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Postcranial Anatomy of the Mesozoic Dalinghosaurus (Squamata): Evidence from a New Specimen of Western Liaoning
Author(s) -
Shu'an JI,
Qiang JI
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2004.tb00211.x
Subject(s) - postcrania , phalanx , manus , anatomy , yixian formation , squamata , lizard , biology , geology , paleontology , mesozoic , taxon , structural basin
The postcranial skeleton of a new specimen of the long‐tailed lizard Dalinghosaurus longidigitus was excavated from the Yixian Formation in Lingyuan, western Liaoning. The new specimen provides more anatomical information about this species, especially about the anterior dorsal vertebrae, shoulder girdle and forelimbs. This lizard can be included within the clade Scleroglossa by its 27 or more presacrals, moderately long pubis, and gently notched distal end of tibia. But the detailed systematic position for this taxon remains undetermined. The features of the much longer hind limbs and pes compared with forelimbs and manus, metatarsal IV longer than III, pedal phalanges robust, and penultimate phalanx not longer than other phalanges etc. suggest that this lizard was a running and ground swelling animal.