Ichthyosaur wars

[bh480@scn.org]

From: Ben Creisler bh480@scn.org
Here's the abstract for a recent article (don't have a 
copy yet) reclassifying ichthyosaurs. I'll be interested 
to see how the Motani and McGowan Handbuch handles some of 
these. 

Maisch, Michael W. 2000. The ichthyosauria.Stuttgarter 
Beitraege zur Naturkunde. Serie B. Geologie und 
Palaeontologie. [print] 2000; (298): 1-159.
 The phylogeny of the Ichthyosauria is investigated on the 
basis of 128 characters of the cranial and postcranial 
anatomy. Previous attempts are discussed and, as far as 
considered appropriate, their results are included in the 
analysis. Ichthyosaur taxonomy on the suprageneric, 
generic and specific level is discussed. The following new 
suprageneric taxa are introduced: Hueneosauria taxon nov. 
and Toretocnemidae fam. nov. The following new genera and 
species are erected: Phantomosaurus gen. nov. 
for "Shastasaurus" neubigi, Callawayia gen. nov. 
for "Shastasaurus" neoscapularis, and Rotundopteryx hulkei 
gen. et sp. nov. for postcranial material previously 
ascribed to the omphalosaurid Pessopteryx nisseri. An 
overview of all valid genera and species of ichthyosaurs, 
including modern diagnoses, is presented. The genera 
Himalayasarus, Tibetosaurus, Pessosaurus, Macropterygius 
and Pachygonosaurus are dismissed as nomina dubia, the 
ichthyosaurian status of Isfjordosaurus is questioned. The 
genus Protoichthyosaurus is regarded as a junior 
subjective synonym of Ichthyosaurus. Excalibosaurus is 
referred to Eurhinosaurus. Otschevia is referred to 
Brachypterygius. Plutoniosaurus and Simbirskiasaurus are 
referred to Platypterygius, and Paraophthalmosaurus, 
Undorosaurus, Yasykovia, Khudiakovia and Mollesaurus are 
referred to Ophthalmosaurus. The occurrence of the genus 
Mikadocephalus, hitherto exclusively known from the 
Grenzbitumenzone of Monte San Giorgio, in the 
Tschermakfjellet Formation of Spitsbergen is demonstrated. 
The new phylogeny agrees well with hitherto published 
versions in general, but differs in many important 
details. Thaisaurus, ignored in previous works, appears to 
be the most basal ichthyosaur known. The mixosaurids are 
clearly less derived this the cymbospondylids. Wimanius is 
their sister taxon. The shastasaurids are not monophyletic 
but form a set of successive outgroups to the Parvipelvia. 
Toretocnemus and Qianichthyosaurus form a monophyletic 
family Toretocnemidae at the base of the Longipinnati. The 
post-Triassic ichthyosaurs form a very stable monophylum, 
the Neoichthyosauria SANDER, 2000, the temnodontosaurids 
are the most basal forms of this clade whereas 
Suevoleviathan is the sister-group of the Thunnosauria. 
Ichthyosaurus is less derived than Stenopterygius. 
Caypullisaurus and Ophthalmosaurus are sister-taxa.