Arthur R. I. Cruickshank

A New Marine Reptile (Sauropterygia) from New Zealand: Further Evidence for A Late Cretaceous Austral Radiation of Cryptoclidid Plesiosaurs

Kaiwhekea katiki gen. et sp. nov. represents the first described cryptoclidid plesiosaurian from New Zealand. It is one of the largest cryptoclidids known, at a length of over 6.5 m, and represents the third reported genus of austral Late Cretaceous cryptoclidids. Kaiwhekea katiki is from siltstones of the Katiki Formation, upper Haumurian Stage (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian; c. 69–70 Ma) of coastal Otago, South Island, New Zealand. In the Late Cretaceous, the locality lay close to the polar circle. The holotype and only known specimen is an articulated skeleton with skull, preserved mostly as natural molds, but which lacks the forelimbs and pectoral girdle. The skull is relatively large and possesses several distinct characters, including a substantial, deep, jugal. There are about 43 upper and 42 lower teeth in each jaw quadrant; all are homodont, slim, and slightly recurved, lacking prominent ornament. Kaiwhekea probably took single soft-bodied prey. Based on cranial structure, it clearly belongs with the Cryptoclididae, but is not certainly close to the southern Late Cretaceous cryptoclidids Morturneria (Seymour Island, Antarctica) and Aristonectes (Chile, Argentina).

The nature of Mauisaurus haasti Hector, 1874 (Reptilia: Plesiosauria)

Abstract A newly prepared elasmosaurid plesiosaur specimen, from the Haumurian (Upper Cretaceous) Conway Formation of North Canterbury, is more complete than any found previously in New Zealand. The specimen, a young adult, comprises posterior fragments of the skull, almost the entire vertebral column, fragments of the major bones of both pectoral and pelvic girdles, and portions of all four limbs. Comparison with the partial pelvic girdle and hind paddle that constitute the lectotype of Mauisaurus haasti Hector, 1874 (including the femur, diagnostic of the species), indicates that the new specimen belongs to that species, permitting a more complete description and diagnosis. The species is characterized by an estimated 86 presacral vertebrae, at least 66 of which are cervicals, other than the atlas and axis. The coracoids possess a pronounced, blunt, ventral process, and a broad, rounded, transverse ridge on their dorsal surface. In large adults the medial profile of the coracoid becomes markedly sigmoidal. The adult femur has a large hemispherical capitulum; the humerus is relatively broad with an elliptical capitulum. In life, the animal would have been in excess of 8 m long. Comparisons with previously described elasmosaurs are difficult because of barely adequate published descriptions, but Mauisaurus haasti is distinguished particularly by postcranial characters that vary among Late Cretaceous elasmosaurs from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The only other established New Zealand elasmosaur, Tuarangisaurus keyesi Wiffen and Moiseley, 1986, cannot be directly compared with Mauisaurus haasti and must remain a separate taxon.

A new crested maniraptoran dinosaur from the Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Brazil

The skull of a new, and highly unusual crested dinosaur with an elongate rostrum is the first dinosaur to be named from the Santana Formation of NE Brazil. Irritator challengeri gen. et sp. nov was most likely a maniraptoran dinosaur, but its affinities to other maniraptorans remain to be established. Unique features for Irritator include the pattern of tooth replacement, a highly reduced supratemporal fenestra, extreme lateral compression of the rostrum and a saggital crest comprised of the frontal and parietal bones. Irritator was most probably a piscivore. A land link between South America and the dinosaurian faunal province of North America and Asia is indicated, probably via Africa.

Biostratigraphy of the Permian tetrapod faunas from the Ruhuhu Valley, Tanzania

Abstract Summaries of revised faunal lists are provided for fossil localities in the Kawinga Formation of the Late Permian, Songea District, Tanzania, concentrating on the dicynodont fauna. Taxonomic assignations of described dicynodonts are revised and undescribed material is determined, wherever possible. The fauna is compared with that of the ‘ Daptocephalus ’ (= Dicynodon Assemblage Zone) and ‘ Cistecephalus ’ (= Cistecephalus and Tropidostoma Assemblage Zones) ( sensu Rubidge, 1995) of the South African Karoo Basin. The Kawinga Formation contains faunal elements of all three of the South African biozones. It is suggested that faunal differences between biozones in south and East Africa reflect local facies differences resulting from different tectonic regimes. The fauna of the underlying Ruhuhu Formation (= Pristerognathus Assemblage Zone) is discussed briefly, and note is taken of new discoveries from the Triassic Cynognathus Assemblage Zone of the Karoo Basin, in relation to the Kingori Sandstone and the Manda Formation of Tanzania.

A plesiosaur from the Linksfield erratic (Rhaetian, Upper Triassic) near Elgin, Morayshire

Synopsis An apparent series of eight plesiosaurian cervical vertebrae and an isolated tooth are described from the Rhaetian (or possibly Lower Jurassic) erratic block at Linksfield, Elgin, Morayshire. The vertebrae are comparable to Rhaetian and Hettangian material from SW England, especially the Rhaetian species Plesiosaurus costatus Owen, 1840 and Plesiosaurus rugosus Owen, 1840. The vertebrae comprise a rare occurrence of associated Rhaetian plesiosaurian skeletal material.