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Meyerasaurus

Genus:
Meyerasaurus
Genus author:
Smith and Vincent, 2010
Classification:

Sauropterygia
Eosauropterygia
Eusauropterygia
Pistosauroidea
Pistosauria
Plesiosauria
Rhomaleosauridae

Age:
Toarcian, Early Jurassic
Location:
Holzmaden, Germany
Referred material (sp.):
To compile
Type species:

M. victor

M. victor was originally described and figured by Fraas (1910). Historically, M. victor has been regarded as a species of Rhomaleosaurus and is often associated in the literature under the defunct name ‘Thaumatosaurus’. See my article about this history of ‘Thaumatosaurus‘ here. Smith and Vincent (2010) identified M. victor as generically distinct from Rhomaleosaurus and erected the new name Meyerasaurus for it.

The holotype specimen, SMNS 12478, is a complete articulated skeleton from the Posidonien-Schiefer, Holzmaden, Germany.

The holotype specimen of Meyerasaurus (SMNS 12478) from the Posidonia-Schiefer, Holzmaden, Germany.
Detail of the skull of the holotype of Meyerasaurus (from Fraas, 1910).
The holotype of Meyerasaurus (from Fraas, 1910).
Cast of Meyerasaurus in the Tubingen Museum, Germany.
Cast of Meyerasaurus in the Tubingen Museum, Germany.
The holotype of Meyerasaurus currently on display in the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (Löwentor-Museum).
Skeleton of Meyerasarurus in ventral view. By Adam S. Smith.
Head of a Meyerasaurus model in the SMNS.
Meyerasaurus model in the SMNS.
Visualisation of limb-strokes generated automatically by computer simulations searching for the most efficient swimming stroke and gait in Meyerasaurus.
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