Crymocetus
Extinct genus of reptiles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crymocetus (meaning "cold sea monster") is an extinct genus of Reptilia from the Late Cretaceous Chalk Group of Sussex, England.[1] It is only known from the type species, which is C. bernardi.[2]
| Crymocetus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Holotype vertebra | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Genus: | †Crymocetus Cope, 1869 |
| Type species | |
| †Crymocetus bernardi Cope, 1869 | |
| Synonyms | |
Discovery and naming
The holotype consists of a single posterior cervical vertebra which was discovered in the Chalk Group in Sussex, England. It was first named as Plesiosaurus bernardi by Owen (1850).[3] However, Cope (1869) re-studied the holotype and decided that P. bernardi warranted its own genus, which he named Crymocetus.[2]
After Cope (1869) was published, nearly all subsequent authors tended to disregard the name Crymocetus, with Lydekker (1889) synonymising Crymocetus with Cimoliasaurus.[4]
In any case, Crymocetus is in need of restudy along with other plesiosaurs from the Cretaceous deposits of England.
Classification
Cope (1869)[2] initially classified Crymocetus within Elasmosauridae, while Welles (1962)[5] and Persson (1963)[6] instead considered Crymocetus to be either a member of the Pliosauridae or Rhomaleosauridae. Crymocetus is today classified within Plesiosauria incertae sedis.
