Toretocnemus
| Toretocnemus Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Toretocnemus Merriam, 1903
|
| species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Toretocnemus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur. Its remains have been found in California, U.S.A.,[1] in Triassic layers of the Carnian Hosselkus Limestone.
Toretocnemus was named in 1902 by John Campbell Merriam.[2] The generic name is derived from Greek toretos, "perforated" and kneme, "shinbone". The type species is Toretocnemus californicus. Its holotype is UCMP 8100, a skeleton lacking the skull. Merriamia zitteli (Merriam 1903) Boulenger 1904, previously Leptocherius zitteli,[3] was renamed Toretocnemus zitteli in 1999. Its holotype is UCMP 8099, a skull, lower jaws and front of the torso.
Toretocnemus is about two metres long.
See also
References
- ^ New Material of Qianichtyosaurus Li, 1999 (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) from the late Triassic of southern China, and Implications for the Distribution of Triassic Ichthyosaurs. Elizabeth L. Nicholls, Chen Wei, Makoto Manabe.
- ^ Merriam, J.C., 1902, "Triassic Ichthyopterygia from California and Nevada", Bulletin of the Department of Geology of the University of California, 3 (4): 63–108
- ^ Merriam, J.C., 1903, "New ichthyosaurs from the Upper Triassic of California", Bulletin of the Department of Geology of the University of California, 3(12): 249–263
 | This Ichthyosaur-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |