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The Final, Correct Published Version of This Article Is Available Online [Published in Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association] The final, correct published version of this article is available online [published in Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association]. Please check the final publication record for the latest revisions to this article. Lomax, D. R. and Massare, J. A. 2018. A forefin of Leptonectes solei from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset, UK. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association. A forefin of Leptonectes solei from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset, UK DEAN R. LOMAX1* and JUDY A. MASSARE2 1School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K., [email protected] 2Department of Earth Sciences, State University of New York, College at Brockport, Brockport, NY, 14420, U.S.A., [email protected] * corresponding author Abstract ___________________________________________________________________________ An incomplete forefin in the collections of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, is herein assigned to the rare leptonectid species, Leptonectes solei, known only from the west Dorset coast. It is only the third specimen of the species and is smaller than both the holotype and referred specimen. The new specimen is from the Lower Jurassic (lower Pliensbachian, Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Tragophylloceras ibex Ammonite Zone, Acanthopleuroceras valdani Ammonite Subzone) of Seatown, Dorset, UK. It confirms that all three species of Leptonectes were present in the Pliensbachian and expands the known diversity of ichthyosaurs for that time period. We show that isolated forefins of Leptonectes can be assigned to a species with a high degree of confidence. Key words: Ichthyosauria; Leptonectes solei; Pliensbachian; Early Jurassic; Leptonectidae. 1. Introduction The genus Leptonectes McGowan 1996, is one of the common ichthyosaurian taxa from the Lower Jurassic of the UK and is known from many complete and partial skeletons. Leptonectes has a wide geographic distribution, with specimens recorded from various counties in the UK (Somerset, Dorset, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and possibly Nottinghamshire) (McGowan and Motani, 2003; Smith and Radley, 2007; Lomax and Gibson, 2015) and several occurrences from Europe, including specimens from Switzerland (Maisch and Reisdorf, 2006), Belgium (Godefroit, 1992) and Germany (Maisch, 1999). The genus also has a long stratigraphic range with specimens recorded from the Upper Triassic (Rhaetian) to the Lower Jurassic (upper Pliensbachian) (Storrs, 1994; Maisch and Reisdorf, 2006; Lomax et al., 2018). However, specimens recorded from the Rhaetian of the UK are from historical collections and lack precise stratigraphic information and some might actually be from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian). Leptonectes belongs to the family Leptonectidae Maisch, 1998a, which also includes Eurhinosaurus, Excalibosaurus and Wahlisaurus (Abel, 1909; McGowan, 1986; Lomax, 2016). There are three species of Leptonectes. The type species, Leptonectes tenuirostris, is a moderately sized taxon (<4 m) recorded from the UK and Europe and has a long stratigraphic range from the (?)Rhaetian to Pliensbachian (McGowan, 1996; McGowan and Motani, 2003; Maisch and Reisdorf, 2006). One specimen, probably referable to this species, has been found with embryos (Lomax and Massare, 2012). As noted by previous workers, considering the amount of variation in specimens currently identified as L. tenuirostris, the species requires a detailed revision that is beyond the scope of this study (Maisch and Reisdorf, 2006; Lomax, 2016; Lomax et al., 2018). The second species, L. solei, is a large taxon (>7 m) known from two specimens from the Sinemurian of Dorset, UK (McGowan, 1993). The third species, L. moorei, is known from a single anterior skeleton, including a fairly complete skull, from the Pliensbachian of Dorset (McGowan and Milner, 1999). Here, we report on a large, incomplete isolated forefin (NMW 91.296.2.2) from the Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) of Seatown, Dorset. We assign the specimen to Leptonectes solei, only the third specimen of that species. 1.1 Institutional Abbreviations BRSMG, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol, UK; MHN, Museon, The Hague, Netherlands; NHMUK, The Natural History Museum, London, UK; NMW, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, UK. 2. Materials and geological setting NMW 91.296.2.2 is a large, isolated and incomplete forefin lying mostly in matrix, but it can be viewed on both the dorsal and ventral sides (Fig. 1). It is impossible to determine whether the fin is a left or right because the humerus has been restored and might not belong with the rest of the fin (see below). One side of the fin has been fully prepared and the bones coated with a preservative, which clearly distinguishes them from the matrix (Fig. 1A). The reverse side has not been prepared, although the humerus has been treated with preservative (Fig. 1B). This side exposes several of the same elements as the prepared side, but some are covered by matrix. Most are damaged, and the cracks have been filled. The entire proximal region of the humerus is made of plaster, although most of the shaft and the distal end are original bone (Fig. 1). The humerus has been attached to the rest of the fin with glue or epoxy, which is clearly visible (Fig. 1). Although, the distal end of the humerus is expanded anteroposteriorly as is typical of the genus, it is not as wide as the radius and ulna, which are significantly wider anteroposteriorly than their respective facets on the humerus. The distal facets of the humerus are thus too small for the radius and ulna. This strongly suggests that the humerus does not belong with the specimen and thus it is a composite. Ichthyosaur composites are common in historic collections (McGowan, 1990; Maisch, 1998b; Massare and Lomax, 2014, 2016b) and even recently collected material can be composites (e.g. Lomax and Sachs, 2017). The remainder of the forefin is authentic. The specimen was collected in 1990 from Seatown, Dorset, and acquired by the NMW in 1991 from The Old Forge Fossil Company, Dorset. It is from the Lower Jurassic, recorded as “1 foot below the belemnite stone”. The term ‘belemnite stone’ refers to the top of the Stonebarrow Marl Member (‘Belemnite Marls’) of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation. It is lower Pliensbachian, from the Tragophylloceras ibex Ammonite Zone, Acanthopleuroceras valdani Ammonite Subzone according to museum records. The single specimen of Leptonectes moorei, also from Seatown, was from a horizon less than a metre below this. 3. Description of specimen The humerus is not included in the description or species assignment because it probably does not belong with the rest of the forefin. See previous section for details. Systematic Palaeontology Order Ichthyosauria de Blainville, 1835 Family Leptonectidae Maisch, 1998a Genus Leptonectes McGowan, 1996 Leptonectes solei (McGowan, 1993) Emended diagnosis: As in McGowan (1993) with the addition of: forefin with three digits (II, III, IV); carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges rounded and widely spaced. Specimen number: NMW 91.296.2.2. Element: Incomplete forefin. Locality: Seatown, Dorset, England, UK. Stratigraphy: Lower Jurassic (lower Pliensbachian), Acanthopleuroceras valdani Ammonite Subzone, Tragophylloceras ibex Ammonite Zone, Charmouth Mudstone Formation. Description: NMW 91.296.2.2 has three primary digits (II, III and IV; Motani, 1999) preserved up to metacarpal two of digit II, the first phalanx of digit III, and metacarpal four of digit IV (Fig. 1). Excluding the humerus, it has a preserved length of at least 24 cm and maximum width of 17 cm. Digit II has the largest elements of the three digits. Only the radius, ulna, and proximal carpals could have possibly interlocked, although even these are not in contact with one another as preserved in this specimen and in the referred specimen of L. solei (McGowan, 1993). The radius is large, rounded and lacks a notch on the leading edge, as in Leptonectes solei and L. moorei (McGowan, 1993; McGowan and Milner, 1999), but unlike L. tenuirostris, which always has a notched radius, even in embryos (McGowan, 1993; McGowan and Milner, 1999; McGowan and Motani, 2003; Lomax and Massare, 2012). No elements are notched in NMW 91.296.2.2. Notching of other elements of the leading edge is common in specimens of L. tenuirostris. Only a single element is notched in the holotype of L. solei, but its position in the fin is unknown. The referred specimen (MHN 96270), which has a more complete forefin, has no notched elements. L. moorei also lacks notching. The ulna of NMW 91.296.2.2 is sub-rectangular and proximodistally slightly shorter than the radius, but anteroposteriorly approximately equal to it. There is no foramen between the radius and ulna. Many specimens of L. tenuirostris (McGowan and Motani, 2003) have a circular foramen between the radius and ulna (Fig. 2), although other specimens do not. L. moorei might have a very small, narrow, elliptical foramen between the radius and ulna (McGowan and Milner, 1999), but L. solei lacks a foramen (McGowan, 1993). The radiale is anteroposteriorly elongate, but round; it is noticeably larger than the intermedium and ulnare. Similarly, the intermedium is rounded and is larger than the ulnare. The ulnare is small and circular. The distal carpals, metacarpals, and the one preserved phalanx are oval, with the long axis oriented anteroposteriorly. Leptonectes tenuirostris has a notched radius and a broad notch on the tibia as well, and so NMW 91.296.2.2 cannot be assigned to that species, the most common member of the genus. The forefin elements of NMW 91.296.2.2, and particularly the carpals, are not polygonal nor closely packed like those of L. moorei (McGowan and Milner, 1999, fig. 4), but are rounded and widely spaced, similar to those of the only referred specimen of L. solei (Fig. 2; McGowan, 1993, fig. 5C,D). The forefin of the holotype of L. solei (BRSMG Ce 9856) is disarticulated and incomplete (McGowan, 1993, fig. 3A), but the elements distal to the radius and ulna are oval, not polygonal.
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