Basic info | Taxonomic history | Classification | Included Taxa |
Morphology | Ecology and taphonomy | External Literature Search | Age range and collections |
Mosasauridae (mosasaur)
Taxonomy
Mosasauridae was named by Gervais (1852). Its type is Mosasaurus. It was considered monophyletic by Lee and Caldwell (2000), Lindgren and Siverson (2002), Cuthbertson et al. (2007), Buchy et al. (2007) and Konishi et al. (2012) and Karl and Nyhuis (2012).
It was assigned to Pythonomorpha by Cope (1869), Cope (1870), Cope (1871) and Cope (1875); to Pythonomorpha by Zittel (1890) and Hay (1902); to Mosasauriformes by Hay (1930); to Platynota by McDowell and Bogert (1954); to Lacertilia by Osborn (1899), Osborn (1899) and Thurmond and Jones (1981); to Platynota by Russell (1964), Miller (1967), Wiffen (1980), Wiffen (1990) and Lingham-Soliar (1995); to Varanoidea by Baur (1890), Antunes (1964), Kuhn (1966), Welles and Gregg (1971), Seiffert (1975), Carroll (1988) and Páramo-Fonseca (2000); to Pythonomorpha by Lee and Caldwell (2000); to Lacertilia by Nicholls and Meckert (2002); to Mosasauria by Kuhn (1946) and Reeder et al. (2015); to Mosasauroidea by Schulp et al. (2004), Bardet et al. (2005), Bell and Polcyn (2005), Schulp et al. (2008), Bell et al. (2013), Frey et al. (2016) and Hornung et al. (2018); to Lepidosauromorpha by Agnolín et al. (2023); to Squamata by Wright and Shannon (1988), Lindgren and Siverson (2002), Cuthbertson et al. (2007), Buchy et al. (2007), Polcyn and Everhart (2008), Komishi and Caldwell (2009), Konishi et al. (2010), Konishi et al. (2011), Konishi and Caldwell (2011), Polcyn et al. (2012), Konishi et al. (2012), Karl and Nyhuis (2012), Fernández and Talevi (2015), Cuthbertson and Holmes (2015), González Ruiz et al. (2019), Strong et al. (2020), Otero (2021), AbdelGawad et al. (2021), Zietlow et al. (2023), O’Gorman et al. (2023) and Garzon et al. (2024); and to Squamata by Bardet et al. (2004), Martin and Crame (2006), Schulp et al. (2009), Otero et al. (2012), Otero et al. (2017), Lively (2018), Novas et al. (2019), Grigoriev and Grabovskiy (2020), Lively (2020), Kiernan and Ebersole (2023), Shaker et al. (2023), Plasse et al. (2024) and Rivera-Sylva et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Pythonomorpha by Cope (1869), Cope (1870), Cope (1871) and Cope (1875); to Pythonomorpha by Zittel (1890) and Hay (1902); to Mosasauriformes by Hay (1930); to Platynota by McDowell and Bogert (1954); to Lacertilia by Osborn (1899), Osborn (1899) and Thurmond and Jones (1981); to Platynota by Russell (1964), Miller (1967), Wiffen (1980), Wiffen (1990) and Lingham-Soliar (1995); to Varanoidea by Baur (1890), Antunes (1964), Kuhn (1966), Welles and Gregg (1971), Seiffert (1975), Carroll (1988) and Páramo-Fonseca (2000); to Pythonomorpha by Lee and Caldwell (2000); to Lacertilia by Nicholls and Meckert (2002); to Mosasauria by Kuhn (1946) and Reeder et al. (2015); to Mosasauroidea by Schulp et al. (2004), Bardet et al. (2005), Bell and Polcyn (2005), Schulp et al. (2008), Bell et al. (2013), Frey et al. (2016) and Hornung et al. (2018); to Lepidosauromorpha by Agnolín et al. (2023); to Squamata by Wright and Shannon (1988), Lindgren and Siverson (2002), Cuthbertson et al. (2007), Buchy et al. (2007), Polcyn and Everhart (2008), Komishi and Caldwell (2009), Konishi et al. (2010), Konishi et al. (2011), Konishi and Caldwell (2011), Polcyn et al. (2012), Konishi et al. (2012), Karl and Nyhuis (2012), Fernández and Talevi (2015), Cuthbertson and Holmes (2015), González Ruiz et al. (2019), Strong et al. (2020), Otero (2021), AbdelGawad et al. (2021), Zietlow et al. (2023), O’Gorman et al. (2023) and Garzon et al. (2024); and to Squamata by Bardet et al. (2004), Martin and Crame (2006), Schulp et al. (2009), Otero et al. (2012), Otero et al. (2017), Lively (2018), Novas et al. (2019), Grigoriev and Grabovskiy (2020), Lively (2020), Kiernan and Ebersole (2023), Shaker et al. (2023), Plasse et al. (2024) and Rivera-Sylva et al. (2024).
Subtaxa
Amphorosteus, Amphorosteus brumbyi, Clidastes iguanavus, Compressidens, Globidentinae, Haasiasaurus (syn. Haasia), Halisaurinae, Halisauromorpha, Liodon congrops, Mosasaurinae, Mosasaurus crassidens, Mosasaurus mitchillii, Mosasaurus platyodon, Platecarpinae, Prognathosaurus, Russellosaurina, Tylosaurinae, Tylosaurus capensis, Yaguarasaurinae
Synonyms
|
Synonymy list
Year | Name and author |
---|---|
1830 | Geosaurus mitchilli DeKay |
1851 | Amphorosteus Gibbes p. 10 |
1851 | Amphorosteus brumbyi Gibbes p. 11 |
1852 | Mosasauridae Gervais p. 261 |
1868 | Clidastes iguanavus Cope p. 233 |
1869 | Clidastes iguanavus Cope p. 258 |
1869 | Clidastidae Cope p. 258 |
1869 | Mosasauridae Cope p. 258 |
1869 | Mosasaurus mitchillii Cope p. 262 |
1869 | Mosasaurus brumbyi Cope p. 264 |
1870 | Mosasauridae Cope p. 183 |
1870 | Liodon congrops Cope p. 206 |
1870 | Clidastes iguanavus Cope p. 220 |
1870 | Liodon congrops Cope pp. 271-272 |
1870 | Mosasaurus crassidens Marsh p. 2 |
1871 | Clidastidae Cope p. 237 |
1871 | Mosasauridae Cope p. 237 |
1873 | Clidastes iguanavus Leidy p. 281 |
1873 | Mosasaurus platyodon Sauvage p. 385 |
1875 | Mosasauridae Cope p. 20 |
1875 | Liodon mitchillii Cope p. 270 |
1876 | Edestosauridae Marsh p. 59 |
1890 | Mosasauridae Baur p. 262 |
1890 | Mosasauridae Zittel p. 620 |
1899 | Mosasauridae Osborn p. 188 |
1902 | Mosasauridae Hay p. 464 |
1902 | Mosasaurus brumbyi Hay p. 465 |
1902 | Mosasaurus crassidens Hay p. 465 |
1902 | Clidastes iguanavus Hay p. 467 |
1902 | Macrosaurus mitchillii Hay p. 471 |
1902 | Tylosaurus congrops Hay p. 472 |
1912 | Tylosaurus capensis Broom p. 333 figs. Plate 22 |
1924 | Globidensidae Dollo p. 188 |
1930 | Mosasauridae Hay p. 258 |
1930 | Macrosaurus mitchillii Hay p. 259 |
1930 | Tylosaurus congrops Hay p. 259 |
1930 | Mosasaurus brumbyi Hay p. 262 |
1930 | Mosasaurus crassidens Hay p. 262 |
1930 | Clidastes iguanavus Hay p. 263 |
1930 | Globidentidae Hay p. 264 |
1946 | Globidentidae Kuhn p. 61 |
1946 | Mosasauridae Kuhn p. 61 |
1954 | Mosasauridae McDowell and Bogert p. 132 |
1964 | Mosasauridae Antunes p. 137 |
1964 | Mosasauridae Russell p. 167 |
1966 | Mosasauridae Kuhn p. 59 |
1967 | Mosasauridae Miller p. 227 |
1967 | Clidastes iguanavus Russell p. 126 |
1971 | Mosasauridae Welles and Gregg p. 49 |
1975 | Mosasauridae Seiffert p. 10 |
1980 | Mosasauridae Wiffen p. 508 |
1981 | Mosasauridae Thurmond and Jones p. 148 |
1988 | Mosasauridae Carroll |
1988 | Mosasauridae Wright and Shannon p. 102 |
1990 | Mosasauridae Wiffen p. 67 |
1995 | Mosasauridae Lingham-Soliar |
2000 | Mosasauridae Lee and Caldwell |
2000 | Mosasauridae Páramo-Fonseca p. 123 |
2002 | Mosasauridae Lindgren and Siverson |
2002 | Mosasauridae Nicholls and Meckert p. 1593 |
2002 | Amphorosteus Sepkoski |
2004 | Mosasauridae Bardet et al. p. 316 |
2004 | Mosasauridae Schulp et al. p. 744 |
2005 | Mosasauridae Bardet et al. |
2005 | Mosasauridae Bell and Polcyn p. 178 |
2006 | Mosasauridae Martin and Crame p. 113 |
2007 | Mosasauridae Buchy et al. |
2007 | Mosasauridae Cuthbertson et al. |
2008 | Mosasauridae Polcyn and Everhart p. 14 |
2008 | Mosasauridae Schulp et al. p. 1 |
2009 | Mosasauridae Komishi and Caldwell p. 418 |
2009 | Mosasauridae Schulp et al. p. 162 |
2010 | Mosasauridae Konishi et al. |
2011 | Mosasauridae Konishi et al. p. 1028 |
2011 | Mosasauridae Konishi and Caldwell p. 756 |
2012 | Mosasauridae Karl and Nyhuis |
2012 | Mosasauridae Konishi et al. |
2012 | Mosasauridae Otero et al. p. 130 |
2012 | Mosasauridae Polcyn et al. p. 125 |
2013 | Mosasauridae Bell Jr. et al. p. 574 |
2015 | Mosasauridae Cuthbertson and Holmes |
2015 | Mosasauridae Fernández and Talevi p. 485 |
2015 | Mosasauridae Reeder et al. |
2016 | Mosasauridae Frey et al. p. 20 |
2017 | Mosasauridae Otero et al. |
2018 | Mosasauridae Hornung et al. p. 544 |
2018 | Mosasauridae Lively p. 524 |
2019 | Tylosaurus capensis Driscoll et al. |
2019 | Mosasauridae González Ruiz et al. p. 3 |
2019 | Mosasauridae Novas et al. p. 227 |
2020 | Mosasauridae Grigoriev and Grabovskiy p. 2 |
2020 | Mosasauridae Lively p. 15 |
2020 | Mosasauridae Strong et al. p. 8 |
2021 | Mosasauridae AbdelGawad et al. |
2021 | Mosasauridae Otero p. 2 |
2023 | Mosasauridae Agnolín et al. |
2023 | Mosasauridae Kiernan and Ebersole p. 4 |
2023 | Mosasauridae O’Gorman et al. |
2023 | Mosasauridae Shaker et al. p. 4 |
2023 | Mosasauridae Zietlow et al. p. 6 |
2024 | Mosasauridae Garzon et al. p. 7 |
2024 | Mosasauridae Plasse et al. p. 4 |
2024 | Mosasauridae Rivera-Sylva et al. p. 4 |
Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data
|
|
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.
Fm. †Mosasauridae Gervais 1852 [mosasaur]
show all | hide all
G. †Haasiasaurus Polcyn et al. 2003
+
†Haasiasaurus gittelmani Polcyn et al. 1999
Invalid names: Haasia Polcyn et al. 1999 [replaced]
Unr. †Halisaurinae Bardet et al. 2005
+
Unr. †Halisaurini Longrich et al. 2021
+
G. †Eonatator Bardet et al. 2005
+
†Eonatator coellensis Páramo-Fonseca 2013
†Eonatator sternbergii Wiman 1920
G. †Halisaurus Marsh 1869
+
†Halisaurus arambourgi Bardet et al. 2005
†Halisaurus hebae Shaker et al. 2023
†Halisaurus onchognathus Merriam 1894
†Halisaurus platyspondylus Marsh 1869
Invalid names: Baptosaurus Marsh 1870 [nomen dubium]
G. †Phosphorosaurus Dollo 1889
+
†Phosphorosaurus ortliebi Dollo 1889
†Phosphorosaurus ponpetelegans Konishi et al. 2016
Unr. †Pluridensini Longrich et al. 2021
+
G. †Pluridens Lingham-Soliar 1998
+
†Pluridens calabaria Longrich 2016
†Pluridens serpentis Longrich et al. 2021
†Pluridens walkeri Lingham-Soliar 1998
Subfm. †Mosasaurinae Gervais 1853
+
G. †Clidastes Cope 1868
+
†Clidastes cineriarum Cope 1870
†Clidastes intermedius Leidy 1870
†Clidastes liodontus Merriam 1894
†Clidastes moorevillensis Shannon 1975
†Clidastes propython Cope 1869
+
Invalid names: Clidastes medius Merriam 1894 [synonym], Clidastes pumilus Marsh 1871 [synonym], Clidastes westi Williston and Case 1892 [synonym], Clidastes wymani Marsh 1871 [synonym], Edestosaurus dispar Marsh 1871 [synonym], Edestosaurus rex Marsh 1872 [synonym], Edestosaurus stenops Cope 1871 [synonym], Edestosaurus tortor Cope 1871 [synonym], Edestosaurus velox Marsh 1871 [synonym]
Invalid names: Edestosaurus Marsh 1871 [synonym]
Tr. †Globidensini Russell 1967
+
G. †Carinodens Thurmond 1969
+
†Carinodens belgicus Woodward 1891
†Carinodens fraasi Dollo 1913
†Carinodens minalmamar Schulp et al. 2009
G. †Globidens Gilmore 1912
+
†Globidens alabamensis Gilmore 1912
†Globidens dakotensis Russell 1975
†Globidens phosphaticus Bardet et al. 2005
†Globidens schurmanni Martin 2007
†Globidens simplex LeBlanc et al. 2019
G. †Prognathodon Dollo 1889
+
†Prognathodon compressidens Gaudry 1892
†Prognathodon currii Christiansen and Bonde 2002
†Prognathodon giganteus Dollo 1889
†Prognathodon kianda Schulp et al. 2008
†Prognathodon lutugini Yakovlev 1905
†Prognathodon mosasauroides Gaudry 1892
†Prognathodon overtoni Williston 1897
†Prognathodon rapax Hay 1902
+
Invalid names: Ancylocentrum hungerfordi Chaffee 1939 [synonym], Liodon validus Cope 1868 [synonym]
†Prognathodon saturator Dortangs et al. 2002
†Prognathodon sectorius Cope 1871
†Prognathodon solvayi Dollo 1889
†Prognathodon waiparaensis Welles and Gregg 1971
Invalid names: Ancylocentrum Schmidt 1927 [synonym], Brachysaurana Strand 1926 [synonym], Brachysaurus Williston 1897 [synonym], Dollosaurus Yakovlev 1901 [synonym], Liodon Owen 1842 [nomen dubium]
Tr. †Mosasaurini Russell 1967
+
G. †Plotosaurus Camp 1951
+
†Plotosaurus bennisoni Camp 1942
†Plotosaurus tuckeri Camp 1942
Invalid names: Garzasaurus Anderson 1943 [nomen nudum], Kolposaurus Camp 1942 [replaced]
Invalid names: Liodon asiaticum Répelin 1915 [nomen dubium]
G. †Mosasaurus Parkinson 1822
+
†Mosasaurus beaugei Arambourg 1952
†Mosasaurus caroliniensis Gibbes 1851
†Mosasaurus conodon Cope 1881
†Mosasaurus couperi Gibbes 1851
†Mosasaurus dekayi Bronn 1838
+
Invalid names: Mosasaurus major DeKay 1842 [synonym], Mosasaurus meirsii Marsh 1869 [synonym]
†Mosasaurus depressus Cope 1869
+
Invalid names: Halisaurus fraternus Marsh 1869 [synonym], Mosasaurus copeanus Marsh 1869 [synonym]
†Mosasaurus flemingi Wiffen 1990
†Mosasaurus gaudryi Thevenin 1896
†Mosasaurus gracilis Owen 1850
†Mosasaurus grosjeani Greppin 1870
†Mosasaurus hobetsuensis Suzuki 1985
†Mosasaurus hoffmannii Mantell 1829
+
Invalid names: Mosasaurus belgicus Holl 1829 [synonym], Mosasaurus camperi Meyer 1832 [synonym], Mosasaurus maximus Cope 1869 [synonym]
†Mosasaurus horridus Williston 1895
†Mosasaurus ivoensis Russell 1967
†Mosasaurus lemonnieri Dollo 1889
†Mosasaurus lonzeensis Dollo 1904
†Mosasaurus minor Gibbes 1851
†Mosasaurus missouriensis Harlan 1834
+
Invalid names: Mosasaurus maximilliani Goldfuss 1845 [synonym], Mosasaurus neovidii von Meyer 1845 [synonym]
†Mosasaurus mokoroa Welles and Gregg 1971
+
Invalid names: Leiodon haumuriensis Hector 1874 [synonym]
†Mosasaurus occidentalis Morton 1844
†Mosasaurus prismaticus Sakurai et al. 1999
†Mosasaurus scanicus Schröder 1885
Invalid names: Amphekepubis Mehl 1930 [synonym], Baseodon Leidy 1865 [synonym], Batrachiosaurus Harlan 1839 [synonym], Batrachotherium Harlan 1839 [synonym], Drepanodon Leidy 1861 [synonym], Lesticodus Leidy 1861 [synonym], Macrosaurus Owen 1849 [synonym], Mosasaurus impar Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Mosasaurus reversus Leidy 1865 [nomen dubium], Nectoportheus Cope 1868 [synonym], Pterycollosaurus Dollo 1882 [synonym]
G. †Polygonodon Leidy 1856
Unr. †Prognathodontini Russell 1967
+
Invalid names: Globindensini Bell 1997 [empty], Leiodontini Lingham-Soliar 1995 [empty], Plotosaurini Russell 1967 [empty]
G. †Prognathosaurus Dollo 1889
Unr. †Russellosaurina Bell 1997
+
G. †Angolasaurus Antunes 1964
+
†Angolasaurus bocagei Antunes 1964
Invalid names: Angolasaurus bocagei Antunes 1964 [valid]
Subfm. †Plioplatecarpinae Dollo 1884
+
G. †Angolasaurus Antunes 1964
+
†Angolasaurus bocagei Antunes 1964
Invalid names: Angolasaurus bocagei Antunes 1964 [valid]
G. †Ectenosaurus Russell 1967
+
†Ectenosaurus clidastoides Merriam 1894
+
Invalid names: Platecarpus oxyrhinus Merriam 1894 [synonym]
†Ectenosaurus shannoni Kiernan and Ebersole 2023
†Ectenosaurus tlemonectes Kiernan and Ebersole 2023
Unr. †Plioplatecarpini Russell 1967
+
G. †Latoplatecarpus Konishi and Caldwell 2011
+
†Latoplatecarpus nichollsae Cuthbertson et al. 2007
†Latoplatecarpus willistoni Konishi and Caldwell 2011
G. †Platecarpus Cope 1869
+
†Platecarpus crassartus Cope 1871
†Platecarpus curtirostris Cope 1871
†Platecarpus planifrons Cope 1874
†Platecarpus tympaniticus Cope 1869
+
Invalid names: Holcodus coryphaeus Cope 1871 [synonym], Lestosaurus felix Marsh 1872 [synonym], Lestosaurus gracilis Marsh 1872 [synonym], Lestosaurus latifrons Marsh 1872 [synonym], Lestosaurus simus Marsh 1872 [synonym], Liodon ictericus Cope 1870 [synonym], Liodon mudgei Cope 1870 [synonym]
Invalid names: Holcodus Gibbes 1851 [synonym], Holosaurus Marsh 1880 [synonym], Lestosaurus Marsh 1872 [synonym], Platecarpus affinis Leidy 1873 [nomen dubium], Platecarpus anguliferus Cope 1874 [nomen vanum], Platecarpus brachycephalus Loomis 1915 [nomen dubium], Platecarpus glandiferus Cope 1871 [nomen dubium], Platecarpus latispinus Cope 1871 [nomen dubium], Platecarpus tectulus Cope 1871 [nomen dubium], Sironectes Cope 1874 [synonym]
G. †Plesioplatecarpus Konishi and Caldwell 2011
G. †Plioplatecarpus Dollo 1882
+
†Plioplatecarpus crassartus Cope 1871
†Plioplatecarpus houzeaui Dollo 1889
†Plioplatecarpus marshi Dollo 1882
†Plioplatecarpus peckensis Cuthbertson and Holmes 2015
†Plioplatecarpus primaevus Russell 1967
Invalid names: Oterognathus Dollo 1889 [synonym]
Unr. †Selmasaurini Longrich et al. 2024
+
G. †Selmasaurus Wright and Shannon 1988
+
†Selmasaurus johnsoni Polcyn and Everhart 2008
†Selmasaurus russelli Wright and Shannon 1988
G. †Yaguarasaurus Páramo 1994
+
†Yaguarasaurus columbianus Páramo 1994
†Yaguarasaurus regiomontanus Rivera-Sylva et al. 2024
Invalid names: Platecarpus ptychodon Arambourg 1952 [nomen dubium], Platecarpus somenensis Thevenin 1896 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Platecarpus ptychodus Arambourg 1952 [nomen dubium]
Subfm. †Tylosaurinae Wiliston 1895
+
G. †Hainosaurus Dollo 1885
+
†Hainosaurus boubker Rempert et al. 2022
†Hainosaurus neumilleri Martin 2007
G. †Taniwhasaurus Hector 1874
+
†Taniwhasaurus antarcticus Novas et al. 2002
†Taniwhasaurus mikasaensis Caldwell et al. 2008
Invalid names: Lakumasaurus Novas et al. 2002 [synonym]
G. †Tylosaurus Marsh 1872
+
†Tylosaurus bernardi Dollo 1885
†Tylosaurus iembeensis Antunes 1964
†Tylosaurus ivoensis Russell 1967
†Tylosaurus kansasensis Everhart 2005
†Tylosaurus laticaudus Marsh 1870
†Tylosaurus nepaeolicus Cope 1874
†Tylosaurus pembinensis Nicholls 1988
†Tylosaurus perlatus Cope 1869
†Tylosaurus saskatchewanensis Jiménez-Huidobro et al. 2018
†Tylosaurus zangerli Russell 1970
Invalid names: Elliptonodon Emmons 1858 [nomen dubium], Elliptonodon compressus Emmons 1858 [nomen dubium], Mosasaurus alseni Stolley 1892 [nomen dubium], Rhamphosaurus Cope 1872 [replaced], Rhinosaurus Marsh 1872 [replaced], Tylosaurus dyspelor Cope 1870 [nomen vanum]
Invalid names: Hainosaurus lonzeensis Dollo 1904 [nomen dubium]
Subfm. †Yaguarasaurinae Palci et al. 2013
+
G. †Romeosaurus Palci et al. 2013
+
†Romeosaurus fumanensis Palci et al. 2013
†Romeosaurus sorbinii Palci et al. 2013
Invalid names: Amphorosteus Gibbes 1851 [nomen vanum], Amphorosteus brumbyi Gibbes 1851 [nomen vanum], Clidastes iguanavus Cope 1868 [nomen dubium], Clidastidae Cope 1869 [synonym], Edestosauridae Marsh 1876 [synonym], Globidensidae Dollo 1924 [synonym], Globidentinae [empty], Halisauromorpha Bell and Polcyn 2005 [empty], Liodon congrops Cope 1870 [nomen vanum], Mosasaurus crassidens Marsh 1870 [nomen dubium], Mosasaurus mitchillii DeKay 1830 [nomen vanum], Mosasaurus platyodon Sauvage 1873 [nomen dubium], Platecarpinae Williston 1897 [empty], Tylosaurus capensis Broom 1912 [nomen dubium]
Diagnosis
Reference | Diagnosis | |
---|---|---|
E. D. Cope 1869 | The vertebrae without the zygosphen articulation; the pterygoids in contact on the median line; (?) a postparietal arch. | |
E. D. Cope 1869 (Clidastidae) | The vertebrae with the zygosphen articulation; the pterygoids free on the internal and external margins; no (?) postparietal arch | |
S. B. McDowell and C. M. Bogert 1954 | Temporal arch present; frontals fused; descending processes of frontals meeting to underarch olfactory tracts bu tnot separating orbits; pineal foramen present; vertebral central articulations not oblique; hyperphalangy present; no sacrum; interclavicle absent or reduced; pelvis much reduced; cervical vertebrae seven; palatine toothless, pterygoid strongly toothed; quadrate massive, surrounding the columella auris of the stapes; muzzle long and pointed, the nasal fused to the premaxilla; teeth secondarily thecodont, lodged in an uncompartmented groove. |