Keichousaurus (meaning "Guizhou lizard") is an extinct genus of pachypleurosaurian marine reptile from the Chialingchiang and Falang Formation of China with two known species attributed to the genus: K. hui and K. yuananensis.
Keichousaurus is among the most common sauropterygian fossils recovered and are often found as nearly complete, articulated skeletons, making them popular among collectors. Keichousaurus, and the pachypleurosaur family broadly, are sometimes classified within Nothosauroidea, but are otherwise listed as a separate, more primitive lineage within Sauropterygia.
Discovery and naming
The
holotype of
K. hui, was discovered in the
Falang Formation of
Guizhou,
China in 1957 by
Hu Chengzhi and was named by
Yang Zhongjian (1958).
[C.-C. Young. (1958). On the new Pachypleurosauroidea from Keichow, south-west China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 2(2-3):72-81]
The second species, K. yuananensis, was discovered in the Jialingjiang Formation of Hebei, China and was named by Young (1965) based on the holotype specimen IVPP V.2799, a partial skeleton.[C.-C. Young. (1965). On the new nothosaurs from Hupeh and Kweichou, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 9(4):337-356]
Description
Keichousaurus, like all sauropterygians, was highly adapted to the aquatic environment. Most specimens had small body, males
Sexual maturity with snout-vent length (SVL), and in females by SVL. Mean SVL for mature males is approximately SVL, and for mature females, at most SVL.
fossil is distinguished by its broad ulna which makes it unlike other European genera. The broad ulna increased the surface area of the forelimbs, making it more effective in locomotion.
Keichousaurus shows many characteristics of its family Pachypleurosauridae such as its short snout and elongated temporal openings.
Keichousaurus also had a long serpentine neck with a relatively small head and long tail. The anterior caudal vertebrae possess lateral transverse processes. The morphology of
Keichousaurus is most like that of
Dactylosaurus, showing long and narrow upper temporal openings that extends to the rear of the skull of which is not found in other pachypleurosaurids. Other differences from pachypleurosaurids include
Keichousaurus' more robust humerus, very broad ulna, and slight hyperphalangy in the manus. The sternum was also lacking in this animal, and the forelimbs were more paddled-shaped, possibly indicating a greater importance of the forelimbs in movement. The pectoral girdle was formed by the paired clavicles, interclavical, scapulae, and coracoids.
Keichousaurus was a primitive quadrupedal tetrapod with limbs laterally placed to the body. Different parts of
Keichousaurus grew at different rates, a phenomenon called
allometric growth.
Locomotion
Keichousaurus possibly utilized a rowing swimming motion using its paddle-like limbs.
Ecology
Based on analysis of exceptionally preserved specimens of
Keichousaurus hui with preserved gut content,
Keichousaurus is thought to have been a primarily
piscivorous predator, catching prey with the backwardly curved teeth at the front of the mouth, and swallowing its prey whole.
Reproduction
Preserved foetal specimens of
Keichousaurus hui within their mothers suggests that the species was
Viviparity and gave birth to live young.
No evidence for the presence of any eggshell has been found. The young appear to have emerged from their mothers head first.
