Skip to main content
PMC home page
Biology Letters logoLink to Biology Letters
. 2006 Jun 30;2(4):615–619. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0504

An archaic crested plesiosaur in opal from the Lower Cretaceous high-latitude deposits of Australia

Benjamin P Kear 1,2,*, Natalie I Schroeder 1,2, Michael SY Lee 1,2
PMCID: PMC1833998  PMID: 17148303

Abstract

Umoonasaurus demoscyllus gen. et sp. nov. is a new small-bodied (approx. 2.5 m) pliosauroid plesiosaur from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of southern Australia. It is represented by several partial skeletons (one with a near complete skull is the most complete opalized vertebrate fossil yet known), and is unique in having large crests on the skull midline and above the orbits. Umoonasaurus is surprisingly archaic despite its relatively late age (approx. 115 Myr ago)—being simultaneously the most basal (primitive) and last surviving rhomaleosaurid. Notably, it lacks the ‘pliosauromorph’ features (large head, short neck, gigantism) typically characterizing many more derived Jurassic rhomaleosaurids; thus, reinforcing the suspected convergent evolution of the ‘pliosauromorph’ hypercarnivore body plan. Umoonasaurus inhabited an Early Cretaceous high-latitude (approx. 70° S) inland seaway subject to seasonally near-freezing climatic conditions. This extreme environment supported a diverse range of plesiosaur taxa, suggesting that these marine reptiles might have possessed adaptations (e.g. heightened metabolic levels) to cope with cold-water temperatures. Indeed, survival of ancient endemic lineages such as Umoonasaurus is a common phenomenon in Australian Cretaceous vertebrate assemblages and might have been facilitated by isolation in low-temperature high-latitude regions.

Keywords: plesiosaur, archaic, rhomaleosaurid, cranial crests, Early Cretaceous, high latitude

1. Introduction

Plesiosaurs (Plesiosauria) are an extinct group of Mesozoic marine reptiles adapted for submarine locomotion using four paddle-like limbs. Current studies recognize two principal lineages (sensu O'Keefe 2001): Plesiosauroidea, characterized by small-headed, long-necked forms (‘plesiosauromorphs’; O'Keefe 2002); and Pliosauroidea, typified by shorter-necked, larger-headed taxa (‘pliosauromorphs’; O'Keefe 2002). Much of the documented fossil history of plesiosaurs comes from Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks in the Northern Hemisphere (Brown 1981; Bakker 1993); in contrast, plesiosaur records from the Southern Hemisphere are comparatively sparse (reviewed by Kear 2005). Recent work in the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian, approx. 115 Myr ago) deposits of southern Australia has uncovered evidence of a diverse assemblage (see Kear (2003) for summary) inhabiting an unusual Early Cretaceous near-freezing sub-polar zone (approx. 70° S; Frakes & Francis 1988). This study reports on an unexpected new addition to this high-latitude, cold-water fauna; a primitive, crested rhomaleosaurid (Pliosauroidea) from the opal mines of Coober Pedy (and contemporaneous strata) in northern South Australia.

2. Systematic palaeontology

Diapsida Osborn 1903; Sauropterygia Owen 1860; Plesiosauria de Blainville 1835; Pliosauroidea Welles 1943 (sensu O'Keefe 2001); Rhomaleosauridae Nopsca 1928 (sensu O'Keefe 2001).

Umoonasaurus demoscyllus gen. et sp. nov.

(a) Etymology

Umoona (Antakirinja) indigenous name for the Coober Pedy area, and sauros (Greek), lizard; demos (Greek), of the people, and scyll (Greek), a sea monster of classical mythology—referring to the type locality and purchase of the holotype specimen by public donations.

(b) Holotype, locality and horizon

Holotype: Australian Museum F99374, opalized skeleton including skull from the Zorba Extension Opal Field, west of Coober Pedy. Referred specimens: South Australian Museum P23841 (opalized) from the Andamooka opal fields; P31050 from the Curdimurka area, Lake Eyre South; P410550 (juvenile) from the Neales River region, Oodnadatta. Stratigraphy: All localities are from the Bulldog Shale (Marree Subgroup) of northern South Australia. This unit is correlated with the Lower Aptian–Lower Albian, Cyclosporites hughesii, Crybelosporites striatus zones/Odontochitina operculata, Diconodinium davidii and Muderongia tetracantha zones (Alexander & Sansome 1996).

(c) Diagnosis

Identical for genus and species due to monotypy. Umoonasaurus possesses the unique-derived features (within Plesiosauria) of thin, arching crests on the midline of the snout (an elaboration of the midline ridge) and above the orbits, a large triangular pineal opening bordered by high fluted, crest-like margins. It further differs from all other plesiosaurs in displaying a distinctive mosaic of primitive and derived features (see character matrix in electronic supplementary material).

3. Description

Remains attributable to Umoonasaurus include three partial skeletons from adult individuals (sensu Brown 1981) of around 2.5 m maximum length (based on AM F99374). One additional osteologically immature specimen (SAM P410550) probably represents a juvenile less than 1 m long. The holotype, dubbed ‘Eric’ in the popular press (see Cruickshank et al. 1999), is the most complete opalized vertebrate fossil yet known and is preserved in three dimensions with minimal distortion.

The skull of Umoonasaurus (figure 1) is small (222 mm maximum length, 130 mm maximum width) and triangular in outline with a short rostrum (narrow but lacking a distinct constriction at the premaxillary–maxillary suture). There is a high, blade-like crest extending along the skull midline (premaxilla, parietal) from snout to past the pineal foramen; this is highest around the level of the external nares. Another pair of strongly arched crests is also present on the frontals (and possibly postfrontals), above the orbits. These structures have not been reported in other plesiosaurs; although premaxillary midline ridges have been described in some taxa (Rhomaleosaurus, Leptocleidus and elasmosaurids; see Taylor 1992; Cruickshank 1997; Kear 2005), they are not as high or narrow as in Umoonasaurus. Function of the cranial crests in Umoonasaurus remains speculative; however, they appear too fragile for use in skull reinforcement, defence or male combat (see Molnar 2005). Their heavily sculpted surfaces suggest a horny covering in life; this would have substantially increased the crest height and perhaps (together with colour) made them effective display structures for species recognition and/or mating behaviours.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Open in a new tab

Umoonasaurus demoscyllus (AM F99374) skull in (a) dorsal, (b) anterolateral snout region showing crests, (c) lateral, (d) posterior and (e) palatal views (palate image is from a cast, original specimen is fixed to a display base and thus inaccessible). Abbreviations: aipv, anterior interpterygoid vacuity; bo, basioccipital; bt, basioccipital tuber; ec, ectopterygoid; en, external naris; ep, epipterygoid; ex–op, exoccipital–opisthotic; fmg, foramen magnum; fr-cr, fontal crest; in, internal naris; max, maxilla; mcr, midline crest (premaxilla); or, orbit; pa, parietal; pal, palatine; par, parasphenoid; pb, postorbital bar base; pif, pineal foramen; pifc, pineal foramen crest; pmx, premaxilla; ppr, paroccipital process; pt, pterygoid; pt–ec, pterygoid–ectopterygoid complex; pt-lap, pterygoid lappet; qr-pt, quadrate ramus of pterygoid; qu, quadrate; sq, squamosal; vo, vomer.

The snout of Umoonasaurus bears a premaxillary rosette with sockets for five enlarged procumbent fangs. There are at least 10 tooth sockets on the maxillae, with the 4th–6th housing additional large caniniform fangs. The remaining teeth are small and gracile (10–20 mm in crown height) with ornamentation (consisting of coarse, widely spaced striations) restricted to the lingual surface (see electronic supplementary material for figures). The small bony nasal openings are situated close to the anterior orbital margins. The orbits themselves are large with raised anterior borders. The postorbital bars are missing in the holotype; however, the temporal fenestrae appear to have occupied around one-third of the total skull length.

The anterior skull roof (formed by the parietals) is lanceolate in outline with a large, triangular pineal foramen. Unusually, the edges of the pineal foramen are raised, forming high fluted crests (a unique-derived feature of Umoonasaurus); these are continuous anteriorly and posteriorly with the midline crest. The palate has a large anterior interpterygoid vacuity (separated from the posterior interpterygoid vacuity by a closed midline suture) and vomers that do not extend far posteriorly beyond the internal nares (see O'Keefe (2001) for distribution of palate characters in other pliosauroids). The parasphenoid is keeled along its entire length and subdivides the narrow posterior interpterygoid vacuity. The adjacent posteroventral pterygoid surfaces are dished (concave in ventral view); this is an unexpected feature traditionally regarded as a synapomorphy for Polycotylidae (Plesiosauroidea) (O'Keefe 2004). The posterior pterygoid edges bear squared lappets that underlie the quadrate pterygoid flanges. Notable features of the basicranium include gracile paroccipital processes, robust basioccipital tubera, and exposure of the basioccipital posterior to the posterior pterygoid suture.

The postcranial skeleton of Umoonasaurus (see electronic supplementary material for figures) is rather generalized, but includes some novel and/or derived traits (shared with various other plesiosaurs) such as cervical centra with length<height, laterally compressed blade-like neural spines, cervical zygapophyses that are subequal to the centrum in width, single-headed ribs, a ‘pygostyle-like’ structure (formed from at least five fused caudal vertebrae) at the end of the tail, and epipodials that are broader than long.

4. Phylogeny and evolution

Phylogenetic analysis using the most comprehensive published phylogenetic dataset of Plesiosauria (O'Keefe 2004) places Umoonasaurus as the most basal rhomaleosaurid pliosauroid (figure 2). Rhomaleosaurid affinities are supported by several strong synapomorphies (see matrix in electronic supplementary material; subscript numbering refers to character numbers in this matrix; character list follows O'Keefe (2004)): squared pterygoid lappets59, presence of premaxillary fangs101, cervical centra with length<height112, cervical zygapophyses subequal to centrum in width120. Umoonasaurus, however, lacks key synapomorphies characterizing all other more advanced rhomaleosaurids (grooves leading into external naris37, robust paroccipital process46, basioccipital covered posterior to pterygoid suture64, robust teeth with large roots and wear103), making it the most basal form. It also possesses a unique combination of primitive and derived states variably developed in other plesiosaurs (small skull1, short rostrum8, unconstricted snout9, dished pterygoids67, caniniform maxillary teeth102, tooth ornament restricted to lingual surface105, single-headed ribs117, laterally compressed neural spines130, epipodials broader than long161). Rhomaleosaurids are morphologically conservative; thus, relationships between more advanced taxa (Rhomaleosaurus, Macroplata, Simolestes and Leptocleidus) are weakly resolved. Notably, Umoonasaurus fails to group with Leptocleidus (the taxon to which it has been previously attributed; Kear 2003). However, bootstrap frequencies are relatively weak due to missing data, and constraining these two taxa to form a clade does not result in a significantly worse tree (best constrained trees are only two steps longer, non-parametric test in Paup p>0.40; Swofford 2002).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Open in a new tab

Phylogeny and stratigraphic record of (filled circle) Plesiosauria illustrating relationships among (filled square) pliosauroids including Umoonasaurus (see electronic supplementary material). Umoonasaurus and taxa exhibiting the ‘pliosauromorph’ body plan (Rhomaleosaurus, Simolestes, Pliosauridae) are indicated by icons. Boxed numbers for selected nodes denoting (open circle) Rhomaleosauridae and (open diamond) advanced rhomaleosaurid taxa refer to synapomorphies discussed in the main text. Other numbers refer to bootstrap/Bremer support.

Derived Jurassic rhomaleosaurids possess ‘pliosauromorph’ features (large heads, robust teeth, short necks and gigantism) hypothesized to be convergent with those in pliosaurids and polycotylids (the latter now removed to Plesiosauroidea; O'Keefe 2004). The absence of these traits in the most basal rhomaleosaurid (Umoonasaurus) reinforces this view, suggesting not only a preference for small-bodied prey (evidenced by preserved gut contents consisting of small teleosts; see electronic supplementary material), but also that the ‘pliosauromorph’ hypercarnivore body plan evolved more than once even within Pliosauroidea (O'Keefe 2002), in both pliosaurids and rhomaleosaurids.

Umoonasaurus lived (together with ichthyosaurs and a range of other plesiosaur taxa; Kear 2003) in an extreme Early Cretaceous high-latitude palaeoenvironment subject to seasonally near-freezing conditions (evidenced by glacial erratics, glendonites and densely growth-banded wood; Frakes & Francis 1988; De Lurio & Frakes 1999). This contrasts markedly with climate regimes typically tolerated by modern aquatic reptiles but suggests that some Mesozoic forms were able to cope with low-average water temperatures, perhaps via specialized physiological mechanisms (e.g. endothermy or inertial homeothermy) and/or behavioural strategies (e.g. seasonal migration). Umoonasaurus is also one of the several plesiosaur taxa apparently endemic to the high-latitude deposits (Bulldog Shale) of southern Australia (Kear 2003). Despite being the last surviving rhomaleosaurid, it is also the most basal form. This implies a long period of biogeographic isolation and is consistent with its unusual morphology. Indeed, such unique endemics are common in Australian Cretaceous marine and terrestrial assemblages (Rich et al. 1988; Thulborn & Turner 2003), suggesting that isolating barriers such as climate might have been shaping the evolution of a distinctive Australian Cretaceous biota long before actual physical separation from Antarctica occurred in the Early Tertiary.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank R. Jones (Australian Museum) and staff of Cody Opals/The National Opal Collection for access to specimens, and F. R. O'Keefe (New York College of Osteopathic Medicine) for providing his original data matrix modified here in the phylogenetic analysis. J. Lee (Adelaide) produced the artwork. P. Willis (Australian Broadcasting Commission) prepared the holotype. Comments from two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. Financial support was provided by The Australian Research Council, South Australian Museum, Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, Coober Pedy, Sir Mark Mitchell Research Foundation, Outback at Isa Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Origin Energy, The Advertiser, The Waterhouse Club, the Coober Pedy Tourism Association, Commercial and General Capital Ltd and Kenneth J. Herman Inc.

Supplementary Material

Additional Figures and Phylogenetic Analysis
rsbl20060504s27.pdf (9.7MB, pdf)

References

  1. Alexander E.M, Sansome A. Lithostratigraphy and environments of deposition. In: Alexander E.M, Hibbert J.E, editors. The petroleum geology of South Australia, vol. 2: Eromanga Basin, South Australia. Department of Mines and Energy Report Book 96/20. 1996. pp. 49–86. [Google Scholar]
  2. Bakker R.T. Plesiosaur extinction cycles—events that mark the beginning, middle and end of the Cretaceous. In: Caldwell G.E, Kauffman E.G, editors. Evolution of the Western Interior Basin. Geological Association of Canada. Special Paper 39. 1993. pp. 641–664. [Google Scholar]
  3. Blainville H.M.D.de. Description de guelques espéces de reptiles de la Californie, précédée de l'analyse d'un systéme générale Erpetologie et d' Amphibiologie. Nouv. Annal. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris. 1835;4:233–296. [Google Scholar]
  4. Brown D.S. The English Upper Jurassic Plesiosauroidea (Reptilia) and a review of the phylogeny and classification of the Plesiosauria. Bull. Br. Museum (Nat. Hist.), Geol. Ser. 1981;35:253–347. [Google Scholar]
  5. Cruickshank A.R.I. A Lower Cretaceous pliosauroid from South Africa. Ann. S. Afr. Museum. 1997;105:207–226. [Google Scholar]
  6. Cruickshank A.R.I, Fordyce R.E, Long J.A. Recent developments in Australasian sauropterygian palaeontology (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) Rec. W. Aust. Museum, Suppl. 1999;57:201–205. [Google Scholar]
  7. De Lurio J.L, Frakes L.A. Glendonites as a palaeoenvironmental tool: implications for Early Cretaceous high latitude climates in Australia. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 1999;63:1039–1048. doi:10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00019-8 [Google Scholar]
  8. Frakes L.A, Francis J.E. A guide to Phanerozoic cold polar climates from high-latitude ice-rafting in the Cretaceous. Nature. 1988;333:547–549. doi:10.1038/333547a0 [Google Scholar]
  9. Kear B.P. Cretaceous marine reptiles of Australia: a review of taxonomy and distribution. Cretaceous Res. 2003;24:277–303. doi:10.1016/S0195-6671(03)00046-6 [Google Scholar]
  10. Kear B.P. A new elasmosaurid plesiosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Queensland, Australia. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 2005;25:792–805. [Google Scholar]
  11. Molnar R.E. Sexual selection and sexual dimorphism in theropods. In: Carpenter K, editor. The carnivorous dinosaurs. Indiana University Press; Bloomington, IN: 2005. pp. 284–312. [Google Scholar]
  12. Nopsca F. The genera of reptiles. Palaeobiol. 1928;1:163–188. [Google Scholar]
  13. O'Keefe F.R. A cladistic analysis and taxonomic revision of the Plesiosauria (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) Acta Zool. Fenn. 2001;213:1–63. [Google Scholar]
  14. O'Keefe F.R. The evolution of plesiosaur and pliosaur morphotypes in the Plesiosauria (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) Paleobiology. 2002;28:101–112. [Google Scholar]
  15. O'Keefe F.R. Preliminary description and phylogenetic position of a new plesiosaur (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Toarcian of Holzmaden, Germany. J. Paleontol. 2004;78:973–988. [Google Scholar]
  16. Osborn H.F. The reptilian subclass Diapsida and Synapsida and the early history of the Diaptosauria. Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 1903;1:499–507. [Google Scholar]
  17. Owen R. On the orders of fossil and recent Reptilia, and their distribution in time. Rep. Br. Assoc. Advan. Sci. Lond. 1860;29:153–166. [Google Scholar]
  18. Rich P.V, Rich T.H, Wagstaff B.E, McEwan Mason J, Douthitt C.B, Gregory R.T, Felton E.A. Evidence for low temperatures and biologic diversity in Cretaceous high latitudes of Australia. Science. 1988;242:1403–1406. doi: 10.1126/science.242.4884.1403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Swofford D. Paup* 4.0b10. Sinauer Associates Inc.; Sunderland, MA: 2002. [Google Scholar]
  20. Taylor M.A. Functional anatomy of the head of the large aquatic predator Rhomaleosaurus zetlandicus (Plesiosauria: Reptilia) from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) of Yorkshire, England. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 1992;335:247–280. [Google Scholar]
  21. Thulborn T, Turner S. The last dicynodont: an Australian Cretaceous relict. Proc. R. Soc. B. 2003;270:985–993. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2296. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2296 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

Additional Figures and Phylogenetic Analysis
rsbl20060504s27.pdf (9.7MB, pdf)

Articles from Biology Letters are provided here courtesy of The Royal Society

RESOURCES