Original paper
A reappraisal of subaqueous flight in mosasaurs
Lingham-Soliar, Theagarten
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 213 Heft 2 (1999), p. 145 - 167
48 references
published: Jul 12, 1999
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/213/1999/145
ArtNo. ESP155021302000, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
A reappraisal of subaqueous flying in the mosasaur Plioplatecarpus marshi is prompted by a critique of the original study. The morphology of P. marshi is re-examined with especial reference to the axial system, limbs, and the effects of drag on the body and clarifies a number of errors of the critique. New cranial and postcranial evidence is presented. The counter proposal of the critique that P. marshi was probably a "shake feeder", breaking down prey by vigorously shaking it from side to side, is rejected principally on information from existing and rare recent material that emphasizes the highly delicate skull of P. marshi. Evolutionary processes concerning the sudden appearance of major characters e.g. those associated with bird flight and high speed swimming are discussed.
Keywords
subaqueous • skull • high speed swimming • cranial • postcranial • Plioplatecarpus marshi