An ichthyosaur fragment from the Cretaceous of Northland, New Zealand

Abstract

The rostrum fragment of an ichthyosaur from Northland in New Zealand is described. The specimen appears to belong to the genus Platypterygius. It is the first Mesozoic marine vertebrate fossil reported from Northland and the first cranial element of a Cretaceous ichthyosaur from New Zealand. The fragment is, unfortunately, of uncertain provenance and could have come from the widespread Northland Allochthon (Early Cretaceous-Oligocene) or the allochthonous Houhora Complex (late Early Cretaceous) or Whatuwhiwhi Formation (latest Early to Late Cretaceous), perhaps by way of initial derivation from the Early Miocene Omapere Conglomerate.