Postcranial anatomy of Angistorhinus, a Late Triassic phytosaur from West Texas

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Andrew B. Heckert Ph.D., Professor (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/

Abstract: We describe here an incomplete postcranial skeleton associated with a complete skull and jaws of the phytosaur Angistorhinus grandis Mehl from the Otischalkian (late Carnian) Colorado City Formation of the Chinle Group in Howard County, Texas. The skeleton consists of two cervical vertebrae and parts of others, complete sacrum and pelvis, 12 ribs, 30 gastralia, an incomplete fibula, fragments of other long bones, and 32 scutes. Particularly interesting features include: (1) the thin neural spines of the sacral vertebrae; (2) the ilia of Angistorhinus do not appear to differ significantly from that of Rutiodon (= "Machaeroprosopusfl), casting doubt on the taxonomic use of differences in phytosaur ilia; and (3) Angistorhinus apparently possesses dermal armor that is unique among phytosaurs in having few pits, most of them small, on the dorsal surface of the primary scutes.

Additional Information

Publication
Lucas, S.G., Heckert, A.B., and Kahle, R., (2002) Postcranial anatomy of Angistorhinus, a Late Triassic phytosaur from West Texas. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 21, p. 157-164. (ISSN 1524-4156) Archived in NC DOCKS with permission of the editor. The version of record is available at: http://econtent.unm.edu/
Language: English
Date: 2002

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