Moanasaurus, a new genus of marine reptile (Family Mosasauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of North Island, New Zealand

Abstract

A new genus and species of mosasaur, Moanasaurus mangahouangae of PiripauanHaumurian age (Campanian-Maastrichtian) is described from the North Island, New Zealand. The remains upon which the new genus and species is based (disarticulated skull, teeth, vertebrae, paddle elements, and rib fragments) are sufficiently distinct to enable it to be distinguished from previously described taxa.

New mosasaurs (Reptilia; Family Mosasauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of North Island, New Zealand

“…The interarticulating facets of axis and 3rd cervical centra cannot be measured because of articulation or damage, but the anterior articular surface of the 4th disarticulated centra appears to be distinctly round and concave. These cervical vertebrae are very small, compared with the cervicals in Moanasaurus mangahouangae Wiffen (1980) and are also smaller than the cervical vertebrae found with Mosasaurusflemingi (see below).…”

“…Moore (1987) mapped the area and included the rocks of the Mangahouanga Stream in his Maungataniwha Sandstone, and Crampton & Moore (in press) have undertaken an analysis of the paleonenvironment and fauna. Wiffen (1980) slender tapering to a point, the premaxilla is "V" shaped in cross-section with no rostrum anterior to the premaxillary teeth. 13/14 teeth in maxilla, 9 in the pterygoids.…”

“…Received 8 March 1989; accepted 24 October 1989 Wiffen (1980) andWiffen & Moisley (1986) have outlined the geological setting, source of material, and preparation methods used for vertebrate extraction, and the basis of the age attributed to these rocks. Moore (1987) mapped the area and included the rocks of the Mangahouanga Stream in his Maungataniwha Sandstone, and Crampton & Moore (in press) have undertaken an analysis of the paleonenvironment and fauna.…”

“…Many of these specimens have been described or listed (vertebrates-Keyes 1977;Molnar 1981;Scarlett & Molnar 1984;Wiffen 1980Wiffen , 1981Wiffen , 1983Wiffen & Moisley 1986;Wiffen & Molnar 1988;invertebrates-Glaessner 1980;Craw & Watt 1987;Wiffen 1980, p. 527 list includes plant fossils), and further detailed lists of the marine invertebrate fauna are in preparation (Crampton & Moore in press).…”

Moanasaurus mangahouangaeorMosasaurus mangahouangae?

“…The degree of difference seen betweenMoanasaurusmangahouangae andMosasaurus mokoroa in the union of these important cranial bones was considered to be greater than could be reasonably expected between different species in anyone genus. Other differences in teeth and paddle elements are also noted in Wiffen (1980).…”