New Non-Dinosaur Refs

[bh480@scn.org]

New Non-Dinosaur Refs
From: Ben Creisler bh480@scn.org

I've come across some new references recently that may not 
have been mentioned here:

Bardet, N. & Suberbiola, X.P. 2001. The basal mosasaurid 
Halisaurus sternbergii from the Late Cretaceous of Kansas 
(North America): a review of the Uppsala type specimen. 
Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences - Series IIA - 
Earth and Planetary Science 332 (2001) 395-402.

AB: The type specimen of Clidastes sternbergii Wiman, 
1920, a basal mosasaurid from the Santonian of Kansas 
(USE), is reviewed. Its attribution to Halisaurus is 
confirmed. H. sternbergii is mainly defined on the basis 
of its cranial characters: frontal with a smooth dorsal 
surface bearing a prominent median ridge; parietal with a 
triangular table extending far posteriorly and bearing a 
medium sized circular foramen, which is located at a 
distance equal to twice its diameter from the frontal-
parietal suture. The vertebral column and appendicular 
skeleton retain many plesiomorphies. H. sternbergii is the 
oldest species of the genus, also known in the 
Maastrichtian.



Bennett, S. C. 2001. The osteology and functional 
morphology of the Late Cretaceous pterosaur Pteranodon: 
Part I. General 
description of osteology. Palaeontographica. Abteilung A. 
Palaeozoologie-Stratigraphie. [print] Januar, 2001; 260 (1-
6): 1-112.
AB: The Late Cretaceous pterosaur Pteranodon (Archosauria: 
Pterosauria) from the Niobrara and Pierre Formations of 
North America was restudied and its osteology completely 
redescribed. New reconstructions and interpretations of 
the sternum and gastralia, and carpus and pteroid bone are 
presented. The two valid species, P. sternbergi from the 
Coniacian and Santonian and P. longiceps from the 
Santonian and Campanian, differ primarily in the direction 
and shape of the large cranial crest found in males. No 
differences were found in the postcranial skeleton between 
the two species.

Bennett, S. C. 2001. The osteology and functional 
morphology of the Late Cretaceous pterosaur Pteranodon: 
Part II. Size and 
functional morphology. Palaeontographica-Abteilung-A-
Palaeozoologie-
Stratigraphie. [print] Januar, 2001; 260 (1-6): 113-153.
AB: The skeletal proportions and size distribution of the 
Late Cretaceous pterosaur Pteranodon are described. The 
functional morphology of flight is discussed and it is 
argued that the patagium attached to the femora which 
enabled the hindlimb to assist in flapping and control of 
the patagium. Movements of the wing provided yaw control 
so that the skull and cranial crest need not be 
interpreted as a forward rudder. Terrestrial locomotion is 
discussed, and it is argued that Pteranodon and other 
large pterodactyloids must have been bipedal. The 
functional morphology of the jaws and feeding are 
discussed, and it is argued that Pteranodon could swim and 
fed while swimming on the water rather than dipping food 
while in flight. The function of postcranial pneumaticity 
is also discussed.


Sad to say the University of Washington dropped their 
subscription to Palaeontographica last year. Sure would 
like to see the Pteranodon stuff...