A pachypleurosaur from Myanmar

[Halichoeres]

The first vertebrate fossil known from the Triassic of Myanmar is this pachypleurosaur (a basal sauropterygian like Keichousaurus). The authors describe it in some detail, but they say they don't have enough data to conduct a phylogenetic analysis, so for now do not assign it a name. Nevertheless, it's likely to be a new species and perhaps a new genus.

One of the two specimens:


Open access in Acta Paleontologica Polonica: http://app.pan.pl/archive/published/app64/app005942019.pdf

[Jose S.M.]

I read the title very fast before and read pachycephalosaur, when I saw the picture I was like  that's no pachycephalosaur  It looks very complete but I guess they way it is preserved make difficult to get the data they need for the analysis.

[DinoToyForum]

What curious preservation.

Also, the 'L' shape kink in the neck is very common in pachypleurosaur fossils. I wonder why.

[Halichoeres]

I read the title very fast before and read pachycephalosaur, when I saw the picture I was like  that's no pachycephalosaur  It looks very complete but I guess they way it is preserved make difficult to get the data they need for the analysis.

Ha, I could see that. A thick-sided lizard rather than a thick-headed one. Sorry to get your hopes up

What curious preservation.

Also, the 'L' shape kink in the neck is very common in pachypleurosaur fossils. I wonder why.

Maybe they had some muscle or ligament that in life helped with fast lateral strikes, which upon death torqued the neck to the side? Pure speculation.

[DinoToyForum]

I read the title very fast before and read pachycephalosaur, when I saw the picture I was like  that's no pachycephalosaur  It looks very complete but I guess they way it is preserved make difficult to get the data they need for the analysis.

Ha, I could see that. A thick-sided lizard rather than a thick-headed one. Sorry to get your hopes up

What curious preservation.

Also, the 'L' shape kink in the neck is very common in pachypleurosaur fossils. I wonder why.

Maybe they had some muscle or ligament that in life helped with fast lateral strikes, which upon death torqued the neck to the side? Rampant speculation.

Could be!