A NEW SPECIES OF THE SAUROPTERYGIAN CYMATOSAURUS FROM THE LOWER MUSCHELKALK OF THURINGIA, GERMANY

The sauropterygian Cymatosaurus, C. minor sp. nov., from the Lower Mus chelkalk of Hetschburg near Bad Berka, Thuringia, Germany, Is describe d. It differs from other species of its genus by its relatively small overall size, the development of a parietal sagittal crest, a comparat ively long and narrow upper temporal fossa, the anterior extent of the parietals reaches to a level well in front of the posterior margins o f the orbits, and the vomers are fused. The acid-prepared skull preser ves some interesting anatomical detail, and documents for Cymatosaurus the same derived course of the internal carotid through the basicrani um that has previously been described for Nothosaurus and Simosaurus. A detailed geographical and stratigraphical analysis of the occurrence of the genera Nothosaurus and Cymatosaurus in the Muschelkalk suggest s competitive exclusion between the two genera.