Oxfordian-age reptiles have been found in Cuba since the first half of the 20th century, but most have not received wide recognition because publications were not widely disseminated. In 1996, Dr. Manuel Iturralde-Vinent and Mark Norell initially mentioned specimen MNHNCu P3005, a partial skull and mandible with a few cervicalvertebrae, as resembling that of the species Pliosaurus ferox. The specimen had been discovered in 1946 by Cuban farmer Juan Gallardo about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of Viñales, Pinar del Río, northwestern Cuba.[2] However, it was not prepared when Iturralde-Vinent and Norell saw it and a full description was not made.[2] After preparation, Zulma Gasparini and Iturralde-Vinent assigned the specimen to the genus Peloneustes in 2006, but it was later determined that the specimen was that of a new genus. In 2009, MNHNCu P3005 was described as a separate genus, Gallardosaurus.[2]
The generic name is derived from the specimen MNHNCu P3005's discoverer, Juan Gallardo, who together with Juanito Gallardo is credited with discovering most of the Oxfordian reptiles in Cuba. The species name G. itturraldei is derived from the name of the geotectonist and paleontologist Dr. Manuel Iturralde Vinent.[2]
MNHNCu P3005 was found in a concretion in dark shale, within the Jagua Vieja Member of the Jagua Formation. It is preserved three-dimensionally with slight deformation. The tip of the snout and the posterior ends of the lower jaw are absent. The skull was broad and not tall, with long pointed teeth. The lack of fusion in some of the vertebrae suggests the individual was not fully grown when it died.[2]
G. iturraldei would probably have seasonally migrated across the Caribbean Seaway, and would have preyed mostly on nectonic fish that dwelt in the region in which it existed. Also known from the Jagua Vieja Member are ichthyosaurs, the marine turtle Notoemys oxfordiensis, and the plesiosauroid Vinialesaurus caroli. The water depth was shallow, perhaps 10 to 12 metres (33 to 39 ft) deep, and oysters and algae colonized the sea bottom. Fragmentary remains of plants, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs arrived from nearby coastal areas.[2]
^ abcdefghijGasparini, Zulma (2009). (PDF). Palaeontology. 52 (3): 661–669. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2009.00871.x. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16.
April 12, 2024
gallardosaurus, genus, pliosaurid, plesiosaur, from, caribbean, seaway, contains, single, species, iturraldei, found, middle, late, oxfordian, late, jurassic, rocks, jagua, formation, western, cuba, believed, evolutionarily, connected, peloneustes, pliosaurid,. Gallardosaurus is a genus of pliosaurid plesiosaur from the Caribbean seaway It contains the single species Gallardosaurus iturraldei Gallardosaurus was found in middle late Oxfordian age Late Jurassic rocks of the Jagua Formation of western Cuba 1 2 Gallardosaurus is believed to be evolutionarily connected to Peloneustes a pliosaurid commonly found in the Oxfordian aged sediment 2 GallardosaurusTemporal range Oxfordian 161 156 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Skeletal diagram showing known materialScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass SauropsidaOrder PlesiosauriaFamily PliosauridaeGenus GallardosaurusGasparini 2009Type species Gallardosaurus iturraldeiGasparini 2009 Contents 1 History and etymology 2 Classification 3 Paleobiology and paleoecology 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory and etymology editOxfordian age reptiles have been found in Cuba since the first half of the 20th century but most have not received wide recognition because publications were not widely disseminated In 1996 Dr Manuel Iturralde Vinent and Mark Norell initially mentioned specimen MNHNCu P3005 a partial skull and mandible with a few cervical vertebrae as resembling that of the species Pliosaurus ferox The specimen had been discovered in 1946 by Cuban farmer Juan Gallardo about 8 kilometres 5 0 mi east of Vinales Pinar del Rio northwestern Cuba 2 However it was not prepared when Iturralde Vinent and Norell saw it and a full description was not made 2 After preparation Zulma Gasparini and Iturralde Vinent assigned the specimen to the genus Peloneustes in 2006 but it was later determined that the specimen was that of a new genus In 2009 MNHNCu P3005 was described as a separate genus Gallardosaurus 2 The generic name is derived from the specimen MNHNCu P3005 s discoverer Juan Gallardo who together with Juanito Gallardo is credited with discovering most of the Oxfordian reptiles in Cuba The species name G itturraldei is derived from the name of the geotectonist and paleontologist Dr Manuel Iturralde Vinent 2 MNHNCu P3005 was found in a concretion in dark shale within the Jagua Vieja Member of the Jagua Formation It is preserved three dimensionally with slight deformation The tip of the snout and the posterior ends of the lower jaw are absent The skull was broad and not tall with long pointed teeth The lack of fusion in some of the vertebrae suggests the individual was not fully grown when it died 2 Classification edit Pliosauridae Hauffiosaurus Kronosaurus Peloneustes Gallardosaurus Liopleurodon Brachauchenius Pliosaurus A cladogram following Gasparini 2009 2 Gallardosaurus was a pliosaurid a member of the family Pliosauridae a group of short necked reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era Other members of the group include Hauffiosaurus Kronosaurus Peloneustes Liopleurodon Brachauchenius and Pliosaurus 2 Paleobiology and paleoecology editG iturraldei would probably have seasonally migrated across the Caribbean Seaway and would have preyed mostly on nectonic fish that dwelt in the region in which it existed Also known from the Jagua Vieja Member are ichthyosaurs the marine turtle Notoemys oxfordiensis and the plesiosauroid Vinialesaurus caroli The water depth was shallow perhaps 10 to 12 metres 33 to 39 ft deep and oysters and algae colonized the sea bottom Fragmentary remains of plants pterosaurs and dinosaurs arrived from nearby coastal areas 2 See also edit nbsp Paleontology portal2009 in paleontology List of plesiosaur genera Timeline of plesiosaur researchReferences edit Gallardosaurus at Fossilworks org a b c d e f g h i j Gasparini Zulma 2009 A New Oxfordian Pliosaurid Plesiosauria Pliosauridae in the Caribbean Seaway PDF Palaeontology 52 3 661 669 doi 10 1111 j 1475 4983 2009 00871 x Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gallardosaurus amp oldid 1191623546, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
