biology

List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles

List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles rather than just read about it. In short: This list of informally named Mesozoic reptiles is a listing of prehistoric reptiles from the Mesozoic era (excluding dinosaurs) that have never been given formally published scientific names. This list only includes names that were not properly published ("unavailable names") and have not since been published under a valid name.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

This list of informally named Mesozoic reptiles is a listing of prehistoric reptiles from the Mesozoic era (excluding dinosaurs) that have never been given formally published scientific names. This list only includes names that were not properly published ("unavailable names") and have not since been published under a valid name. The following types of names are present on this list:

Nomen nudum, Latin for "naked name": A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. Nomen manuscriptum, Latin for "manuscript name": A name that appears in manuscript but was not formally published. A nomen manuscriptum is equivalent to a nomen nudum for everything except the method of publication, and description. Nomen ex dissertationae, Latin for "dissertation name": A name that appears in a dissertation but was not formally published. Nicknames or descriptive names given to specimens or taxa by researchers or the press.

Addyman plesiosaur

The "Addyman plesiosaur" is an informal name given to a leptocleidid plesiosaur specimen (SAM P15980) discovered by the opal miners John and Molly Addyman in 1967 from the Bulldog Shale near Andamooka, South Australia. Assigned to as cf. Leptocleidus sp. in 2007, probably a juvenile Umoonasaurus, this 80% complete skeleton measures 70 cm (28 in) long and represents one of the most immature and smallest known plesiosaur specimens. Housed in the South Australian Museum, the "Addyman plesiosaur" is also dubbed "the finest known opalised skeleton on Earth".

African pterosaur

The "African pterosaur" is an informal name given to a pterosaur specimen from the Early Cretaceous of Niger, which was reported by Paul Sereno's team. The specimen is stated to be a partial wing, which is the first known in Africa, and its life-size reconstruction can be seen in the "GIANTS" exhibit in Chicago; although it is unstated which type of pterosaur this specimen belongs to, it is noted to be a piscivore (fish-eater) based on associated teeth material and similar to the pterosaurs known from Brazil of South America, with an estimated wingspan of 5 metres (16 ft). The specimen was later shown in the 2-hour National Geographic special program Sky Monsters (2006), which featured its discovery and life-size reconstruction attempt by Sereno's team. In his update entry of the 2000 Expedition of Niger, Sereno mentioned that his team found evidence of a large pterosaur specimen. In his 2000 interview, David Blackburn who participated in that expedition recounted the pterosaur partial wing discovery. He later discussed about the Elrhaz Formation pterosaur specimens in a 2002 conference abstract, stated to be the "only documented pterosaurian appendicular material from Africa", with the left humerus belonging to a tapejaroid and the partial wing belonging to an anhanguerid.

Aktisaurus

"Aktisaurus" (meaning coast or shoreline lizard) is a nomen ex dissertationae created by Hallie Pritchett Street in her PhD thesis as a new genus to contain the species originally named Mosasaurus conodon (specimen AMNH 1380), which has been of uncertain classification since its naming. The phylogenetic analysis of Street did not recover Mosasaurus as a monophyletic genus, and erected several new genera for species previously assigned to Mosasaurus. "Aktisaurus" was recovered as the sister taxon of Plotosaurus as demonstrated by the similar morphology of the carinae on their teeth.

Amblyrhynchosaurus "Amblyrhynchosaurus wiffeni" (meaning blunt-snouted lizard) is a genus and species of nomen ex dissertationae named by Hallie Pritchett Street in her PhD thesis centered on the taxonomy of Mosasaurus. The designated type specimen is NZGS CD 535, which is a mostly complete mosasaurine skull that was discovered in the Maungataniwha Sandstone on the North Island of New Zealand. "Amblyrhynchosaurus" has similar skull morphology to the genus Prognathodon, but it was recovered as the sister taxon of Moanasaurus and a close relative of Mosasaurus. The species epithet is in honor of Joan Wiffen, although the precise spelling is uncertain. It is spelled both as "wiffeni" and "wiffenae" in the text of the thesis.

Antipodenectes "Antipodenectes" (meaning swimmer from the other side of the world) is a nomen ex dissertationae erected by Hallie Pritchett Street in her PhD thesis to contain the species Mosasaurus mokoroa, which was named by S.P. Welles and D.R. Gregg in 1971. In her phylogenetic analysis, Street did not recover M. mokora as being within a monophyletic Mosasaurus genus, so named a new genus to contain this taxon. It was recovered as a close relative of Plotosaurus as well as "Aktisaurus". The type specimen is CM Zfr-1, which was discovered in the Conway Formation from the South Island of New Zealand.

Aust Colossus

The "Aust Colossus" is an informal name given to the giant ichthyosaur specimens (BRSMG Cb3869, BRSMG Cb3870, BRSMG Cb4063 and BRSUG 7007) discovered from the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) Westbury Formation at the Aust Cliff. "Aust Colossus" has been tentatively estimated to be even larger than the 25 metres (82 ft) long ichthyosaur Ichthyotitan from the same formation, possibly over 30 metres (98 ft) long, though the authors acknowledge that this is a very speculative estimate.

Batoremys "Batoremys" is a genus of putative macrobaenid turtle from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. The intended type species "Batoremys leptis" was never given formal description, so it remains a nomen nudum.

Clidastes moorevillensis Clidastes "moorevillensis" is an informal species of mosasaur from the Late Cretaceous Mooreville Chalk Formation of Alabama. First named in a 1975 thesis, it was never given formal description and lacks sufficient diagnostic characters that differentiate it from the dubious Clidastes liodontus.

Cuers ichthyosaur The "Cuers ichthyosaur" is an informal name given to the giant ichthyosaur specimens (MHNTV PAL-1-10/2012 and MHNTV PAL-2/2010) discovered from the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) locality in Cuers, France. It is suggested to be similar to the Autun ichthyosaur specimens (Ichthyosaurus rheticus and Ichthyosaurus carinatus, both of which are nomen dubium) and Ichthyotitan.

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Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles

In research: List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Lists of prehistoric animal genera (alphabetic), Lists of prehistoric reptiles, Mesozoic reptiles, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for List of informally named Mesozoic reptiles outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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Frequently asked questions

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