A giant elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia; Plesiosauria) from Antarctica: New information on elasmosaurid body size diversity and aristonectine evolutionary scenarios
Author
dc.contributor.author
O'Gorman, J. P.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Santillana, S.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Otero, R.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Reguero, M.
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2020-01-07T12:24:39Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2020-01-07T12:24:39Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2019
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Cretaceous Research 102 (2019) 37-58
es_ES
Identifier
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10.1016/j.cretres.2019.05.004
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/173073
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
Aristonectines show a highly derived morphology among elasmosaurid plesiosaurs, including some
species with large body size. A new postcranial skeleton is described from the uppermost Maastrichtian
levels of the L opez de Bertodano Formation, Seymour Island (¼ Marambio), Antarctica, being referred to
as cf. Aristonectes sp; the most striking feature of the specimen described is its large body size, among the
largest elasmosaurids worldwide. The occurrence of this specimen, located approximately 2.3 m or less
below the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary, indicates the persistence of aristonectines at high
latitudes and also it verifies their chronostratigraphical distribution until the end Cretaceous, before the
mass extinction. Elasmosaurid diversity in terms of body size, possible relation of this body size, the
trophic niche and abiotic drivers in aristonectine evolution are discussed. The body size inferred for MLP
89-III-3-1 seems to indicate an environment with high primary productivity, suggesting that these
conditions persisted until the K/Pg mass extinction.
A giant elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia; Plesiosauria) from Antarctica: New information on elasmosaurid body size diversity and aristonectine evolutionary scenarios