Ceresiosaurus is an extinct aquatic genus of lariosaurinenothosauridsauropterygian known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian boundary) of Monte San Giorgio, southern Switzerland and northern Italy. Ceresiosaurus, meaning "Lizard of Ceresio" (Ceresio is the name of the Lake Lugano, in Switzerland). The type species, Ceresiosaurus calcagnii, was named by Bernhard Peyer in 1931. C. calcagnii is known from both the Cava superiore and Cava inferiore beds of the Lower Meride Limestone at Monte San Giorgio, dating to the latest Anisian of the Middle Triassic.[1] Rieppel (1998) suggested that the back then monospecific genus Ceresiosaurus, is a junior synonym of the better known Lariosaurus, yet he kept it type species as a separate species under the new combination L. calcagnii.[2] In 2004, however, this synonymy was objected by Hänni who described and name a second species of Ceresiosaurus, C. lanzi - a separation supported by several other authors since. This species is known only from the stratigraphically younger Cassima beds of Monte San Giorgio, although also from the Lower Meride Limestone, dating to possibly the lowest Ladinian age. The species in a subtropical lagoonal environment with varying open marine influences, and alongside many related but smaller species of nothosaurids and pachypleurosaurids. Ceresiosaurus represents one of the largest vertebrate of up to 3 m (9.8 ft) snout-tail length from the very diversified paleoenvironment of the Middle Triassic Monte San Giorgio.[1]
Ceresiosaurus was much more elongated than its relatives, reaching 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length, and had fully developed flippers with no trace of visible toes. It had multiple elongated phalanges, making the flippers much longer than in most other nothosaurs, and more closely resembling those of the later plesiosaurs.[3]Ceresiosaurus also had the shortest skull of any known nothosaur, which further increased its resemblance to plesiosaurs.
Although possessing a long neck and tail, Ceresiosaurus may not have swum by undulating its body. Analysis of the bone structure of the hips and powerful tail suggest that it instead propelled itself through the water much like a penguin.[citation needed] The evidence of pachypleurosaurs in the preserved stomach of Ceresiosaurus remains lend credence to the theory of it being a fast swimmer.
Referencesedit
^ abHugi, Jasmina (October 2011). "The long bone histology of Ceresiosaurus (Sauropterygia, Reptilia) in comparison to other eosauropterygians from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio (Switzerland/Italy)" (PDF). Swiss Journal of Palaeontology. 130 (2): 297–306. Bibcode:2011SwJP..130..297H. doi:10.1007/s13358-011-0023-6. S2CID 128688930.
^Rieppel, Olivier (1998). "The status of the sauropterygian reptile genera Ceresiosaurus, Lariosaurus, and Silvestrosaurus from the Middle Triassic of Europe". Fieldiana: Geology. New Series. 38: 1–46.
^Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 73. ISBN1-84028-152-9.
ceresiosaurus, extinct, aquatic, genus, lariosaurine, nothosaurid, sauropterygian, known, from, middle, triassic, anisian, ladinian, boundary, monte, giorgio, southern, switzerland, northern, italy, meaning, lizard, ceresio, ceresio, name, lake, lugano, switze. Ceresiosaurus is an extinct aquatic genus of lariosaurine nothosaurid sauropterygian known from the Middle Triassic Anisian Ladinian boundary of Monte San Giorgio southern Switzerland and northern Italy Ceresiosaurus meaning Lizard of Ceresio Ceresio is the name of the Lake Lugano in Switzerland The type species Ceresiosaurus calcagnii was named by Bernhard Peyer in 1931 C calcagnii is known from both the Cava superiore and Cava inferiore beds of the Lower Meride Limestone at Monte San Giorgio dating to the latest Anisian of the Middle Triassic 1 Rieppel 1998 suggested that the back then monospecific genus Ceresiosaurus is a junior synonym of the better known Lariosaurus yet he kept it type species as a separate species under the new combination L calcagnii 2 In 2004 however this synonymy was objected by Hanni who described and name a second species of Ceresiosaurus C lanzi a separation supported by several other authors since This species is known only from the stratigraphically younger Cassima beds of Monte San Giorgio although also from the Lower Meride Limestone dating to possibly the lowest Ladinian age The species in a subtropical lagoonal environment with varying open marine influences and alongside many related but smaller species of nothosaurids and pachypleurosaurids Ceresiosaurus represents one of the largest vertebrate of up to 3 m 9 8 ft snout tail length from the very diversified paleoenvironment of the Middle Triassic Monte San Giorgio 1 CeresiosaurusTemporal range Middle Triassic 242 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Ceresiosaurus calcagnii fossilScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaSuperorder SauropterygiaOrder NothosauroideaFamily NothosauridaeSubfamily LariosaurinaeGenus CeresiosaurusPeyer 1931Type species Ceresiosaurus calcagniiPeyer 1931Species C calcagnii Peyer 1931 type C lanzi Hanni 2004Palaeobiology edit nbsp Ceresiosaurus lanzi nbsp RestorationCeresiosaurus was much more elongated than its relatives reaching 3 metres 9 8 ft in length and had fully developed flippers with no trace of visible toes It had multiple elongated phalanges making the flippers much longer than in most other nothosaurs and more closely resembling those of the later plesiosaurs 3 Ceresiosaurus also had the shortest skull of any known nothosaur which further increased its resemblance to plesiosaurs Although possessing a long neck and tail Ceresiosaurus may not have swum by undulating its body Analysis of the bone structure of the hips and powerful tail suggest that it instead propelled itself through the water much like a penguin citation needed The evidence of pachypleurosaurs in the preserved stomach of Ceresiosaurus remains lend credence to the theory of it being a fast swimmer References edit a b Hugi Jasmina October 2011 The long bone histology of Ceresiosaurus Sauropterygia Reptilia in comparison to other eosauropterygians from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio Switzerland Italy PDF Swiss Journal of Palaeontology 130 2 297 306 Bibcode 2011SwJP 130 297H doi 10 1007 s13358 011 0023 6 S2CID 128688930 Rieppel Olivier 1998 The status of the sauropterygian reptile genera Ceresiosaurus Lariosaurus and Silvestrosaurus from the Middle Triassic of Europe Fieldiana Geology New Series 38 1 46 Palmer D ed 1999 The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals London Marshall Editions p 73 ISBN 1 84028 152 9 External links editPalaeos com nbsp Paleontology portal nbsp This article about a Triassic reptile is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ceresiosaurus amp oldid 1191488309, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
