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Ophthalmosauridae
Taxonomy
Ophthalmosauridae was named by Andrews (1910).
It was reranked as the unranked clade Ophthalmosauria by Motani (1999), Maxwell and Caldwell (2003), Fernández (2003), Zverkov and Grigoriev (2020) and Zverkov (2022); it was reranked as the infraorder Ophthalmosauria by Miedema et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Thunnosauria by Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega (2020); to Ichthyosauria by Zverkov and Grigoriev (2020); to Thunnosauria by Motani (1999), Maisch and Matzke (2000), Maisch (2010), Arkhangelsky and Zverkov (2014), Pérez et al. (2015), Ji et al. (2016), Fischer (2016), Delsett et al. (2017) and Campos et al. (2020); to Baracromia by Fischer et al. (2013), Moon (2017), Moon (2019) and Campos et al. (2021); to Ichthyosauroidea by McGowan and Motani (2003) and Zverkov (2022); and to Ichthyosauria by Hay (1930), Appleby (1967), Maxwell and Caldwell (2003), Fernández (2003), Araujo et al. (2008), Tyborowski (2016), Paparella et al. (2017) and Miedema et al. (2024).
It was reranked as the unranked clade Ophthalmosauria by Motani (1999), Maxwell and Caldwell (2003), Fernández (2003), Zverkov and Grigoriev (2020) and Zverkov (2022); it was reranked as the infraorder Ophthalmosauria by Miedema et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Thunnosauria by Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega (2020); to Ichthyosauria by Zverkov and Grigoriev (2020); to Thunnosauria by Motani (1999), Maisch and Matzke (2000), Maisch (2010), Arkhangelsky and Zverkov (2014), Pérez et al. (2015), Ji et al. (2016), Fischer (2016), Delsett et al. (2017) and Campos et al. (2020); to Baracromia by Fischer et al. (2013), Moon (2017), Moon (2019) and Campos et al. (2021); to Ichthyosauroidea by McGowan and Motani (2003) and Zverkov (2022); and to Ichthyosauria by Hay (1930), Appleby (1967), Maxwell and Caldwell (2003), Fernández (2003), Araujo et al. (2008), Tyborowski (2016), Paparella et al. (2017) and Miedema et al. (2024).
Subtaxa
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1869 | Ichthyosaurus doughtyi Seeley |
| 1879 | Baptanodontidae Marsh |
| 1879 | Sauranodontidae Marsh p. 86 |
| 1886 | Sauranodontidae Günther p. 442 |
| 1902 | Baptanodontidae Hay p. 463 |
| 1905 | Baptanodontidae Gilmore |
| 1908 | Baptanodontinae Merriam p. 88 |
| 1910 | Ophthalmosauridae Andrews |
| 1930 | Ophthalmosauridae Hay p. 127 |
| 1967 | Ophthalmosauridae Appleby p. 137 |
| 1999 | Ophthalmosauria Motani p. 484 |
| 2000 | Ophthalmosauridae Maisch and Matzke pp. 98 |
| 2003 | Ophthalmosauria Fernández pp. 693-694 fig. 3 |
| 2003 | Ophthalmosauria Maxwell and Caldwell p. S104 |
| 2003 | Ophthalmosauridae McGowan and Motani |
| 2008 | Ophthalmosauridae Araujo et al. p. 26 figs. 7-8 |
| 2010 | Ophthalmosauridae Maisch |
| 2013 | Ophthalmosauridae Fischer et al. |
| 2014 | Ophthalmosauridae Arkhangelsky and Zverkov |
| 2015 | Ophthalmosauridae Pérez et al. p. 124 |
| 2016 | Ophthalmosauridae Fischer p. 8 |
| 2016 | Ophthalmosauridae Ji et al. p. 13 |
| 2016 | Ophthalmosauridae Tyborowski |
| 2017 | Ophthalmosauridae Delsett et al. |
| 2017 | Ophthalmosauridae Moon |
| 2017 | Ophthalmosauridae Paparella et al. |
| 2019 | Ophthalmosauridae Moon p. 148 |
| 2020 | Ophthalmosauridae Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega |
| 2020 | Ophthalmosauridae Campos et al. |
| 2020 | Ophthalmosauria Zverkov and Grigoriev |
| 2021 | Ophthalmosauridae Campos et al. |
| 2022 | Ophthalmosauria Zverkov p. 465 |
| 2024 | Ophthalmosauria Miedema et al. p. 4 |
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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.
Fm. †Ophthalmosauridae Andrews 1910
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G. †Arthropterygius Maxwell 2010
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†Arthropterygius chrisorum Russell 1993
†Arthropterygius hoybergeti Druckenmiller et al. 2012
†Arthropterygius lundi Robert et al. 2014
†Arthropterygius thalassonotus Campos et al. 2020
†Arthropterygius volgensis Kasansky 1903
G. †Baptanodon Seeley 1874
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†Baptanodon discus Marsh 1879
Invalid names: Sauranodon Marsh 1879 [replaced]
G. †Nannopterygius Huene 1923
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†Nannopterygius enthekiodon Hulke 1871
†Nannopterygius saveljeviensis Arkhangelsky 1997
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Invalid names: Nannopterygius kabanovi Efimov 1999 [synonym]
Subfm. †Ophthalmosaurinae Baur 1887
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G. †Cryopterygius Druckenmiller et al. 2012
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†Cryopterygius kielanae Tyborowski 2016
†Cryopterygius kristiansenae Druckenmiller et al. 2012
G. †Jabalisaurus Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega 2021
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†Jabalisaurus meztli Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega 2021
G. †Janusaurus Robert et al. 2014
G. †Ophthalmosaurus Seeley 1874
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†Ophthalmosaurus discus Marsh 1879
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Invalid names: Microdontosaurus petersonii Gilmore 1902 [synonym]
†Ophthalmosaurus icenicus Seeley 1874
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Invalid names: Ancanamunia mendozana Rusconi 1940 [synonym], Ophthalmosaurus pleydelli Lydekker 1890 [synonym]
†Ophthalmosaurus marshi Knight 1903
†Ophthalmosaurus monocharactus Appleby 1956
†Ophthalmosaurus natans Marsh 1879
†Ophthalmosaurus reedi Gilmore 1907
†Ophthalmosaurus robustus Gilmore 1905
†Ophthalmosaurus undorensis Efimov 1991
†Ophthalmosaurus yasykovi Efimov 1999
Invalid names: Ancanamunia Rusconi 1942 [synonym], Khudiakovia Arkhangelsky 1999 [synonym], Microdontosaurus Gilmore 1902 [synonym], Yasykovia Efimov 1999 [synonym]
G. †Palvennia Druckenmiller et al. 2012
G. †Paraophthalmosaurus Arkhangelsky 1997
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†Paraophthalmosaurus kabanovi Efimov 1999
Invalid names: Paraophthalmosaurus saratoviensis Arkhangelsky 1998 [nomen dubium]
G. †Undorosaurus Efimov 1999
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†Undorosaurus gorodischensis Efimov 1999
†Undorosaurus khorlovensis Efimov 1999
†Undorosaurus nessovi Efimov 1999
†Undorosaurus trautscholdi Arkhangelsky and Zverkov 2014
Invalid names: Ichthyosaurus brunsvicensis Broili 1909 [nomen dubium], Ophthalmosaurus cantabrigiensis Lydekker 1888 [nomen dubium]
Subfm. †Platypterygiinae Arkhangelsky 2001
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G. †Acuetzpalin Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega 2020
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†Acuetzpalin carranzai Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega 2020
G. †Aegirosaurus Bardet and Fernandez 2000
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†Aegirosaurus leptospondylus Wagner 1853
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Invalid names: Macropterygius posthumus Barthel 1990 [synonym], Macropterygius trigonus Owen 1840 [synonym]
Invalid names: Ichthyosaurus trigonus posthumus Bauer 1898 [nomen dubium]
G. †Athabascasaurus Druckenmiller and Maxwell 2010
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†Athabascasaurus bitumineus Druckenmiller and Maxwell 2010
G. †Brachypterygius Huene 1922
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†Brachypterygius alekseevi Arkhangelsky 2001
†Brachypterygius mordax McGowan 1976
†Brachypterygius pseudoscythica Efimov 1998
Invalid names: Brachypterygius cantabrigiensis Lydekker 1888 [nomen dubium], Grendelius McGowan 1976 [synonym], Ochevia Arkhangelsky 2001 [synonym], Otschevia Efimov 1998 [synonym]
G. †Parrassaurus Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega 2021
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†Parrassaurus yacahuitztli Barrientos-Lara and Alvarado-Ortega 2021
G. †Pervushovisaurus Arkhangelsky 1998
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†Pervushovisaurus bannovkensis Arkhangelsky 1998
†Pervushovisaurus campylodon Carter 1846
G. †Platypterygius von Huene 1922
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†Platypterygius australis McCoy 1867
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Invalid names: Myopterygius australis McCoy 1867 [synonym], Myopterygius marathonensis Etheridge 1888 [synonym], Platypterygius longmani Wade 1990 [synonym]
†Platypterygius bedengensis Efimov 1997
†Platypterygius compylodon Carter 1846
†Platypterygius hauthali von Huene 1927
†Platypterygius hercynicus Kuhn 1946
†Platypterygius kiprijanoffi Romer 1968
†Platypterygius ochevi Arkhangelsky et al. 2008
†Platypterygius platydactylus Broili 1907
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Invalid names: Ichthyosaurus hercynicus Kuhn 1946 [synonym]
†Platypterygius sachicarum Paramo 1997
Invalid names: Ichthyosaurus marathonensis Etheridge 1888 [nomen dubium], Longirostria Arkhangelsky 1998 [synonym], Myobradypterygius von Huene 1927 [synonym], Myopterygius Huene 1922 [synonym], Plutoniosaurus Efimov 1997 [synonym], Tenuirostria Arkhangelsky 1998 [synonym]
Invalid names: Baptanodontidae Marsh 1879 [synonym], Ichthyosaurus doughtyi Seeley 1869 [nomen dubium], Platypterygiidae Bardet 1995 [empty]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| R. M. Appleby 1967 | Latipinnate Ichthyopterygia in which the orbit is very large. Teeth loosely attached along the whole length of the alveolar groove or partially absent posteriorly. Teeth smaller anteriorly than posteriorly. Humerus articulates distally with three bones, the middle one of which is the ulna. Fore-paddle much larger than hind-paddle. Pubis and ischium fused.
Callovian to Albian. Europe and North America. | |
| R. Motani 1999 | Extracondylar area of basioccipital reduced; angular largely exposed laterally, reaching as anteriorly as surangular; extra zeugopodial element anterior to radius, and digit distal to it. | |
| C. Ji et al. 2016 | Descending process of the nasal on the dorsal bor- der of the nares present; extracondylar area of basioccipital reduced; stapes proximal head massive, as large or larger than opisthotic; tooth root smooth, with no striations; angular largely exposed laterally, reaching as far anteriorly as the suran- gular; prominent acromion process of scapula present; extra zeugopodial element anterior to radius, and digit distal to it; pubis and ischium completely fused; chevrons in apical region absent. | |
| N. G. Zverkov 2022 | (after Fischer et al., 2012,with modifications). Moderately well-developed extracondylar area of the basioccipital, wide and concave along the periphery of the condyle, at least in lateral view (greatly reduced in lateral view and poorly visible posteriorly in most representatives of Platypterygiidae); facet of the humerus for the radius faces distally, for the ulna—posterodistally (also occurs in some platypterygiids—Undorosaurus, Maiaspondylus and in some species of “Platypterygius”; in most platypterygiids facet of the radius is deflected anterodistally); large ulna with concave ossified posterior margin (this state is reversed in Arthropterygius and Nannopterygius borealis; posterior edge of the ulna is not ossified in all members of the family Platypterygiidae).
Synapomorphies of the group according to the results of the phylogenetic analysis of Zverkov and Jacobs (2021): pronounced lateral ‘wing’ of the nasal over the dorsal boarder of the naris (character 15: state 1; hereinafter, the numbering of characters and states follows Zverkov and Jacobs, 2021); extensive stapedial facet of the opisthotic (64 : 1); distally facing radial facet and posterodistally def lected ulnar facet (110 : 1); well-developed humeral facet for anterior accessory element (112 : 1) (reversed in Nannopterygius enthekiodon); concave and ossified posterior margin of the ulna (116 : 1) (reversed in Arthropterygius spp. and Nannopterygius borealis). |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: o = order | |||||
| Reference: Kiessling 2004 | |||||
Age range: base of the Late/Upper Aalenian to the top of the Cenomanian or 175.60000 to 93.90000 Ma
Collections (161 total)
Oldest occurrences | |||
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early/Lower Jurassic | Greenland (Ostgronland) | Ophthalmosaurus sp. (78929) | |
| Late/Upper Aalenian - Early/Lower Bajocian | Argentina (Mendoza) | Ophthalmosauria indet. (68557) | |
| Early/Lower Bajocian | USA (Alaska) | Ophthalmosaurinae indet. (142116) | |
| Early/Lower Bajocian | Argentina (Neuquen) | Mollesaurus periallus (102280) Mollesaurus perihallus (140299) | |
| Bajocian - Bathonian | Switzerland (Brugg) | Argovisaurus martafernandezi (234449) | |
| Bathonian | France (Basse-Normandie) | Ophthalmosauridae indet. (141169) | |
| Bathonian - Oxfordian | USA (Wyoming) | Baptanodon discus (32321 101200) | |
| Callovian | Russian Federation (Saratov) | Khudiakovia calloviensis (142714) | |
| Callovian - Oxfordian | United Kingdom (England) | Ophthalmosaurus monocharactus (140700) | |
| Middle Callovian | United Kingdom (England) | Ophthalmosaurus icenicus (109800 133067 142299) Ophthalmosaurus sp. (105081 149244 149253) | |
Youngest occurrences |
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| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | PBDB collection number |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | USA (Texas) | Platypterygius sp. (120507) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | France (Normandy) | Platypterygius sp. (142837) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | United Kingdom | Sisteronia seeleyi (166721) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | India (Tamil Nadu) | Platypterygius indicus (110178) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | United Kingdom (England) | Ichthyosaurus campylodon (49496) | |
| Middle Cenomanian | USA (Wyoming) | Myopterygius petersoni (105791) | |
| Middle Cenomanian | Russian Federation (Volgograd) | Ichthyosauria indet. (92399) | |
| Middle Cenomanian | India | Platypterygius sp. (214382) | |
| Middle Cenomanian | Russian Federation (Saratov) | Platypterygius bannovkensis (138038) | |
| Middle Cenomanian - Late/Upper Cenomanian | Germany (Bavaria) | Platypterygius sp. (214381) | |