| Basic info | Taxonomic history | Classification | Included Taxa |
| Morphology | Ecology and taphonomy | External Literature Search | Age range and collections |
Moanasaurus
Taxonomy
Moanasaurus was named by Wiffen (1980).
It was assigned to Mosasaurinae by Wiffen (1980) and Driscoll et al. (2019).
It was assigned to Mosasaurinae by Wiffen (1980) and Driscoll et al. (2019).
Species
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Moanasaurus Wiffen pp. 507-528 |
| 2019 | Moanasaurus Driscoll et al. |
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.
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| J. Wiffen 1980 | A mosasaur of moderate size, but heavily constructed. Skull length estimated at 780 mm, large broad frontal, skull widest in the region of the postorbitofrontal parietal union. 15 maxillary teeth. Basioccipital is a solidly sutured unit with prootics, opisthotic-exoccipitals, supratemporals, supraoccipital, and squamosals. Atlas centra fused to axis. Anterior cervicals horizontally compressed with broad low synapophyseal bases. Ventral hypapophyseal peduncle of axis facing posteriorly, continuing dorsoventrally,
hypapophyses not fused. Functional zygapophyses, zygosphenes, and zygantra present on vertebrae into dorsal region. Haemal arches long and fused. Humerus short and massive, carpals rounded, metacarpals and phalanx hour-glass shaped. |