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Alexandronectes zealandiensis
Taxonomy
Alexandronectes zealandiensis was named by Otero et al. (2016). Its type specimen is CM Zfr 73, CM Zfr 91, a partial skull, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Waipara River, M34/f1073, which is in a Haumurian basinal (carbonate) siltstone in the Conway Formation of New Zealand.
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Alexandronectes zealandiensis Otero et al. p. 2–3 fig. 2–5 |
| 2019 | Alexandronectes zealandiensis O'Gorman |
| 2021 | Alexandronectes zealandiensis O'Gorman et al. |
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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.
†Alexandronectes zealandiensis Otero et al. 2016
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Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| R. A. Otero et al. 2016 | Elasmosaurid aristonectine (i.e., Ar. parvidens, Ar. quiriquinensis, K. katiki, and TTU P 9219) with the following unique combination of characters: adult length and width of the skull comparatively smaller than K. katiki, Ar. parvidens, and Ar. quiriquinensis (TTU P 9219 is a juvenile); estimated skull height greater than those of Aristonectes spp. but smaller than that of K. katiki; mandibular glenoid cavity rounded in Al. zealandiensis, with complete exposure of the quadrate in lingual (internal) view, being similar to the lingual exposure on K. katiki but the latter possessing an anteriorly deeper glenoid. Alexandronectes zealandiensis also differs from Ar. quiriquinensis in having an anteriorly deep glenoid, with narrowed exposure of the quadrate in lingual view, due to the lingual extension of the surangular. The dorsal processes of the squamosal arch of Al. zealandiensis extended posterolaterally from the midline to produce an A-shaped embayment as in K. katiki (this condition does not occur in Ar. quiriquinensis) but having dorsal branches thicker than those of K. katiki; paroccipital processes shorter and stockier than any other known aristonectine skull, with dorsoventrally expanded and axially compressed distal end, similar to those of Libonectes morgani, and differing from the very long and thin paroccipital processes of Ar. quiriquinensis and TTU P 9219 (the condition remains unknown in K. katiki); distal end of both paroccipital processes having a concave dorsal facet and a convex ventral facet unique among aristonectines preserving this portion; exoccipitals meeting in the ventral midline of the foramen magnum, differing from Ar. quiriquinensis where they do not meet each other in the ventral surface of the foramen. | |
| J. P. O'Gorman et al. 2021 | Elasmosaurid aristonectine (i.e., Aristonectes parvidens, Aristonectes quiriquinensis, Kaiwhekea katiki, Morturneria seymourensis) distinguished by the following characters (new characters indicated by asterisk). Length of adult skull smaller than those of K. katiki, Ar. parvidens, and Ar. quiriquinensis. Retroarticular process only slightly recurved dorsally, differing from K. katiki and without dorsal ridge, differing from Ar. parvidens. Posterior pterygoid process without lateral triangular notch, differing from Ar. quiriquinensis. Parasphenoid
without ventral keel* and posteriorly deeply notched*; paraocciptal process robust and with expanded distal end (distal width to proximal width = 1.6); ventral pit located between parabasisphenoid and basioccipital; exoccipital sutures in the ventral midline of the foramen magnum differing from Ar. quiriquinensis. Ectopterygoid rhombic with pointed caudal end*, shape shared with Ar. quiriquinensis. Pterygoid with high crest on the dorsal surface located anterolateral to the basipterygoid process*, not recorded in any other elasmosaurid and probably autapomorphic of A. zealandiensis. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: o = order | |||||
| Reference: Kiessling 2004 | |||||