CRYPTOCLIDIDAE

classification

Sauropterygia > Eosauropterygia > Eusauropterygia > Plesiosauria > Plesiosauroidea > Euplesiosauria > Cryptoclididae

Discussion

The family Cryptoclididae consists of a variety of moderately sized long-necked plesiosaurs. Synapomorphies (unique characters) include a narrow vertical jugal bar and an enlarged orbit and deep ventral cheek excavation (Brown et al. 1994). Cryptoclidid genera vary considerably between classification. Typically included genera include:

Members

Aristonectes (but not according to Gasparini et al. 2003, who conclude an elasmosaurid affinity) = Morturneria (according to Gasparini et al. 2003)?

Cryptoclidus

Kaiwhekea

Kimmerosaurus

'Morturneria' = Aristonectes

Muraenosaurus (according to O'Keefe 2001)

Pantasaurus

Tatenectes

Tricleidus (according to Gasparini et al. 2002)

Vinialesaurus