In 2009, the historical mount of the holotype of Nothosaurus mirabilis from the Upper Muschelkalk of Oschenberg (Laineck Mountain Range, near Bayreuth, southern Germany) was disassembled and the original postcranial skeleton was reworked and remounted in find position. Its morphology is described and figured for the first time in detail. Further on, a thorough overview of the sedimentary environment and the historical activities around the Upper Muschelkalk quarries in the vicinity of Bayreuth is given. The holotype of N. mirabilis is one out of only two fairly complete nothosaur skeletons known from the Bayreuth Upper Muschelkalk and greatly emends our knowledge of the morphology of the species and the genus. It will further allow an assignment of isolated elements to this taxon. The specimen consists of an articulated and complete neck and anterior trunk vertebral column as well as several articulated parts of the anterior tail region. The sacral region is partially preserved but disarticulated. Besides vertebrae, ribs and gastral fragments, both humeri, the right femur, few zeugopodial and autopodial elements, and the right pelvic girdle are preserved. The very high neural spines of the holotype are stabilized by a supersized zygosphene-zygantrum articulation reaching far dorsally. Together with the large intercentral spaces this character suggests lateral undulation of the trunk region during fast swimming whereas propelling with the broad and wing-shaped humerus and the flat ulna was used during slower swimming. The total body length for this not fully grown individual is reconstructed as between 290 to 320 cm. Preservation, degree of completeness, and articulation of the individual is unique. The skull and shoulder girdle are both lost, whereas articulated strings of the vertebral column have turned and appendicular bones have shifted posteriorly or anteriorly, respectively, indicating water movements and possibly also scavenging.
Keywords: Axial skeleton; Historical paleontology; Lithological sections; Locomotion; Marine reptiles; Morphology; Upper Muschelkalk.
© 2022 Klein et al.