Glaurung schneideri gen. et sp. nov., a new weigeltisaurid (Reptilia) from the Kupfershiefer (Upper Permian) of Germany

Abstract

© 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. A new genus and species of gliding reptiles of family Weigeltisauridae, Glaurung schneideri gen. et sp. nov., from the Kupfershiefer (Upper Permian) of Germany is described and assigned to the newly established subfamily Glaurunginae subfam. nov. Glaurung is distinguished from other weigeltisaurid genera by the shape of the parietal, squamosal, and postorbital and also by the shape and distribution of ornamental outgrowths on the skull roof bones. Morphological differences between G. schneideri and W. jaekeli result from phylogenetic differentiation rather than sexual dimorphism, as was previously thought.