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. 2019 Nov 13;14(11):e0224263.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224263. eCollection 2019.

Dacentrurine stegosaurs (Dinosauria): A new specimen of Miragaia longicollum from the Late Jurassic of Portugal resolves taxonomical validity and shows the occurrence of the clade in North America

Francisco Costa  1   2 , Octávio Mateus  1   2
Affiliations

Dacentrurine stegosaurs (Dinosauria): A new specimen of Miragaia longicollum from the Late Jurassic of Portugal resolves taxonomical validity and shows the occurrence of the clade in North America

Francisco Costa et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The stegosaur species Miragaia longicollum was erected based on a partial anterior skeleton from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal. Until then, almost all stegosaur specimens in Portugal and Spain had been identified as Dacentrurus armatus, the sister taxon of M. longicollum and only other member of the clade Dacentrurinae. The holotypes of the two species have little overlap, since the holotype of D. armatus is mostly a posterior skeleton, so the classification of other specimens to either species is unclear and the validity of M. longicollum has been questioned and debated. Here we describe a largely complete specimen of M. longicollum discovered in 1959 in Atouguia da Baleia, Peniche, Portugal, consisting of both anterior and posterior portions of the skeleton. Comparisons to the holotypes of dacentrurines and other stegosaurs shed light on the convoluted relationships of this group. We conclude that M. longicollum is valid and rather different from D. armatus, and provide a revised diagnosis of M. longicollum, as well as revised diagnoses for D. armatus, Dacentrurinae, and the first diagnosis of the genus Miragaia, granting stability to these taxa and allowing new considerations to be given on the classification of other Iberian stegosaurs. This new specimen is, to date, the most complete dinosaur described from Portugal and the most complete stegosaur described from Europe. Miragaia shared anatomical features that show a close affinity to Alcovasaurus longispinus, confirming this to be the first known dacentrurine stegosaur in America, coherent with the hypothesis of an ephemeral land bridge between North America and Iberia that allowed faunal exchange.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Illustrations of the holotypes of D. armatus and O. hastiger.
XI–XXII, holotype of D. armatus (NHMUK OR46013) from [12] labelled the same as the plates therein, XXIII, XXIV, holotype of O. hastiger from [31] labelled the same as the plates therein. XI, posterior cervical neural spine, XII, XIII, dorsal vertebrae, XIV, XV, anterior caudal vertebrae, XVI, mid caudal vertebra, XVII, humerus, radius and ulna, XVIII, fourth left metacarpal, XIX, ilio–sacral block, femur, left ischium, and various dorsal and caudal vertebrae, XX, right pubis and ischium, XXI, spine and right tibia, XXII, spine and section of sacral vertebra. See Owen [12,31] for further details. All skeletal elements to same scale according to [12,31], Scale bar equal to 1m.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Holotype of Miragaia longicollum.
A, Holotype of Miragaia longicollum (ML 433) and pelvic bones of referred juvenile specimen (ML 433–A). B, Miragaia material in the Museu da Lourinhã: Full body replica (foreground), holotype, juvenile specimen and isolated thagomizer spines (background, spread on the floor), replica of most of the holotype material as found in the field (background, mounted on the wall) and fossilized tracks (under full body replica).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Skeletal elements found of Dacentrurus armatus NHMUK OR46013, and Miragaia longicollum ML 433 and MG 4863.
A, NHMUK OR46013 (modified reprint from: http://www.paleofile.com under a CC BY 4.0 license, with permission from Tracy L. Ford, original copyright 201), B, ML 433 (illustration from [22]), C, MG 4863 (preliminary reconstruction adapted from illustrations by Simão Mateus, Oliver Demuth and from [22]).
Fig 4
Fig 4. Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, skeleton of MG 4863 laid out in preliminary articulation before preparation (September 2015), B, the same laid out in semi–articulation after preparation (May 2017; unidentified skeletal elements are on the boxes on the right; caliper is 20 cm long, but the photograph should not be used for scale purposes due to distortion of panoramic photography).
Fig 5
Fig 5. Geological context of dacentrurines in Portugal and locality of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, Fossil sites of published and described occurrences of dacentrurine stegosaur skeletal remains in the Lusitanian Basin (including the presumed location of the Atouguia da Baleia specimen studied herein). Occurrences are marked in red with respective label of location (Murteiras, Pedras Muitas, São Bernardino, Areia Branca, Atalaia, Casal da Pedreira and Porto Dinheiro from [35]; Vale de Pombas from [43]; Miragaia from [22]; Moçafaneira from [41]). Simplified geological map of the central west coast of Portugal adapted from [73]. B, Detail of Geologic Map of Portugal at scale 1:50 000, sheet 26–C (Peniche) [72] including Atouguia da Baleia and the likely provenance of MG 4863 (circled in red), label simplified and adapted sensu [74]. C, Lithostratigraphy of the Lourinhã Formation from [74].
Fig 6
Fig 6. Dentary of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A–F, photographs, G–L, screenshots of 3D model in A, G, dorsal (or dorsolateral), B, H, medial (or dorsomedial), C, I, anterior, D, J, lateral (or ventrolateral), E, K, posterior, and F, L, ventral (or ventromedial) view. For, foramen, pro, process, ri, ridge, syn, symphysis. Scale bar equal to 5 cm. G–L, published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Quadrate of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, anterior, C, lateral, D, posterior, E, medial, and F, ventral view. Af, articular facet, fos, fossa, qjs, scar of the quadratojugal. Scale bar equal to 5 cm.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Cervical vertebrae two (axis) and three of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (photographs).
A, right dorsolateral, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, and E, ventral view. Cv2, axis, Cv3, cervical vertebra three. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Cervical vertebrae two (axis) and three of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (screenshots of 3D model).
A, right dorsolateral, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, and E, ventral view. Amr, assessory medial ridges of spinopostzygapophyseal laminae, dia, diapophysis, gr, groove, ns, neural spine, od, odontoid process, para, parapophysis, poz, postzygapophysis, pro, process, spozl, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina, tub, tuberosities. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 10
Fig 10. Cervical fragments of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, MG 4863–107, B, MG 4863–110, C, MG 4863–108, D, MG 4863–104, E, MG 4863–105, F, MG 4863–106, A–F in dorsal view, anterior is upwards. Scale bar equal to 5 cm.
Fig 11
Fig 11. Cervical vertebrae four and five of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (photographs).
A, dorsal, B, left lateral, C, posterior, D, right lateral, and E, ventral view. Cv4, cervical vertebra four, Cv5, cervical vertebrae five. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 12
Fig 12. Cervical vertebrae four and five of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (screenshots of 3D model).
A, dorsal, B, left lateral, C, posterior, D, right lateral, and E, ventral view. Ns, neural spine, para, parapophysis, poz, postzygapophysis, prz, prezygapophysis, spozl, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina, su, suture, tp, transverse process, tub, tuberosities. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 13
Fig 13. Cervical vertebra seven of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Amr, assessory medial ridges of spinopostzygapophyseal laminae, can, canal, dia, diapophysis, nc, neural canal, ns, neural spine, para, parapophysis, poz, postzygapophysis, spozl, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina, tub, tuberosities. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 14
Fig 14. Cervical vertebra nine of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (photographs).
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 15
Fig 15. Cervical vertebra nine of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (screenshots of 3D model).
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Amr, assessory medial ridges of spinopostzygapophyseal laminae, gr, groove, nc, neural canal, ns, neural spine, para, parapophysis, pe, pedicel, poz, postzygapophysis, pro, process, prz, prezygapophysis, spozl, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina, tp, transverse process, tub, tuberosities. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 16
Fig 16. Cervical vertebra 11 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (photographs).
A, right dorsolateral, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, and E, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 17
Fig 17. Cervical vertebra 11 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (screenshots of 3D model).
A, right dorsolateral, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, and E, ventral view. Amr, assessory medial ridges of spinopostzygapophyseal laminae, gr, groove, nc, neurocanal, ns, neural spine, no, notch, poz, postzygapophysis, pro, process, prz, prezygapophysis, spozl, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 18
Fig 18. Cervical vertebrae 12 and 13 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (photographs).
A, dorsal, B, left lateral, C, posterior, D, right lateral, and E, ventral view. Cv12, cervical vertebra 12, Cv13, cervical vertebra 13. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 19
Fig 19. Cervical vertebrae 12 and 13 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (screenshots of 3D model).
A, dorsal, B, left lateral, C, posterior, D, right lateral, and E, ventral view. Ns, neural spine, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 20
Fig 20. Cervical vertebra 14 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Epp, epipophysis, fos, fossa, nc, neural canal, ns, neural spine, para, parapophysis, poz, postzygapophysis, pro, process, prz, prezygapophysis, spozl, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina, tp, transverse process, tub, tuberosities. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 21
Fig 21. Cervical rib 17 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, anterolateral, C, anteromedial, D, posteromedial, E, posterolateral, and F, ventral view. Ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 5 cm.
Fig 22
Fig 22. Dorsal vertebra two of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Keel, keel, nc, neurocanal, ncs, neurocentral suture, para, parapophysis, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 23
Fig 23. Dorsal vertebra three and unidentified dorsal transverse process of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Tp, transverse process, prz, prezygapophysis. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 24
Fig 24. Dorsal vertebrae five, six and dorsal rib of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Dia, diapophysis, nc, neurocanal, ns, neural spine, pcdl, posterior centrodiapophyseal lamina, rib, rib, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 25
Fig 25. Dorsal vertebra seven and part of six of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. D6, postzygapophyses of dorsal vertebra six, Keel, keel, nc, neurocanal, ncs, neurocentral suture, para, parapophysis, pcdl, posterior centrodiapophyseal lamina, poz, postzygapophysis. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 26
Fig 26. Caudal vertebra one of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A–F, photographs, G–L, screenshots of 3D model in A, G, dorsal, B, H, right lateral, C, I, anterior, D, J, left lateral, E, K, posterior, and F, L, ventral view. Carns, central anterior ridge of neural spine, cpaf, central process of articular facet, dpaf, dorsal process of articular facet, fos, fossa, nc, neural canal, ns, neural spine, pdccr, proximodorsal canal of caudal rib. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. G–L, published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 27
Fig 27. Caudal vertebra two of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Carns, central anterior ridge of neural spine, cr, caudal rib, pdpcr, proximodorsal process of caudal rib, sprzl, spinoprezygapophyseal lamina. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 28
Fig 28. Caudal fragments of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, MG 4863–98, B, MG 4863–101, C, MG 4863–103, D, MG4863–51 in A–C, anterior view, and D, left lateral. Pdpcr, proximodorsal process of caudal rib. Scale bar equal to 5 cm.
Fig 29
Fig 29. Caudal vertebra three of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Poz, postzygapophyses. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 30
Fig 30. Caudal vertebra five of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Carns, central anterior ridge of neural spine, cpaf, central process of articular facet, craf, concentric ridges of articular facet, dppcr, distaloposterior process of caudal ribs, pe, pedicel, pdpcr, proximodorsal process of caudal rib, sprzl, spinoprezygapophyseal lamina. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 31
Fig 31. Caudal vertebra seven of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Chf, chevron facets, cpaf, central process of articular facet, pe, pedicel. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 32
Fig 32. Caudal vertebrae eight and nine of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cd8, caudal vertebra eight, Cd9, caudal vertebra nine, carns, central anterior ridge of neural spine, chf, chevron, ri, ridge, sprzl, spinoprezygapophyseal lamina. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 33
Fig 33. Caudal vertebrae 10 and 11 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cd10, caudal vertebra 10, Cd11, caudal vertebra 11, cr, caudal rib, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 34
Fig 34. Caudal vertebra 12 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Ns, neural spine. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 35
Fig 35. Caudal vertebrae 13, 14 and part of 15 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cd13, caudal vertebra 13, Cd14, caudal vertebra 14, Cd15, prezygapophyses of caudal vertebra 15, ns, neural spine, pro, process, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 36
Fig 36. Caudal vertebra 15 and part of 16 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cd16, prezygapophyses of caudal vertebra 16, nc, neural canal, ns, neural spine, poz, postzygapophyses, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 37
Fig 37. Caudal vertebra 16 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Pro, process, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 38
Fig 38. Caudal vertebra 18 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Chf, chevron facets, craf, concentric ridges of articular facet, dpaf, dorsal process of articular facet, nc, neurocanal, pro, process, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 39
Fig 39. Caudal vertebra 19 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Dpaf, dorsal process of articular facet, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 40
Fig 40. Caudal vertebra 23 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Chf, chevron facets, cpaf, central process of articular facet, craf, concentric ridges of articular facet, dpaf, dorsal process of articular facet, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 41
Fig 41. Caudal vertebra 24 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Con, concavity, nc, neural canal. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 42
Fig 42. Caudal vertebra 27 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Poz, postzygapophyses. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 43
Fig 43. Caudal vertebra 28 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cpaf, central process of articular facet, craf, concentric ridges of articular facet, dpaf, dorsal process of articular facet, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 44
Fig 44. Caudal vertebra 30 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Prz, prezygapophysis, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 45
Fig 45. Caudal vertebra 32 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Craf, concentric ridges of articular facet, dpaf, dorsal process of articular facet, fra, fracture, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 46
Fig 46. Caudal vertebra 34 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Poz, postzygapophyses, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 47
Fig 47. Caudal vertebra 36 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Chf, chevron facets, cpaf, central process of articular facet, cro, lateral centrum rim ossification, tp, transverse process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 48
Fig 48. Centrum of caudal vertebra 37 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cro, lateral centrum rim ossification. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 49
Fig 49. Dorsal ribs of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
Only the most complete partial dorsal ribs are figured. A, N, MG 4863–47, B, O, MG 4863–75, C, P, MG 4863–78, D, Q, MG 4863–50, E, R, MG 4863–79, F, S, MG 4863–62, G, T, MG 4863–81, H, U, MG 4863–82, I, V, MG 4863–48, J, W, MG 4863–83, K, X, MG 4863–80, L, Y, MG 4863–49, M, Z, MG 4863–92, in A–G, anterior, H–M, lateral, N–T, posterior and U–Z, medial view. Ca, capitulum, ri, ridge, tu, tuberculum. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 50
Fig 50. Chevron 17 of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Af, articular facet, fos, fossa, gr, groove, hc, haemal canal, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 5 cm.
Fig 51
Fig 51. Left ilium and sacral ribs of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, anterior, B, medial, C, ventral, D, lateral, E, dorsal, and F, posterior view. Ac, acetabulum, isp, ischial peduncle, poap, postacetabular process, prap, preacetabular process, pup, pubic peduncle, sap, supracetabular process, sr, sacral rib. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 52
Fig 52. Possible pelvic fragments of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, MG 4863–54, B, MG4863–114, C, MG 4863–123, D, MG4863–125, E, MG 4863–127, F, MG4863–131 in lateral or medial view.
Fig 53
Fig 53. Left pubis of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, anterior, B, medial, C, ventral, D, lateral, E, dorsal, F, posterior view. Ap, acetabular process, on, obturator notch, pop, postpubis, pro, process, prp, prepubis, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 54
Fig 54. Left ischium of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, anteromedial, C, anterolateral, D, posterolateral, E, posteromedial, and F, ventral view. For, foramina. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 55
Fig 55. Left femur of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Cnd, condyle, co, cord, ft, fourth trochanter, gr, groove, gt, greater trochanter, he, femur head. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 56
Fig 56. Right femur of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, lateral, C, anterior, D, medial, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Co, cord, ft, fourth trochanter, gr, groove, gt, greater trochanter, he, femur head. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 57
Fig 57. Left tibia, tarsus and distal fibula of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. As, astragalus, Ca, calcaneum, cc, cnemial crest, Fi, distal fibula, pro, process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 58
Fig 58. Right tibia and tarsus of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, lateral, C, anterior, D, medial, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 59
Fig 59. Left proximal fibula of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 60
Fig 60. Right fibula of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, lateral, C, anterior, D, medial, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 61
Fig 61. Left metatarsal two of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 62
Fig 62. Left metatarsal three of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. For, foramen, pro, process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 63
Fig 63. Left metatarsal four of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 64
Fig 64. Right metatarsal three of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, lateral, C, anterior, D, medial, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. For, foramen, pro, process. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 65
Fig 65. Left metacarpals two, three, and radiale of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
Mc2, second left metacarpal in A, dorsolateral, B, dorsomedial, C, anterior, D, ventrolateral, E, posterior, and F, ventromedial view. Mc3, third left metacarpal in A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Ra, left radiale in A, dorsal, B, anterior, C, medial, D, posterior, E, lateral, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 66
Fig 66. Left metacarpal one of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, dorsal, B, medial, C, anterior, D, lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 67
Fig 67. Dermal plates of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, C–F (lower part), G, MG 4863–87, B, C–F (upper part), H, MG 4863–46 in A, B, dorsal, C, anterior, D, ventral, E, posterior, F, lateral, and G, H, ventral view. Plates arranged how they probably fit together in C–F. Gr, groove, no, notch, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 5 cm.
Fig 68
Fig 68. Dermal spine of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (photographs).
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. Scale bar equal to 10 cm.
Fig 69
Fig 69. Dermal spine of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863 (screenshots of 3D model).
A, dorsal, B, right lateral, C, anterior, D, left lateral, E, posterior, and F, ventral view. For, foramen, ri, ridge. Scale bar equal to 10 cm. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Marco Marzola, original copyright 2017.
Fig 70
Fig 70. Compared posteriormost caudal vertebrae of Miragaia longicollum MG 4863.
A, B, G, H, M, N, S, T, posteriormost caudal vertebrae of A. longispinus UW 20503 (modified from [33]), C, D, I, J, O, P, U, V, MG 4863 (mirrored for improved exhibition of the features discussed), E, F, K, L, Q, R, W, X, S. stenops NHMUK PV R36730 (from [19]), C, D, Cd30, E, F, Cd29, I–L, Cd32, Q, R, Cd35, O, P, Cd36, U–X, Cd37 in A, C, E, G, I, K, M, O, P, R, S, U, W, anterior view and B, D, F, H, J, L, N, P, R, T, V, X, right lateral view. The neural spines of E and F were cut for better visualization. Cro, lateral centrum rim ossification, tp, transverse process. Scale bars equal to 10 cm.
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