Hauffiopteryx altera, Maxwell & Cortés, 2020

Maxwell, Erin E. & Cortés, Dirley, 2020, A revision of the Early Jurassic ichthyosaur Hauffiopteryx (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria), and description of a new species from southwestern Germany, Palaeontologia Electronica (a 31) 23 (2), pp. 1-43 : 11-12

Hauffiopteryx altera sp. nov. Figures 7-8

zoobank.org/ A567A292-2A58-495A-839F-FF8382B49479

v. 2005 Eurhinosaurus longirostris (Mantell, 1851) : Jäger, p. 29, fig. 23.

Holotype. Holotype and only referred specimen FWD-129 ; a skull and partial postcranium preserved in a calcareous concretion ( Figures 7-8 ; see Table 1 for selected measurements). The bones on the right side of the skull remain in articulation; those on the left side of the skull have suffered some taphonomic displacement .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin altera , which means different from/other and refers to the anatomical divergence from the type species, H. typicus .

Geographical distribution. Dotternhausen-Dormettingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Stratigraphic distribution. Posidonienschiefer Formation, lower Toarcian, serpentinum Zone, exaratum Subzone (SWGB: bed εII 4/5).

Diagnosis. Hauffiopteryx altera differs from H typicus in: deepest lateral exposure of the maxilla located posterior rather than ventral to the external narial opening; broad, triangular lacrimal excluded from the external narial opening by the descending process of the prefrontal; nasals extending further posteriorly on dorsal skull roof; dorsal exposure of prefrontal substantially greater than that of postfrontal.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Hauffiopteryx altera, sp. nov., holotype FWD-129. A, B, right and left lateral views; C, D, interpretation of the cranial sutures in lateral view; E, F, ventral view of skull with interpretation; G, H, dorsal view of skull with interpretation. Abbreviations: an, angular; de, dentary; en, external narial opening; f, frontal; j, jugal; lac, lacrimal; mx, maxilla; n, nasal; ns2, neural spine (axis); pa, parietal; par, parietal ridge; pf, prefrontal; pm, premaxilla; po, postorbital; pof, postfrontal; qj, quadratojugal; sa, surangular; scr, sclerotic ring; sp, splenial; st, supratemporal.

FIGURE 8. Hauffiopteryx altera, sp. nov., holotype FWD-129. A, left dorsal temporal region, illustrating the palmate morphology of the supratemporal; B, premaxillary and dentary teeth illustrating the thin, smooth enamel; scale bar is in mm; C, anterior neural arches, note the size and shape differentiation between the neural spines of the atlas, axis, and more posterior vertebrae; D, proximal right forelimb in dorsal view; E, pectoral girdle in external view. Abbreviations: cl, clavicle; co (r)/co (l), right and left coracoids; H, humerus; i, intermedium; ic, interclavicle; ns1, neural spine (atlas); ns2, neural spine (axis); ns3, neural spine (C3); pa, parietal; pof, postfrontal; R, radius; re, radiale; sc, scapula; st, supratemporal; st.a, medial process of the anterior ramus of the supratemporal; st.m, medial ramus of the supratemporal; U, ulna; ue, ulnare; utf, supratemporal fenestra.