Claudiosaurus

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Species

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Distribution

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Discussion

This genus was widely accepted as the sister taxon to the Sauropterygia as it appears to be very closely related and both seem to share a common ancestor. This relationship is now considered uncertain. Similarities include an elongate neck, paddle-like distal limbs, and more diagnostically both lack the lower temporal bar of the skull. The palate also resembles that of sauropterygians, especially the pachypleurosaur and "nothosaur" condition, in the loss of the transverse flange of the pterygoid and the reduced suborbital fenestrae and interpterygoid vacuities. Also the upper temporal opening is smaller than the orbit as in pachypleurosaurs (Carroll 1988). The sternum shows little ossification (Carroll 1988), a feature common in aquatic reptiles and termed "aquatic neotony" (Ricqles 1975, Rieppel 1987b in Storrs 1993a).