288 



SAUKOPTEKYGIA. 



Genus NOTHOSAURUS, Munster 1 . 



Syn. Dracosaurus, Munster 2 . 



Skull long and narrow, with the postorbital portion larger than 

 the preorbital, and with very long and narrow supratemporal fossa ; 

 alae of pterygoids uniting beneath the basisphenoid ; upper teeth 

 numerous, with the 5th and 6th maxillary much enlarged ; man- 

 dibular symphysis of moderate length, with 5 teeth. Dorsal ver- 

 tebrse with very short transverse processes. 



Nothosaurus mirabilis, Munster 3 . 



Syn. ? Plesiosaurus speciosus, Munster 4 . 

 Dracosaurus bronni, Auct. 5 



The type species. Of moderate size ; the length of the cranium 

 averaging about 0,343 (13-5 inches). Premaxilla not laterally ex- 

 panded, with the four teeth nearly in the same antero-posterior 

 line ; last lower symphysial tooth not recurved ; 41 upper teeth. 



Pig. 83. 



Nothosaurus mirabilis.— T?ala,tal aspect of the cranium; from the Muschelkalk. 

 ^. pmx, premaxilla ; nar, posterior nares ; vo, vomer ; mx, maxilla ; pal, 

 palatine ; pt, pterygoid ; a, ala of do. ; b, quadratic ridge of same ; qu, 

 quadrate ; oc, occipital condyle. The posterior extremity of pal was pro- 

 bably formed by a transverse bone, but the suture is not visible. 



Hob. Europe (Germany and France). 



The species is typically from the Muschelkalk (Middle Trias), 

 but the specimens from the Lettenkohle of the Lower Keuper 

 (Upper Trias) are probably not specifically distinct. 



J Neues Jahrb. 1834, p. 525. 



2 Ibid. p. 526. 



3 Ibid. p. 525. 4 Ibid. p. 526. 



5 Commonly quoted as Munster, op. cit. p. 526, but only the generic name 

 appears there. 



