cf. Polycotylidae

O’Gorman, José Patricio & Otero, Rodrigo A., 2023, Revision of the short-necked Cretaceous plesiosaurians from New Zealand, Comptes Rendus Palevol 22 (6), pp. 77-90 : 79

cf. Polycotylidae

( Fig. 2M)

Polycotylus tenuis – Hector 1874: 335, pl. 27.

Polycotylidae indet . Welles & Gregg 1971: 47.

MATERIAL. — NHMUK R838 , an indeterminate propodium .

LOCALITY AND HORIZON. — Haumuri Bluff , South Island, New Zealand. Conway Formation, Campanian ( Wilson et al. 2005; Fig. 1).

REMARKS

The general gracile outline ( Fig. 2M) of this specimen is consistent with polycotylid propodials, but no clear diagnostic features are observed. The specimen was illustrated by Hector 1874: fig. XXVIIB’, but it was part of an exchange in 1880 ( Lydekker 1889) and it is now in the Natural History Museum (London). The propodium is 22.8 cm in length (9 inches). It was designated by Welles & Gregg (1971) as the lectotype of ‘ Polycotylus tenuis ’. The latter authors referred the specimen to Polycotylidae indet. Based on its gracility, it probably belongs to a polycotylid. Similar propodials were described from Australia and possible polycotylidae affinities were commented ( Kear 2005). However, as no clear diagnostic feature are observed, the specimen is referred as cf. Polycotylidae .