Cryptocleidus   SEELEY 1892  

Type Species

eurymerus

Species recorded

Cryptocleidus aldingeri
Cryptocleidus beaugrandi
Cryptocleidus caroli
Cryptocleidus cuervoi
Cryptocleidus cuervoi questadi
Cryptocleidus eurymerus
Cryptocleidus kimmeridgensis
Cryptocleidus oxoniensis
Cryptocleidus richardsoni
Cryptocleidus simbirskensis
Cryptocleidus sp.
Cryptocleidus vignalensis

Etymology

Greek, kryptos, 'hidden', Greek, kleid- (klets), 'key, clavicle' + us: Hidden clavicle.

Diagnosis    BROWN 1981b

Pleiosaurids in which tooth ornament is reduced: the dentary bears 24 to 26 teeth on each ramus; the premaxillae bear six teeth each, of which the first (most anterior) is small and the second to sixth are large; the parietals for a sagittal crest; the paraoccipital process of the exoccipital-ophisthotic is of moderate length; the occiptal condyle is not ringed by a groove, and extends onto the pedicles of the exocciptials; there are about 55 pre-sacral vertebrae, of which usually 32 are cervical; the cervical vertebrae have relatively amphicoelous centra, the length of which rarely exceeds the height; the clavicles are triangular and well developed, lile visceral to the ventral rami of the scapulae, and meet in the mid-line; the interclavicle is absent or rudementary; the coracoids meet the scapulae in the ventral mid-line in 'adults'; the width across the posterior cornua of the coracoids exceeds the interglenoid width in 'adults' by up to 40%; the elements of the pectoral girdle tend to fuse in old individuals; there are normally only two epidodials in the manus; a foramen only appears between the epipodials showing advanced ossification.

Genus List

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