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Baisesaurus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baisesaurus
Temporal range: Early Triassic, late Spathian[1]
Holotype specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Ichthyosauromorpha
Genus: Baisesaurus
Ren et al., 2022
Species:
B. robustus
Binomial name
Baisesaurus robustus
Ren et al., 2022

Baisesaurus (meaning "Baise lizard") is an extinct genus of ichthyosauromorph reptiles from the early Triassic (Spathian age) Luolou Formation of Guangxi, China. The genus contains a single species, Baisesaurus robustus, known from a partial postcranial skeleton.

Discovery and naming

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The Baisesaurus holotype specimen, CUGW VH107, was discovered in 2018 in a layer of the Luolou Formation (Triassospathodus symmetricusT. homeri conodont assemblage zones[1]) in the Nanpanjiang Basin of Zhebao Township in Baise, China. The specimen consists of assorted ribs, gastralia, a limb element (likely a radius), twelve vertebral centra, and seven neural arches.[2]

In 2022, Ren et al. described Baisesaurus robustus, a new genus and species of basal ichthyosauromorphs. The generic name, "Baisesaurus", combines a reference to the type locality in Baise, China, with the Greek "saurus", meaning "lizard". The specific name, "robustus", means "robust".[2]

Description and classification

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Baisesaurus was likely at least 3 m (9.8 ft) long. It was more similar to Utatsusaurus than to any other ichthyosauromorph, with similar size and anatomical traits. It can be inferred from related animals that Baisesaurus was a strong swimmer with long, compact forelimb bones.[2]

Baisesaurus likely represents a basal member of the clade Ichthyosauromorpha, albeit outside of the clades Hupehsuchia or Nasorostra. In their 2022 description, Ren and colleagues explained that it may more precisely represent a member of the Ichthyopterygia, but such a classification is highly tentative.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wang, Yi-Nuo; Jiang, Da-Yong; Motani, Ryosuke; Yao, Ming-Tao; Zhou, Min; Sun, Zuo-Yu; Huang, Jian-Dong; Ma, Zhao-Liang (May 2025). "Dating of Early Triassic Chaohu Fauna by precise U-Pb age constraints: Temporal calibration of the emergence and first radiation of Mesozoic marine reptiles". Palaeoworld: 200963. doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200963.
  2. ^ a b c d Ren, Jicheng; Jiang, Haishui; Xiang, Kunpeng; Sullivan, Corwin; He, Yongzhong; Cheng, Long; Han, Fenglu (2022-04-07). "A new basal ichthyosauromorph from the Lower Triassic (Olenekian) of Zhebao, Guangxi Autonomous Region, South China". PeerJ. 10: e13209. doi:10.7717/peerj.13209. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 8995025. PMID 35415016.