Describer

Marsh, 1880

Time

Cretaceous Late

Classification

Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Avialae Ornithothoraces Ornithurae Cartinatae Ichtyornithiformes

Fossilsite

Graham County, Kansas, US

Fall Under

Ichthyornis dispar

Info

Ichthyornis dispar (Marsh, 1872) [= Colonosaurus mudgei (Marsh, 1872) including Ichthyornis agilis (Marsh, 1873); Graculavus agilis (Marsh, 1873); Ichthyornis anceps (Marsh, 1872); Graculavus anceps (Marsh, 1872); Ichthyornis victor (Marsh, 1876); Ichthyornis validus (Marsh, 1880); Ichthyornis antecessor (Wetmore, 1962); Plegadornis antecessor (Wetmore, 1962); Angelinornis antecessor (Wetmore, 1962)

Ichthyornis validus was named in Odontornithes. The holotype was not described, differentiated, or diagnosed, although it was figured (Marsh , 1880: pl. XXX, figs. 11–14).

Holotype

YPM 1740 is a nearly complete right ulna (fig. 12). Brodkorb (1967) noted the holotype to be comprised of an ulna and radius; however, no radius is currently known to exist for this specimen. Marsh (1880) also did not mention a radius as part of this specimen.

Additionally, the original YPM label of the specimen mentions only an ulna, as does the unpublished YPM catalogue undertaken by Thorpe (1937). Referred specimens: An isolated partial coracoid (YPM 1446) was referred to this taxon. There is no evidence to support this referral to Ichthyornis validus as it cannot be compared to the holotype. This large coracoid is notably larger than the holotype of Ichthyornis validus. Thus, these two specimens do not have even relative size in common.

Locality and horizon

The holotype is described (Marsh, 1880: 198) as being ‘‘discovered in September, 1877, by Mr. S. W. Williston, near the Solomon River in northwestern Kansas.’’ Brodkorb (1967) further specified that it was from Graham County, Kansas, information also listed as part of the original label associated with the specimen. (Clarke, 2004)