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Polycotylidae
Taxonomy
Polycotylidae was named by Williston (1908). Its type is Polycotylus.
It was assigned to Plesiosauria by Kuhn (1946); to Sauropterygia by Thurmond (1968); to Tricleidia by O'Keefe (2001); to Cryptocleidoidea by O'Keefe (2004); to Pliosauroidea by Welles (1943), Delair (1960), Persson (1963), Kuhn (1966), Thurmond and Jones (1981) and Schumacher and Everhart (2005); to Plesiosauria by Williston (1908), Hay (1930), White (1940), Buchy et al. (2005), Schumacher (2007), Salgado et al. (2007) and O'Gorman et al. (2011); to Leptocleidia by Ketchum and Benson (2010), Ketchum and Benson (2011), Benson and Druckenmiller (2014) and Frey et al. (2017); to Plesiosauria by Novas et al. (2015) and Zverkov et al. (2023); and to Plesiosauroidea by Gasparini and Goñi (1985), Carpenter (1996), Gasparini et al. (2007), O'Keefe (2008), O'Gorman and Gasparini (2013), O'Gorman (2015), Gasparini et al. (2015), O'Gorman (2016), O'Gorman et al. (2019), O'Gorman (2022), O'Gorman and Otero (2023) and Clark et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Plesiosauria by Kuhn (1946); to Sauropterygia by Thurmond (1968); to Tricleidia by O'Keefe (2001); to Cryptocleidoidea by O'Keefe (2004); to Pliosauroidea by Welles (1943), Delair (1960), Persson (1963), Kuhn (1966), Thurmond and Jones (1981) and Schumacher and Everhart (2005); to Plesiosauria by Williston (1908), Hay (1930), White (1940), Buchy et al. (2005), Schumacher (2007), Salgado et al. (2007) and O'Gorman et al. (2011); to Leptocleidia by Ketchum and Benson (2010), Ketchum and Benson (2011), Benson and Druckenmiller (2014) and Frey et al. (2017); to Plesiosauria by Novas et al. (2015) and Zverkov et al. (2023); and to Plesiosauroidea by Gasparini and Goñi (1985), Carpenter (1996), Gasparini et al. (2007), O'Keefe (2008), O'Gorman and Gasparini (2013), O'Gorman (2015), Gasparini et al. (2015), O'Gorman (2016), O'Gorman et al. (2019), O'Gorman (2022), O'Gorman and Otero (2023) and Clark et al. (2024).
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
Year | Name and author |
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1897 | Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus Etheridge, Jr. p. 19 figs. Pls. 5-7 |
1908 | Polycotylidae Williston |
1911 | Polycotylus brevispondylus Bogolubov p. 317 figs. 11, figs 1-2 |
1911 | Polycotylus ichthyospondylus tanais Bogolubov p. 321 figs. pl. 9, figs 1-3 |
1930 | Polycotylidae Hay p. 116 |
1940 | Polycotylidae White p. 465 fig. 10a |
1943 | Polycotylidae Welles p. 212 |
1946 | Polycotylidae Kuhn p. 59 |
1960 | Polycotylidae Delair p. 69 |
1962 | Dolichorhynchopidae Welles p. 4 |
1963 | Polycotylidae Persson p. 6 |
1963 | Polycotylus brevispondylus Persson p. 21 |
1963 | Polycotylus ichthyospondylus tanais Persson p. 21 |
1966 | Polycotylidae Kuhn p. 116 |
1968 | Polycotylidae Thurmond p. 1289 |
1981 | Polycotylidae Thurmond and Jones p. 141 |
1985 | Polycotylidae Gasparini and Goñi |
1991 | Trinacromerum leucoscopelus Molnar p. 632 |
1996 | Polycotylidae Carpenter p. 267 |
2001 | Polycotylidae O'Keefe p. 19 fig. 20 |
2004 | Polycotylidae O'Keefe p. 336 figs. Fig. 11 |
2005 | Polycotylidae Buchy et al. p. 99 |
2005 | Polycotylidae Schumacher and Everhart p. 40 |
2007 | Polycotylidae Gasparini et al. p. 194 |
2007 | Polycotylidae Salgado et al. p. 352 |
2007 | Polycotylidae Schumacher p. 134 |
2008 | Polycotylidae O'Keefe p. 665 |
2010 | Polycotylidae Ketchum and Benson p. 15 |
2011 | Polycotylidae Ketchum and Benson p. 126 |
2011 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman et al. p. 130 |
2013 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman and Gasparini |
2014 | Polycotylidae Benson and Druckenmiller figs. 2-3 |
2015 | Polycotylidae Gasparini et al. |
2015 | Polycotylidae Novas et al. p. 564 |
2015 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman p. 189 |
2016 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman p. 42 |
2017 | Polycotylidae Frey et al. p. 94 |
2019 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman et al. |
2022 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman |
2023 | Polycotylidae O'Gorman and Otero p. 78 |
2023 | Polycotylidae Zverkov et al. p. 3 |
2024 | Polycotylidae Clark et al. p. 2 |
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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. †Polycotylidae Williston 1908
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G. †Ceraunosaurus Thurmond 1968
Subfm. †Palmulainae Albright et al. 2007
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G. †Palmulasaurus Albright et al. 2007
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†Palmulasaurus quadratus Albright et al. 2007
Invalid names: Palmula Albright et al. 2007 [replaced]
Subfm. †Polycotylinae Albright et al. 2007
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Unr. †Dolichorhynchia Clark et al. 2024
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G. †Dolichorhynchops Williston 1902
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†Dolichorhynchops herschelensis Sato 2005
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus ichthyospondylus Seeley 1869 [nomen vanum], Trinacromerum latimanus Williston 1908 [nomen vanum]
G. †Georgiasaurus Ochev 1977
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†Georgiasaurus penzensis Otschev 1976
Invalid names: Georgia Otschev 1976 [replaced]
G. †Polycotylus Cope 1869
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†Polycotylus sopozkoi Efimov et al. 2016
†Polycotylus suprajurensis Sauvage 1876
G. †Trinacromerum Cragin 1888
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†Trinacromerum bentonianum Cragin 1888
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Invalid names: Ceraunosaurus brownorum Thurmond 1968 [synonym], Trinacromerum anonymum Williston 1903 [synonym], Trinacromerum willistoni Riggs 1944 [synonym]
†Trinacromerum kirki Russell 1935
Invalid names: Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus Etheridge, Jr. 1897 [nomen dubium], Dolichorhynchopidae Welles 1962 [synonym], Palmulasaurinae Albright et al. 2007 [empty], Polycotyilnae Albright et al. 2007 [empty]
Diagnosis
Reference | Diagnosis | |
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S. W. Williston 1908 | Skull with long facial rostrum and thin, high parietal crest. Supraoccipital bones separated. Palate with large interpterygoidal vacuity, the pterygoids articulating with vomers, and meeting in the middle line posteriorly; no palatine foramina. Neck but little longer than head, the vertebrae all short; ribs single headed. Coracoids meeting throughout in symphysis, with long clavicular processes articulating with clavicles and scapulae, the interclavicle present; a large interclavicular foramen; ischia elongate. Three or four epipodial bones, all broader than long. Colorado Cretaceous, North America. | |
T. E. White 1940 | "Dolicocephalic; 19 to 26 cervical vertebrae, 28 to 30 dorsals, 3 sacrals, 25 caudals; cervical ribs single-headed; posterolateral Dolicocephalic; 19 to 26 cervical vertebrae, 28 to 30 dorsals, 3 sacrals, 25 caudals; cervical ribs single-headed; posterolateral." | |
K. Carpenter 1996 | Plesiosaurs with large skulls and short necks as in Pliosauridae; long facial rostrum with long mandibular symphysis; high sagittal crest; 4-7 pairs of premaxillary teeth; teeth conical, more uniform in size than in Pliosauridae, none caniniform; pterygoids flat, plate-like underlying most of the basicranium except for long and slender interpterygoid vacuity; 19-26 cervicals; cervical ribs single-headed; epipodials short and wide. | |
F. R. O'Keefe 2001 | "Neck length short; ischium longer than pubis; maxillary/squamosal sutuer present and formed by posterior expansion of maxilla; pterygoids with distinct medial processes which meet behind posterior interpterygoid vacuities; pterygoids dished lateral to posterior interpterygoid vacuities; mandibular symphysis scoop-like or long; splenial included in mandibular symphysis; number of cervical vertebrae reduced; longitudinal pectoral bar present and formed by clavicle and coracoid; posterior perforations in coracoid; supernumerary ossifications in propodial and epipodial rows; interlocking phalanges anterior to fifth digit." |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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Reference: Kiessling 2004 |
Age range: base of the Late/Upper Kimmeridgian to the top of the Early/Lower Maastrichtian or 155.70000 to 66.00000 Ma
Collections (105 total)
Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
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Late/Upper Kimmeridgian | France (Nord-Pas-de-Calais) | Polycotylus suprajurensis (94534) | |
Aptian | Australia (New South Wales) | Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus (60762) | |
Late/Upper Aptian | Canada (Nunavut) | Polycotylidae indet. (157245) | |
Early/Lower Albian | Canada (Alberta) | Polycotylidae indet. (102994) | |
Late/Upper Albian | Australia (Queensland) | Polycotylidae indet. QM F18041 (118316) | |
Late/Upper Albian | USA (Wyoming) | Trinacromerum sp. (105789) | |
Late/Upper Albian | USA (Montana) | Edgarosaurus muddi (97885) | |
Late/Upper Albian - Cenomanian | Russian Federation (Belgorod) | Polycotylidae indet. (32314) | |
Early/Lower Cenomanian | USA (Wyoming) | Plesiopleurodon wellesi (117845) Polycotylus sp. (27889) | |
Late/Upper Cenomanian | USA (Utah) | Pliosauroidea indet. (5609) | |
Late/Upper Cenomanian | USA (Texas) | Ceraunosaurus brownorum (90465) | |
Late/Upper Cenomanian | USA (South Dakota) | Pahasapasaurus haasi (117819) | |
Late/Upper Cenomanian | USA (Kansas) | Trinacromerum willistoni (106182) | |
Middle Cenomanian | USA (Colorado) | Trinacromerum sp. (35429) | |
Middle Cenomanian | Canada (Saskatchewan) | Plesiosauria indet. (52997) | |
Late/Upper Cenomanian - Early/Lower Turonian | Japan (Hokkaido) | Polycotylidae indet. (102078) | |
Middle Cenomanian - Middle Turonian | USA (Kansas) | Trinacromerum bentonianum (117814) | |
Turonian - Coniacian | Russian Federation (Kaliningrad) | Plesiosaurus ichthyospondylus (227272) | |
Turonian - Coniacian | Poland (Warmińsko-Mazurskie) | Plesiosaurus ichthyospondylus (227270 227271) | |
Turonian - Santonian | USA (Kansas) | Polycotylidae indet. (31690) | |
Early/Lower Turonian | Canada (Manitoba) | Trinacromerum kirki (102074) | |
Early/Lower Turonian | Morocco (Er-Rachidia) | Thililua longicollis, Manemergus anguirostris (103973) | |
Early/Lower Turonian | Mexico (Nuevo León) | Mauriciosaurus fernandezi (186284) Polycotylidae indet. (115406) | |
Early/Lower Turonian | USA (Kansas) | Trinacromerum bentonianum (117806) | |
Early/Lower Turonian | USA (Utah) | Dolichorhynchops tropicensis (132356 132357) Eopolycotylus rankini (67973) Palmula quadratus (150870) | |
Early/Lower Turonian - Middle Turonian | USA (Kansas) | Trinacromerum bentonianum (117807 117809 117811 117812) | |
Middle Turonian | USA (Kansas) | Trinacromerum anonymum (117813 117815) Trinacromerum bentonianum (117805 117808 117810) | |
Early/Lower Coniacian | Russian Federation | Polycotylidae indet. (232829 232831) | |
Late/Upper Coniacian | Antarctica | Polycotylidae indet. (232287) | |
Late/Upper Coniacian - Santonian | USA (Kansas) | Dolichorhynchops osborni (117856) Polycotylus dolichopus (118879) Polycotylus latipinnis (117847) | |
Santonian | Canada (Manitoba) | Dolichorhynchops sp. ROM 29010 (107803) | |
Santonian | Russian Federation (Penza) | Georgia penzensis (127412) | |
Santonian | Russian Federation (Orenburg) | Polycotylidae indet. (232890) | |
Santonian | USA (Kansas) | Dolichorhynchops osborni (117851) Polycotylus latipinnis (117846 118183) | |
Santonian | Antarctica | Plesiosauria indet. (115684) | |
Late/Upper Santonian | USA (South Dakota) | Polycotylus latipinnis (194130) | |
Piripauan | New Zealand | Polycotylidae indet. (83537) | |
Late/Upper Santonian - Early/Lower Campanian | USA (Alabama) | Polycotylus latipinnis (81934) | |
Campanian | New Zealand (South Island) | Polycotylidae indet. (232397) | |
Campanian | Russian Federation (Saratov) | Trinacromeridae sp. (127413) | |
Campanian | USA (Texas) | Trinacromerum bonneri (118185) | |
Campanian | Canada (Manitoba) | Dolichorhynchops kirki (36746 36754) | |
Early/Lower Campanian | Russian Federation (Saratov) | Polycotylidae indet. (86332 141001) | |
Early/Lower Campanian | Sweden | Polycotylidae indet. (214339) Polycotylidae indet., P. sp. (102883) | |
Early/Lower Campanian | Russian Federation (Orenburg) | Polycotylus sopozkoi (224094) | |
Early/Lower Campanian | Canada (Alberta) | Polycotylidae indet. (153811) | |
Early/Lower Campanian | Canada (Northwest Territories) | Dolichorhynchopidae indet. (106337) Dolichorhynchops osborni (106333) | |
Early/Lower Campanian - Middle Campanian | USA (Kansas) | Polycotylus latippinus (114240) | |
Early/Lower Campanian - Middle Campanian | USA (Wyoming) | Trinacromerum bonneri (77312) | |
Early/Lower Campanian - Middle Campanian | USA (South Dakota) | Dolichorhynchops osborni (117861) Dolichorhynchops osborni, Polycotylidae indet., Trinacromerum bonneri (77316) | |
Judithian | USA (Wyoming) | Dolichorhynchops sp. (14465 14480) | |
Late/Upper Campanian | Russian Federation (Volgograd) | Polycotylidae indet. (59385) | |
Middle Campanian | USA (Wyoming) | Dolichorhynchops osborni (117860) Unktaheela specta (233170) | |
Middle Campanian | USA (South Dakota) | Unktaheela specta (94640) | |
Middle Campanian - Late/Upper Campanian | Canada (Saskatchewan) | Polycotylidae indet. (75030) | |
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian | New Zealand (Hawke's Bay) | Pliosauridae indet. (232256) | |
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian | Canada (Saskatchewan) | Dolichorhynchops herschelensis (100237) | |
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian | Argentina (Río Negro) | Polycotylidae indet. (49557 141581) Sulcusuchus erraini (142118) | |
Maastrichtian | Argentina (Chubut) | Polycotylidae indet. (138028 231418 231509 233604 233922 233973 234154 234157 234158 234159) Sulcusuchus erraini (99438) Sulcusuchus sp. (231374) | |
Early/Lower Maastrichtian | New Zealand (South Island) | Polycotylidae indet. (156364) | |
Early/Lower Maastrichtian | USA (Wyoming) | Serpentisuchops pfisterae (229344) | |
Late/Upper Maastrichtian | Jordan | Polycotylidae indet. (170239) | |
Late/Upper Maastrichtian | Argentina (Chubut) | Polycotylidae indet. (234160) | |
Late/Upper Maastrichtian | New Zealand (South Island) | Polycotylidae indet. (232392 232396 232399 232400) |