The First Representative of the Ichthyosaur Genus Platypterygius from the Albian of Western Kazakhstan

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Abstract

An ichthyosaur of the genus Platypterygius is described from the Upper Albian deposits of the Mangystau region of Western Kazakhstan. The material is unique in the degree of preservation of the vertebral column of 38 vertebrae, the atlas-axis complex, the frontal part of the skull, fragments of jaw bones, quadrate, teeth, fragments of neural arches and ribs. A number of features, such as a notch on the occipital surface, the articular condyle of the quadrate, the square root of the teeth in cross-section, allows its attribution to the genus Platypterygius.

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About the authors

J. B. Yakupova

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University

Author for correspondence.
Email: yakupova_j@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Kazan, 420008

K. M. Akhmedenov

M. Utemisov West Kazakhstan University

Email: kazhmurat78@mail.ru
Kazakhstan, Uralsk, 090000

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Location of fragments of the skeleton of Platypterygius sp. indet: a – location of the Tushybek section, the location is marked with an asterisk; b – schematic lithological and stratigraphic column of the location. Designations: 1-4 – lithological characteristics: 1 – sands, 2 – sands with nodules of siderite, 3 – clays, 4 – siltstones; 5-9 – paleontological characteristics: 5 – Turrilites, 6 – Schloenbachia sp., 7 – Platypterygius sp. indet., 8 – Semenoviceras sp., 9 – Entolium sp.

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3. Fig. 2. The scheme of occurrence of bones of Platypterygius sp. indet. near the village of Tushybek, Mangystau region. Of the Republic of Kazakhstan (compiled by V.M. Efimov).

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4. Fig. 3. Invertebrate fauna of Alba in the Tushybek section: a–b – Schloenbachia sp.; g – Turrilites sp.; e–w – Semenoviceras sp.; and – Entolium sp.

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5. Fig. 4. Skull bones of Platypterygius sp. indet. from the alba section of the Carcass: a–b – parietal bone, ex. MOIKM, No. KP-7409/41b: a – dorsal view, b – ventral view, c – lateral view; d, e – supra-temporal bone, ex. MOIKM, No. KP-7409/41a: d – dorsal view, d – ventral view; e–l – maxillary bone, ex. MOIKM, No. KP-7409/41b: e – bottom view, w – top view, w – side view, I – ventral view, k – back, l – front.

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6. Fig. 5. Vertebral bodies of Platypterygius sp. indet. from the Alba section of Tushybek: a–b – Atlas and epistropheus, copies. MOIKM, No.KP-7409/1: a – front view, b – side view, c – top view; d, e – anterolumbral vertebra, ex. MOIKM, no.KP-7409/12: g – front view, e – side view; f, f – posterolumbral vertebra, ex. MOIKM, No.KP-7409/24: e – front view, w – side view; h, i – anterolateral vertebra, ex. MOIKM, No. KP-7409/30: z – front view, and – side view.

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7. 6. Comparison of square bones of ichthyosaurs of the Platypterygiidae family: a, b – the right square bone of Platypterygius sp. indet., ex. MOIKM, No. KP-7409/43: a – medial view, b – rear view; c, d – left square bone of Platypterygius platydactylus; c – medial, d – rear view; e, f – left square bone of Platypterygius sp. (Adams, Fiorillo, 2011): e – medial view, e – lateral view; w, w – left square bone of Acamptonectes densus (Fischer et al., 2012): w –lateral view, w – rear view; i, k – right square bone of Sisteronia seeleyi (Fischer et al., 2014b): i – medial view, k – lateral view; l, m – Platypterygius australis Wade, 1990 (according to: Kear, 2005): l – medial view, m – lateral view; h, o – left The square bone of Undorosarus nessovi (according to: Zverkov, Efimov, 2019): h – medial view, o – rear view; p, p – Grendelius alekseevi (according to: Zverkov et al., 2015): n – medial view, p – rear view.

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8. Table VI

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9. Table VII

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