Neusticosaurus pusillus (E. Fraas, 1881)

Holotype.

NHMUK PV R 53, nearly complete skeleton.

Type locality.

Kugelberg at Ludwigsburg-Hoheneck, Stuttgart district, Baden-Württemberg.

Type horizon.

Hoheneck-Kalk, Erfurt Formation, Lower Keuper Subgroup. Age: Middle Triassic (Ladinian: Longobardian).

Referred material.

For a detailed list see Sander (1989). Sander provided a thorough description of this species based primarily on numerous excellently preserved skeletons from the Ladinian-age Cava Inferiore Beds of the Meride Limestone at Monte San Giorgio (Southern Alps of Switzerland).

Diagnosis.

Distinguished by the following combination of features: small size (total body length of up to 52 cm); skull table with parallel lateral margins; orbit proportionately small; supratemporal fossa oval; 22–24 dorsal vertebrae; atlas lacking ribs; and two carpal bones present in adults (Sander 1989).

Comments.

Sander (1989) considered Neusticosaurus pygmaeus E. Fraas, 1896, based on SMNS 53932, a group of three complete and nine partial skeletons from the Hoheneck-Kalk (Fig. 12 A), a subjective junior synonym of N. pusillus.

References.

Seeley (1882), E. Fraas (1896), Sander (1989), Rieppel (2000).