Phantomosaurus

Phantomosaurus
Temporal range: Triassic, 247.2–242.0 Ma[1]
Vertebrae and ribs
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: †Ichthyosauria
Family: †Cymbospondylidae
Genus: †Phantomosaurus
Maisch and Matzke, 2000
Species:
†P. neubigi
Binomial name
†Phantomosaurus neubigi
Maisch and Matzke, 2000
Synonyms[2]

Phantomosaurus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur[1][3] that lived during the late Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic. Fossils have been found in southern Germany. It was discovered in 1965 and named in 1997 as a species of Shastasaurus by Sander in the rocks of the Upper Muschelkalk.[4]

More recently, in 2005, the braincase was studied by Maisch and Matzke. They found it to be unique among all known ichthyosaurs in terms of braincase morphology. Despite its close relation to many other ichthyosaurs, in particular Cymbospondylus, Phantomosaurus appears to have a very primitive braincase which resembles other diapsids more than other ichthyosaurs.[5]

  1. ^ a b "†Phantomosaurus Maisch and Matzke 2000". Paleobiology Database. Fossilworks. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Shastasaurus neubigi". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (entry on Reptilia)". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 363: 1–560. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  4. ^ Maisch, Michael W.; Matzke, Andreas T. (2006). "The braincase of Phantomosaurus neubigi (Sander, 1997), an unusual ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic of Germany". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26 (3): 598–607. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[598:TBOPNS]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634.
  5. ^ Maisch, Michael; Matzke, Andreas (2006-09-11). "The braincase of Phantomosaurus neubigi (Sander, 1997), an unusual ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic of Germany". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26 (3): 598–607. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[598:TBOPNS]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634.