Vertebrae
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Placodontia indet., vertebra centrum, 26/LMK
Vertebral centrum of an indeterminate placodont from the Lower Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic) of Upper Silesia, Poland. Despite abrasion, the specimen preserves features typical of placodont vertebrae, including clearly amphicoelous articular surfaces.
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Sauropterygia indet., ?dorsal vertebra, 25/LMK?
Sauropterygia indet. Dating uncertain – Upper Röt or Lower Muschelkalk (Anisian) Upper Silesia, Poland This is a beautiful vertebral specimen, interesting for at least several reasons. Despite erosion, this nearly complete vertebra provides an excellent illustration of vertebral morphology. The preserved features and processes appear consistent with the general anatomy of Sauropterygia (Nothosaurus sp. for example).…
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Pistosaurus longaevus, cervical vertebra centrum, 10/UMK
Pistosaurus longaevus Middle Triassic, Upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian), Upper Silesia, Poland Isolated vertebra centrum of Pistosaurus longaevus. Despite abrasion and incompleteness (the neural arch is missing), the specimen’s features allow for a number of conclusions. The centrum is flattened. In dorsal view, the articulation surfaces (pedicular facets) of the missing arch are visible as depressions on…
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Protanystropheus antiquus cervical vertebra assoc. Reptilia indet. cervical rib, 20/LMK?
Protanystropheus antiquus (“Tanystropheus antiquus”) is an extremely rare find in Lower Muschelkalk sediments, whose systematic position is still uncertain.
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Nothosaurus sp., vertebral neural arch, 17/LMK
Nothosaurus sp. Neural arch. Gogolin Beds. Upper Silesia. Poland – The specimen is a beautifully preserved neural arch (in dorsal view). Considering its shape and size, it can be fairly safely assigned to the genus Nothosaurus.
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Pistosaurus longaevus, vertebra, 6/UMK
A beautiful specimen of a nearly complete vertebra of Pistosaurus longaevus. Middle Triassic, Upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian), Upper Silesia, Poland
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Ichthyosauria indet. (cf. Mixosaurus sp.), vertebra centrum, 16/LMK
Ichthyosauria indet. (cf. Mixosaurus sp.) Middle Triassic, Lower Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland Ichthyosaur remains are extremely rare in the Muschelkalk deposits of Upper Silesia. The photos show a single vertebral centrum – though slightly damaged, it clearly displays the diagnostic features that allow for its assignment to this group of extinct marine reptiles (most…
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Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus, vertebra centrum, 14/LMK
Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus Middle Triassic, Lower Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland An example of a Sauropterygian vertebra centrum (likely Nothosaurus sp.). This is a well-preserved, large specimen (for this region). The first photo shows the vertebra in lateral view. A nutrient foramen (vascular opening) through which blood vessels entered the bone is visible upon closer…
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Sauropterygia indet. cf. Nothosaurus vertebra centrum 7/LMK
Sauropterygia indet. cf. Nothosaurus vertebra centrum Middle Triassic (Anisian), Lower Muschelkalk, Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland I must admit, this is one of the best prep of a Sauropterygian vertebra centrum I’ve ever made. Finally, the center “popped” out of the matrix without damage. I glued it in place with Palaroid B72. This allows it…
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Pachypleurosauridae indet. vertebra 5/LMK
Pachypleurosauridae indet. Middle Triassic, Lower Muschelkalk (Anisian), Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland The vast majority of fossil vertebrate specimens in the Silesian Muschelkalk are single, isolated bones. As for the vertebrae themselves, I most often encounter vertebral centra, sometimes neural arches. Complete vertebrae, however, are truly rare – almost always separated into two parts. The…
