Fossil reptiles from the Spanish Muschelkalk (mont‐ral and alcover, province Tarragona)

Abstract

The marine tetrapods from the late Ladinian Spanish Muschelkalk deposits located between the towns of Mont‐ral and Alcover (province Tarragona) are reviewed. The fauna comprises an undetermined thalattosaur, a small cyamodontoid placodont probably referrable to Psephoderma, a possible pachypleurosaur with (if any) affinities to the Serpianosaurus‐Neusticosaurus clade, lariosaur specimens currently referred to Lariosaurus balsami, an incomplete specimen of Lariosaurus calcagnii, an endemic nothosaur (Nothosaurus cymatosauroides), and a possible pistosaur. Collectively, the faunal mix comprises endemic taxa as well as elements with affinities to the fauna of the Alpine and/or Germanic Triassic. The fauna suggests faunal interchange through the Burgundy Gate linking the southern branch of the developing Neotethys to the Germanic Basin.