First record of fossil sauropterygians from the Upper Triassic of Southwestern Spain (Ayamonte, Huelva province)

  1. Reolid, Matías 1
  2. Muñiz, Fernando 2
  3. Toscano, Antonio 3
  4. Belaústegui, Zain 4
  1. 1 Universidad de Jaén
    info

    Universidad de Jaén

    Jaén, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0122p5f64

  2. 2 Universidad de Sevilla
    info

    Universidad de Sevilla

    Sevilla, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03yxnpp24

  3. 3 Universidad de Huelva
    info

    Universidad de Huelva

    Huelva, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03a1kt624

  4. 4 Universitat de Barcelona
    info

    Universitat de Barcelona

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/021018s57

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Journal:
Estudios geológicos

ISSN: 0367-0449

Year of publication: 2022

Volume: 78

Issue: 1

Type: Article

DOI: 10.3989/EGEOL.44639.613 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Estudios geológicos

Abstract

This work reports the first record of a sauropterygian reptile remain from the uppermost Triassic of the westernmost part of the South Iberian Palaeomargin. The fossil bone, found in the Upper Triassic carbonate succession of Ayamonte (Huelva, Spain), corresponds to a neural arch of a sauropterygian. The carbonate succession was deposited in very shallow marine environment simultaneous with igneous activity during the Rhaetian (latest Triassic). The studied remain is isolated, disarticulated and presents fractures that evidence transport but also potential activity of scavengers. The neural arch is preserved as calcium phosphate enriched in some elements (e.g. Sr) relative to the surrounding carbonate sediment. The anatomic features do not allow a detailed taxonomic identification. This remain extends the record of sauropterygians to the westernmost end of the Tethys following the South Iberian Palaeomargin and evidences the colonization of the Algarve Basin during the extensional phase related with the progress of the rifting of Pangaea and the opening of the Tethys to the west.  

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