Apricosiren
| Apricosiren Temporal range: Berriasian,
| |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Clade: | Caudata |
| Genus: | †Apricosiren Evans & McGowan 2002[1] |
| Type species | |
| †Apricosiren ensomi Evans & McGowan 2002[1]
| |
Apricosiren is an extinct genus of prehistoric salamander that lived during the Early Cretaceous period around 145.5-140 million years ago . It is known from the Berriasian aged Lulworth Formation in southern England. It was a small species.[2][3][1]
The genus name combines Latin apricus (=sunny), in reference to the type locality, Sunnydown Farm, and siren, a salamander. The specific name ensomi honours Paul Ensom for his contributions to "our knowledge of Early Cretaceous microvertebrates".
Phylogeny
Apricosiren belong to a large clade of amphibians known as Caudata and potentially an early diverging member of Salamandroidea. This genus is closely related to genera such as Kiyatriton and Valdotriton.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Evans, S.E.; McGowan, G.J. (2002). Milner, A.R.; Batten, D.J. (eds.). "Lissamphibian remains from the Purbeck Limestone Group, southern England". Special Papers in Palaeontology. 68: 103–119.
- ^ "†Apricosiren Evans and McGowan". Paleobiology Database. Fossilworks. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Martín, C.; Sanchiz, B. (2014). "Apricosiren". Lisanfos KMS. Version 1.2. Online reference accessible at www.lisanfos.mncn.csic.es. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN-CSIC, Madrid (Spain). Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ Macaluso, Loredana; Mannion, Philip D.; Evans, Susan E.; Carnevale, Giorgio; Monti, Sara; Marchitelli, Domenico; Delfino, Massimo (November 2022). "Biogeographic history of Palearctic caudates revealed by a critical appraisal of their fossil record quality and spatio-temporal distribution". Royal Society Open Science. 9 (11) 220935. doi:10.1098/rsos.220935. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 9709575. PMID 36465678.