Keichousaurus (meaning "Kweichow lizard") is an extinct genus of pachypleurosaurian marine reptile from the Chialingchiang and Falang Formations of China with two known species attributed to the genus: K. hui and K. yuananensis.[1][2]
| Keichousaurus Temporal range: Early-Late Triassic,
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| Keichousaurus hui fossil at the North American Museum of Ancient Life | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | †Sauropterygia |
| Family: | †Keichousauridae |
| Genus: | †Keichousaurus Young, 1958 |
| Species | |
Keichousaurus is among the most common sauropterygian fossils recovered and are often found as nearly complete, articulated skeletons, making them popular among collectors. Keichousaurus, and the pachypleurosaur family broadly, are sometimes classified within Nothosauroidea, but are otherwise listed as a separate, more primitive lineage within Sauropterygia.[2]
Discovery and naming
editThe holotype of K. hui, was discovered in the Falang Formation of Guizhou Province, China in 1957 by Hu Chengzhi and was named by Young (1958).[1]
The second species, K. yuananensis, was discovered in the Chialingchiang Formation of Hebei, China and was named by Young (1965) based on the holotype specimen IVPP V.2799, a partial skeleton.[2]
Description
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Keichousaurus, like all sauropterygians, was highly adapted to the aquatic environment. Most specimens had small body, males sexually mature with 12.6 centimetres (5.0 in) snout-vent length (SVL), and in females by 12.2 centimetres (4.8 in) SVL. Mean SVL for mature males is approximately 16.1 centimetres (6.3 in) SVL, and for mature females, at most 14.9 centimetres (5.9 in) SVL.[3]
This fossil is distinguished by its broad ulna which makes it unlike other European genera. The broad ulna increased the surface area of the forelimbs, making it more effective in locomotion. Keichousaurus shows many characteristics of its family Pachypleurosauridae such as its short snout and elongated temporal openings. Keichousaurus also had a long serpentine neck with a relatively small head and long tail. The anterior caudal vertebrae possess lateral transverse processes. The morphology of Keichousaurus is most like that of Dactylosaurus, showing long and narrow upper temporal openings that extends to the rear of the skull of which is not found in other pachypleurosaurids. Other differences from pachypleurosaurids include Keichousaurus' more robust humerus, very broad ulna, and slight hyperphalangy in the manus. The sternum was also lacking in this animal, and the forelimbs were more paddled-shaped, possibly indicating a greater importance of the forelimbs in movement. The pectoral girdle was formed by the paired clavicles, interclavical, scapulae, and coracoids. Keichousaurus was a primitive quadrupedal tetrapod with limbs laterally placed to the body. Different parts of Keichousaurus grew at different rates, a phenomenon called allometric growth.{{[citation needed]
Locomotion
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Keichousaurus possibly utilized a rowing swimming motion using its paddle-like limbs.[4]
Ecology
editBased on analysis of exceptionally preserved specimens of Keichousaurus hui with preserved gut content, Keichousaurus is thought to have been a primarily piscivorous predator, catching prey with the backwardly curved teeth at the front of the mouth, and swallowing its prey whole.[5]
Reproduction
editPreserved foetal specimens of Keichousaurus hui within their mothers suggests that the species was viviparous and gave birth to live young.[6] No evidence for the presence of any eggshell has been found. The young appear to have emerged from their mothers head first.[7]
References
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- ^ a b C.-C. Young. (1958). On the new Pachypleurosauroidea from Keichow, south-west China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 2(2-3):72-81
- ^ a b c C.-C. Young. (1965). On the new nothosaurs from Hupeh and Kweichou, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 9(4):337-356
- ^ Cheng, Yen-Nien; Holmes, Robert; Wu, Xiao-Chun; Alfonso, Noel (2009-06-12). "Sexual dimorphism and life history of Keichousaurus hui (Reptilia: Sauropterygia)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29 (2): 401–408. Bibcode:2009JVPal..29..401C. doi:10.1671/039.029.0230. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 86480962.
- ^ Gutarra, Susana; Stubbs, Thomas L.; Moon, Benjamin C.; Heighton, Beatrice H.; Benton, Michael J. (March 2023). Porro, Laura (ed.). "The locomotor ecomorphology of Mesozoic marine reptiles". Palaeontology. 66 (2). Bibcode:2023Palgy..6612645G. doi:10.1111/pala.12645. ISSN 0031-0239.
- ^ Li, Ji; Lehrmann, Daniel J.; Luo, Yong-ming; Adams, Thomas L.; Yu, Mei-yi; Liao, Jun-ling; Qin, Yan-jiao; Li, Yu-lan; Wang, Yue (2023-05-12). "Soft tissue preservation in the Triassic pachypleurosaur Keichousaurus hui: evidence for digestive tract anatomy, diet, and feeding behavior". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 11. doi:10.3389/fevo.2023.1186354. ISSN 2296-701X.
- ^ Cheng, Yen-nien; Wu, Xiao-chun; Ji, Qiang (November 2004). "Triassic marine reptiles gave birth to live young". Nature. 432 (7015): 383–386. Bibcode:2004Natur.432..383C. doi:10.1038/nature03050. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 15549103.
- ^ Miedema, Feiko; Klein, Nicole; Blackburn, Daniel G.; Sander, P. Martin; Maxwell, Erin E.; Griebeler, Eva M.; Scheyer, Torsten M. (2023-04-18). "Heads or tails first? Evolution of fetal orientation in ichthyosaurs, with a scrutiny of the prevailing hypothesis". BMC Ecology and Evolution. 23 (1): 12. doi:10.1186/s12862-023-02110-4. ISSN 2730-7182. PMC 10114408. PMID 37072698.
- "keichousaurus". Archived from the original on 2003-05-16.
- peripstus.com/Keichousaurus
- Functional morphology and ontogeny of Keichousaurus hui