Amotosaurus rotfeldensis Fraser & Rieppel, 2006

Sues, Hans-Dieter & Schoch, Rainer R., 2025, Synopsis of the Triassic reptiles from Germany, Fossil Record 28 (2), pp. 411-483 : 411-483

Amotosaurus rotfeldensis Fraser & Rieppel, 2006

Holotype.

SMNS 50830 , scattered skeletal remains including an articulated cervical vertebral series, maxilla, parabasisphenoid, both scapulocoracoids, both halves of the pelvic girdle, and dorsal vertebrae (Fig. 4 B ).

Type locality.

Former Kössig Quarry, about 100 m S of Rotfelden, Ebhausen municipality, Calw district, Baden-Württemberg.

Type horizon.

Plattensandstein Formation ( Nitsch 2024), Upper Buntsandstein Subgroup. Age: Middle Triassic (Anisian: Aegean).

Referred material.

SMNS 54783 a, b, part and counterpart of a block preserving two sets of scattered skeletal remains, including a poorly preserved skull roof, one complete series of vertebrae anterior to the caudal column, at least three articulated hindlimbs including pedes, and a partial forelimb including the manus. SMNS 50691 , three slabs preserving part of a skull in ventral view, a coracoid, a partial pes, an ilium, and dorsal vertebrae, respectively. SMNS 54784 a, b, part and counterpart of block preserving a skull in ventral view and part of cervical series. SMNS 54810 , block with disarticulated cranial and extensive postcranial remains. SMNS 90600 , posterior part of the vertebral column including sacral and anterior caudal vertebrae; SMNS 90601 , articulated left maxilla and jugal. SMNS 90540 , two skulls in palatal view. SMNS unnumbered (# 1), partial mandible and cervical vertebrae and ribs; SMNS unnumbered (# 2), disarticulated cranial elements and a partial cervical series; SMNS unnumbered (# 3), skull in palatal view and three anterior cervical vertebrae; SMNS unnumbered (# 4), sacral region ( Fraser and Rieppel 2006; Spiekman et al. 2021).

Diagnosis.

Distinguished by the following combination of features: eight cervical vertebrae; centra of cervicals 4 and 5 longest, with length at least 2.5 times minimum height; cervical ribs elongate, extending across at least three intervertebral articulations anteriorly; 25 presacral vertebrae; distal end of second sacral rib distinctly bifurcated; length of metatarsals asymmetrical, with mt. IV being the longest, then mt. III, then mt. II, then mt. I, and mt. V being the shortest; proximal phalanx of pedal digit V long and ‘ metatarsal-like’; three distal tarsals; ischium and pubis possibly in contact below thyroid fenestra; and palatine, pterygoid, and vomer all covered by fine shagreen of denticles ( Fraser and Rieppel 2006; Ezcurra 2016).

Comments.

Ortlam (1967) identified various bones from the Röt Formation of the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg as Macrocnemus bassanii and Tanystropheus longobardicus , respectively. Wild (1980) reinterpreted this material as juvenile specimens of “ Tanystropheus ” antiquus , which is known from isolated vertebrae, primarily cervical vertebrae, from the Lower Muschelkalk Subgroup of the Central European Basin ( Spiekman and Scheyer 2019; Spiekman et al. 2021). Subsequently, Fraser and Rieppel (2006) assigned Ortlam’s specimens to Amotosaurus rotfeldensis .

References.

Ortlam (1967), Wild (1980), Fraser and Rieppel (2006), Pritchard et al. (2015), Ezcurra (2016), Spiekman et al. (2021).

Figures

Figure 4. Reptiles from the Upper Buntsandstein Subgroup. A. Poposauroid pseudosuchian Ctenosauriscus koeneni, holotype (GZG. V. 4191), partial vertebral column. Scale bar: 10 cm. From Butler et al. (2011) – CC BY 4.0. B. Tanystropheid tanysaurian Amotosaurus rotfeldensis, holotype (SMNS 50830), disarticulated remains of postcranial skeleton. Scale bar: 5 cm.