Apricosiren

Apricosiren Temporal range: Berriasian, 145.5–140  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Clade:	Caudata
Genus:	† Apricosiren Evans & McGowan 2002 [1]
Type species
†Apricosiren ensomi Evans & McGowan 2002 [1]

Apricosiren is an extinct genus of prehistoric salamander that lived during the Early Cretaceous period around 145.5-140 million years ago . It is known from the Berriasian aged Lulworth Formation in southern England. It was a small species. ^{[2] [3] [1]}

The genus name combines Latin apricus (=sunny), in reference to the type locality, Sunnydown Farm, and siren, a salamander. The specific name ensomi honours Paul Ensom for his contributions to "our knowledge of Early Cretaceous microvertebrates".

Phylogeny

Apricosiren belong to a large clade of amphibians known as Caudata and potentially an early diverging member of Salamandroidea. This genus is closely related to genera such as Kiyatriton and Valdotriton. ^[4]

See also

• Prehistoric amphibian
• List of prehistoric amphibians

References

1. Evans, S.E.; McGowan, G.J. (2002). Milner, A.R.; Batten, D.J. (eds.). "Lissamphibian remains from the Purbeck Limestone Group, southern England". Special Papers in Palaeontology. 68: 103–119.
2. "†Apricosiren Evans and McGowan". Paleobiology Database. Fossilworks. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
3. Martín, C.; Sanchiz, B. (2014). "Apricosiren". Lisanfos KMS. Version 1.2. Online reference accessible at www.lisanfos.mncn.csic.es. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN-CSIC, Madrid (Spain). Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
4. Macaluso, Loredana; Mannion, Philip D.; Evans, Susan E.; Carnevale, Giorgio; Monti, Sara; Marchitelli, Domenico; Delfino, Massimo (November 2022). "Biogeographic history of Palearctic caudates revealed by a critical appraisal of their fossil record quality and spatio-temporal distribution". Royal Society Open Science. 9 (11): 220935. doi:10.1098/rsos.220935. ISSN   2054-5703. PMC   9709575 . PMID   36465678.