First record of Polycotylidae (Sauropterygia, plesiosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica

NOVAS, F.E. ; D'ANGELO, J.S; O'GORMAN, J.P.; AGNOLÍN, F.L.; LIRIO J.M.; ISASI, M.P.

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 56 p. 563 - 568

0195-6671

In the present paper we report the incomplete skeleton of an indeterminate polycotylid that includes the articulated pelvic girdle. The material was collected from the Alpha Member of the Santa Marta Formation (upper Coniacianelower Campanian) on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The specimen is referred to the Polycotylidae on the basis of its very elongate ischia and rimmed anterior and posterior articular surfaces of the dorsal vertebrae. Additionally, the caudal vertebrae show confluent parapophysesand neural arch facets. The present report constitutes the first record for polycotylids in Antarctica, being an important addition to the fossil marine reptile diversity. Polycotylids are a scarce component of the Weddellian herpetofauna, which are dominated by aristonectine and non earistonectine elasmosaurids. In contrast, in Northern Hemisphere assemblages, polycotylids are an important component of the plesiosaur diversity. The scarcity of polycotylids may constitute another distinctive feature of Weddellian plesiosaur faunas.