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Rikisaurus

Reptilia - Mosasauridae

Taxonomy
Rikisaurus was named by Wiffen (1990). Its type is Rikisaurus tehoensis.

It was assigned to Mosasaurinae by Wiffen (1990).

Species
R. tehoensis (type species)

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1990Rikisaurus Wiffen

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
RankNameAuthor
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Squamata()
familyMosasauridae
subfamilyMosasaurinaeGervais 1853
genusRikisaurus

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. †Rikisaurus Wiffen 1990
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†Rikisaurus tehoensis Wiffen 1990
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. Wiffen 1990A small adult mosasaurine with a combination of characteristics distinct from other known taxa, representing an intermediate stage of development between Clidastes and Mosasaurus. Muzzle is long and slender tapering to a point, the premaxilla is "V" shaped in cross-section with no rostrum anterior to the premaxillary teeth. 13/14 teeth in maxilla, 9 in the pterygoids. All teeth are small, bicarinate, and the enamel surfaces smooth. Prefrontal forms a small part of external nares. Frontal is narrow with straight lateral border and median dorsal ridge. Tongues from the frontal lie parallel to the "V" which surrounds the round parietal foramen. Parietal table long. Suspensorial arcade low, posterior width of skull narrow. Mandible slender, 15/16
teeth. Lower jaws deepening midway, with distinctive semicircular coronoid, and elongate posterior development of lower jaws. Cervical vertebrae small, with round articular facets.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialuc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: aquaticf
Diet: carnivoref
Vision: well-developedf
Reproduction: ovoviviparousf
Created: 2018-01-05 16:32:54
Modified: 2018-01-05 16:32:54
Source: f = family, c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Gervais 1852, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Campanian to the top of the Early/Lower Maastrichtian or 83.50000 to 66.00000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian83.5 - 66.0New Zealand (Hawke's Bay) R. tehoensis (232250)