Kingdom Animalia Family †Leptonectidae Order Ichthyosaur | Class Reptilia Phylum Chordata | |
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Genus †Wahlisaurus
Lomax 2016 | ||
Wahlisaurus massare is a small ichthyosaur species of the family Leptonectidae of the United Kingdom.It was found in Nottinghamshire previous to the year 1951 and described for the first time only in 2016 by Dean Lomax .
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Description
The so far only preserved specimen comprises a skull and an incomplete skeleton. It shares features, such as a slender and long snout with other leptonectids of that time (e.g. Eurhinosaurus, Excalibosaurus, etc.). The extend of the overbite is minor than that of Eurhinosaurus. Differences can be found in Wahlisaurus` shoulder girdle. In fact both the coracoid and the contact between the coracoid and the scapula possess a foramen.
Etymology
LEICT G454.1951.5 was named in honour of William Wahl and Professor Judy Massare, both specialist in mesozoic marine reptiles.