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Malutitetrapodiscus saltator

Osteichthyes

Taxonomy
Malutitetrapodiscus saltator was named by Ellenberger (1970). It is considered to be a form taxon. Its type specimen is PECUoM LES 311.1, LES 311.3 (plaster cast), a footprint, and it is a trace fossil. It is the type species of Malutitetrapodiscus.

Sister species lacking formal opinion data
M. perlinax

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1970Malutitetrapodiscus saltator Ellenberger p. 352
2025Malutitetrapodiscus saltator Foster et al. p. 370

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
genusMalutitetrapodiscus
speciessaltator

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.

†Malutitetrapodiscus saltator Ellenberger 1970
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. R. Foster et al. 2025Modified from Ellenberger (1970, 1975) and Bordy et al. (2022): Small, tetradactyl pes tracks (~3.2 cm long and wide) with a consistent paired configuration and strong out- ward rotation. Digits II–IV show a total digit divarication of 60° and are deeply impressed proximally rather than distally. The same impression mode applies to Digit I, which is well separated from the other digits. The splayed digit imprints terminate in circular, very fine, pointy claw tip marks that are well in front of the distal phalangeal pad impressions. The slightly larger manus prints (~3.5 cm long and wide) have the same structure as the pes prints, but manual Digit IIeIV imprints form a parallel bundle.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: scansorialuc
Diet: insectivoreuc
Created: 2005-09-06 19:53:51
Modified: 2005-09-07 19:44:02
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Luo et al. 2003, Hopson 1973

Age range: Pliensbachian or 192.90000 to 184.20000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Pliensbachian192.9 - 184.2Lesotho (Mohale's Hoek) Malutitetrapodiscus saltator (149715)