Descriptive anatomy of the largest known specimen of Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) including computed tomography and digital reconstruction of a three-dimensional skull.

摘要: Ichthyosaur fossils are abundant in Lower Jurassic sediments with nine genera found the UK. In this paper, we describe partial skeleton of a large ichthyosaur from (lower Sinemurian) Warwickshire, England, which was conserved and rearticulated to form centrepiece new permanent gallery at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum 2015. The unusual three-dimensional preservation specimen permitted computed tomography (CT) scanning individual braincase elements as well entire reassembled skull. This represents one first times that medical imaging reconstruction methods have been applied skull marine reptile. Data these scans provide anatomical information, such presence branching vascular canals within premaxilla dentary, an undescribed dorsal (quadrate) wing pterygoid hidden matrix. Scanning also revealed areas had modelled wood, clay other materials after specimen's initial discovery, highlighting utility applying advanced techniques historical specimens. Additionally, CT data served basis for skull, minor damage repaired preserved bones digitally rearticulated. Thus, time digital mandible reptile is available. records show originally identified example Ichthyosaurus communis but identify Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis. features nearly twice long any previously described P. prostaxalis, representing estimated total body length between 3.2 4 m.