SilesianTriassic

Sauropterygia indet. cf Nothosaurus sp.

Middle Triassic, Lower Muschelkalk (Anisian), Lower Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland

This is an example of a vertebral neural arch (a part of a vertebra). A fairly common find in the Gogolin Beds. Complete vertebrae are truly rare. In this case, the arch “lies on its back,” exposing the canal through which the nerve cord ran. Two vertical processes visible on the side of the bone connected the arch to the vertebra centre.

The lateral processes reveal the articular surfaces (darker, porous areas) that connected the ribs.

As with teeth, most collectors label these specimens as Nothosaurus sp.