida by Kuhn (1966), Druckenmiller and Russell (2008); to Reptilia by Owen (1860), Cope (1871), Leidy (1873), Cope (1875), Günther (1886), Zittel (1890), Woodward (1898), Swinton (1934), Kuhn (1946), Thurmond (1968), Welles and Gregg (1971), Brown (1981), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Wiffen and Moisley (1986), Sander (1989), Gasparini and Salgado (2000), Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki (2001), Hiller and Mannering (2004), Hiller and Mannering (2005), Smith and Araújo (2017), Vincent and Storrs (2019), Zverkov et al. (2023); and to Diapsida by Storrs (1997), Jiang et al. (2006), Otero et al. (2009), Otero et al. (2013), Otero et al. (2014), Serratos et al. (2017), Marx et al. (2021), Clark et al. (2024).
It was reranked as the order Sauropterygia by Owen (1860), Cope (1871), Leidy (1873), Cope (1875), Günther (1886), Zittel (1890), Woodward (1898), Osborn (1904), Swinton (1934), Kuhn (1946), Kuhn (1966), Thurmond (1968), Welles and Gregg (1971), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Wiffen and Moisley (1986), Sander (1989), Storrs (1991), Hiller and Mannering (2005); it was synonymized subjectively with Plesiosauria by Hay (1902), Hay (1930); it was reranked as the superorder Sauropterygia by Osborn (1903), Carroll (1988), Smith and Araújo (2017); it was corrected as Sauropterygii by Jaekel (1910), Jaekel (1911); it was reranked as the subclass Sauropterygia by Brown (1981), Gasparini and Salgado (2000), Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki (2001), Hiller and Mannering (2004), Otero et al. (2013), Marx et al. (2021); it was reranked as the unranked clade Sauropterygia by Rieppel (1989), Storrs (1997), Jiang et al. (2006), Otero et al. (2009), Otero et al. (2014), Serratos et al. (2017), Vincent and Storrs (2019), Zverkov et al. (2023), Clark et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Enaliosauria by Owen (1859); to Synapsida by Osborn (1903); to Anomodontia by Osborn (1904); to Enaliosauri by Owen (1861), Jaekel (1910); to Holosauria by Jaekel (1911); to Dranitesauria by Nopcsa (1928); to Theromorphoidea by Huene (1954); to Synaptosauria by Roxo (1937), Carroll (1981); to Lepidosauromorpha by Carroll (1988); to Neodiapsida by Rieppel (1989); to Lepidosauromorpha by Storrs (1991); to Diapsida by Kuhn (1966), Druckenmiller and Russell (2008); to Reptilia by Owen (1860), Cope (1871), Leidy (1873), Cope (1875), Günther (1886), Zittel (1890), Woodward (1898), Swinton (1934), Kuhn (1946), Thurmond (1968), Welles and Gregg (1971), Brown (1981), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Wiffen and Moisley (1986), Sander (1989), Gasparini and Salgado (2000), Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki (2001), Hiller and Mannering (2004), Hiller and Mannering (2005), Smith and Araújo (2017), Vincent and Storrs (2019), Zverkov et al. (2023); and to Diapsida by Storrs (1997), Jiang et al. (2006), Otero et al. (2009), Otero et al. (2013), Otero et al. (2014), Serratos et al. (2017), Marx et al. (2021), Clark et al. (2024).
Subtaxa
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1859 | Sauropterygia Owen p. 143 |
| 1860 | Sauropterygia Owen p. 209 |
| 1861 | Sauropterygia Owen p. 229 |
| 1871 | Sauropterygia Cope p. 235 |
| 1873 | Sauropterygia Leidy p. 345 |
| 1875 | Sauropterygia Cope p. 14 |
| 1886 | Sauropterygia Günther p. 444 |
| 1890 | Sauropterygia Zittel p. 449 |
| 1893 | Microleptosaurus Skuphos |
| 1893 | Microleptosaurus schlosseri Skuphos |
| 1898 | Sauropterygia Woodward p. 141 |
| 1903 | Sauropterygia Osborn p. 456 |
| 1904 | Sauropterygia Osborn p. 104 |
| 1910 | Sauropterygii Jaekel p. 334 |
| 1911 | Sauropterygii Jaekel p. 147 |
| 1928 | Sauropterygia Nopcsa p. 172 |
| 1934 | Sauropterygia Swinton p. 55 |
| 1937 | Sauropterygia Roxo p. 43 |
| 1946 | Sauropterygia Kuhn p. 59 |
| 1954 | Sauropterygia Huene p. 38 |
| 1966 | Sauropterygia Kuhn p. 111 |
| 1968 | Sauropterygia Thurmond p. 1289 |
| 1971 | Sauropterygia Welles and Gregg p. 22 |
| 1981 | Sauropterygia Brown p. 339 |
| 1981 | Sauropterygia Carroll p. 337 |
| 1981 | Sauropterygia Thurmond and Jones p. 138 |
| 1986 | Sauropterygia Wiffen and Moisley p. 207 |
| 1988 | Sauropterygia Carroll |
| 1989 | Sauropterygia Rieppel p. 3 fig. 13 |
| 1989 | Sauropterygia Sander |
| 1991 | Sauropterygia Storrs p. 12 |
| 1997 | Sauropterygia Storrs p. 149 |
| 2000 | Sauropterygia Gasparini and Salgado p. 14 |
| 2001 | Sauropterygia Fostowicz-Frelik and Gazdzicki |
| 2004 | Sauropterygia Hiller and Mannering p. 1 |
| 2005 | Sauropterygia Hiller and Mannering p. 30 |
| 2006 | Sauropterygia Jiang et al. |
| 2008 | Sauropterygia Druckenmiller and Russell p. 6 |
| 2009 | Sauropterygia Otero et al. p. 345 |
| 2013 | Sauropterygia Otero et al. p. 774 |
| 2014 | Sauropterygia Otero et al. p. 103 |
| 2017 | Sauropterygia Serratos et al. |
| 2017 | Sauropterygia Smith and Araújo |
| 2019 | Sauropterygia Vincent and Storrs |
| 2021 | Sauropterygia Marx et al. p. 9 |
| 2023 | Sauropterygia Zverkov et al. p. 3 |
| 2024 | Sauropterygia Clark et al. p. 2 |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
Subor. †Sauropterygia Owen 1859
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Or. †Eosauropterygia Rieppel 1994
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Fm. †Cymatosauridae von Huene
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G. †Hispaniasaurus Marquez-Aliaga et al. 2017
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†Hispaniasaurus cranioelongatus Marquez-Aliaga et al. 2017
Fm. †Nothosauridae Baur 1889
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G. †Germanosaurus Nopcsa 1928
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†Germanosaurus schafferi Arthaber 1924
Invalid names: Germanosaurus latissimus Gürich 1891 [nomen dubium]
G. †Lamprosauroides Schmidt 1927
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†Lamprosauroides goepperti Meyer 1860
Invalid names: Lamprosaurus Meyer 1860 [replaced]
G. †Metanothosaurus Yabe and Shikana 1948
Subfm. †Nothosaurinae Nopcsa 1923
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G. †Lariosaurus Curioni 1847
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†Lariosaurus balsami Curioni 1841
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Invalid names: Deirosaurus italicus Owen 1854 [synonym], Eupodosaurus longobardicus Boulenger 1891 [synonym], Macromirosaurus plini Curioni 1847 [synonym], Proneusticosaurus carinthiacus Arthaber 1924 [synonym]
†Lariosaurus buzzii Tschanz 1989
†Lariosaurus curionii Rieppel 1998
†Lariosaurus hongguoensis Jiang et al. 2006
†Lariosaurus juvenilis Edinger 1921
†Lariosaurus sanxiaensis Cheng 2016
†Lariosaurus teutonicus Diedrich 1996
†Lariosaurus valceresii Tintori and Renesto 1990
†Lariosaurus vosseveldensis Klein et al. 2016
†Lariosaurus winkelhorsti Klein and Albers 2009
†Lariosaurus xingyiensis Li et al. 2002
†Lariosaurus youngi Li and Rieppel 2004
Invalid names: Deirosaurus Owen 1854 [synonym], Eupodosaurus Boulenger 1891 [synonym], Lariosaurus lavizzarii Kuhn-Schnyder 1987 [nomen dubium], Macromerosauro Curioni 1863 [synonym], Macromerosaurus Cornalia 1854 [synonym], Macromirosaurus Curioni 1847 [synonym], Rhaeticonia Broili 1927 [synonym], Rhaeticonia rothpletzi Broili 1927 [nomen dubium], Silvestrosaurus Kuhn-Schnyder 1990 [synonym]
G. †Nothosaurus Münster 1834
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†Nothosaurus cristatus Hinz et al. 2019
†Nothosaurus cymatosauroides Sanz 1983
†Nothosaurus edingerae Schultze 1970
†Nothosaurus giganteus Münster 1834
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Invalid names: Nothosaurus aduncidens Meyer 1855 [synonym], Nothosaurus andriani Meyer 1839 [synonym], Nothosaurus angustifrons Meyer and Plieninger 1844 [synonym], Nothosaurus baruthicus Geissler 1895 [synonym], Nothosaurus chelydrops Fraas 1896 [synonym], Opeosaurus suevicus Meyer 1847 [synonym], Paranothosaurus amsleri Peyer 1939 [synonym]
†Nothosaurus haasi Rieppel et al. 1997
†Nothosaurus jagisteus Rieppel 2001
†Nothosaurus marchicus Koken 1893
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Invalid names: Nothosaurus crassus Schröder 1914 [synonym], Nothosaurus oldenburgi Schröder 1914 [synonym], Nothosaurus procerus Schröder 1914 [synonym], Nothosaurus raabi Schröder 1914 [synonym], Nothosaurus schroederi Huene 1944 [synonym], Nothosaurus winterswijkensis Albers and Rieppel 2003 [synonym]
†Nothosaurus mirabilis Münster 1834
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Invalid names: Dracosaurus bronni Auct 1834 [synonym], Nothosaurus bergeri Meyer 1834 [synonym], Nothosaurus muensteri Meyer 1847 [synonym]
†Nothosaurus occiduus Leidy 1870
†Nothosaurus rostellatus Shang 2006
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Invalid names: Nothosaurus rostellatus Shang 2006 [objective synonym]
†Nothosaurus tchernowi Haas 1980
†Nothosaurus yangjuanensis Jiang et al. 2006
†Nothosaurus zhangi Liu et al. 2014
Invalid names: Conchiosaurus clavatus Meyer 1833 [nomen dubium], Dracosaurus Munster 1834 [synonym], Elmosaurus Huene 1957 [synonym], Elmosaurus lelmensis Huene 1957 [nomen dubium], Kolposaurus Skuphos 1893 [synonym], Kolposaurus dichthadius Skuphos 1893 [nomen dubium], Metriorhynchus priscus Münster 1834 [nomen nudum], Nothosaurus hecki Fritsch 1894 [nomen dubium], Nothosaurus schimperi Meyer 1834 [nomen dubium], Nothosaurus unexpectus Young 1965 [nomen dubium], Nothosaurus venustus Munster 1834 [nomen dubium], Opeosaurus Meyer 1847 [synonym], Paranothosaurus Peyer 1939 [synonym], Plesiosaurus speciosus Munster 1834 [nomen nudum], Shingyisaurus Young 1965 [synonym], Simosaurus mougeoti Meyer 1847 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Nothosaurus cuvieri Quenstedt 1885 [nomen dubium]
Superfm. †Nothosauroidea Huene 1956
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Subor. †Pachypleurosauria
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G. †Dianmeisaurus Shang and Li 2015
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†Dianmeisaurus gracilis Shang and Li 2015
†Dianmeisaurus mutaensis Hu et al. 2024
Superfm. †Pachypleurosauroidea Huene 1956
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Fm. †Keichousauridae Young 1965
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Fm. †Pachypleurosauridae Nopcsa 1928
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G. †Anarosaurus Dames 1890
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†Anarosaurus heterodontus Rieppel and Lin 1995
†Anarosaurus pumilio Dames 1890
G. †Dactylosaurus Gürich 1884
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†Dactylosaurus gracilis Gürich 1884
†Dactylosaurus schroederi Nopsca 1928
G. †Neusticosaurus Seeley 1882
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†Neusticosaurus edwardsi Sander 1989
†Neusticosaurus edwardsii Sander 1989
†Neusticosaurus peyeri Sander 1989
†Neusticosaurus pusillus Fraas 1881
†Neusticosaurus pygmaeus Fraas 1896
†Neusticosaurus toeplitschi Nopsca 1928
G. †Pachypleurosaurus Broili 1927
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†Pachypleurosaurus edwardsi Sander 1989
†Pachypleurosaurus staubi Kuhn-Schnyder 1959
G. †Psilotrachelosaurus Nopsca 1928
G. †Serpianosaurus Rieppel 1989
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†Serpianosaurus germanicus Diedrich 2013
†Serpianosaurus mirigiolensis Rieppel 1989
Invalid names: Neusticosaurinae Seeley [empty], Pachypleurosaurinae Nopsca 1928 [empty]
Subor. †Pistosauroidea Baur 1887
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G. †Cymatosaurus Fritsch 1894
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†Cymatosaurus erikae Maisch 2014
†Cymatosaurus fridericianus Frtisch 1894
†Cymatosaurus gracilis Schrammen 1899
†Cymatosaurus latifrons Gürich 1884
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Invalid names: Cymatosaurus silesiacus Schrammen 1899 [objective synonym]
†Cymatosaurus minor Rieppel and Wernburg 1998
†Cymatosaurus multidentatus Huene 1958
Invalid names: Cymatosaurus erythreus Huene 1944 [nomen dubium], Eurysaurus Gaudry 1878 [synonym], Proneusticosaurus Volz 1902 [synonym]
Invalid names: Cymatosauria Huene 1944 [empty]
Invalid names: Nothosaurus picardi Chop 1857 [nomen dubium]
G. †Ischyrosaurus Cope 1869
Or. †Nothosauria Baur 1889 [nothosaur]
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Fm. †Lariosauridae Gervais 1859
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G. †Phygosaurus Arthaber 1924
Invalid names: Macromirosauridae Baur 1886 [synonym]
G. †Pontopus
Fm. †Simosauridae Nopcsa 1928
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G. †Conchiosaurus Meyer 1833
G. †Paludidraco de Miguel Chaves et al. 2018
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†Paludidraco multidentatus de Miguel Chaves et al. 2018
G. †Simosaurus Meyer 1842
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†Simosaurus gaillardoti Meyer and Plieninger 1842
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Invalid names: Ichthyosaurus lunevillensis Alberti 1837 [synonym], Simosaurus guilielmi Meyer 1847 [objective synonym]
Invalid names: Anarosauridae Jaekel 1910 [empty], Corosauridae Kuhn 1961 [empty], Germanosauridae Rieppel 2000 [empty], Neusticosauridae [empty], Proneusticosauridae Huene 1952 [empty]
Unr. †Pistosauria Baur 1890
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G. †Pistosaurus Meyer 1839
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†Pistosaurus longaevus Meyer 1839
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Invalid names: Nothosaurus strunzi Geissler 1895 [synonym], Pistosaurus grandaevus Meyer 1839 [objective synonym]
Invalid names: Pistosauridae Zittel 1887 [empty]
Or. †Placodontia Cope 1871 [placodont]
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G. †Chelyposuchus Romer 1966
Fm. †Cyamodontidae Nopcsa 1923
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G. †Cyamodus von Meyer 1863
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†Cyamodus hildegardis Peyer 1931
†Cyamodus kuhnschnyderi Nosotti and Pinna 1993
†Cyamodus orientalis Wang et al. 2019
†Cyamodus rostratus Münster 1839
†Cyamodus tarnowitzensis Gürich 1884
Subor. †Cyamodontoidea Nopcsa 1923
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Unr. †Placochelyida Romer 1956
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G. †Psephoderma von Meyer 1858
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†Psephoderma alpinum Meyer 1858
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Invalid names: Placochelys malanchinii Boni 1948 [synonym], Placochelys stoppanii Pinna 1980 [synonym], Placodus zitteli Amman 1878 [synonym]
†Psephoderma anglicum Meyer 1864
†Psephoderma sculptata Rieppel 2002
Invalid names: Placochelyanus Pinna 1976 [synonym]
Invalid names: Macroplacidae Rieppel 2000 [empty], Protenodontosauridae Rieppel 2000 [empty]
Fm. †Placochelyidae Jaekel 1910
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G. †Priscochelys Karl 2005
G. †Psephosauriscus Rieppel 2002
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†Psephosauriscus ramonensis Rieppel 2002
†Psephosauriscus rhombifer Rieppel 2002
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Invalid names: Psephosaurus rhombifer Haas 1959 [replaced]
†Psephosauriscus sinaiticus Rieppel 2002
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Invalid names: Psephosaurus sinaiticus Haas 1959 [replaced]
Invalid names: Psephosaurus picardi Brotzen 1956 [nomen dubium]
Fm. †Paraplacodontidae Peyer and Kuhn-Schnyder 1955
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Superfm. †Placodontoidea Nopcsa 1923
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Fm. †Placodontidae Cope 1871
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G. †Placodus Agassiz 1833
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†Placodus duplicatus Fraas 1896
†Placodus gigas Agassiz 1833
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Invalid names: Anomosaurus strunzi Huene 1905 [synonym], Omphalosaurus peyeri Maisch and Lehmann 2002 [synonym], Placodus antiquior Huene 1936 [synonym], Placodus hypsiceps Meyer 1863 [synonym], Placodus quinmolaris Braun 1863 [synonym]
†Placodus inexpectatus Jiang et al. 2008
Invalid names: Anomosaurus Huene 1902 [synonym], Crurosaurus Huene 1902 [synonym], Crurosaurus problematicus Huene 1902 [nomen dubium], Placodus aethiops Meyer 1863 [nomen nudum], Placodus andriani Agassiz 1839 [nomen dubium], Placodus angustus Meyer 1863 [nomen nudum], Placodus bathygnathus Owen 1859 [nomen dubium], Placodus bombidens Owen 1858 [nomen dubium], Placodus gracilis Jurcsak 1976 [nomen dubium], Placodus impressus Agassiz 1833 [nomen dubium], Placodus pachygnathus Owen 1859 [nomen dubium], Placodus rugosus Meyer 1863 [nomen nudum]
Invalid names: Chelyoposuchinae Kuhn 1946 [empty]
Invalid names: Hemilopadidae Jaekel 1910 [empty], Placodontida Peyer and Kun-Schnyder 1955 [empty], Priscochelys hegnabrunnensis Karl 2005 [nomen dubium]
Unr. †Placodontiformes Neenan et al. 2013
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Or. †Plesiosauria de Blainville 1835 [plesiosaur]
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G. †Aptychodon Reuss 1855
G. †Crymocetus Romer 1966
G. †Embaphias Cope 1894
G. †Eretmosaurus Seeley 1874
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†Eretmosaurus dubius Tate and Blake 1876
†Eretmosaurus rugosus Owen 1840
G. †Hexatarsostinus Hawkins 1840
G. †Namuncurania Rusconi 1943
G. †Nothosaurops Leidy 1870
G. †Oligosimus Leidy 1872
G. †Orophosaurus Cope 1851
G. †Piptomerus Cope 1887
G. †Piratosaurus Leidy 1865
Superfm. †Plesiosauroidea Welles 1943
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Unr. †Cryptoclidia Ketchum and Benson 2010
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Invalid names: Cryptocleidoidea Williston 1925 [replaced]
Fm. †Cryptoclididae Williston 1925
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G. †Colymbosaurus Seeley 1874
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†Colymbosaurus sclerodirus Bogolubov 1911
†Colymbosaurus svalbardensis Persson 1962
†Colymbosaurus trochanterius Owen 1840
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Invalid names: Colymbosaurus megadeirus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Plesiosaurus manselii Hulke 1870 [synonym], Pliosaurus portlandicus Owen 1869 [synonym]
G. †Cryptoclidus Seeley 1892
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†Cryptoclidus eurymerus Phillips 1871
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Invalid names: Apractocleidus teretipes Smellie 1915 [synonym], Cryptoclidus platymerus Seeley 1892 [synonym], Plesiosaurus durobrivensis Seeley 1892 [synonym]
†Cryptoclidus richardsoni Lydekker 1889
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Invalid names: Plesiosaurus plicatus Mansel-Pleydell 1888 [synonym]
Invalid names: Apractocleidus Smellie 1915 [objective synonym], Cryptocleidus cuervoi Torre and Rojas 1949 [nomen dubium], Cryptoclidus vignalensis Torre and Cuervo 1939 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus oxfordiensis Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus oxoniensis Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium]
G. †Muraenosaurus Seeley 1874
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†Muraenosaurus elasmosauroides Bogolubov 1911
†Muraenosaurus fahrenkohli Waldheim 1846
†Muraenosaurus leedsii Seeley 1874
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Invalid names: Cimoliosaurus plicatus Phillips 1871 [synonym], Muraenosaurus platyclis Seeley 1892 [synonym], Muraenosaurus plicatus Phillips 1871 [synonym], Tremamesacleis durobrivensis Lydekker 1889 [synonym]
†Muraenosaurus purbecki Bogolubov 1911
Invalid names: Tremamesacleis White 1940 [synonym]
G. †Spitrasaurus Knutsen et al. 2012
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†Spitrasaurus larseni Knutsen et al. 2012
†Spitrasaurus wensaasi Knutsen et al. 2012
Invalid names: Cryptoclidus aldingeri von Huene 1932 [nomen dubium]
Fm. †Elasmosauridae Cope 1869 [elasmosaur]
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G. †Alexeyisaurus Sennikov and Arkhangelsky 2010
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†Alexeyisaurus karnoushenkoi Sennikov and Arkhangelsky 2010
G. †Callowayosaurus
G. †Cimoliasaurus Leidy 1851
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†Cimoliasaurus magnus Leidy 1851
†Cimoliosaurus laramiensis Knight 1900
†Cimoliosaurus magnus Leidy 1851
†Cimoliosaurus snowii Williston 1890
Invalid names: Brimosaurus grandis Leidy 1855 [nomen dubium], Cimoliasaurus brevior Lydekker 1889 [nomen dubium], Cimoliasaurus maccoyi Etheridge 1904 [nomen dubium], Hunosaurus Fritsch 1905 [synonym], Iserosaurus Fritsch 1905 [synonym]
G. †Eromangasaurus Kear 2005
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†Eromangasaurus australis Sachs 2005
†Eromangasaurus carinognathus Kear 2005
Unr. †Euelasmosaurida O'Gorman 2019
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G. †Libonectes Carpenter 1997 [southwest diver]
G. †Thalassomedon Welles 1943
G. †Scanisaurus Persson 1960
G. †Stereosaurus Seeley 1869
G. †Thalassiosaurus Welles 1943
G. †Thalassonomosaurus Welles 1943
G. †Wapuskanectes Druckenmiller and Russell 2006
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†Wapuskanectes betsynichollsae Druckenmiller and Russell 2006
Unr. †Weddellonectia O'Gorman and Coria 2017
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G. †Aphrosaurus Welles 1943
Subfm. †Aristonectinae Otero et al. 2012
G. †Futabasaurus Sato et al. 2006
G. †Kaiwhekea Cruickshank and Fordyce 2002
G. †Kawanectes O'Gorman 2016
G. †Marambionectes O’Gorman et al. 2024
G. †Morenosaurus Welles 1943
G. †Tuarangisaurus Wiffen and Moisley 1986
G. †Vegasaurus O'Gorman et al. 2015
Invalid names: Alzadasaurus kansasensis Welles 1952 [nomen dubium], Alzadasaurus tropicus Colbert 1949 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasauridae Delair 1959 [synonym], Cimoliasaurus andium Deecke 1895 [nomen dubium], Cimoliasaurus cantabrigiensis Lydekker 1889 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasaurus caudalis Hutton 1894 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus amalitskii Pravoslavlev 1916 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus kurskensis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus orskensis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus serdobensis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus sternbergi Williston 1906 [nomen dubium], Mauisaurus gardneri Seeley 1878 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus constrictus Owen 1850 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus crassicostatus Owen 1870 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus gulo Cope 1872 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus gurgitis Renevier 1858 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus helmersenii Kiprijanoff 1882 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus holmesii Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus hoodii Owen 1870 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus mackayii Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus mauritanicus Arambourg 1952 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus sutherlandi McCoy 1867 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus gigas Schröder 1885 [nomen vanum], Pliosaurus macrospondylus McCoy 1867 [nomen dubium], Thalassiosaurus ischiadicus Williston 1903 [nomen dubium], Thalassonomosaurus nobilis Williston 1906 [nomen dubium], Woolungasaurus Persson 1960 [nomen dubium], Woolungasaurus glendowerensis Persson 1960 [nomen dubium]
Unr. †Leptocleidia Ketchum and Benson 2010
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Fm. †Leptocleididae White 1940
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G. †Brancasaurus Wegner 1914
G. †Hastanectes Benson et al. 2013
G. †Nichollssaura Druckenmiller and Russell 2009
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Invalid names: Nichollsia Druckenmiller and Russell 2008 [replaced]
G. †Umoonasaurus Kear et al. 2006
G. †Vectocleidus Benson et al. 2013
Invalid names: Leptocleidoidea Druckenmiller and Russell 2008 [replaced]
Fm. †Microcleididae Benson et al. 2012
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G. †Microcleidus Watson 1909
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†Microcleidus brachypterygius Huene 1923
†Microcleidus homalospondylus Owen 1865
†Microcleidus macropterus Seeley 1865
†Microcleidus melusinae Vincent et al. 2019
†Microcleidus tournemirensis Sciau et al. 1990
Invalid names: Occitanosaurus Bardet et al. 1999 [synonym]
G. †Seeleyosaurus White 1940
+
†Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris Dames 1895
+
Invalid names: Seeleyosaurus holzmadensis White 1940 [synonym]
G. †Plesiopharos Puértolas-Pascual et al. 2021
+
†Plesiopharos moelensis Puértolas-Pascual et al. 2021
Fm. †Plesiosauridae Gray 1825
+
G. †Hydrorion Grossmann 2007
G. †Thaumatosaurus Meyer 1841
+
†Thaumatosaurus oolithicus Meyer 1841
+
Invalid names: Liopleurodon bucklandi Sauvage 1873 [synonym]
Invalid names: Brancasauridae White 1940 [synonym], Muraenosauridae White 1940 [synonym], Plesiosaurus neogaeus Burmeister 1861 [nomen vanum], Tremamesacleididae White 1940 [synonym]
G. †Plesiosaurus de la Beche and Conybeare 1821
+
†Plesiosaurus bavaricus Dames 1895
†Plesiosaurus bitractensis Sauvage 1883
†Plesiosaurus carinatus Cuvier 1824
†Plesiosaurus cliduchus Seeley 1865
†Plesiosaurus coelospondylus Owen 1865
†Plesiosaurus costatus Owen 1840
†Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus Conybeare 1824
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus homei Gray 1831 [synonym], Plesiosaurus macromus Owen 1840 [synonym]
†Plesiosaurus exarsostinus Hawkins 1834
†Plesiosaurus grandis Owen 1840
†Plesiosaurus hesternus Welles 1953
†Plesiosaurus houzeaui Dollo 1909
†Plesiosaurus macrocephalus Owen 1840
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus brachycephalus Owen 1840 [synonym]
†Plesiosaurus macrodeirus Seeley 1869
†Plesiosaurus mexicanus Wieland 1910
†Plesiosaurus nitidus Phillips 1871
†Plesiosaurus platydeirus Owen 1854
†Plesiosaurus rostratus Owen 1865
†Plesiosaurus subconcavus Duff 1842
†Plesiosaurus subtrigonus Owen 1840
†Plesiosaurus tessarestarsostinus Hawkins 1834
†Plesiosaurus trigonus Cuvier 1824
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus elasmosaurus Finzel 1964 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus priscus Parkinson 1822 [nomen dubium]
Fm. †Polycotylidae Williston 1908
+
G. †Ceraunosaurus Thurmond 1968
Subfm. †Palmulainae Albright et al. 2007
+
Subfm. †Polycotylinae Albright et al. 2007
+
Unr. †Dolichorhynchia Clark et al. 2024
G. †Eopolycotylus Albright et al. 2007
G. †Polycotylus Cope 1869
G. †Scalamagnus Clark et al. 2024
G. †Serpentisuchops Persons IV et al. 2022
G. †Trinacromerum Cragin 1888
Invalid names: Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus Etheridge, Jr. 1897 [nomen dubium], Dolichorhynchopidae Welles 1962 [synonym], Palmulasaurinae Albright et al. 2007 [empty], Polycotyilnae Albright et al. 2007 [empty], Polycotylus ichthyospondylus tanais Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum]
G. †Westphaliasaurus Schwermann and Sander 2011
+
†Westphaliasaurus simonsensii Schwermann and Sander 2011
Invalid names: Cimoliosaurus limnophilus Koken 1887 [nomen dubium], Dolichodeira Seeley 1892 [synonym], Euplesiosauria O'Keefe 2001 [empty]
Superfm. †Pliosauroidea Welles 1943
+
Fm. †Pliosauridae Seeley 1874
+
G. †Attenborosaurus Bakker 1993
+
G. †Hauffiosaurus O'Keefe 2001
+
†Hauffiosaurus longirostris Tate and Blake 1876
†Hauffiosaurus tomistomimus Benson et al. 2011
†Hauffiosaurus zanoni O'Keefe 2001
G. †Stenorhynchosaurus Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2016
+
†Stenorhynchosaurus munozi Páramo-Fonseca et al. 2016
G. †Strongylokrotaphus Novozhilov 1964
G. †Thalassiodracon Storrs and Taylor 1996
+
†Thalassiodracon hawkinsii Owen 1840
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus eleutheraxon Seeley 1865 [synonym], Plesiosaurus etheridgei Huxley 1858 [synonym], Plesiosaurus etheridgii Huxley 1858 [synonym]
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus hexatarsostinus Hawkins 1840 [nomen oblitum], Plesiosaurus pentetarsostinus Hawkins 1834 [nomen oblitum], Plesiosaurus triatarsostinus Hawkins 1834 [nomen oblitum]
Unr. †Thalassophonea Benson and Druckenmiller 2014
+
Subfm. †Brachaucheninae Williston 1925
G. †Gallardosaurus Gasparini 2009
G. †Liopleurodon Sauvage 1873
G. †Makhaira Fischer et al. 2015
G. †Peloneustes Lydekker 1889
G. †Pliosaurus Owen 1841
+
Invalid names: Ischyrodon Merian 1838 [synonym], Spondylosaurus Fischer 1845 [synonym], Stretosaurus Tarlo 1959 [synonym]
G. †Simolestes Andrews 1909
Invalid names: Pliosaurus brachyspondylus Owen 1840 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus macromerus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Pliosaurus aequalis Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus evansi Seeley 1869 [nomen dubium], Simolestinae Nopcsa 1923 [empty]
Invalid names: Brachydeira Seeley 1892 [synonym], Trinacromeridae Nopcsa 1923 [empty]
Fm. †Rhomaleosauridae Nopcsa 1928
+
G. †Archaeonectrus Novozhilov 1964
G. †Atychodracon Smith 2015
G. †Bishanopliosaurus Dong 1980
+
†Bishanopliosaurus youngi Dong 1980
†Bishanopliosaurus zigongensis Gao et al. 2004
G. †Rhomaleosaurus Seeley 1874
+
†Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni Carte and Baily 1863
†Rhomaleosaurus megacephalus Stutchbury 1846
†Rhomaleosaurus zetlandicus Phillips 1854
+
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus propinquus Tate and Blake 1876 [synonym], Rhomaleosaurus thorntoni Andrews 1922 [synonym]
Invalid names: Thaumatosauridae Romer 1956 [synonym]
G. †Scarrisaurus
G. †Sulmosaurus Huene 1952
G. †Taphrosaurus Cope 1870
G. †Uronautes Cope 1876
Invalid names: Aptychodon cretaceus Reuss 1855 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasaurus lissaensis Fritsch 1905 [nomen vanum], Cimoliasaurus teplicensis Fritsch 1907 [nomen vanum], Cimoliosaurus nazarowi Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Cimoliosaurus smithi Owen 1884 [nomen vanum], Discosaurus planior Leidy 1870 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus intermedius Cope 1894 [nomen vanum], Elasmosaurus orientalis Cope 1869 [nomen vanum], Embaphias circulosus Cope 1894 [nomen vanum], Hunosaurus fasseli Fritsch 1905 [nomen vanum], Iserosaurus littoralis Fritsch 1905 [nomen vanum], Lutkesaurus Kiprijanoff 1883 [nomen nudum], Mauisaurus brachiolatus Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Neoplesiosauria Ketchum and Benson 2010 [empty], Oligosimus grandaevus Leidy 1872 [nomen vanum], Orophosaurus pauciporus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Peloneustes kanzleri Koken 1905 [nomen vanum], Piptomerus hexagonus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Piptomerus megaloporus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Piptomerus microporus Cope 1887 [nomen vanum], Piratosaurus plicatus Leidy 1865 [nomen dubium], Plesiosauriformes Hay 1930 [empty], Plesiosaurus affinis Owen 1840 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus australis Owen 1861 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus balticus Schröder 1885 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus bernardi Owen 1850 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus brachistospondylus Hulke 1870 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus brevifemur Cope 1875 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus brevis Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus continuus Owen 1841 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus cycnodeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus degenhardti Koken 1887 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus ellipsospondylus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus euryspondylus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus gouldii Williston 1897 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus hexagonalis Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus infraplanus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus latispinus Owen 1854 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus levis Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus lockwoodii Cope 1869 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus megapleuron Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus microdeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus mudgei Cragin 1894 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus neocomiensis Campiche 1860 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus nordmanni Eichwald 1869 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus ophiodeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus pachyomus Owen 1840 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus phillipsi Sauvage 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus planispondylus Damon 1860 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus planus Owen 1864 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus planus trigonalis Owen 1864 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus platydeirus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus poecilospondylus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus shirleyensis Knight 1900 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus subdepressus Owen 1854 [nomen nudum], Plesiosaurus traversii Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Plesiosaurus truncatus Owen 1854 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus validus Phillips 1871 [nomen dubium], Plesiosaurus winspitensis Seeley 1871 [nomen dubium], Pliosaurus planus Hulke 1883 [nomen nudum], Plistosauroidea Edinger 1935 [empty], Polycotylus donicus Pravoslavlev 1915 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus epigurgitis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus orientalis Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus tenuis Hector 1874 [nomen vanum], Polycotylus ultimus Bogolubov 1911 [nomen vanum], Polyptychodon Owen 1841 [nomen vanum], Polyptychodon neocomiensis Schardt 1910 [nomen vanum], Stereosaurus cratynotus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Stereosaurus platyomus Seeley 1869 [nomen vanum], Stereosaurus stenomus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Teleosaurus neogaeus Burmeister and Giebel 1861 [nomen dubium], Uronautes cetiformis Cope 1876 [nomen vanum], Xenopsaria Benson and Druckenmiller 2014 [empty]
Invalid names: Cercidopleura Seeley 1892 [empty], Dicranopleura Seeley 1892 [empty], Eusauropterygia Tschanz 1989 [empty], Microleptosaurus Skuphos 1893 [nomen dubium], Nothosauriformes Storrs 1991 [empty], Simosauria Gervais 1845 [empty]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| R. Owen 1860 | No post-orbital and supra-temporal bones : large temporal and other vacuities between certain cranial bones ; a foramen parietale ; two antorbital nostrils; teeth simple, in distinct sockets of premaxillary, maxillary, and premandibular bones, rarely on the palatine or pterygoid bones ; maxillaries larger than premaxillaries. Limbs natatory; not more than five digits. A sacrum of one or two vertebrae for the attachment of the pelvic arch in some, numerous cervical vertebrae in most. Pleurapophyses with simple heads; those of the trunk long and bent. | |
| R. Owen 1861 | No post-orbital and supra-temporal bones: large temporal and other vacuities between certain cranial bones; a foramen parietale; two antorbital nostrils; teeth simple, in distinct sockets of the preinaxillary, maxillary, and premandibular bones, rarely on the palatine or pterygoid bones ; maxillaries larger than premaxillaries. Limbs natatory; not more than five digits. An episternum and clavicles. A sacrum of one or two vertebrae for the attachment of the pelvic arch in some, numerous cervical vertebne in most. Pleurapophyses with simple heads ; those of the trunk long and bent. |