Apricosiren

Apricosiren
Temporal range: Berriasian, 145.5–140 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Clade: Caudata
Genus: †Apricosiren
Evans & McGowan 2002
Type species
†Apricosiren ensomi
Evans & McGowan 2002

Apricosiren is an extinct genus of prehistoric salamander that lived during the Early Cretaceous period around 145.5-140 million years ago . It is known from the Berriasian aged Lulworth Formation in southern England. It was a small species.

The genus name combines Latin apricus (=sunny), in reference to the type locality, Sunnydown Farm, and siren, a salamander. The specific name ensomi honours Paul Ensom for his contributions to "our knowledge of Early Cretaceous microvertebrates".

Phylogeny

Apricosiren belong to a large clade of amphibians known as Caudata and potentially an early diverging member of Salamandroidea. This genus is closely related to genera such as Kiyatriton and Valdotriton.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Evans, S.E.; McGowan, G.J. (2002). Milner, A.R.; Batten, D.J. (eds.). "Lissamphibian remains from the Purbeck Limestone Group, southern England". Special Papers in Palaeontology. 68: 103–119.
  2. ↑ "†Apricosiren Evans and McGowan". Paleobiology Database. Fossilworks. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  3. ↑ Martín, C.; Sanchiz, B. (2014). "Apricosiren". Lisanfos KMS. Version 1.2. Online reference accessible at www.lisanfos.mncn.csic.es. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN-CSIC, Madrid (Spain). Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Macaluso, Loredana; Mannion, Philip D.; Evans, Susan E.; Carnevale, Giorgio; Monti, Sara; Marchitelli, Domenico; Delfino, Massimo (November 2022). "Biogeographic history of Palearctic caudates revealed by a critical appraisal of their fossil record quality and spatio-temporal distribution". Royal Society Open Science. 9 (11) 220935. doi:10.1098/rsos.220935. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 9709575. PMID 36465678.