The Kansas University Quarterly, Vol. I, No. 1 (1892)Various
History
The Kansas University Quarterly, Vol. I, No. 1 (1892)
Various
Natural history -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
The skull has been, unfortunately, almost wholly washed away, a
fragment of the cranial wall and the posterior part of the lower jaws
alone remaining. It is impossible, hence, to say much concerning this
part of the anatomy. The lower jaws show a different structure from
that in _Pteranodon_. As they lie in their natural position, the width
at the condyles is about twenty-four millimeters. The angular is less
produced posterior to the articulation than in _Pteranodon_, indicating
a less elongated and less powerful mandibular portion, an indication
further borne out by the slenderness of the rami. The impression in
the chalk shows the symphysis to begin ninety millimeters from the
articulation. The width at this place could not have exceeded sixteen
millimeters; and the entire length of the lower jaws could hardly
have been more than one hundred and twenty-five millimeters. In the
parts preserved, measuring seventy-five millimeters, there are no
indications of teeth; yet it is not impossible that there may have been
teeth in the anterior portion of the dentary, as in some species of
_Pterodactylus_. I hardly think it probable, however.
There are seven cervical vertebrae preserved, apparently the full
complement, as in _Pteranodon_ and other members of the order. They
differ in no especial respect from the corresponding vertebrae of
_Pteranodon_, and, apparently, of _Pterodactylus_. The imperfectly
anchylosed, possibly free, atlas shows three pieces, the odontoid
process and the two slender lateral pieces. The lateral pieces are
entirely free, with a thickened base and a slender, curved upper
portion. The odontoid is gently concave in front, and seems to be
imperfectly ossified with the axis; it occupies the lower part of the
articulation, corresponding to the hypapophysis of the Pythonomorpha.
The axis is the shortest of the remaining vertebrae, and has a well
developed spine. The centrum is strongly convex behind, as are the
remaining centra of the series. The following five vertebrae decrease
gradually in length. The anterior ones have only a thin ridge or plate
for the neural spine; the seventh, however, has a neurapophysis of
some length. They are all, as is usually the case, somewhat distorted
from pressure. The under side is flattened, apparently gently concave
longitudinally, and with a lateral ridge terminating in an obtuse
hypapophysis at each inferior hind angle.
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