Kaiwhekea
Genus:
Kaiwhekea
Genus author:
Cruickshank and Fordyce, 2002
Classification:
Age:
Boundary between Upper and Lower Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous
Location:
Shag Point (45* 28' S, 170* 49'E) north of the Shag River Mouth, North Otago, South Island, New Zealand
Referred material (sp.):
None
Type species:
K. katiki
Species:
K. katiki
Species author:
Cruickshank and Fordyce, 2002
Type specimen:
OU 12649, an almost complete skull, almost complete vertebral column minus the posterior caudal vertebrae, almost complete ribcage, some gastralia, partial pelvic girdle and associated right hindlimb and fragmentary left hindlimb.
Age:
Boundary between Upper and Lower Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous
Geological formation:
Type location:
Shore platform at Shag Point (45* 28' S, 170* 49'E) north of the Shag River Mouth, North Otago, South Island, New Zealand
Referred material:
None
Kaiwhekea, also known as the ‘Shag Point Plesiosaur’, was classified as a cryptoclidid by Cruickshank and Fordyce (2002). More recent classifications regard it as an aristonectid. It has an unusually large number of small needle-like teeth and a shortened snout, much like the closely related Aristonectes. Kaiwhekea katiki is the type and only species.
