The Shepherd's Chine Leptocleidid: A New Plesiosaur Taxon
In 1995, the partial but mostly articulated remains of a small plesiosaur were discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Vectis Formation of the Isle of Wight, UK. Learn about the unique features that revealed its distinct status and the new taxon, Vectocleidus pastorum.
Darren Naish
Zoologist, author Dr Darren Naish | Dinosaurs animals evolution | Books: DinosaursHTLE - All Yesterdays - DINOPEDIA. PREHISTORIC PLANET lead consultant AppleTV+
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In 1995, the partial but mostly articulated remains of a small #plesiosaur were discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Vectis Formation of the Isle of Wight, UK. This animal was initially interpreted as a new specimen of the Wealden plesiosaur Leptocleidus BUT.... cont #plesiosaurs pic.twitter.com/XmxbI1sAtV
— Darren Naish (@TetZoo) April 6, 2023 -
.... unique features revealed distinct status. In the published paper, led by Roger Benson, we determined that this animal – the ‘Shepherd’s Chine leptocleidid’ – is a new taxon, and we named it Vectocleidus pastorum Benson et al., 2012. It's on show today at Dinosaur Isle... pic.twitter.com/InoPfFTwJu
— Darren Naish (@TetZoo) April 6, 2023 -
We also used the paper to analyse the position of Leptocleididae within Plesiosauria, since there are conflicting views on this issue: our data supports the proposal that leptocleidids are within Cryptoclidia and are close kin of the polycotylids... cont pic.twitter.com/VArmbvkM2L
— Darren Naish (@TetZoo) April 6, 2023 -
I wrote about this research, and about Vectocleidus and what it means for #plesiosaur evolution in this 2013 article at Tetrapod Zoology... https://t.co/SQ5yt2Se49 #plesiosaurs
— Darren Naish (@TetZoo) April 6, 2023 -
The paper itself - 'A new leptocleidid (Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria) from the Vectis Formation (Early Barremian–early Aptian; Early Cretaceous) of the Isle of Wight and the evolution of Leptocleididae, a controversial clade' - is here... https://t.co/neQVwxW1QO ... cont
— Darren Naish (@TetZoo) April 6, 2023 -
And for a good discussion of leptocleidid #plesiosaurs themselves - there's lot to say about them - see my new book #AncientSeaReptiles (@NHM_London in the UK, @SmithsonianBook in the US). #plesiosaurs pic.twitter.com/mNNEZ6kQh9
— Darren Naish (@TetZoo) April 6, 2023