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Polycotylidae

Reptilia - Plesiosauria - Polycotylidae

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1897Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus Etheridge, Jr. p. 19 figs. Pls. 5-7
1908Polycotylidae Williston
1911Polycotylus brevispondylus Bogolubov p. 317 figs. 11, figs 1-2
1911Polycotylus ichthyospondylus tanais Bogolubov p. 321 figs. pl. 9, figs 1-3
1930Polycotylidae Hay p. 116
1940Polycotylidae White p. 465 fig. 10a
1943Polycotylidae Welles p. 212
1946Polycotylidae Kuhn p. 59
1960Polycotylidae Delair p. 69
1962Dolichorhynchopidae Welles p. 4
1963Polycotylidae Persson p. 6
1963Polycotylus brevispondylus Persson p. 21
1963Polycotylus ichthyospondylus tanais Persson p. 21
1966Polycotylidae Kuhn p. 116
1968Polycotylidae Thurmond p. 1289
1981Polycotylidae Thurmond and Jones p. 141
1985Polycotylidae Gasparini and Goñi
1991Trinacromerum leucoscopelus Molnar p. 632
1996Polycotylidae Carpenter p. 267
2001Polycotylidae O'Keefe p. 19 fig. 20
2004Polycotylidae O'Keefe p. 336 figs. Fig. 11
2005Polycotylidae Buchy et al. p. 99
2005Polycotylidae Schumacher and Everhart p. 40
2007Polycotylidae Gasparini et al. p. 194
2007Polycotylidae Salgado et al. p. 352
2007Polycotylidae Schumacher p. 134
2008Polycotylidae O'Keefe p. 665
2010Polycotylidae Ketchum and Benson p. 15
2011Polycotylidae Ketchum and Benson p. 126
2011Polycotylidae O'Gorman et al. p. 130
2013Polycotylidae O'Gorman and Gasparini
2014Polycotylidae Benson and Druckenmiller figs. 2-3
2015Polycotylidae Gasparini et al.
2015Polycotylidae Novas et al. p. 564
2015Polycotylidae O'Gorman p. 189
2016Polycotylidae O'Gorman p. 42
2017Polycotylidae Frey et al. p. 94
2019Polycotylidae O'Gorman et al.
2022Polycotylidae O'Gorman
2023Polycotylidae O'Gorman and Otero p. 78
2023Polycotylidae Zverkov et al. p. 3
2024Polycotylidae Clark et al. p. 2

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Life
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
subclassEureptilia()
Romeriida
Diapsida()
suborderSauropterygia
orderPlesiosauriade Blainville 1835
superfamilyPlesiosauroideaWelles 1943
familyPolycotylidaeWilliston 1908
familyPolycotylidaeWilliston 1908

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
G. †Edgarosaurus Druckenmiller 2002
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Edgarosaurus muddi Druckenmiller 2002
G. †Manemergus Buchy et al. 2005
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Manemergus anguirostris Buchy et al. 2005
G. †Mauriciosaurus Frey et al. 2017
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Mauriciosaurus fernandezi Frey et al. 2017
G. †Pahasapasaurus Schumacher 2007
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Pahasapasaurus haasi Schumacher 2007
Subfm. †Palmulainae Albright et al. 2007
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G. †Palmulasaurus Albright et al. 2007
+
Palmulasaurus quadratus Albright et al. 2007
Invalid names: Palmula Albright et al. 2007 [replaced]
G. †Plesiopleurodon Carpenter 1996
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Plesiopleurodon wellesi Carpenter 1996
Subfm. †Polycotylinae Albright et al. 2007
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Unr. †Dolichorhynchia Clark et al. 2024
+
G. †Dolichorhynchops Williston 1902
+
Dolichorhynchops osborni Williston 1902
+
Invalid names: Polycotylus osborni Watson 1951 [synonym]
Invalid names: Plesiosaurus ichthyospondylus Seeley 1869 [nomen vanum], Trinacromerum latimanus Williston 1908 [nomen vanum]
G. †Martinectes Clark et al. 2024
+
Martinectes bonneri Adams 1997
G. †Unktaheela Clark et al. 2024
+
Unktaheela specta Clark et al. 2024
G. †Eopolycotylus Albright et al. 2007
+
Eopolycotylus rankini Albright et al. 2007
G. †Georgiasaurus Ochev 1977
+
Georgiasaurus penzensis Otschev 1976
Invalid names: Georgia Otschev 1976 [replaced]
G. †Polycotylus Cope 1869
+
+
Invalid names: Polycotylus dolichopus Williston 1906 [synonym]
Polycotylus sopozkoi Efimov et al. 2016
Polycotylus suprajurensis Sauvage 1876
G. †Scalamagnus Clark et al. 2024
+
Scalamagnus tropicensis Schmeisser McKean 2012
G. †Serpentisuchops Persons IV et al. 2022
+
Serpentisuchops pfisterae Persons IV et al. 2022
G. †Trinacromerum Cragin 1888
+
+
Invalid names: Ceraunosaurus brownorum Thurmond 1968 [synonym], Trinacromerum anonymum Williston 1903 [synonym], Trinacromerum willistoni Riggs 1944 [synonym]
Trinacromerum kirki Russell 1935
G. †Sulcusuchus Gasparini and Spalletti 1990
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Sulcusuchus erraini Gasparini and Spalletti 1990
G. †Thililua Bardet et al. 2003
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Thililua longicollis Bardet et al. 2003
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
ReferenceDiagnosis
S. W. Williston 1908Skull 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 1996Plesiosaurs 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
Composition: hydroxyapatiteo
Environment: marineo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquatico
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: carnivoreo
Reproduction: viviparouso
Created: 2009-07-20 06:05:48
Modified: 2011-08-12 01:58:15
Source: o = order
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
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian155.7 - 150.8France (Nord-Pas-de-Calais) Polycotylus suprajurensis (94534)
Aptian125.0 - 113.0Australia (New South Wales) Cimoliasaurus leucoscopelus (60762)
Late/Upper Aptian122.46 - 112.03Canada (Nunavut) Polycotylidae indet. (157245)
Early/Lower Albian112.03 - 109.0Canada (Alberta) Polycotylidae indet. (102994)
Late/Upper Albian105.3 - 99.6Australia (Queensland) Polycotylidae indet. QM F18041 (118316)
Late/Upper Albian105.3 - 99.6USA (Wyoming) Trinacromerum sp. (105789)
Late/Upper Albian105.3 - 99.6USA (Montana) Edgarosaurus muddi (97885)
Late/Upper Albian - Cenomanian105.3 - 93.9Russian Federation (Belgorod) Polycotylidae indet. (32314)
Early/Lower Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5USA (Wyoming) Plesiopleurodon wellesi (117845) Polycotylus sp. (27889)
Late/Upper Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5USA (Utah) Pliosauroidea indet. (5609)
Late/Upper Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5USA (Texas) Ceraunosaurus brownorum (90465)
Late/Upper Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5USA (South Dakota) Pahasapasaurus haasi (117819)
Late/Upper Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5USA (Kansas) Trinacromerum willistoni (106182)
Middle Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5USA (Colorado) Trinacromerum sp. (35429)
Middle Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5Canada (Saskatchewan) Plesiosauria indet. (52997)
Late/Upper Cenomanian - Early/Lower Turonian99.6 - 89.3Japan (Hokkaido) Polycotylidae indet. (102078)
Middle Cenomanian - Middle Turonian99.6 - 89.3USA (Kansas) Trinacromerum bentonianum (117814)
Turonian - Coniacian93.9 - 86.3Russian Federation (Kaliningrad) Plesiosaurus ichthyospondylus (227272)
Turonian - Coniacian93.9 - 86.3Poland (Warmińsko-Mazurskie) Plesiosaurus ichthyospondylus (227270 227271)
Turonian - Santonian93.9 - 83.6USA (Kansas) Polycotylidae indet. (31690)
Early/Lower Turonian93.5 - 89.3Canada (Manitoba) Trinacromerum kirki (102074)
Early/Lower Turonian93.5 - 89.3Morocco (Er-Rachidia) Thililua longicollis, Manemergus anguirostris (103973)
Early/Lower Turonian93.5 - 89.3Mexico (Nuevo León) Mauriciosaurus fernandezi (186284) Polycotylidae indet. (115406)
Early/Lower Turonian93.5 - 89.3USA (Kansas) Trinacromerum bentonianum (117806)
Early/Lower Turonian93.5 - 89.3USA (Utah) Dolichorhynchops tropicensis (132356 132357) Eopolycotylus rankini (67973) Palmula quadratus (150870)
Early/Lower Turonian - Middle Turonian93.5 - 89.3USA (Kansas) Trinacromerum bentonianum (117807 117809 117811 117812)
Middle Turonian93.5 - 89.3USA (Kansas) Trinacromerum anonymum (117813 117815) Trinacromerum bentonianum (117805 117808 117810)
Early/Lower Coniacian89.3 - 85.8Russian Federation Polycotylidae indet. (232829 232831)
Late/Upper Coniacian89.3 - 85.8Antarctica Polycotylidae indet. (232287)
Late/Upper Coniacian - Santonian89.3 - 83.6USA (Kansas) Dolichorhynchops osborni (117856) Polycotylus dolichopus (118879) Polycotylus latipinnis (117847)
Santonian86.3 - 83.6Canada (Manitoba) Dolichorhynchops sp. ROM 29010 (107803)
Santonian86.3 - 83.6Russian Federation (Penza) Georgia penzensis (127412)
Santonian86.3 - 83.6Russian Federation (Orenburg) Polycotylidae indet. (232890)
Santonian86.3 - 83.6USA (Kansas) Dolichorhynchops osborni (117851) Polycotylus latipinnis (117846 118183)
Santonian86.3 - 83.6Antarctica Plesiosauria indet. (115684)
Late/Upper Santonian85.8 - 83.5USA (South Dakota) Polycotylus latipinnis (194130)
Piripauan85.8 - 83.5New Zealand Polycotylidae indet. (83537)
Late/Upper Santonian - Early/Lower Campanian85.8 - 70.6USA (Alabama) Polycotylus latipinnis (81934)
Campanian83.6 - 72.1New Zealand (South Island) Polycotylidae indet. (232397)
Campanian83.6 - 72.1Russian Federation (Saratov) Trinacromeridae sp. (127413)
Campanian83.6 - 72.1USA (Texas) Trinacromerum bonneri (118185)
Campanian83.6 - 72.1Canada (Manitoba) Dolichorhynchops kirki (36746 36754)
Early/Lower Campanian83.5 - 70.6Russian Federation (Saratov) Polycotylidae indet. (86332 141001)
Early/Lower Campanian83.5 - 70.6Sweden Polycotylidae indet. (214339) Polycotylidae indet., P. sp. (102883)
Early/Lower Campanian83.5 - 70.6Russian Federation (Orenburg) Polycotylus sopozkoi (224094)
Early/Lower Campanian83.5 - 70.6Canada (Alberta) Polycotylidae indet. (153811)
Early/Lower Campanian83.5 - 70.6Canada (Northwest Territories) Dolichorhynchopidae indet. (106337) Dolichorhynchops osborni (106333)
Early/Lower Campanian - Middle Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (Kansas) Polycotylus latippinus (114240)
Early/Lower Campanian - Middle Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (Wyoming) Trinacromerum bonneri (77312)
Early/Lower Campanian - Middle Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (South Dakota) Dolichorhynchops osborni (117861) Dolichorhynchops osborni, Polycotylidae indet., Trinacromerum bonneri (77316)
Judithian83.5 - 70.6USA (Wyoming) Dolichorhynchops sp. (14465 14480)
Late/Upper Campanian83.5 - 70.6Russian Federation (Volgograd) Polycotylidae indet. (59385)
Middle Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (Wyoming) Dolichorhynchops osborni (117860) Unktaheela specta (233170)
Middle Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (South Dakota) Unktaheela specta (94640)
Middle Campanian - Late/Upper Campanian83.5 - 70.6Canada (Saskatchewan) Polycotylidae indet. (75030)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian83.5 - 66.0New Zealand (Hawke's Bay) Pliosauridae indet. (232256)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian83.5 - 66.0Canada (Saskatchewan) Dolichorhynchops herschelensis (100237)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian83.5 - 66.0Argentina (Río Negro) Polycotylidae indet. (49557 141581) Sulcusuchus erraini (142118)
Maastrichtian72.1 - 66.0Argentina (Chubut) Polycotylidae indet. (138028 231418 231509 233604 233922 233973 234154 234157 234158 234159) Sulcusuchus erraini (99438) Sulcusuchus sp. (231374)
Early/Lower Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0New Zealand (South Island) Polycotylidae indet. (156364)
Early/Lower Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0USA (Wyoming) Serpentisuchops pfisterae (229344)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Jordan Polycotylidae indet. (170239)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0Argentina (Chubut) Polycotylidae indet. (234160)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0New Zealand (South Island) Polycotylidae indet. (232392 232396 232399 232400)