Tanystropheus conspicuus Meyer, 1852

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

Tanystropheus conspicuus Meyer, 1852

Lectotype.

UMO BT 740 , cervical vertebra ( Wild 1973; Fig. 8 C ).

Type locality.

Bindlacher Berg, near Bayreuth, Bavaria.

Type horizon.

Ceratites flexuosus through C. compressus Zones , upper part of Trochitenkalk Formation and lower part of Meissner Formation, Upper Muschelkalk Subgroup. Age: Middle Triassic (Anisian: Illyrian).

Referred material.

See Spiekman and Scheyer (2019: suppl. table 1).

Diagnosis.

Distinguished by the following combination of features: Neural spines of most vertebrae distally expanded, rugose, and bulbous and broad, extremely thin scapula with considerable posterior expansion ( Rytel 2025). Spiekman and Scheyer (2019) considered Tanystropheus conspicuus a nomen dubium because its hypodigm does not present diagnostic features that would distinguish it from other species of Tanystropheus . Based in part on new material from Poland, however, Rytel (2025) confirmed the validity of this taxon.

Comments.

Wild (1973) synonymized Chelyzoon latum F. Huene, 1902 and C. blezingeri F. Huene, 1902 , both based on purported turtle vertebrae, with Tanystropheus . He selected Chelyzoon blezingeri , which is based on a twelfth cervical ( SMNS 8728 ), as the type-species of Chelyzoon . The holotype of Chelyzoon latum was housed at SNSB-BSPG and lost during World War II. Wild (1973) also considered Procerosaurus cruralis F. Huene, 1902 , based on a femur of a very large individual, referable to Tanystropheus .

References.

Meyer (1847–1855), F. Huene (1902, 1907–1908), Wild (1973), Spiekman and Scheyer (2019), Spiekman et al. (2021), Rytel (2025).

Figures

Figure 8. Reptiles from the Muschelkalk Group. A. Nothosaurid eosauropterygian Nothosaurus jagisteus, holotype (SMNS 56618), skull and partial postcranial skeleton. Scale bar: 5 cm. B. Cymatosaurid eosauropterygian Cymatosaurus erikae, holotype (SMNS 10977), incomplete cranium in dorsal view. Scale bar: 2 cm. C. Tanystropheid tanysaurian Tanystropheus conspicuus, lectotype (UMO BT 740), cervical vertebra in lateral view. Scale bar: 5 cm. Photograph courtesy of S. N. F. Spiekman.