[D] Wellnhoferia grandis [Su] [~/~]
Describer
Elzanowski, 2001
Time
Jurassic Late Kimmeridgian Tithonian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Avialae Archaeopterygidae
Fossilsite
Solnhofen Formation, Germany
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
The Solnhofen (Sixth) specimen of Archaeopteryx is assigned to Wellnhoferia grandis gen. et sp. n. on the basis of qualitative, size-independent autapomorphies. Wellnhoferia differs from Archaeopteryx in a short tail with the estimated number of 16–17 caudals; a nearly symmetric pattern of pedal rays II–IV with metatarsals II and IV of equal length and digit IV substantially shorter than in Archaeopteryx; and the number of four (instead of five) phalanges of pedal digit IV, which most probably results from a phylogenetic reduction rather than individual variation.
A combination of large size and details of the pelvic limb suggests a locomotor specialization different from that of Archaeopteryx. Abstract of Elzanowski, A., 2001. A new genus and species for the largest specimen of Archaeopteryx,\\\\\\\" Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 46(4): 519–532.
Elzanowski, 2001
Time
Jurassic Late Kimmeridgian Tithonian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Avialae Archaeopterygidae
Fossilsite
Solnhofen Formation, Germany
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
The Solnhofen (Sixth) specimen of Archaeopteryx is assigned to Wellnhoferia grandis gen. et sp. n. on the basis of qualitative, size-independent autapomorphies. Wellnhoferia differs from Archaeopteryx in a short tail with the estimated number of 16–17 caudals; a nearly symmetric pattern of pedal rays II–IV with metatarsals II and IV of equal length and digit IV substantially shorter than in Archaeopteryx; and the number of four (instead of five) phalanges of pedal digit IV, which most probably results from a phylogenetic reduction rather than individual variation.
A combination of large size and details of the pelvic limb suggests a locomotor specialization different from that of Archaeopteryx. Abstract of Elzanowski, A., 2001. A new genus and species for the largest specimen of Archaeopteryx,\\\\\\\" Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 46(4): 519–532.