Why the famous Cretaceous ichthyosaur Platypterygius is actually a scientific wastebasket
In short: For decades, paleontologists dumped diverse Cretaceous ichthyosaur fossils into the genus Platypterygius, creating a false illusion of a single, global species. Modern analysis reveals this catch-all category is biologically invalid, as many of its supposed members are distinct, unrelated creatures that lived millions of years apart.
The name Platypterygius, meaning flat fin, was coined for a genus of ichthyosaurs from the Cretaceous period. While fossils were discovered across multiple continents, the original holotype was found in Germany and described in 1922. Unfortunately, these remains were destroyed during World War 2, making it impossible for modern researchers to re-examine the specimen to define valid anatomical features. This loss, combined with the genus's historical use as a catch-all, has left the classification in a state of scientific disarray.
Research throughout the 2000s and 2010s demonstrated that the traits once used to unify these creatures are either absent in many assigned species or common among entirely different ophthalmosaurid groups. Because the species grouped under this name are not closely related, the genus is considered paraphyletic. Many specimens previously labeled as Platypterygius have since been reclassified into their own distinct genera, such as Pervushovisaurus, Maiaspondylus, and Kyhytysuka. Even the species P. hauthali was reclassified in 2024 into the genus Myobradypterygius.
Despite these taxonomic issues, the creatures once lumped into this group were formidable macropredators. Evidence from P. australis, which reached lengths of about 7 metres, shows a diverse diet including actinopterygian fish, hatchling sea turtles, and enantiornithine birds. Other species varied in size, with P. platydactylus estimated at 5 metres and P. americanus at 5.5 metres. The ongoing process of untangling this wastebasket taxon is essential for understanding the true diversity of Cretaceous marine reptiles, replacing the outdated view of a singular, global genus with a more complex evolutionary picture.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Platypterygius
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