- Uronautes
Taxobox
name = "Uronautes"
fossil_range = LateCretaceous
image_width = 250px
image_caption =
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
superordo =Sauropterygia
unranked =Eusauropterygia
ordo =Plesiosauria
familia =Rhomaleosauridae
genus = "?Uronautes"
genus_authority =
subdivision_ranks =Species
subdivision =
*"?U. cetiformis" (Cope,1876 ) (type)"
Uronautes " is a dubiousgenus ofextinct plesiosaur from the familyRhomaleosauridae . "Uronautes" is known from several fossilizedvertebra , portions of a few limbs, and ribs. [Geological record1880, pg.280 ]Etymology
The word "Uronautes" comes from a fusion of the two Greek words "Ουρα", meaning "tailed," and "Ναυτεσ", meaning "sailor", or "mariner". [ [http://www.plesiosaur.com/database/genusIndividual.php?i=117 The Plesiosaur Site - Genus ] ] The
species name of "U. cetiformis" comes from the Greek word forwhale (or any largesea monster ), "κῆτος" and theLatin word "forma", which means "shaped", of "formed" meaning "shape". [ [http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookit.pl?latin=forma Latin Word Lookup ] ]Taxonomy
"Uronautes" was first described by the American
paleontologist ,Edward Drinker Cope in 1876 [E. D. Cope. 1876. On some extinct reptiles and Batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills Beds of Montana. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28:340-359] . Because of the small number of supposed "Uronautes" fossils,Samuel Paul Welles described the genus as a "nomen dubium", doubting that the remains were evidence of a true genus in1956 . [ [http://www.ppne.co.uk/index.php?m=show&id=12470 :: Professor Paul's Guide to Reptiles : Sauropterygia;plesiosaurs & their relatives : Extinct reptiles,family Rhomaleosauridae;Rhomaleosaurs : Uronautes ] ] The genus "Uronautes" is still considered a "nomen dubium" which means "dubious name". Inzoological nomenclature , a "nomen dubium" is ascientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application.Description
Like many other rhomaleosaurids, such as "
Rhomaleosaurus ", "Uronautes" was a short-necked plesiosaur. TheCervical vertebrae are short, with partially attached processes and double-headed ribs. [Fieldiana: Geology, April, 1903, North American Plesiosaurs, Williston. Pg. 11]Distribution
Supposed "Urounautes" fossils are known from only a few locations: the
Cretaceous deposits of the Fox Hills, and in similar deposits near Fort Pierre, and theJudith River , all inMontana . [ Fieldiana: Geology, April, 1903, North American Plesiosaurs, Williston. Pg. 11] [E. D. Cope. 1876. On some extinct reptiles and Batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills Beds of Montana. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28:340-359] .References
External links
*http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id428614/
*http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=36526
*http://www.plesiosaur.com/database/genusIndividual.php?i=117ee also
*"
Aptychodon "
*"Picrocleidus "
*"Scanisaurus "
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