Considerations on a Brachauchenius skeleton (Pliosauroidea) from the lower Paja Formation (late Barremian) of Villa de Leyva area (Colombia)

A nearly complete pliosaurid skeleton has been discovered in the Barremian deposits (Formación Paja) of Villa de Leyva in early 2004. The new find belongs to the genus Brachauchenius and consists of the cranium with a slightly damaged and partially concretionally covered occipital region and a neck with 13 cervical vertebrae. The trunk, both forelimbs and the left hindlimb are preserved. The posterior part of the pelvic girdle and the caudal vertebrae are lacking. The Colombian Brachauchenius represents the first re‐occurrence of the non‐rhomaleosaurid pliosaurs after a Berriasian‐Hauterivian hiatus.