The last of them? A new relic karaurid stem salamander from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Siberia, Russia

Pavel Skutschas; Veniamin Kolchanov; Ekaterina Anpilogova; Igor Parakhin; Alexander Averianov; Marc Jones

doi:10.21638/spbu03.2023.402

Authors

Pavel Skutschas Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8093-2905
Veniamin Kolchanov Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6644-3486
Ekaterina Anpilogova Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3735-0458
Igor Parakhin Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
Alexander Averianov Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5948-0799
Marc Jones Fossil Reptiles, Amphibians and Birds Section, Science Group, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD, London, UK; Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Anatomy Building, UCL, University College London, Gower Street, WCIE 6BT, London, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, SA 5005, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.402

Abstract

A new karaurid stem salamander, Kuzbassia sola gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Ilek Formation of Shestakovo 1 locality in Western Siberia, Russia, is described on the basis of isolated vertebrae, including incomplete atlantal and trunk vertebral centra. The new taxon is diagnosed by the following unique combination of vertebral characters: the presence of a shallow dorsolateral depression and low ridges (longitudinal, vertical and oblique ridges) flanking this depression on the lateral surface of the atlantal centrum; the absence of deep lateral grooves or depressions on the lateral surfaces and ventral depression on the ventral surface of the atlantal centrum; the absence of ventro-lateral ridges, transverse processes and alar processes associated with the transverse processes on the atlantal centrum; anterior cotyles with elliptical anterior outline, located at an angle of approximately 150–160 degrees to each other; and the presence of a pair of rugose surfaces with low tubercles (= ?anterior basapophyses) on the ventral surface of the anterior portion of the trunk vertebral centrum. Kuzbassia sola gen. et sp. nov. is the last karaurid salamander in the fossil record to date.

Keywords:

Caudata, stem salamanders, Karauridae, Early Cretaceous, Western Siberia, Russia, Shestakovo 1 locality

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References

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