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Pachyrhachis problematicus

Osteichthyes

Taxonomy
Pachyrhachis problematicus was named by Haas (1979). Its type specimen is HUJ-PAL 3659, a skeleton (almost complete), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is 'Ein Yabrud quarries, which is in a Cenomanian shallow subtidal limestone in the Bet Meir or Amminadav Formation of Palestine. It is the type species of Pachyrhachis.

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1979Pachyrhachis problematicus Haas p. 62
1980Ophiomorphus colberti Haas
1984Estesius colberti Wallach p. 329
1998Pachyrhachis problematicus Lee and Caldwell p. 1524
2013Pachyrhachis problematicus Palci et al. p. 1335

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Squamata()
suborderOphidia(Latreille 1804)
Serpentes(Linnaeus 1758)
infraorderAlethinophidia
Macrostomata
genusPachyrhachis
speciesproblematicus

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.

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Invalid names: Ophiomorphus colberti Haas 1980 [synonym]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
M. Y. Lee and M. Caldwell 1998A long-bodied marine squamate. The head is small, and the cervical region narrow. The shoulder girdle and forelimbs are absent, a small pelvis and hindlimbs are present. It exhibits the following autapomorphies not found in other squamates: (i) the frontal is extremely long and narrow; (ii) the quadrate is sheet-like, being greatly expanded anteroposteriorly; (iii) there is a large rectangular coronoid process; (iv) the coronoid bone has an extremely long anterior £ange which extends horizontally along the medial surface of the dentary; (v) the splenial-angular joint is located very far anteriorly, approximately mid-way between the symphysis and the coronoid process; and (vi) the middle trunk vertebrae and ribs are pachyostotic.
A. Palci et al. 2013Snake with well-developed hind limbs consisting at least of femur, tibia, fibula, astragalus, and calcaneum; ilium, ischium, and pubis present; long and nar- row frontals; quadrate expanded anteroposteriorly and sheet-like; dorsal process of coronoid high, taller than maximum depth of compound bone; retains a jugal; long anterior flange of coronoid extends horizontally along medial surface of dentary; splenial- angular joint located far anteriorly, midway between symphysis and coronoid process; numerous (at least four) small mental foramina on dentary; pachyostotic middle trunk vertebrae and ribs; retains a sacral vertebra with sacral ribs articulated to the centrum; at least 13 tooth positions on dentary, at least seven on palatine, and at least six on pterygoid and maxilla.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Body part: SVLg
Adult length: 1.0 to < 10g
Environment: coastal, marine, brackishg
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: aquaticg
Diet: piscivoreg
Diet 2: carnivoreg
Created: 2005-09-09 11:40:43
Modified: 2005-09-09 13:42:55
Source: g = genus, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Haas 1979, Carroll 1988

Age range: Early/Lower Cenomanian or 100.50000 to 93.90000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Early/Lower Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9Palestine Pachyrhachis problematicus, Ophiomorphus colberti (type locality: 11804)