The genus and species ‘Apractocleidus teretipes‘ was erected by Smellie (1916) for a specimen now regarded as old-adult individual of Cryptoclidus. The specimen was collected by Alfred Leeds and acquired by the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. The taxon ‘Apractocleidus‘ is therefore considered a junior synonym of Cryptoclidus.
The holotype and only specimen is mounted on display in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. In 2011 it was conserved, moved, and remounted by Nigel Larkin.
Cryptoclidus (the type specimen of ‘Apractocleidus’, V.1091, with the tail of V.1104 and a replica head) in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, Scotland. Photo by Adam S. Smith. 2007.