Merriamia

Taxon

8 image(s) · 0 News

View page

Image gallery

Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 23 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original (most notably, figures 3 and 4 were swapped to minimize confusion).
Original description:
Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp.
Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen.

Fig. 1.— Right side of skull.
Fig. 2. — Cross-section of posterior portion of the lower jaw, taken above the point marked A on the lateral view of the skull.
Fig. 3. — Cross-section of the upper and lower jaws, taken at the break immediately behind the point marked Sp on the lateral view of the skull.
Fig. 4. — Lateral view of an anterior caudal centrum.
Legend (modified from original):

Ar - articular
A - angular
D - dentary
J - jugal
L - lacrimal
Mx - maxilla
Po - postorbital
Sa - surangular
Se - sclerotic ring
Sp - spenial
T - cross-section of tooth
X - doubtful element

Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 23 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original (most notably, figures 3 and 4 were swapped to minimize confusion). Original description: Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1.— Right side of skull. Fig. 2. — Cross-section of posterior portion of the lower jaw, taken above the point marked A on the lateral view of the skull. Fig. 3. — Cross-section of the upper and lower jaws, taken at the break immediately behind the point marked Sp on the lateral view of the skull. Fig. 4. — Lateral view of an anterior caudal centrum. Legend (modified from original): Ar - articular A - angular D - dentary J - jugal L - lacrimal Mx - maxilla Po - postorbital Sa - surangular Se - sclerotic ring Sp - spenial T - cross-section of tooth X - doubtful element

description Triassic fossil holotype +7
The shoulder girdle of the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 21 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been slightly modified from the original.
Original description: Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp.
Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen.

Fig. 1.—Clavicles (cl) and probable interelavicle (Ic and Ic')- The interclavicle has been separated into two fragments by a crack in the matrix.
Fig. 2.—Inner side of the coracoids and the left scapula.

The shoulder girdle of the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 21 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been slightly modified from the original. Original description: Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1.—Clavicles (cl) and probable interelavicle (Ic and Ic')- The interclavicle has been separated into two fragments by a crack in the matrix. Fig. 2.—Inner side of the coracoids and the left scapula.

description Triassic holotype specimen +5
Forelimb and partial hindlimb of the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 22 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist.
Original description: Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp.
Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen.

Fig. 1. — Superior side of left anterior limb. r, radius.
Fig. 2. — Posterior limb. t, tibia.

Forelimb and partial hindlimb of the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus (originally Leptocheirus, also Merriamia) zitteli. This image is derived from plate 22 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. Original description: Leptocheirus zitteli n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1. — Superior side of left anterior limb. r, radius. Fig. 2. — Posterior limb. t, tibia.

limb description Triassic holotype +7
Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus californicus. This image is derived from plate 24 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original.
Original description:
Toretocnemus californicus n. gen. and sp.
Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen.

Fig. 1. — Inferior side of right posterior limb. t, tibia.
Fig. 2. — Right anterior limb. r, radius.
Fig. 3.— Pelvic arch.
Fig. 4. — Middle dorsal vertebrae and a rib from the same region.

Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus californicus. This image is derived from plate 24 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original. Original description: Toretocnemus californicus n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1. — Inferior side of right posterior limb. t, tibia. Fig. 2. — Right anterior limb. r, radius. Fig. 3.— Pelvic arch. Fig. 4. — Middle dorsal vertebrae and a rib from the same region.

limb description Triassic fossil +6
Illustration of some anterior caudal vertebrae of the Californian ichthyosaur Torteocnemus californicus (specimen UCMP 8100), from Merriam's 1908 monograph on American Triassic ichthyosaurs. This illustration appeared as figure 4 of plate 14; it has been modified to remove the stamp placed on top of it. While Merriam credits two illustrators as having produced artwork for this publication, it is not clear which of them created this image.

Illustration of some anterior caudal vertebrae of the Californian ichthyosaur Torteocnemus californicus (specimen UCMP 8100), from Merriam's 1908 monograph on American Triassic ichthyosaurs. This illustration appeared as figure 4 of plate 14; it has been modified to remove the stamp placed on top of it. While Merriam credits two illustrators as having produced artwork for this publication, it is not clear which of them created this image.

Triassic specimen Ichthyosauria Merriamia +1
Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus californicus. This image is derived from plate 24 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original.
Original description:
Toretocnemus californicus n. gen. and sp.
Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen.

Fig. 1. — Inferior side of right posterior limb. t, tibia.
Fig. 2. — Right anterior limb. r, radius.
Fig. 3.— Pelvic arch.
Fig. 4. — Middle dorsal vertebrae and a rib from the same region.
Taxa Toretocnemus

Various fossils pertaining to the holotype of the Triassic ichthyosaur Toretocnemus californicus. This image is derived from plate 24 in Merriam (1903), done by an uncredited artist. The arrangement of the individual figures has been modified from the original. Original description: Toretocnemus californicus n. gen. and sp. Figures reproduced natural size from the type specimen. Fig. 1. — Inferior side of right posterior limb. t, tibia. Fig. 2. — Right anterior limb. r, radius. Fig. 3.— Pelvic arch. Fig. 4. — Middle dorsal vertebrae and a rib from the same region.

limb description Triassic fossil +5
The incomplete skull and vertebrae of the holotype of Omphalosaurus nevadanus, seen in dorsal (left) and ventral view (right). This image was derived by combining plates 8 and 9 of Merriam (1906), done by an uncredited artist.
Legend:

A - angular
D - dentary
Pl - palatine
Pt - pterygoid
Sa - surangular
Sp - splenial
V - vertebrae
a, b, c - "doubtful elements"
Taxa Omphalosaurus

The incomplete skull and vertebrae of the holotype of Omphalosaurus nevadanus, seen in dorsal (left) and ventral view (right). This image was derived by combining plates 8 and 9 of Merriam (1906), done by an uncredited artist. Legend: A - angular D - dentary Pl - palatine Pt - pterygoid Sa - surangular Sp - splenial V - vertebrae a, b, c - "doubtful elements"

holotype Merriamia Omphalosaurus skull
Figure description from the paper: "The segmented model of right lateral side of the skull of mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi (Merriam, 1910) PMO 235.393, from the Botneheia Formation, Middle Triassic of the Isfjorden area in Spitsbergen, Svalbard."
References:

Roberts, A.J.; Engelschiøn, V.S.; Hurum, J.H. (2022). "First three-dimensional skull of the Middle Triassic mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi from Svalbard, Norway". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 67 (1): 51–62. DOI:https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00915.2021.
Taxa Phalarodon

Figure description from the paper: "The segmented model of right lateral side of the skull of mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi (Merriam, 1910) PMO 235.393, from the Botneheia Formation, Middle Triassic of the Isfjorden area in Spitsbergen, Svalbard." References: Roberts, A.J.; Engelschiøn, V.S.; Hurum, J.H. (2022). "First three-dimensional skull of the Middle Triassic mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi from Svalbard, Norway". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 67 (1): 51–62. DOI:https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00915.2021.

description Norway Middle Triassic Triassic +7
Figure description from the paper: "The segmented model of right lateral side of the skull of mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi (Merriam, 1910) PMO 235.393, from the Botneheia Formation, Middle Triassic of the Isfjorden area in Spitsbergen, Svalbard."
References:

Roberts, A.J.; Engelschiøn, V.S.; Hurum, J.H. (2022). "First three-dimensional skull of the Middle Triassic mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi from Svalbard, Norway". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 67 (1): 51–62. DOI:https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00915.2021.
Taxa Contectopalatus

Figure description from the paper: "The segmented model of right lateral side of the skull of mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi (Merriam, 1910) PMO 235.393, from the Botneheia Formation, Middle Triassic of the Isfjorden area in Spitsbergen, Svalbard." References: Roberts, A.J.; Engelschiøn, V.S.; Hurum, J.H. (2022). "First three-dimensional skull of the Middle Triassic mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon fraasi from Svalbard, Norway". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 67 (1): 51–62. DOI:https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00915.2021.

description Norway Middle Triassic Triassic +7