@article{3c44b20db9834df78438ff328aa80e54,
title = "A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs",
abstract = "We report here a new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian at Bentiaba, southern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon as the sister taxon to Styxosaurus snowii, and that clade as the sister of a clade composed of (Hydrotherosaurus alexandrae (Libonectes morgani + Elasmosaurus platyurus)). The new taxon has a reduced dorsal blade of the scapula, a feature unique amongst elasmosaurids, but convergent with cryptoclidid plesiosaurs, and indicates a longitudinal protraction-retraction limb cycle rowing style with simple pitch rotation at the glenohumeral articulation. Morphometric phylogenetic analysis of the coracoids of 40 eosauropterygian taxa suggests that there was a broad range of swimming styles within the clade.",
keywords = "Elasmosauridae , locomotion , marine reptiles , pectoral girdle , Plesiosauria",
author = "Ricardo Ara{\'u}jo and Polcyn, {M. J.} and Schulp, {A. S.} and O. Mateus and Jacobs, {L. L.} and Goncalves, {A. Olimpio} and Morais, {Maria Lu{\'i}sa}",
note = "Sem PDF. The first author dedicates this article to the memory of his brother. This publication results from ProjectoPaleoAngola, an international cooperative research effort among the contributing authors and their institutions, funded by the National Geographic Society, the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society, Sonangol EP, Esso Angola, Fundacao Vida of Angola, LS Films, Maersk, Damco, Safmarine, ISEM at SMU, the Royal Dutch Embassy in Luanda, TAP Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines and the Saurus Institute. We thank Margarida Ventura and Andre Buta-Neto for providing our team with help in the field. Tako and Henriette Koning provided valuable support and friendship in Angola.",
year = "2015",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1017/njg.2014.44",
language = "English",
volume = "94",
pages = "109--120",
journal = "Netherlands Journal of Geosciences",
issn = "1573-9708",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "1",
}
