identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
9750C307FF9C4C34FEA7F694FE08F9D6.text	9750C307FF9C4C34FEA7F694FE08F9D6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Salamandrella DYBOWKI 1870	<div><p>SALAMANDRELLA DYBOWKI, 1870</p><p>Species: Salamandrella keyserlingii * Dybowski, 1870 .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex</p><p>In hynobiids, the prootic and opisthotic–exoccipital remain unfused in morphologically mature specimens; therefore, there is no otic–occipitum complex (Jia et al., 2019).</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6A)</p><p>The neural canal is triangular in anterior view and is at least twice as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is two or three times as wide as the circular cotyle. The occipital joints are elliptical, with the major axis horizontal (or subhorizontal). The articular surfaces of the odontoid process contact each other, such that in ventral view no groove is visible between them. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The neural crest is absent. Based on the literature, in the completely ossified atlantes, a bulge should be present in its place (Ratnikov &amp; Litvinchuk, 2009); however, in all specimens examined in this work, the walls of the neural arch do not contact each other at the dorsal midline, and two articular surfaces are present in the middle. These are visible in dorsal view and articulated through cartilage. The secondary crests and the neural spine are absent. The lateral surface of the atlas bears only the foramen of the first spinal nerve. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is generally absent or small. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal. The posterior margin of the lateral wall of the neural arch, ventral to the wide incisura caudalis in lateral view, is concave, inclined or sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The lateral crests are absent, and the inferior crests are low or also absent. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length, and in posterior view, these structures are sub-horizontal. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly and posteriorly concave (with V-shaped concavities). The cotyle is generally not visible in dorsal view, or only slightly visible in the middle of the incisura dorsalis. The ventral surface generally bears more than one foramen.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 9A)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are amphicoelous. The neural canal is pentagonal or circular in anterior view, slightly higher or lower than the cotyle. The cotyles are circular or slightly elliptical, with the major axis horizontal. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the cotyle and prezygapophyses is concave or vertical. Diapophyses and parapophyses are usually fused and not recognizable (unicipital transverse processes). The transverse processes are rectangular in anterior view and slightly pointed posteroventrally. The transverse processes do not cover (or cover only in part) the posterior edge of the neural arch in lateral view. In lateral view, the vertebrae are dorsoventrally compressed, and most of the height of the vertebrae is formed by the centrum and the neural canal (only one-fifth of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses). In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is not visible or only slightly visible. The neural crest is absent. The neural spine is present in the form of a low and thick bulge that is posteriorly convex and extends posteriorly as far as the postzygapophyses. The anterior and posterior zygapophyseal and ventral crests are absent. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is smooth. The only foramen present is visible in anterior and lateral views, in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is anteriorly sub-horizontal. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is not deep and only present as a small posterior concavity (wider in the first precaudal vertebrae), and the neural arch between the centrum and postzygapophyses is slightly concave or convex. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally flat or convex (inverted U-shaped). In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length, and in posterior view, postzygapophyses are sub-horizontal. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped), and posteriorly, the incisura dorsalis is not visible. The edge of the anterior cotyle is visible in dorsal view, whereas the posterior cotyle is not visible. In lateral view, the ventral profile of the centrum is strongly concave. The ventral surface is generally smooth.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 12A)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/length ratio &lt;1.25). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, whereas the haemal canal is elliptical or U-shaped. The neural canal is wider and lower than the haemal canal, and the haemal arch is generally slender. The transverse processes are long and slender, sub-cylindrical and pointing ventrally. The neural crest is absent or low; a posterodorsal bulge is present. Zygapophyseal and ventral crests are absent. The lateral surface is smooth, with a single foramen visible at the base of the haemal arch. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the haemal arch is variably inclined, convex or concave, whereas the posteroventral edge of the haemal arch forms a sharp tip in lateral view. In ventral view, the posterior edge of the haemal arch is not forked. The haemal crest is either low or absent.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF9C4C34FEA7F694FE08F9D6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF844C37FEFEF510FD3CF9FA.text	9750C307FF844C37FEFEF510FD3CF9FA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Proteus LAURENTI 1768	<div><p>PROTEUS LAURENTI, 1768</p><p>Species: Proteus anguinus * Laurenti, 1768 .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex</p><p>In proteids, the prootic, opisthotic and exoccipital remain unfused in the adult; therefore, there is no otic–occipitum complex.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6B)</p><p>The neural canal is triangular in anterior view and is at least twice as high as each occipital joint.In posterior view, the neural canal is slightly wider than the circular cotyle. The occipital joints are elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal (or sub-horizontal), and exhibit strong dorsoventral compression in anterior view. They are confluent in the middle, with the flat and narrow odontoid process dorsal to them. The odontoid process is narrow and formed by a single, flat articular surface. The neural crest is low and hourglass-shaped in dorsal view. The secondary crests are absent. The neural spine is absent, and the posterodorsal area of the neural arch in dorsal view is forked and extends beyond the postzygapophyses. The lateral surface of the atlas bears only the foramen of the first spinal nerve. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is absent or high and narrow. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal. The neural arch between the incisura caudalis and the cotyle is concave, inclined or sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The lateral crests extend more dorsally to the postzygapophyses without contacting them. The inferior crests are low or absent. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted V-shaped). The postzygapophyses are entirely more posteriorly extended than the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch dispalys an anteriorly V-shaped concavity and is forked posteriorly. The cotyle is not visible in dorsal view. The ventral surface is usually smooth.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 9B)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are amphicoelous. The neural canal is elliptical and slightly lower than the cotyle. The cotyles are circular or slightly elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the anterior cotyle and the prezygapophyses is concave or vertical. The transverse processes are laminar, rectangular or triangular (proximally enlarging) in anterior view. They are orientated slightly posteriorly, and in lateral view they cover the posterior edge of the neural arch between the centrum and postzygapophyses entirely or in part. The diapophysis is cylindrical and proximally hollow, whereas the parapophysis is smaller and not hollow. In lateral view, most of the height of the vertebrae is formed by the centrum and the neural canal (only one-fifth of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses). In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is variably visible. The blade-like neural crest is absent or low, starting posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch, and it broadens posteriorly in some cases. The neural spine is absent. The posterodorsal area of the neural arch in dorsal view is forked and projects posteriorly further than the postzygapophyses. The anterior and posterior zygapophyseal crests are absent. The ventral lamina is wide, triangular or trapezoidal in outline. The anterior ventral crests are anteriorly convex, whereas the posterior crests are posteriorly concave. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is smooth. The only foramen present is visible in anterior and lateral view, in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of parapophyses). The incisura vertebralis caudalis is not deep and is present only as a small posterior concavity (wider in the first precaudal vertebrae). The anterior edge of the neural arch between the centrum and postzygapophyses is slightly concave or convex. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally forked, with a deep incisura dorsalis. Half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped), and the incisura dorsalis is visible posteriorly in the forked neural arch. The edge of the anterior cotyle is visible in dorsal view, whereas the posterior cotyle is not visible. In lateral view, the ventral profile of the centrum is horizontal. The ventral surface bears two foramina and a subcentral keel.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 12B)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are longer than high (height/length ratio &lt;1). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, whereas the haemal canal is triangular or circular. The neural canal is wider and lower than the haemal canal. The transverse processes are absent or transformed into horizontal laminae. The neural crest is absent or low. Zygapophyseal and ventral crests are absent. The lateral surface is smooth or with a single foramen visible at the base of the haemal arch. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the haemal arch is convex or anteriorly inclined, whereas the posteroventral edge of the haemal arch forms a sharp tip in lateral view. The haemal crest is either low or absent. The posterodorsal ends of the neural arches and posteroventral ends of the haemal arches are forked. The width between the prezygapophyses is greater than that between the postzygapophyses in the first caudal vertebrae; pre- and postzygapophyses are absent in the caudal vertebrae from the posterior half of the tail.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF844C37FEFEF510FD3CF9FA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF874C31FEA7F5FCFE70FE70.text	9750C307FF874C31FEA7F5FCFE70FE70.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Speleomantes Dubois 1984	<div><p>SPELEOMANTES DUBOIS, 1984</p><p>Species: Speleomantes ambrosii * (Lanza, 1955), Speleomantes flavus, Speleomantes genei (Temminck &amp; Schlegel, 1838), Speleomantes imperialis, Speleomantes italicus * (Dunn, 1923), Speleomantes sarrabusensis, Speleomates strinatii * (Aellen, 1958) and Speleomantes supramontis .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 4A)</p><p>The otic–occipitum complex is generally smooth, with rounded and well-defined prominentiae semicircularis anterioris, posterioris and lateralis on the dorsal surface. Between them, a deep middle depression shows no minor foramina in its floor. The circular fenestra ovalis is covered in both dorsal and posterior views by the prominentia lateralis and posterioris, respectively. The latter is prominent in lateral view, between the cotyle and the fenestra ovalis, and a sulcus separates it from the opening of the fenestra ovalis. The dorsal edge of the fenestra is located at the mid-height of the complex, and its anterior edge is at the mid-length or slightly anterior. The parietal and parotic crests are absent or limited to a small and sharp, anteriorly pointing tip on the anterior part of the prominentia lateralis; the parotic process is also absent. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum in medial view is located at the mid-length of the complex. The tectum is extended medially beyond the hypochordal commissure in posterior view, and beyond the prefacial commissure in dorsal view, but a concavity is visible between the two processes. The elliptical postoticum foramen is dorsal to the cotyle, surrounded posteriorly by the prominentia posterioris and the lamina of the tectum synoticum. The otic process and the processus basalis are not anteriorly projecting, but limited to flat, bean-shaped articular surfaces that are oriented anterolaterally. The sulcus petrosus is deep between them. The foramen faciale is visible on the lateral side, dorsolateral to the processus basalis, and it is the only foramen visible on the ventral surface of the complex. In anterior view, the basicapsular commissure is as medially developed as, or more medially developed than, the prefacial commissure. In anterior view, two foramina are present on the ventral half of the basicapsular commissure. The foramen prooticum is not completely surrounded by bone, and two additional foramina are visible in medial view in its concavity. The auditory cavity is deep, and the individual foramina for the different branches of the acoustic nerve are not visible. In ventral view, the sulcus is not clearly visible, and the hypochordal and basicapsular commissures are equally developed and irregular, with an indented margin between them, meaning that the fenestra basicranialis is not evident.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 61 ( Speleomantes italicus), a low parietal crest is visible in the anterior part of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, parallel to a low parotic crest on the anterior part of prominentia lateralis. The crests are not present in the other specimen of Speleomantes italicus (MNCN 1839) .</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6C)</p><p>The neural canal is circular or triangular in anterior view and is at least twice as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is three times as wide as the cotyle; the latter is circular or elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. The occipital joints are elliptical, with the minor axis being horizontal (or subhorizontal). The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a wide groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. In all specimens, the neural crest is absent, and the walls of the neural arch are not medially fused; instead, there are two articular surfaces, visible in dorsal view, connected by cartilage. Similar to what we observed in Salamandrella, it is likely that this character represents an immature ontogenetic trait and that in the completely ossified atlantes a bulge is present instead of the neural crest (Wake, 1966). The secondary crests and the neural spine are absent. The lateral surface of the atlas bears only the foramen of the first spinal nerve. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is generally absent or small. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal. The neural arch between the wide incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex or sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The lateral crests are absent, and the inferior crests are low or absent. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length. In dorsal view, the neural arch displays a V-shaped concavity anteriorly and a U-shaped incisura dorsalis posteriorly. The cotyle is generally not visible in dorsal view or visible only slightly, in the middle of the incisura dorsalis. The ventral surface is usually smooth or bears a single concavity at its mid-length.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 9C, D)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are amphicoelous. The neural canal is circular in anterior view, being slightly higher or lower than the cotyle. The cotyles are circular or slightly elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the cotyle and prezygapophyses is concave or vertical. In the first two or three precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 9C), diapophyses and parapophyses are not fused, and they are not connected by any lamina. For the vertebrae of the rest of the trunk (Fig. 9D), diapophyses and parapophyses are usually fused and not recognizable (unicipital transverse processes). The cylindrical transverse processes generally lie in a horizontal plane or form a slight dorsal concavity. They are slightly posteriorly oriented (posteriorly concave), but they do not cover the posterior edge of the neural arch in lateral view. In lateral view, most of the height of the vertebrae is formed by the centrum and the neural canal (only onefifth of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses). In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is not visible. The neural crest is low, starting from the anterior edge of the neural arch, and is higher in the mid-length of the vertebra. The neural spine is present in the form of a low and thick bulge that is posteriorly convex and not extended particularly beyond the postzygapophyses. The posterodorsal end of the neural arch is anterior to the postzygapophyses in lateral view. The anterior and posterior zygapophyseal and ventral crests are absent. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is smooth, except for a small foramen, sometimes hidden by the transverse processes. In the first precaudal vertebrae, there are one or two additional foramina. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is anteriorly sub-horizontal. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is not deep and is present only as a small posterior concavity (wider in the first precaudal vertebrae). The posterior edge of the neural arch between the centrum and postzygapophyses is slightly concave or sub-vertical. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (U- or V-shaped). In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length. In dorsal view, the neural arch displays an anteriorly U-shaped concavity and a variably visible V-shaped incisura dorsalis posteriorly. The edge of the anterior cotyle is visible in dorsal view, whereas the posterior cotyle is not visible. In lateral view, the ventral profile of the centrum is strongly concave. The ventral surface is generally smooth.</p><p>Remarks: The anterior vertebrae are recognizable because the neural canal is particularly wide (two or three times the condyle diameter) and because they bear one or two additional foramina, located anterior or posterior to the transverse processes, visible in lateral view. These vertebrae are also shorter and higher than the subsequent ones and bear a higher neural crest. In the sacral vertebra, the diapophyses and the parapophyses are fused, although sometimes still recognizable.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 12C)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/ length ratio &lt;1.25). The neural and haemal canals are pentagonal or circular. The neural canal is wider and lower than the haemal canal. The transverse processes are transformed in horizontal laminae; in dorsal view, they are wide and fan-like. The neural crest is absent or low. Zygapophyseal and ventral crests are absent. The lateral surface is smooth, with a single foramen visible at the base of the haemal arch. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the haemal arch is concave or posteriorly inclined, whereas the posteroventral edge of the haemal arch forms a sharp tip in lateral view. In ventral view, the posterior end of the haemal arch is not forked. The haemal crest is high and generally more anteriorly projected than the haemal arch, forming a sharp or rounded tip.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF874C31FEA7F5FCFE70FE70	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF814C30FEB7F12CFBFDFC18.text	9750C307FF814C30FEB7F12CFBFDFC18.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Salamandrina Fitzinger 1826	<div><p>SALAMANDRINA FITZINGER, 1826</p><p>Species: Salamandrina perspicillata * (Savi, 1821) and Salamandrina terdigitata * (Bonnaterre, 1789) .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 4B)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are well defined and rounded, whereas the prominentia semicircularis lateralis is less evident. Among the prominentiae, the deep middle depression is characterized by smaller foramina in its floor. The circular fenestra ovalis is visible in posterior view, and on the lateral surface a low crest connects the mid-length of the dorsal edge of the fenestra ovalis to the posterior end of the prominentia semicircularis lateralis. The parietal crest is absent or low, beginning from the mid-length of the proximal tectum synoticum and extending along the full length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parietal crest is more evident close to tectum synoticum, forming a variably developed tuberculum at the posterior edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris.The parotic crest runs along the anterior lateral half of the prominentia lateralis, meeting the parotic crest on the anterior edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. A laterally extended parotic process is located at the mid-length of the prominentia lateralis, with a smooth and rounded surface posterior to it. The parotic process is laminar in dorsal view and vertical in lateral view, extending ventrally beyond the prominentia lateralis and sometimes reaching the ventralmost edge of the complex. In anterior and posterior views, the parotic process is sub-triangular and slightly concave ventrally. The tectum synoticum is extended medially beyond the hypochordal commissure and the prefacial commissure, and a small concavity is visible between the commissures. In medial view, the anterior edge of the tectum synoticum is posterior to the midlength of the complex. In lateral view, the elliptical postoticum foramen is surrounded posteriorly by the cotyle. The foramen faciale is posterodorsal to the processus basalis. In anterior view, the otic process is not anteriorly projecting, and its articular surface is irregular. The articular surface of the processus basalis has the shape of an ellipse with extreme dorsoventral compression. The prooticum foramen is surrounded completely or in part by bone. The auditory cavity is deep, with isolated foramina for the different branches of the acoustic nerve. The hypochordal commissure is as medially extended as the basicapsular commissure. The crista retrosellaris between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures occupies less than half of the fenestra basicranialis. The latter is a wide concavity between the crista retrosellaris and the hypochordal commissure. On the ventral surface, the sulcus carotis crosses the high medial crest.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6D)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view, twice as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is twice as wide as the circular cotyle. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with a horizontal (or sub-horizontal) minor axis. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a wide groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The neural crest is posteriorly forked, bears lateral lips (see also Macaluso et al., 2020) and originates posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch, being gently rising, dorsally concave or convex in lateral view. The secondary crests and the neural spine are absent. The lateral surface of the atlas bears one or more foramina per side. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is wide and does not contact the occipital joints. The dorsal portion of the arch, dorsally marking the incisura cranialis, projects strongly in the anterior direction in lateral view. In the same view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal. The neural arch between the small incisura caudalis and the cotyle is sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The lateral crests reach the quadrangular postzygapophyses and are extended laterally such that the incisura caudalis is variably covered by them. The inferior crests are present. In posterior view, a zygantrum is usually present, and the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped) or flat. Fewer than one-third of the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is straight anteriorly. The posterior edge of the atlas bears a deep incisura dorsalis, largely formed by the neural crest. The cotyle is generally not visible in dorsal view or visible only slightly, in the middle of the incisura dorsalis. The ventral surface generally bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 9E)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous, with a variably developed zygosphene–zygantrum complex. The neural canal is circular, triangular or dorsoventrally compressed in anterior view, slightly higher or lower than the condyle. The condyle is elliptical, with a horizontal major axis and slightly flattened dorsal edge. In lateral view, the neural arch between the condyle and the quadrangular prezygapophyses is strongly inclined or vertical. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a lamina (with anterior and posterior foramina and concavities in variable numbers), generally reaching their distal ends. The transverse processes have a slightly posterior orientation, but they do not cover the posterior edge of the neural arch in lateral view. In the same view, the neural arch, dorsal to the prezygapophyses, is visible and projects anteriorly to a variable extent. One-third of the height of the vertebrae is formed by the neural crest, which is high, enlarged posteriorly and forked from the mid-length of the vertebra. The neural crest bears lateral lips and starts posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch. The neural spine is absent. The anterior and posterior zygapophyseal crests are equally developed, horizontal or slightly concave ventrally. The ventral crests form a symmetrically rhomboidal ventral lamina. The posterior ventral crests reach the posterior edges of the cotyle. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is not smooth, with at least two foramina per side (but often more). In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is anteriorly horizontal or dorsally concave. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep and generally reaches the centrum. In posterior view, the neural crest is horizontal dorsally. In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses is vertical or sinusoidal. Less than half of the postzygapophyses is extended posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is flat or anteriorly projecting. Both the cotyle and the anterior edge of the condyle are visible in dorsal view. The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Remarks: The zygosphene and zygantrum are variably developed and are entirely absent in MDHC 300. The neural crest of MDHC 326 shows small lateral lips. Some specimens (MNCN 16274, MNCN 16276 and MDHC 300) show a crest dorsal to the diapophysis.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 12D)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/ length ratio &lt;1.25). The neural canal is circular, triangular or pentagonal, whereas the haemal canal is triangular. The neural canal is wider and lower than the haemal canal. The transverse processes are triangular in anterior view, giving the vertebra a rhomboid shape in this view. The neural crest is high, as in the precaudal vertebrae. Lips of the neural arch and the zygosphene–zygantrum complex are variably present. Zygapophyseal and ventral crests are present and form a typical M-shape, with one anterior concavity and two posterior concavities with the transverse processes (see Fig. 12D). The posterior ventral crests arise from the posteroventral tip of the haemal crest. In lateral view, anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle of &lt;130°. The anterior ventral crests project anteriorly beyond the haemal arch. The lateral surface is not smooth; it bears variable numbers of crests and small foramina, but no large foramen occurs in the haemal arch. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the haemal arch is concave or posteriorly inclined, whereas the posteroventral edge of the haemal arch forms a sharp tip. In ventral view, the posterior end of the haemal arch is forked. The haemal crest is high, forked from the mid-length of the vertebra and, in general, more anteriorly projected than the haemal arch, forming a sharp or rounded tip in lateral view.</p><p>Remarks: The neural arch of MDHC 300, which does not show a zygantrum or zygosphene in the precaudal vertebrae, possesses them in the caudal vertebrae, except for the anterior ones.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF814C30FEB7F12CFBFDFC18	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF804C33FC6FF756FC33F894.text	9750C307FF804C33FC6FF756FC33F894.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Chioglossa Bocage 1864	<div><p>CHIOGLOSSA BOCAGE, 1864</p><p>Species: Chioglossa lusitanica *.</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 4C)</p><p>The otic–occipitum complexes of the only specimen of Ch. lusitanica available for this study (MNCN 16099) are poorly preserved and poorly ossified, especially the left one. The crests are not visible, and some of the characters are difficult to interpret owing to the inadequate preservation. The prominentia semicircularis anterioris, posterioris and lateralis are evident and rounded. Among them, a deep middle depression shows a fourth, unnamed prominentia separated from the prominentia semicircularis lateralis by a deep groove. The prominentia semicircularis posterioris is extended posteriorly and ventrally between the cotyle and the parotic process. The elliptical fenestra ovalis is oriented posterolaterally, such that it is visible in posterior view; its anterior edge is anterior to the mid-length of the complex. The dorsal edge of the fenestra is not visible in dorsal view, because it is covered by the prominentia lateralis. In dorsal view, the parietal crest is poorly visible, but it seems to be present; its posterior part is severely damaged, and it is not possible to determine where its posterior margin lies, whereas anteriorly it reaches the anteriormost point of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parotic crest is short and does not form a lateral parotic process. The tectum synoticum and the prefacial commissure seem not to be extended medially, and there is no concavity between them. These commissures are less medially extended than the hypochordal commissure. However, owing to the poor preservation, it is not possible to determine whether this structure is broken or poorly ossified; therefore, these character states are regarded as uncertain. The postoticum foramen is circular and surrounded posteriorly by the lamina of the tectum synoticum and the cotyle. In lateral view, a lamina posterior to the fenestra ovalis is present, connecting the postoticum foramen with the posterior end of the prominentia semicircularis lateralis. More anteriorly, the foramen faciale is visible. The subcircular articular surfaces of the otic process and the bean-shaped surface of the processus basalis are not separated by a deep sulcus petrosus. The otic process is not anteriorly projecting. The basicapsular commissure is medially extended beyond the prefacial commissure, and the foramen prooticum is not surrounded by bone. The auditory cavity is deep, with isolated foramina for the different branches of the acoustic nerve. In ventral view, a low medial crest runs along the medial side of the ventral surface. In the right complex, there is an anomalous ossification affecting the ventromedial surface, but in the left complex, the crista retrosellaris between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures occupies part of the fenestra basicranialis, leaving a concavity close to the hypochordal commissure. The ventral surface is generally smooth, with one or two foramina in addition to the foramen faciale, and the sulcus carotis extends medially beyond the medial crest.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6E)</p><p>The only available atlas is badly damaged, with the postzygapophyses and the neural and secondary crests poorly visible; some of the characters are therefore uncertain. The neural canal is circular in anterior view and twice as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is two or three times as wide as the elliptical cotyle. The occipital joints are elliptical, with the minor axis being horizontal. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a large groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The neural crest is low or absent. The posterodorsal area of the neural arch is poorly preserved, hence the presence of the neural spine cannot be assessed. The lateral surface of the atlas bears two or more foramina per side. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is small. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal. The neural arch between the wide incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex or inclined. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The lateral and inferior crests are absent or low. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight. The ventral surface bears small foramina.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 9F)</p><p>The vertebrae are opisthocoelous, longer than wide, and dorsoventrally flattened, meaning that in lateral view, only one-fifth of the height of the vertebrae is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses. The neural canal is elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. Diapophyses and parapophyses are connected by a lamina reaching their distal ends. The lamina is distally linear or only slightly concave. The neural crest is low, posteriorly enlarged, and starts anteriorly from the line connecting the posterior edge of the prezygapophyses or posterior to it. The neural spine is absent. The lateral surface of the vertebra shows more than one foramen. In anterior view, a foramen is visible in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of the parapophyses). The anterior zygapophyseal crests are low or absent; the posterior ones are absent or present but do not contact the transverse processes. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is generally not visible, and it is vertical between them and the condyle. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep and not covered by the transverse processes, and the neural arch between it and the cotyle is inclined. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle. In dorsal view, the incisura dorsalis is formed by the neural arch, and the dorsal edge of the neural arch is flat. In dorsal view, the anterior edge of the neural arch is concave, and the condyle is visible, whereas the cotyle is not visible. Pre- and postzygapophyses are elliptical, and the prezygapophyses are strongly concave dorsally. The ventral lamina is not wide and is, in general, irregular in shape (triangular, trapezoidal or asymmetrically rhomboidal). The posterior ventral crests do not reach the cotyle. The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae</p><p>In the only available specimen, the caudal vertebrae are missing.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF804C33FC6FF756FC33F894	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF824C3DFE8AF3ADFD1DFA1D.text	9750C307FF824C3DFE8AF3ADFD1DFA1D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Mertensiella WAGA 1876	<div><p>MERTENSIELLA WAGA, 1876</p><p>Species: Mertensiella caucasica * (Waga, 1876) (not European).</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 4D)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris, lateralis and posterioris are evident and rounded. Among them, a deep middle depression shows no minor foramina in its floor. The prominentia semicircularis posterioris is extended posteriorly and ventrally between the cotyle and the parotic process. The circular fenestra ovalis is almost perpendicular to the vertical, and its anterior edge is anterior to the mid-length of the complex. The low parietal crest begins from the proximal edge of the tectum synoticum and reaches the anteriormost point of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris; it is higher in its posterior part. The parotic crest is particularly high on top of the prominentia semicircularis lateralis. The parotic process is absent. The tectum synoticum is rectangular in dorsal view, and its anterior edge in medial view is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. The tectum is extended medially beyond the prefacial commissure, but a small concavity is visible between them. The tectum synoticum is almost as medially extended as the hypochordal commissure. The postoticum foramen is circular, surrounded posteriorly by both the cotyle and the lamina of the tectum synoticum. The articular surfaces of the otic process and the processus basalis are kidney-shaped and separated by a deep sulcus petrosus. The otic process forms a short and cylindrical anterolateral process, which is more anteriorly developed than the processus basalis. The basicapsular commissure is extended medially beyond the prefacial one, and the foramen prooticum is not surrounded by bone. The auditory cavity is deep, with isolated foramina for the different branches of the acoustic nerve. In ventral view, a low medial crest runs along the medial side of the ventral surface of the complex. The crista retrosellaris between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures occupies less than half of the fenestra basicranialis. The fenestra basicranialis is a wide concavity between the crista and the hypochordal commissure. The ventral surface bears one or more small foramina in addition to the foramen faciale, and the sulcus carotis is medially extended beyond the low medial crest.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6F)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view, with a height similar to or slightly higher than that of the occipital joints. In posterior view, the neural canal is twice as wide as the circular cotyle. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with the minor axis being horizontal (or sub-horizontal). The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a wide groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The neural crest is absent or low, hourglass-shaped (broadening anteriorly and posteriorly), and its anterior end lies posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch. The secondary crests broaden anteriorly; they are higher than the neural crest and parallel to the dorsal edge of the neural arch. A short neural spine is generally present. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is wide. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal. The neural arch between the incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis cranialis. The inferior and lateral crests are low or absent. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped) or flat. Less than onethird of the postzygapophyses is extended posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is flat anteriorly and posteriorly, or a small incisura dorsalis is visible in the middle of the posterior edge. The cotyle is generally not visible in dorsal view. The ventral surface bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 10A)</p><p>The vertebrae are opisthocoelous, elongate and dorsoventrally flattened, such that in lateral view, only one-fifth of the vertebral height is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses. The neural canal is pentagonal or elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. Diapophyses and parapophyses are connected by a lamina that usually reaches their distal ends. The lamina of the transverse processes is distally linear or only slightly concave. The neural crest is blade-like and not posteriorly enlarged, and it starts anteriorly from the line connecting the posterior edges of the prezygapophyses or posterior to it. The neural spine is low or absent. The lateral surface of the vertebra shows more than one foramen. In anterior view, a foramen is visible at the base of parapophyses. The anterior zygapophyseal crests are low or absent, whereas the posterior ones are present and contact the transverse processes distally or at their mid-length. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is generally not visible, and it is vertical between them and the condyle. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is usually deep and not covered by the transverse processes, and the neural arch between it and the cotyle is inclined, concave or convex. Less than half of the postzygapophyses is extended posteriorly beyond the cotyle. The small incisura dorsalis in dorsal view is formed by the neural arch, and it is visible only in part in posterior view (the dorsal edge of the neural arch is slightly wavy). In dorsal view, the anterior edge of the neural arch is concave, and the condyle is visible, whereas the cotyle is not visible. Pre- and postzygapophyses are elliptical. In all specimens, the postzygapophyses show a peculiar ventrolateral fold. The ventral lamina is absent or reduced in size (in this case, symmetrically rhomboidal). The posterior ventral crests do not reach the cotyle. The ventral surface is generally smooth.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 12E)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/ length ratio &lt;1.25), with a generally rectangular shape in lateral view, owing to the large posterodorsal and posteroventral edges of the neural and haemal arches, which are bifurcated posteriorly. The neural canal is elliptical, whereas the haemal canal is pentagonal or circular. The neural canal is as high as and slightly wider than (or as wide as) the haemal canal. The transverse processes are transformed into horizontal laminae or absent. The neural and haemal crests are high, posteriorly enlarged and symmetrical. The haemal crest generally projects more anteriorly than the haemal arch, forming a sharp or rounded tip in lateral view. Anterior and posterior zygapophyseal crests are horizontal or ventrally concave. The posterior ventral crests start a bit dorsally to the posteroventral tip of the haemal crest, and the ventral crest is sometimes forked posteriorly. In lateral view, anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. The anterior ventral crests are project anteriorly to a variable exent compared with the haemal arch. The lateral surface is highly perforated, with multiple crests and small foramina, and a large foramen on the haemal arch is variably present. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the haemal arch is convex or anteriorly inclined between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest, and concave or posteriorly inclined ventral to the anterior ventral crest. The posteroventral end of the haemal arch forms a sharp tip in lateral view.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF824C3DFE8AF3ADFD1DFA1D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF8D4C3FFEA9F561FED5F999.text	9750C307FF8D4C3FFEA9F561FED5F999.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Salamandra Garsault 1764	<div><p>SALAMANDRA GARSAULT, 1764</p><p>S p e c i e s: S a l a m a n d r a a t r a * L a u r e n t i, 1 7 6 8, Salamandra corsica, Salamandra lanzai * Nascetti, Andreone, Capula &amp; Bullini, 1988 and Salamandra salamandra * (Linnaeus, 1758) .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 4E)</p><p>The prominentia semicircularis anterioris is covered by the high parietal crest, whereas the prominentiae semicircularis posterioris and lateralis are rounded and easily recognizable. Among the prominentiae, a deep middle depression shows no foramina in its floor. The prominentia semicircularis posterioris is not extended posteriorly and ventrally between the cotyle and the parotic process. The circular fenestra ovalis is almost perpendicular to the vertical, and its anterior edge is anterior to the mid-length of the complex. The high parietal crest begins from slightly posterior to the mid-length of the distal edge of the tectum synoticum and extends obliquely on the tectum synoticum and on the prominentia semicircularis anterioris until the anterior end of the otic process. It is higher anteriorly, with its anterior tip forming an angle of 70–90° with the vertical. The parotic crest starts from the dorsolateral edge of the cotyle, extends along the lateral edge of the prominentia lateralis and meets the parietal crest in the anterior part, forming a variable angle. The parotic process is represented by a small tip, although it can be absent in some cases. In more detail, the parotic crest can be interrupted or not, depending on the position of the fenestra ovalis; when the fenestra ovalis has a dorsal position, the parotic crest is interrupted in its middle part, and the parotic process is not present (e.g. in MNHN 1888.651). The parotic crest is developed variably between the parotic process and its anteriormost part and, in some specimens, it is absent in this area (e.g. in the left capsule of HNHM 2001.75.24). The tectum synoticum is enlarged distally, and its anterior edge in medial view is posterior to the midlength of the complex.The tectum synoticum is extended medially beyond the prefacial commissure, but a small concavity is visible between them. The tectum is almost as medially extended as the hypochordal commissure. The postoticum foramen is elliptical, with the vertical major axis being not much longer than the minor one, and surrounded posteriorly by the lamina of the tectum synoticum and the cotyle. The articular surfaces of the otic process and of the processus basalis are kidneyshaped and separated by a deep sulcus petrosus. The otic process is slightly more developed anteriorly than the processus basalis, forming a short, irregular anterior process. The basicapsular commissure is extended slightly medially beyond the prefacial one, and the foramen prooticum is not surrounded by bone. The auditory cavity is deep, with isolated foramina for the different branches of the acoustic nerve. In ventral view, a low medial crest runs along the medial side of the ventral surface of the complex. The crista retrosellaris between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures occupies most of the fenestra basicranialis, leaving only a small triangular concavity close to the hypochordal commissure. The ventral surface is smooth or bearing a couple of foramina, with the sulcus carotis not reaching the low medial crest.</p><p>Remarks: In the right complex of HNHM 2001.75.24, the parietal crest is less developed than in the other specimens.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 6G)</p><p>The neural canal is generally triangular or subtriangular in anterior view and is as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is slightly wider than the cotyle; the cotyle is elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with the minor axis being horizontal (or sub-horizontal). The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a wide groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The neural crest is low and thick or blade-like, starts posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch and is posteriorly forked, and in lateral view, it is horizontal or gently concave. The secondary crests are parallel to the anterior edge of the neural arch (running transversely across the neural arch roof), and their posterior end corresponds to the anterior margin of the neural crest. In lateral view, these crests can or cannot cover the anterior edge of the neural arch. The neural spine can be present or absent. The lateral surface of the atlas bears more than one foramen per side. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is wide and does not contact the occipital joints. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is strongly inclined, forming an angle of 50–60° relative to the horizontal axis. The neural arch between the incisura caudalis and the cotyle is inclined or concave. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis lies almost in the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis cranialis. The low lateral crests do not reach the elliptical postzygapophyses. The inferior crests are low. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). Less than one-third of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight or concave (V-shaped concavity), and the incisura dorsalis (formed by the neural arch) can be observed posteriorly. The cotyle may or may not be visible in dorsal view. The ventral surface is smooth or bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Remarks: The lateral crests are only slightly visible in HNHM 2001.78.4. The neural crest is thicker (and flat) in the anterior part (almost until the midlength of the spine) and thinner (and blade-like) in the posterior part in the specimens from MNHN. In MNHN 1888.651, the neural crest is not horizontal in lateral view, but a dorsal concavity is formed by a thick anterior tuberculum and a rounded, blade-like posterior lamina. In dorsal view for MDHC 227, the neural crest and secondary crests are hourglassshaped. In MDHC 234 ( Salamandra salamandra) and MDHC 394 ( Salamandra atra), in lateral view, the incisura cranialis is strongly ventral and contacts the occipital joint. In MDHC 394, the neural crest is not posteriorly bifurcated. In all specimens of Salamandra lanzai, the cotyle is ventral to the rest of the centrum. In MDHC 361 and MDHC 363, the lateral crests reach the postzygapophyses.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 10B–D)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous and not elongate (length approximately equal to width). Most of the height of the vertebra is formed by the centrum and neural arch ventral to the postzygapophyses (only one-fifth of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses). The neural canal is triangular, slightly higher or lower than the condyle. The condyle is elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is weakly inclined. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina that may or may not reach their distal ends. The transverse processes exhibit strong posterior orientation and may or may not cover parts of the incisura caudalis in lateral view. In the same view, the neural arch dorsal to the elliptical prezygapophyses is rarely visible and is, where visible, vertical. The neural crest starts posterior to the line connecting the posterior edge of the prezygapophyses. It is high in the first two or three vertebrae, then lower in subsequent vertebrae.The short neural spine is generally present. The vertebrae are dorsoventrally compressed and broad in dorsal view, but the anterior and posterior zygapophyseal crests are poorly distinguishable and only slightly visible in lateral view. The ventral crests are generally present and parallel. The posterior ventral crests are poorly developed, and they do not reach the posterior edges of the cotyle. The ventral lamina is, thus, triangular, trapezoidal or asymmetrically rhomboidal. The lateral surface of the vertebrae generally bears at least two concavities per side and foramina in variable numbers. In anterior view, a small foramen is visible at the base of the parapophyses. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal anteriorly or dorsally concave. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep and generally reaches the centrum.Alternatively, the incisura and the centrum can be separated by a posteriorly convex portion of the neural arch. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal or dorsally concave, in this case forming a small, V- or U-shaped incisura dorsalis. In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses is vertical or sinusoidal in lateral view. Less than one-third of the postzygapophyses is extended posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped). Most of the length of the condyle is visible in dorsal view, whereas the cotyle is not visible (or only in part, through the incisura dorsalis). The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 12F, G)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/ length ratio &lt;1.25). The neural and haemal canals are elliptical. The neural canal is wider than the haemal canal. The neural canal is as high as the haemal canal. In the first caudal vertebrae, the transverse processes are transformed into a vertical lamina, rectangular in anterior view, and they become horizontal or absent in the last caudal vertebrae. The neural and haemal crests are both generally low or, if high, only along their mid-length. The haemal crest does not project anteriorly beyond the haemal arch. Zygapophyseal and ventral crests are visible only as low knobs. Anterior and posterior zygapophyseal crests are subhorizontal or ventrally concave. The posterior ventral crests start from the ventral edge of the haemal arch, a bit anterior to the posterior edge of the arch. In lateral view, anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. The anterior ventral crests do not project anteriorly beyond the haemal arch. The lateral surface has a single large foramen on the haemal arch or one additional foramen on the lateral surface of the neural arch. In lateral view, the anterior ventral crests are anteriorly close to the centrum, such that the anterior edge of the haemal arch between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest is not visible; ventral to the anterior ventral crests, the anterior edge of the haemal arch is inclined posteriorly. The posteroventral edge of the haemal arch forms a sharp tip in lateral view. The haemal arch is forked in ventral view.</p><p>Remarks: In ventral view of the HNHM specimens and in some vertebrae of MDHC 234, the haemal crest posteriorly follows the bifurcation of the haemal arch, with two low crests, and shows a small foramen at the point where it is bifurcated; this is not the case in the other specimens. In MDHC 394 ( Salamandra atra), the haemal crest is higher than the neural crest, and in some vertebrae it is as high as the posterior half of the haemal arch.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF8D4C3FFEA9F561FED5F999	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF8F4C3FFF07F5C4FBFEFCBC.text	9750C307FF8F4C3FFF07F5C4FBFEFCBC.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lyciasalamandra Veith & Steinfartz 2004	<div><p>LYCIASALAMANDRA VEITH &amp; STEINFARTZ, 2004</p><p>Species: Lyciasalamandra luschani (Steindachner, 1891) and Lyciasalamandra helverseni (Pieper, 1963) .</p><p>No specimen of this genus was available for study, but a few observations can be made based on the work of Özeti (1967), who compared Mertensiella luschani (now Lyciasalamandra luschani) with M. caucasica and Sa. salamandra . According to Özeti (1967), the otic–occipitum complex of Lyciasalamandra more closely resembles that of M. caucasica than that of Sa. salamandra, in having the prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris more visible on the dorsal surface than in the last species. Also, Özeti (1967) stated that ‘the anterior part of the otic capsule appears strongly displaced laterally in Sa. salamandra ’, but not in the other species, and described the fenestra ovalis as more ventral in Ly. luschani than in Salamandra . The atlas is described as short and posteriorly widened, with an aliform projection (herein inferior crests) on each side of the centrum. The general shape of this vertebra is similar to that of M. caucasica . The general shape of the vertebrae of Ly. luschani seems to appear similar to those of Sa. salamandra and M. caucasica, but slightly wider and with a lower neural crest in Ly. luschani . The vertebrae of M. caucasica are described by Özeti (1967) as more slender and with smaller processes than in the other two species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF8F4C3FFF07F5C4FBFEFCBC	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF8F4C39FC71F089FD0BFC5E.text	9750C307FF8F4C39FC71F089FD0BFC5E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Calotriton GRAY 1858	<div><p>CALOTRITON GRAY, 1858</p><p>Species: Calotriton arnoldi and Calotriton asper *.</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5A)</p><p>The three prominentiae (anterioris, lateralis and posterioris) are not evident or rounded in dorsal view, and the middle depression is smooth, but not deep. In lateral and posterior views, the elliptical fenestra ovalis is visible. The fenestra ovalis is ventral to the parotic process, and its anterior edge is in the middle of the complex or slightly anterior. The fenestra is particularly small in this genus, being only slightly wider than the postoticum foramen, elliptical and surrounded posteriorly by the cotyle. The parietal crest is higher in its posterior half, forming a tip at the midlength of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, and is low anterior to the latter; the anterior end of the parietal crest corresponds to the anteriormost edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parotic crest is low and ends in the middle of the proximal or distal end of the parotic process. This latter process is particularly long and wide, rectangular in dorsal view and posteriorly curved, forming a posterior concavity with the cotyle. In dorsal view, the parotic process covers the fenestra ovalis. In lateral view, the parotic process is laminar and ventrally concave, such that in posterior view the shape of this process is not precisely recognizable as either rectangular or triangular. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. The tectum synoticum is almost as developed medially as the hypochordal and prefacial commissures, with a rectangular concavity between the latter and the tectum. The cylindrical otic process is anteriorly projecting, bearing a circular articular surface. The foramen faciale is dorsolateral to the elliptical articular surface of the processus basalis. In general, the processus basalis extends laterally into a short spine that is visible in anterior and ventral views and does not extend beyond the main body of the complex. The articular surface of the processus basalis is well posterior to the otic process. In anterior view, the sulcus petrosus is not visible because it is covered by a wide lamina ventral to the otic process. The foramen prooticum is entirely surrounded by bone. The basicapsular commissure is extended medially beyond the prefacial commissure and is as medially extended as the hypochordal commissure. The basicapsular commissure shows an anterior spine, shorter than that in Pleurodeles (see below), but still present. The fenestra basicranialis is clearly visible between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures, with no crista retrosellaris. The ventral surface shows one or two foramina (other than the foramen faciale), with a medial crest, starting from the posteriormost point of the hypochordal commissure. There is a high crest connecting the posterolateral edge of the processus basalis with the mid-length of the medial crest and forming the anterior edge of the sulcus carotis. The medial crest is absent anterior to the medial crest.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 7A)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view and is as high as each occipital joint or slightly higher. In posterior view, the neural canal is twice as wide as the circular cotyle or slightly less. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a narrow groove visible in ventral view. In this view, the base of the odontoid process is as wide as each occipital joint. The neural crest does not start from the anterior edge of the neural arch and is blade-like and high without being posteriorly broadened. The secondary crests broaden anteriorly. Posteriorly, they converge towards the neural crest, thus, ending far more anterior than the posterior edge of the neural arch; in this way, in dorsal view, the three crests form a Y-shape. The neural spine is absent. The lateral surface of the atlas bears two or more foramina per side. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is wide. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is strongly inclined. The neural arch between the wide incisura caudalis and the cotyle is concave or inclined. In general, the lateral crests end ventrally to the postzygapophyses without reaching them. The inferior crests are absent or low. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight or with a V-shaped notch, and the cotyle is visible posteriorly. The ventral surface is variably perforated.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 10E)</p><p>The vertebrae are opisthocoelous. In lateral view, one-third of the height of each vertebra is formed by the neural crest and neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses. The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the condyle is circular or elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. Diapophyses and parapophyses are connected by a lamina reaching their distal ends. The lamina is distally linear or only slightly concave. The neural crest is blade-like and posteriorly forked, and it starts anteriorly from the anterior edge of the neural arch or more posteriorly. The neural spine is absent. The lateral surface of the vertebra shows more than one foramen, meaning that the surface is generally not smooth. The anterior zygapophyseal crests are dorsally concave or descend towards the transverse processes. The posterior zygapophyseal crests contact the transverse processes distally and are more dorsal than the anterior zygapophyseal crests; as a result, the zygapophyseal crests along their entire length are sinusoidal. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is generally visible, and it is weakly inclined between them and the condyle. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep, usually reaches the vertebral centrum, and it is entirely covered by the transverse processes. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle. In dorsal view, the incisura dorsalis is formed by the forked neural crest, but it is not visible in posterior view (the dorsal edge of the neural arch is flat or rounded). In dorsal view, the anterior edge of the neural arch is concave, and the condyle and cotyle are both visible. The prezygapophyses are similar in size (quadrangular or circular), whereas the postzygapophyses are elliptical or ovoidal. The ventral lamina is not wide and is usually irregular in shape (triangular, trapezoidal or asymmetrically rhomboidal). The posterior ventral crests do not reach the cotyle. The ventral surface is variably perforated.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 13A)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are high (height/length ratio&gt; 1.5). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical or U-shaped. The neural canal is wider than the haemal canal and higher than (or as high as) the haemal canal. The transverse processes are rectangular in anterior view, laminar in lateral view, and posteriorly concave. The neural crest is high, similar to those on the precaudal vertebrae. The lateral surface is not smooth, because several crests and small foramina are present. There is no large foramen on the haemal arch, but a small foramen is present in some cases. The anterior ventral crests are low and are hidden by the transverse processes and the posterior ventral crests. The posterior ventral crests start from the mid-length of the posterior edge of the haemal crest in lateral view. In this view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is concave (or posteriorly inclined) between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest, and convex (or anteriorly inclined) ventral to the ventral crest. The haemal crest is prominent, projects further anteriorly than the haemal arch and forms a rounded tip in lateral view. The haemal arch and crest are higher than the neural ones, with half of the height of the vertebra formed by them. The haemal arch and crest in lateral view are posteriorly convex and rounded, with neither having a posterior tip.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF8F4C39FC71F089FD0BFC5E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF894C38FE87F0B1FB67FCE0.text	9750C307FF894C38FE87F0B1FB67FCE0.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Euproctus Gene 1839	<div><p>EUPROCTUS GENÉ, 1839</p><p>Species: Euproctus montanus * (Savi, 1838) and Euproctus platycephalus * (Gravenhorst, 1829) .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5B)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are visible and rounded, whereas the prominentia semicircularis lateralis is less evident. The middle depression is deep, with smaller foramina in its floor. The elliptical fenestra ovalis is ventral to the parotic process, and its anterior edge is posterior to the mid-length of the otic–occipitum complex. The parietal crest is interrupted in its mid-length. The posterior half runs from the posterior half of the distal edge of the tectum synoticum to the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, and it is more medial than the anterior half. The anterior half starts from the midlength of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris and is higher than the posterior half, forming a dorsolateral tip at the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parotic crest is low and slightly visible. The parotic process is sub-triangular in dorsal view and rectangular in both anterior and posterior views. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum is posterior to the mid-length of the otic–occipitum complex. The tectum is as developed medially as the hypochordal commissure, and slightly medially extended beyond the prefacial commissure, but a concavity is visible between the two commissures. The otic process is not anteriorly extended on the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, and in dorsal view the prominentia semicircularis anterioris is visible anterior to the otic process. The articular surface of both the otic process and the processus basalis are not clearly visible. Those processes respectively form a dorsolateral spine and a small ventrolateral spine that do not extend beyond the main body of the complex. The sulcus petrosus is not visible between the processus basalis and the otic process. The elliptical postoticum foramen is surrounded posteriorly by the cotyle. A lamina connects the parotic process with the cotyle and is sinusoidal, running along the posterodorsal edge of the fenestra ovalis. The foramen prooticum is entirely surrounded by bone. The basicapsular commissure extends medially beyond the prefacial commissure, being developed medially as the hypochordal commissure. The basicapsular commissure shows an anterior spine, shorter than that in Pleurodeles (see below) but still present. The fenestra basicranialis is clearly visible between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures. The ventral surface is variably perforated, bearing a medial crest running from the posteriormost point of the basicapsular commissure to the posteriormost point of the hypochordal commissure, and is crossed by the sulcus carotis.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 7B)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view and is twice as high as each occipital joint. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal (or sub-horizontal). The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a narrow groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The neural crest is blade-like and not posteriorly enlarged, whereas the secondary crests are present and anteriorly enlarged, and they converge slightly towards the neural crest. The neural spine is present. The lateral surface of the atlas is variably perforated. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is high and narrow. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is moderately inclined (&lt;40° relative to the horizontal). The neural arch between the wide incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane of the maximum concavity containing the incisura cranialis. Posteriorly, the well-developed lateral crests reach the wide incisura caudalis. The inferior crests are low or marked. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped) or flat. Less than half of the postzygapophyses posteriorly extends beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight or concave (U-shaped), and posteriorly, the incisura dorsalis, if present, is interrupted by the neural spine. In dorsal view, the cotyle can be visible or not. The ventral surface bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 507, the neural spine is absent.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 11A)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The neural canal is pentagonal, higher than the condyle. The condyle is circular or elliptical. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is inclined. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina reaching their distal ends. Distally, the lamina is smooth. The transverse processes are slightly posteriorly oriented, partly covering or not covering the posterior edge of the neural arch between the postzygapophyses and the centrum. In the same view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is generally visible. One-third of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses. The neural crest is blade-like and high, starting posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch, and posteriorly it becomes broader and then forked. The neural spine is absent. The anterior zygapophyseal crests contact the dorsal part of the diapophyses. The posterior zygapophyseal crests are well developed and horizontal, contacting the diapophyses distally or at their mid-length. The ventral lamina is trapezoidal anterior to the transverse processes, and it is triangular posteriorly. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is generally perforated. In anterior view, a small foramen is visible in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of parapophyses). In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is dorsally concave in its anterior part or horizontal. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep, and the neural arch ventral to it is inclined or, in some vertebrae, convex. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted V- or U-shaped). In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses is sinusoidal or vertical. Less than half of the postzygapophyses is extended posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is straight anteriorly. The condyle is visible in dorsal view (usually along its entire length), whereas the cotyle is not visible (or in rare instances, slightly visible through the incisura dorsalis). The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 13B)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are higher than long (height/ length ratio ~1.3–1.4). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical, U-shaped or triangular. The neural canal is wider than the haemal canal. The transverse processes are triangular in both anterior and dorsal views, such that the vertebra is generally rhomboidal in shape. The neural and haemal crests are high and posteriorly forked.The lateral surface is not smooth, because several crests and small foramina are present, but there is no large foramen on the haemal arch. The zygapophyseal crests are low and horizontal or ventrally concave. The anterior ventral crests are low and, in general, do not reach the anterior edge of the haemal arch. The posterior ventral crests start from the posteroventral edge of the haemal crest in lateral view. In this view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is convex (or anteriorly inclined) between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest, and ventral to the latter. The haemal crest does not project anteriorly beyond the haemal arch. The haemal arch and crest are posteriorly convex and rounded in lateral view, with both lacking a posterior tip.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF894C38FE87F0B1FB67FCE0	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF884C3AFCCFF037FDB2F8A1.text	9750C307FF884C3AFCCFF037FDB2F8A1.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ichthyosaura SONNINI & LATREILLE 1801	<div><p>ICHTHYOSAURA SONNINI &amp; LATREILLE, 1801</p><p>Species: Ichthyosaura alpestris * (Laurenti, 1768) .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5C)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are clearly visible, whereas the prominentia semicircularis lateralis is variably visible (see below). Among them, the deep middle depression is smooth. The prominentia semicircularis posterioris extends posteriorly and ventrally between the cotyle and the parotic process. The circular or elliptical fenestra ovalis is ventral to the prominentiae posterioris and lateralis and between cotyle and parotic process. The fenestra is poorly visible in posterior view. The low parietal and parotic crests are variably present. When present, the parietal crest starts from the midlength of the distal edge of the tectum synoticum, being inclined on the anteriormost half of tectum synoticum until it reaches the posteriormost edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, then becoming straight until the otic process. The parotic crest, when present, is laterally convex at the level of the parietal crest and laterally concave or straight close to the parotic process. In some specimens, the parotic and parietal crests are clearly visible, covering the prominentia semicircularis lateralis. In these specimens, those crests meet posterior to the anterior edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, and the parietal crest, lower than the parotic crest, runs straight until the anterior edge of the prominentia and onto the otic process, reaching the anteriormost edge of the complex. The parotic process is subtriangular or rectangular in dorsal view; in posterior and anterior views, its dorsal portion develops in a more lateral direction than the ventral part. In lateral view, the parotic process is inclined, with the ventral tip being more anterior than the dorsal one. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum in medial view is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. This structure is almost as medially extended as the hypochordal commissure, extending medially beyond the prefacial commissure, although a concavity is visible between the two commissures. A lamina connecting the fenestra ovalis with the ventral edge of the cotyle is present. The articular surface of the short, cylindrical, anteriorly pointing otic process is formed by at least two small facets with different orientations, or by a single, circular articular surface. In MDHC 352, the otic process is long. The kidney-shaped articular surface of the processus basalis forms a short, laterally developed spine. The sulcus petrosus is deep between the processus basalis and the otic process. The elliptical postoticum foramen is surrounded posteriorly by the cotyle, whereas anteriorly, the foramen prooticum is not entirely surrounded by bone. The foramen faciale is posterodorsal to the processus basalis. The auditory cavity is well defined and deep (except for MDHC 352, in which it is not deep). The basicapsular commissure extends medially beyond the prefacial one, being almost as developed medially as the hypochordal commissure, with the fenestra basicranialis clearly visible between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures. In MDHC 391, two concavities are present in ventral view between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures. The ventral surface is generally smooth, with a couple of foramina (other than the foramen faciale), and bears a low or no medial crest.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 352, the parotic crest is absent and, as a consequence, the prominentia semicircularis lateralis is clearly visible. In this specimen, the parotic process is only slightly visible, and the parietal crest does not reach the anteriormost edge of the otic–occipitum complex. In MDHC 416, the parietal and parotic crests are present, although anteriorly interrupted before meeting each other; the parietal crest is higher than the parotic one.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 7C, D)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view and twice as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is approximately twice as wide as the circular cotyle. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with a horizontal (or sub-horizontal) major (or rarely minor; e.g. Fig. 7D) axis. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a wide (rarely narrow) groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is wider than each occipital joint. The posteriorly enlarged neural crest is low or absent, whereas the secondary crests are variably developed, but always present. The secondary crests run parallel to the neural crest and do not contact the neural crest and the posterior edge of the neural arch. The neural spine can be present or absent. The lateral surface of the atlas is variably perforated. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is small or absent. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal (inclination of 10–30° relative to the horizontal). The neural arch between the incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex or sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The well-developed lateral crests reach the elliptical postzygapophyses posteriorly, extend beyond the latter in some cases, and generally reach the posterior edge of the neural arch. The inferior crests are low or absent. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (U- or V-shaped), but the incisura dorsalis is sometimes visible. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight or concave (U- or V-shaped concavity), and the incisura dorsalis is clearly recognizable posteriorly, formed by the forked neural crest or by the neural arch. In dorsal view, the cotyle is not visible or slightly visible. The ventral surface is smooth or bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 416, the secondary crests reach the posterior edge of the neural arch.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 11B)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The morphology of the neural canal is characterized by considerable variability, being pentagonal, triangular or circular and either slightly higher or lower than the condyle. The condyle is circular or elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is inclined. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina reaching their distal ends. Distally, the lamina is smooth. The transverse processes are subvertical or slightly posteriorly oriented, usually covering the incisura caudalis only marginally in lateral view. In the same view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is either visible or not. Onethird of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses. The neural crest is blade-like and high, starting posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch, and being posteriorly broadened and forked. The neural spine is low or absent. In dorsal view, the medial edges of the prezygapophyses are generally convergent. The anterior zygapophyseal crests contact the dorsal part of the diapophyses. The posterior zygapophyseal crests are well developed and horizontal, contacting the diapophyses proximally or at their mid-length. Anterior and posterior ventral crests are well developed and form an asymmetrically rhomboidal or trapezoidal ventral lamina. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is generally perforated. In anterior view, a small foramen is visible in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of parapophyses). In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is dorsally concave in the anterior part. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep, and the neural arch ventral to it is inclined or rarely convex. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal or dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). The neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses is sigmoid or vertical in lateral view. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped) or flat. The condyle and the cotyle may be visible or not in dorsal view. The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 13C, D)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are high (height/length ratio ~1.3–1.4). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical, U-shaped or triangular. The neural canal is wider and lower than the haemal canal. The transverse processes are rectangular (with the longest side vertical) in anterior view; in dorsal view, they are rectangular or triangular. The neural and haemal crests are high and posteriorly enlarged or forked; where these crests are enlarged, their dorsal surface is perforated. The lateral surface is not smooth, owing to the presence of several crests and small foramina, and with a large foramen on the haemal arch. The zygapophyseal crests are marked and horizontal or ventrally concave. The anterior ventral crests are low and generally do not reach the anterior edge of the haemal arch. The posterior ventral crests start from the posteroventral edge of the haemal arch in lateral view. In lateral view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is convex (or anteriorly inclined) between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest and forms another convexity ventral to the anterior ventral crest. The haemal crest does not project anteriorly beyond the haemal arch. The haemal arch and crest are posteriorly convex and rounded in lateral view, both being without a posterior tip.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF884C3AFCCFF037FDB2F8A1	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FF8A4C04FC61F3ADFD26FA2D.text	9750C307FF8A4C04FC61F3ADFD26FA2D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lissotriton Bell 1839	<div><p>LISSOTRITON BELL, 1839</p><p>Species: Lissotriton italicus * (Peracca, 1898), Lissotriton boscai * (Lataste, 1879), Lissotriton graecus, Lissotriton helveticus * (Razoumovsky, 1789), Lissotriton maltzani, Lissotriton montadoni * (Boulenger, 1880) and Lissotriton vulgaris * (Linnaeus, 1758).</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5D)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are visible in dorsal view and rounded. The prominentia semicircularis lateralis is usually less visible, because it is covered by the parotic crest and process. Among the prominentiae, there is a deep and smooth middle depression. The prominentia semicircularis posterioris extends dorsally and mediolaterally from the cotyle. The circular or elliptical fenestra ovalis is ventral to the prominentiae semicircularis posterioris and lateralis, and between the cotyle and parotic process. The anterior edge of the fenestra ovalis is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. The parietal crest is variably developed from the mid-length of the proximal tectum synoticum to the anteriormost edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parotic crest is lower close to the parotic process and higher in its anterior part. It is higher than the parietal crest, contacting it slightly anterior to the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parietal crest is higher anteriorly than the parotic crest. The parotic process is sub-triangular or rectangular in dorsal view, rectangular in posterior view and inclined in lateral view, with the ventral tip being more anterior than the dorsal one. The parotic crest is laterally inclined close to the parietal crest and laterally concave close to the parotic process. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. The tectum synoticum is almost as medially developed as the hypochordal commissure, extending slightly medially beyond the prefacial commissure. The short, subcylindrical otic process is anteriorly projecting, with an irregular articular surface, often covered by the prominentia semicircularis anterioris and by the high parietal crest anterior to the parotic crest. The foramen faciale is dorsolateral to the kidney-shaped articular surface of the processus basalis. This surface forms a laterally developed crest visible in ventral view, which does not extend beyond the main body of the complex. Between the processus basalis and the otic process, there is no deep sulcus petrosus. The basicapsular commissure is medially developed beyond the prefacial commissure and is as medially developed as the hypochordal commissure. The fenestra basicranialis is present between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures. The elliptical postoticum foramen is posteriorly surrounded by the cotyle or by the lamina of the tectum synoticum. The foramen prooticum is C-shaped and not entirely surrounded by bone (but see Remarks). The auditory cavity is well defined and deep. The ventral surface is variably perforated, with the high medial crest either interrupted or not sigmoid by the sulcus carotis.</p><p>Remarks: In the examined specimens of Li. boscai and Li. helveticus, the parietal crest extends from the midlength of the distal end of the tectum synoticum (not proximal) to the anteriormost edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. In the two available specimens of Li. helveticus, the foramen prooticum is completely surrounded by bone. In MDHC 259, an anteriorly pointing tip of the parietal crest forms the anterior end of the complex. In MDHC 135, the parotic process is dorsally convex in both anterior and posterior views and ventrally concave (slightly hook-shaped). In MNCN 18203, the parotic process is sub-triangular in posterior view. In MNCN 19267, the otic process is anteriorly projecting, with a circular articular surface.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 8A, B)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view, twice as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is twice as wide as the circular cotyle or slightly less. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with a horizontal (or sub-horizontal) major axis. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a narrow groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is narrower than each occipital joint. The posteriorly enlarged neural crest is low or absent, whereas the secondary crests are variably developed, but always present. The secondary crests run parallel to the neural crest for most of their length. Close to the posterior edge of the neural arch, they converge and contact the neural crest, hence they do not reach the end of the arch. The neural spine can be present or absent. The lateral surface of the atlas is variably perforated. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is small or absent. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal (inclination of 10–30° above the horizontal). The neural arch between the incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex or subvertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane of the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. Posteriorly, the lateral crests reach the elliptical postzygapophyses or run dorsally to the latter, but without reaching the posterior edge of the neural arch. The inferior crests are low or absent. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (U- or V-shaped), but the incisura dorsalis is sometimes visible. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight or concave (U- or V-shaped concavity); posteriorly, the incisura dorsalis is deep and formed by the neural arch. In dorsal view, the cotyle may or may not be visible. The ventral surface is smooth, although it can also be pierced by more than two foramina.</p><p>Remarks: Secondary crests are absent in MDHC 135. In NHMW 34075, the lateral crests are low.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 11C)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, slightly higher or lower than the condyle. The condyle is circular or elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is inclined. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina reaching their distal ends. Distally, the lamina is smooth. The transverse processes are subperpendicular to the centrum or with a slightly posterior orientation, covering the incisura caudalis only slightly in lateral view or not covering it. In the same view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is either visible or not. One-third of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses. The neural crest is blade-like and high, starting posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch and being posteriorly broadened and forked. The neural spine is low or absent. The medial edges of the prezygapophyses are usually parallel in dorsal view. The anterior zygapophyseal crests contact the dorsal part of the diapophyses. The posterior zygapophyseal crests are well developed and horizontal, contacting the diapophyses proximally or at their mid-length. Anterior and posterior ventral crests are well developed and form an asymmetrically rhomboidal or trapezoidal ventral lamina. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is generally perforated. In anterior view, a small foramen is visible in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of the parapophyses). In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is dorsally concave in its anterior part. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep, and the neural arch ventral to it is inclined or rarely convex. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal or dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). The neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses is sigmoid or vertical in lateral view. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extends posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped) or flat. The condyle and the cotyle may or may not be visible in dorsal view. The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Remarks: In Li. boscai, the neural crest is dorsally pitted and bears moderate lateral lips (much less evident than in Salamandrina). In this species, the condyle is slightly visible in dorsal view, and in ventral view the ventral lamina is commonly trapezoidal. The ventral lamina differs from other congeners, in which it is common for the ventral lamina to be asymmetrically rhomboidal. The same pitted surface of the neural crest is visible in the extinct species Li. rohrsi .</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 13E)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are high (height/length ratio&gt; 1.4). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical or U-shaped. The neural canal is wider than the haemal canal and higher than or as high as the haemal canal. The transverse processes are rectangular (with the longest side vertical) in anterior view; in dorsal view, they are triangular. The neural and haemal crests are high and posteriorly enlarged or forked; if they are enlarged, their dorsal surface is perforated. The lateral surface is not smooth, because several crests and small foramina are present. There is no large foramen on the haemal arch. The zygapophyseal crests are marked and horizontal or ventrally concave. The anterior ventral crests are low and generally do not reach the anterior edge of the haemal arch. The posterior ventral crests start from the posteroventral edge of the haemal arch in lateral view. In lateral view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is concave (or posteriorly inclined) between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest, and convex or anteriorly inclined ventral to the anterior ventral crest. The haemal crest does not project anteriorly beyond the haemal arch. The haemal arch and crest are posteriorly convex and rounded in lateral view, without having a posterior tip.</p><p>Remarks: The caudal vertebrae of Li. vulgaris are particularly high (height/width ratio ~1.8), whereas in the other species the height/width ratio is lower (~1.4). In Li. boscai, the neural crest has no lateral lips (different from the precaudal vertebrae).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FF8A4C04FC61F3ADFD26FA2D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FFB44C06FE8AF54EFD20FCC6.text	9750C307FFB44C06FE8AF54EFD20FCC6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ommatotriton Gray 1850	<div><p>OMMATOTRITON GRAY, 1850</p><p>Species: Ommatotriton ophryticus * (Litvinchuk, Zuiderwijk, Borkin &amp; Rosanov, 2005) and Ommatotriton vittatus * (Gray, 1835) (not European).</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5E)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are clearly visible, whereas the prominentia semicircularis lateralis is generally covered by the parietal crest and process. Among the prominentiae, there is a smooth and deep middle depression. The circular or elliptical fenestra ovalis is ventral to the parotic process and visible in posterior view. Its anterior edge is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. The parietal crest is low, extending from the posterior or middle point of the distal tectum synoticum to the anteriormost edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The parotic crest is variably developed, but generally low and either equally high throughout its length or dorsally concave. It contacts the parietal crest in the anterior one-third of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris and is laterally concave close to parotic process, where it generally forms a dorsal tip. The parietal crest is lower anterior to the parotic crest. In dorsal view, the parotic process is rectangular in the two specimens of O. vittatus and sub-triangular in the two specimens of O. ophryticus . In posterior and anterior views, this process is triangular, and in lateral view it is almost horizontal or with the ventral tip more anterior than the dorsal one. The tectum synoticum is slender, and its anterior edge is posterior to the midlength of the complex. The tectum synoticum is almost as medially extended as the hypochordal commissure and extends medially beyond the prefacial commissure, and only a slight concavity is visible between the two commissures. In both available specimens of O. ophryticus, the prefacial commissure also extends medially. The cylindrical otic process projects anteriorly from the prominentia semicircularis anterioris and bears a circular articular surface. The foramen faciale is particularly visible in ventral view as a large foramen on the posterior part of the basicapsular commissure, being posterodorsal to the kidney-shaped articular surface of the processus basalis. The processus basalis forms a small lateral crest visible in ventral view. The sulcus petrosus between the processus basalis and the otic process is hidden by a sharp process ventral to the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. The elliptical postoticum foramen is surrounded posteriorly by the cotyle alone. Usually, the foramen prooticum is almost completely surrounded by bone. The auditory cavity is well defined but not deep. The basicapsular commissure extends medially beyond the prefacial commissure and is almost as medially extended as the hypochordal commissure. The fenestra basicranialis is present between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures.The ventral surface is variably perforated, and the medial crest is interrupted by the sulcus carotis posterior to the basicapsular commissure.</p><p>Remarks: In MNCN 13193, the deep middle depression bears a single foramen posterior to the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis lateralis.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 8C)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view and is twice as high as each occipital joint or slightly less. In posterior view, the neural canal is at least twice as wide as the circular cotyle or slightly less. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with a horizontal (or sub-horizontal) major axis. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a narrow groove on the ventral surface. In ventral view, the base of the odontoid process is as wide as each occipital joint or slightly wider. The forked or posteriorly enlarged neural crest is low or absent, whereas the secondary crests are absent or variably developed. If present, the secondary crests run parallel to the neural crest for most of their length. Close to the posterior edge of the neural arch, they converge and contact the neural crest; hence, they do not reach the end of the arch. The neural spine is generally present. The lateral surface of the atlas is variably perforated. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is present. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is inclined or sub-horizontal. The neural arch between the wide incisura caudalis and the cotyle is convex or sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The well-developed lateral crests extend posteriorly beyond the postzygapophyses, almost reaching the posterior edge of the neural arch. The inferior crests are marked. In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight, and the incisura dorsalis is posteriorly deep, formed by the forked neural crest or by the neural arch. The cotyle is not visible (or slightly visible) in dorsal view. The ventral surface is smooth or bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Remarks: MNCN 40462 is the only examined specimen of O. ophryticus preserving the atlas. In this specimen, the dorsoposterior edge of the atlas is formed by the neural arch, producing a huge posterior concavity. In addition, the secondary crests do not contact the short and blade-like neural crest, and the lateral crests do not extend beyond the postzygapophyses.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 11D)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, slightly higher or lower than the condyle. The condyle is circular or elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. In lateral view, the anterior edge of the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is inclined. The diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina reaching their distal ends.The transverse processes are subperpendicular to the centrum or with a slightly posterior orientation, covering the incisura caudalis only marginally in lateral view or not covering it. In the same view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is visible. One-third of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses. The neural crest is blade-like and high, starting posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch, being broadened and forked posteriorly. The neural spine is low or absent. The anterior zygapophyseal crests contact the dorsal part of the diapophyses. The posterior zygapophyseal crests are well developed and horizontal, contacting the diapophyses proximally or at their midlength. Anterior and posterior ventral crests are well developed and form an asymmetrically rhomboidal or trapezoidal ventral lamina. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is generally perforated. In anterior view, a wide foramen is visible in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of the parapophyses). The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep and contacts the centrum or, alternatively, the neural arch ventral to it is inclined. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal or dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). The neural arch is posteriorly forked dorsal to the postzygapophyses, and each branch in lateral view shows a posterior concavity ventrally and a tip dorsally. In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped) or flat. The condyle is visible in dorsal view (usually for most of its length), whereas the cotyle is not visible (or, rarely, it is slightly visible through the incisura dorsalis). The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Remarks: In O. ophryticus, the cotyle is slightly visible in dorsal view.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 14A)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are high (height/length ratio&gt; 1.4). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical or U-shaped. The neural canal is wider than the haemal canal and higher than or as high as the haemal canal. The transverse processes are rectangular (with the longest side vertical) in anterior view; in dorsal view, they are triangular, and in lateral view, they form an inclined lamina, formed posterodorsally by the transverse process itself and anteroventrally by the anterior middle crest. The neural and haemal crests are high and posteriorly forked, with a large foramen corresponding to the bifurcation point; if they are enlarged, the dorsal surface is perforated. The lateral surface is not smooth, because several crests and small foramina are present, and a large foramen perforates the haemal arch. The zygapophyseal crests are marked and horizontal or ventrally concave. They are poorly connected with the transverse processes. The anterior ventral crests are low and generally do not reach the anterior edge of the haemal arch. The posterior ventral crests start from the posterior edge of the haemal crest. In lateral view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt;130°. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is concave (or posteriorly inclined) or convex (or anteriorly inclined) between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest, and concave (or posteriorly inclined) ventral to the latter crest. The haemal crest does not project anterior to the haemal arch. The haemal arch and crest form a sharp or rounded tip posteriorly in lateral view.</p><p>Remarks: In O. vittatus, the posterior tip of the haemal crest is more ventral than in O. ophryticus, commonly forming the ventralmost part of the vertebra.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FFB44C06FE8AF54EFD20FCC6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FFB64C01FEB3F029FA15F975.text	9750C307FFB64C01FEB3F029FA15F975.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pleurodeles Michahelles 1830	<div><p>PLEURODELES MICHAHELLES, 1830</p><p>Species: Pleurodeles waltl * Michahelles, 1830 .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5F)</p><p>The otic–occipitum complex is generally sharp, because the prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are usually covered by numerous crests (except for MNCM 16165, in which the crests are low). The prominentia semicircularis lateralis is more rounded and clearly recognizable. The middle depression is not visible between the prominentiae semicircularis. The circular fenestra ovalis is visible in posterior and ventral views. Its dorsal edge is also visible in dorsal view. Its anterior edge is located at the mid-length of the complex, and it is connected to the cotyles with a horizontal lamina. The parietal crest is low and limited to parts of the tectum synoticum (e.g. in HNHM 2004.90.1 and MNHN 2013-27) or, alternatively, it starts from the mid-length of the distal edge of the tectum synoticum, and it reaches the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris (e.g. in MNHN 2013-26 and HNHM 2004.91.1). The parotic crest and process generally are not present. Instead, anterior and lateral to the anterior half of the prominentia semicircularis lateralis and parallel to the otic process, there are several small, anteriorly pointing crests or a single crest that ends in a sharp and anteriorly directed process. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. The tectum is developed medially as the prefacial and hypochordal commissures, and no concavity is visible between the prefacial commissure and the tectum. Posteriorly, the cotyle surrounds the circular or kidney-shaped postoticum foramen. The cylindrical otic process is much more anteriorly projecting than the processus basalis and bears a subcircular articular surface and sometimes an anterodorsal spine. The articular surface of the processus basalis is kidney-shaped, with the foramen faciale posterodorsal to it. A deep sulcus petrosus separates the otic and basalis processes. The foramen prooticum is entirely surrounded by bone. The auditory cavity is not deep. The basicapsular commissure bears an anteromedian ventral spine, also visible in dorsal view. The crista retrosellaris between the hypochordal and basicapsular commissures covers the whole fenestra basicranialis, which, therefore, is absent. The middle of the ventral side of the complex is depressed and strongly perforated, especially next to the ventral spine, and no medial crest is visible.</p><p>Remarks: In MNCM 16167, the parietal crest contacts a low parotic crest in the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. In MNCM 16165, the prooticum foramen is not entirely surrounded by bone.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 8D)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view and is as high as each occipital joint or slightly higher. In the same view, the dorsal edge of the neural canal is V-shaped. In posterior view, the neural canal is as wide as the circular cotyle. The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal. The articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a narrow groove visible in ventral view. In this view, the base of the odontoid process is as wide as or narrower than each occipital joint. The low neural crest starts posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch, and it is posteriorly broadened or forked (in this case, forming an incisura dorsalis visible in dorsal view and rarely in posterior view). The secondary crests are as inclined as the neural crest or ventrally concave. They reach the posterior edge of the neural arch. The neural spine is absent or low. The lateral surface of the atlas bears several foramina per side. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is small and V-shaped. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is strongly inclined. The deep incisura caudalis reaches the atlantal centrum, and its maximum concavity lies in the horizontal plane containing the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The low lateral crests generally reach the postzygapophyses. The inferior crests are low, from the ventral edge of the occipital joints, forming a deep lateral concavity, and extending straight until the end of the centrum. In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length. The posterodorsal edge of the atlas is flat in lateral view, and its posterior surface shows several small foramina. In dorsal view, the neural arch is concave anteriorly (U- or V-shaped concavity), and the cotyle is not visible posteriorly. The ventral surface bears two or more foramina.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 253, the neural crest is equally developed throughout its length. The anterior edge of the lateral walls of the neural arch is not convex in lateral view in MNHN 2013-27, hence the incisura vertebralis cranialis is only slightly visible. The lateral crests are not visible dorsal to the first spinal nerve foramen in MDHC 253. In HNHM 2004.90.1 and in the right side of MDHC 253, a third crest is present between the lateral and inferior crests of the atlas. In MNCN 161165, the incisura cranialis is roundly concave, and the incisura caudalis is not deep (neural arch slightly concave), whereas the anterior edge of the neural arch is flat in dorsal view. The incisura dorsalis is not visible in this specimen, in which the neural crest is clearly thicker posteriorly, forming a perforated bony triangle.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 11E)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The neural canal is triangular and, in general, lower than the condyle. The condyle is elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. In lateral view, the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is weakly inclined. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina that reaches their distal ends and is distally indented. The lamina is smooth anteriorly and bears some foramina posteriorly. The transverse processes are subvertical or with a slightly posterior orientation, covering the incisura caudalis only marginally in lateral view or, in some cases, not covering it. In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is visible and vertical or anteriorly concave. Half of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural crest and neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses. The neural crest is blade-like and high, starting posterior to the line connecting the posterior edge of the prezygapophyses. The neural crest gently broadens posteriorly, being high in lateral view, and is pierced by several small foramina. The neural spine is absent. The anterior zygapophyseal crests contact the dorsal part of the parapophyses or the lamina connecting the diapophyses and parapophyses (the anterior zygapophyseal crest never contacts the dorsal part of the diapophyses; see also Stoetzel et al., 2011). The posterior zygapophyseal crests are well developed and horizontal. The small anterior ventral crest starts from the anteroventral edge of the parapophyses and contacts the prezygapophyses in their ventral part, thus being dorsally concave. The posterior ventral crests are absent or small. The ventral lamina is trapezoidal. Generally, the lateral surface of the vertebrae is perforated. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is anterodorsally concave. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep and generally reaches the centrum. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal or dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). The neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses is sigmoid in lateral view. In lateral view, the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle for more than half of their length. In dorsal view, the neural arch is flat or anteriorly concave (U-shaped). Part of the condyle is visible in dorsal view, whereas the cotyle is not visible. The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 14B, C)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/ length ratio &lt;1.25). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical or U-shaped. The neural canal is narrower than the haemal canal and is as high as the haemal canal. The transverse processes are horizontal or rectangular (with the longest side vertical) in anterior view and sub-vertical in lateral view; in dorsal view, they are triangular. The neural and haemal crests are high and posteriorly enlarged or forked; if they are enlarged, the dorsal surface may be perforated. The lateral surface is not smooth, because several crests and small foramina are present. There is no large foramen on the haemal arch. The zygapophyseal crests are marked and horizontal. They are poorly connected with the transverse processes. The anterior ventral crests are marked and reach the anterior edge of the haemal arch. The posterior ventral crests start from the ventral edge of the haemal canal. In lateral view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°, almost reaching 180° in some cases. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is concave (or posteriorly inclined) between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest, and convex (or anteriorly inclined) ventral to it. The haemal crest projects anteriorly beyond the haemal arch, forming a sharp or rounded tip in lateral view. The haemal arch and crest form a sharp tip posteriorly.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 253, the transverse processes a r e V- s h a p e d, f o r m i n g a n a n t e r i o r c o n c av i t y. MNCN 16165 has procoelous caudal vertebrae and small anterior middle crests not in contact with either the prezygapophyses or the anterior edge of the cotyle.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FFB64C01FEB3F029FA15F975	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FFB14C02FC0BF59CFC3DFAEE.text	9750C307FFB14C02FC0BF59CFC3DFAEE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Triturus Rafinesque 1815	<div><p>TRITURUS RAFINESQUE, 1815</p><p>Species: Triturus carnifex * (Laurenti, 1768), Triturus cristatus * (Laurenti, 1768), Triturus dobrogicus * (Kiritzescu, 1903), Triturus ivanbureschi, Triturus karelini, Triturus macedonicus * (Karaman, 1922), Triturus marmoratus * (Latreille, 1800) and Triturus pygmaeus * (Wolterstorff, 1905) .</p><p>Otic–occipitum complex (Fig. 5G, H)</p><p>The prominentiae semicircularis anterioris and posterioris are clearly visible, whereas the prominentia semicircularis lateralis is generally covered by the parotic crest and process. The middle depression is smooth, but not deep. In lateral and posterior views, the circular or elliptical fenestra ovalis is visible ventral to the parotic process. Its anterior edge is in the middle of the complex or slightly posterior. The parietal crest is low, extending from the mid-length of the distal tectum synoticum to the anteriormost edge of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, being lower anterior to the parotic crest. The parotic crest is variably developed, generally lower in its portion close to the parotic process. This crest is clearly visible in anterior view. Parotic and parietal crests meet slightly anterior to the mid-length of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, and the parotic crest is laterally inclined close to the parietal crest and laterally concave close to the parotic process. The parotic process extends laterally, being rectangular in dorsal view and triangular in anterior and posterior views; in its ventral part, it is more laterally extended than in its dorsal part. In lateral view, the parotic process is almost horizontal, or the ventral tip extends anteriorly beyond the dorsal one. The anterior edge of the tectum synoticum is posterior to the mid-length of the complex. It extends medially almost as much as the hypochordal commissure and beyond the prefacial commissure, and a concavity is visible between the two commissures. The cylindrical otic process projects anteriorly on the prominentia semicircularis anterioris, bearing a circular articular surface. The foramen faciale is dorsolateral to the kidney-shaped articular surface of the processus basalis, which generally extends laterally into a sort of spine visible in ventral view, protruding beyond the main body of the complex. Between the processus basalis and the otic process, a sulcus petrosus is visible. The elliptical postoticum foramen is surrounded posteriorly by the cotyle, and its anterior margin is generally not connected with the prominentia semicircularis lateralis by a lamina. The foramen prooticum is almost completely surrounded by bone. The auditory cavity is well defined and deep. The basicapsular commissure is medially developed beyond the prefacial commissure and extends medially as the hypochordal commissure. The fenestra basicranialis is clearly visible between the basicapsular and hypochordal commissures. The ventral surface is variably perforated, with a medial crest. This crest runs from the posteriormost point of the basicapsular commissure to the posteriormost point of the hypochordal commissure and is crossed by the sulcus carotis.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 18, the parietal crest and the parotic crest and process are low or absent. In MDHC 145, the parotic crest is absent, and the parotic process is sub-triangular in dorsal view. In the two specimens of T. marmoratus, the parotic process is particularly elongate and rectangular in posterior view. In the two available specimens of T. marmoratus, the articular surface of the otic process is irregular (not circular), and the articular surface of the process basalis does not form a lateral spine. Moreover, in these specimens, the sulcus petrosus is hidden by a sharp process ventral to the prominentia semicircularis anterioris. In T. pygmaeus, a lamina connecting the posterior edge of the parotic process to the anterior margin of the postoticum foramen is present. In MDHC 38, this concavity is not present, but there is a bony connection between the tectum synoticum and the prefacial commissure.</p><p>Atlas (Fig. 8E)</p><p>The neural canal is circular in anterior view and is as high as each occipital joint. In posterior view, the neural canal is usually slightly wider than the circular cotyle (see Remarks). The occipital joints are circular or elliptical, with the major axis being horizontal (or sub-horizontal). Generally, the articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a narrow groove on the ventral surface (see Remarks). In ventral view, the width of the base of the odontoid process is similar to that of each occipital joint or larger. The posteriorly enlarged neural crest is low or absent, whereas the secondary crests are variably developed, but always present. The secondary crests run parallel to the neural crest for most of their length. Close to the posterior edge of the neural arch, they converge and contact the neural crest. They can reach or not reach the posterior end of the neural arch. The neural spine is generally present and low. The lateral surface of the atlas is variably perforated by foramina. The incisura vertebralis cranialis is small or wide. In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is sub-horizontal (inclination of 10–40° above the horizontal). The posterior margin of the lateral wall of the neural arch ventral to the wide incisura caudalis in lateral view is concave, inclined or sub-vertical. The maximum concavity of the incisura vertebralis caudalis is dorsal to the horizontal plane that comprises the maximum concavity of the incisura cranialis. The well-developed lateral crests reach the postzygapophyses posteriorly, or the incisura vertebralis caudalis. The inferior crests are low or marked (see Remarks). In posterior view, the neural arch is dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). Less than one-third of the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly straight or concave (U- or V-shaped concavity); posteriorly, the incisura dorsalis is variably visible, formed by the forked neural crest or by the neural arch. The cotyle is not visible in dorsal view. The ventral surface is smooth or bears more than two foramina.</p><p>Remarks: In MDHC 145, there are two secondary crests per side. In T. marmoratus and T. pygmaeus, the neural canal is 2 or 2.5 times higher than the condyles in anterior view. In T. dobrogicus, the two odontoid facets form a low angle relative to the horizontal (30–40°), whereas the angle is higher in T. carnifex, T. cristatus, T. marmoratus, T. pygmaeus and T. macedonicus . Secondary crests are equally distant from the dorsal edge of the neural arch and postzygapophyses in T. dobrogicus and T. macedonicus, whereas these crests are closer to the dorsal edge of the neural arch than to postzygapophyses in T. marmoratus, T. carnifex and T. cristatus . In T. pygmaeus, this character is variable. The convexity of the neural arch between the cotyle and the incisura caudalis is particularly strong in T. macedonicus and T. carnifex . In these species, the incisura caudalis is covered, in part, by the lateral crests, which are generally developed posterolaterally, where the posterior tips of these crests form a right angle. This character is almost never present in T. dobrogicus, T. pygmaeus and T. marmoratus, in which the lateral crests are generally less developed posteriorly. In T. cristatus, this character is variable depending on the specimen. In T. marmoratus MNHN 1938 _146, the part of the neural arch between the postzygapophyses and the cotyle is vertical, and the incisura vertebralis caudalis is weakly developed. In this specimen, the lateral crests are low, starting from slightly dorsal to the mid-height of the condyle. The lateral crests raise rapidly until they reach the postzygapophyses, and dorsal to the first spinal nerve foramen (anterodorsal to the crest on the right side and posteroventral on the left side) the crests become less evident, being present only as a slight convexity. In the other specimens of T. marmoratus and T. pygmaeus, the lateral crests are high and start ventral to the mid-height of the occipital joints, showing the same outline as MNHN 1938_146, being higher close to the first spinal nerve foramen and reduced close to the postzygapophyses. This is not true for the other species of Triturus based on the material from HNHM, in which the lateral crests are not evident around the foramen of the first spinal nerve, although they are more evident anterior to the incisura vertebralis caudalis. Different from MNHN 1938_146, the lateral crests begin from the dorsal edge of the condyles, slightly lateral to its mid-length, and the foramen for the first spinal nerve is usually ventral to it. Similar to MNHN 1938_146, they rise rapidly until they reach the postzygapophyses, being inclined at ~60°. In T. marmoratus MNCN 16067, the lateral crest is posteriorly reinforced by a thick crest, clearly visible in posterior view. The inferior crests are not present in T. marmoratus or in T. cristatus (but visible in BSPGM 4099 and HNHM 2002.143.6), whereas they are clearly visible in T. carnifex and T. dobrogicus . They can be present or absent in T. macedonicus, thereby documenting its high intraspecific variability. In T. pygmaeus, the inferior crests are low. In posterior view, the cotyle is smaller than the neural canal in the French specimen of T. marmoratus (MNHN 1938_146), in which the cotyle diameter could fit at least four times into the cross-section of the neural canal. In T. pygmaeus, the cotyle diameter could fit almost three times into the cross-section of the neural canal. In T. cristatus and T. carnifex and in Spanish specimens of T. marmoratus, the cotyle diameter could fit at least two times into the cross-section of the neural canal. In T. dobrogicus and T. macedonicus, the neural canal is only slightly larger than the cotyle. In ventral view, the odontoid process is more anteriorly extended in T. cristatus, T. marmoratus, T. dobrogicus and T. carnifex than in T. macedonicus, such that the two articular facets do not contact the condyles. In T. macedonicus, the articular facets of the odontoid process contact the condyles. In T. marmoratus and in MNCN 42552 ( T. pygmaeus), the articular facets of the odontoid process are separated by a groove. In T. marmoratus MNHN 1938 -146, the ventral surface is generally not smooth, bearing several small crests and tubercula.</p><p>Precaudal vertebrae (Fig. 11F, G)</p><p>The precaudal vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, slightly higher or lower than the condyle. The condyle is circular or elliptical, with a horizontal major axis. In lateral view, the neural arch between the condyle and the elliptical prezygapophyses is inclined. Diapophyses and parapophyses are distinguishable, connected by a smooth lamina that reaches their distal ends and is distally concave. They are posteriorly oriented, entirely or partly covering the posterior edge of the neural arch between the postzygapophyses and centrum. In lateral view, the neural arch dorsal to the prezygapophyses is generally visible. Most of the height of the vertebra is formed by the centrum and neural arch ventral to the postzygapophyses (only one-fifth of the height of the vertebra is formed by the neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses). The neural crest, when present, is blade-like, starts posterior to the anterior edge of the neural arch and is posteriorly slightly broadened, not always reaching the posterior edge of the neural arch, which is gently concave in dorsal view. The neural spine is low or absent. The anterior zygapophyseal crests contact the dorsal part of the diapophyses. The posterior zygapophyseal crests are well developed and horizontal or slightly ventrally concave, contacting the diapophyses in a variety of locations. Anterior and posterior ventral crests are low and form an asymmetrically or symmetrically rhomboidal ventral lamina. The lateral surface of the vertebrae is generally perforated. In anterior view, a small foramen is visible in the ventral half of the proximal edge of the transverse processes (at the base of the parapophyses). In lateral view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is dorsally concave in its anterior part or horizontal. The incisura vertebralis caudalis is deep and contacts the centrum. In posterior view, the dorsal edge of the neural arch is horizontal or dorsally convex (inverted U-shaped). The neural arch dorsal to the postzygapophyses in lateral view is sigmoid or vertical. Less than half of the postzygapophyses extend posteriorly beyond the cotyle in lateral view. In dorsal view, the neural arch is anteriorly concave (U-shaped) or flat. The condyle is visible in dorsal view, whereas the cotyle is not visible (or, rarely, it is slightly visible through the incisura dorsalis). The ventral surface is generally perforated.</p><p>Remarks: In T. pygmaeus and T. marmoratus, the neural crest is high and dorsally horizontal, similar to T. karelinii figured by Ratnikov &amp; Litvinchuk (2007). In T. pygmaeus, the neural crest starts from the posterior edge of the prezygapophyses, whereas in T. marmoratus, the neural crest starts from the posterior third of the prezygapophyses.</p><p>Caudal vertebrae (Fig. 14D, E)</p><p>The caudal vertebrae are not particularly high (height/ length ratio &lt;1.25). The neural canal is pentagonal or circular, and the haemal canal is elliptical or U-shaped. The neural canal is wider than or as wide as and as high as the haemal canal. The transverse processes are triangular or rectangular (with the longest side vertical) in anterior view; they are subvertical in lateral view and triangular in dorsal view. The neural and haemal crests are high and posteriorly enlarged or forked; if they are enlarged, the dorsal surface is smooth. The lateral surface is not smooth, because of the presence of several crests and small foramina, and a large foramen on the haemal arch. The zygapophyseal crests are marked and horizontal. They are poorly connected with the transverse processes. The anterior ventral crests are marked and reach the anterior edge of the haemal arch, sometimes projecting more anteriorly than the haemal arch. The posterior ventral crests start from the posteriormost tip of the haemal arch. In lateral view, the anterior and posterior ventral crests form an angle&gt; 130°. In lateral view, the anterior margin of the haemal arch is concave between the centrum and the anterior ventral crest. Ventral to the anterior ventral crest, the anterior margin of the haemal arch forms another concavity (or is posteriorly inclined); therefore, the anterior edge of the haemal arch in lateral view is convex close to the anterior ventral crests. The haemal crest projects anteriorly beyond the haemal arch, forming a sharp or rounded tip in lateral view. The haemal arch and crest in lateral view form a sharp tip posteriorly. The neural arch is usually more developed dorsally than the haemal arch ventrally, meaning that the haemal crest is usually lower than the neural crest.</p><p>Remarks: In T. macedonicus and T. cristatus, the posterior zygapophyseal crest contacts the transverse processes distally or medially, forming a ventral and posterior concavity; in T. carnifex and T. dobrogicus, the posterior zygapophyseal crest generally contacts the transverse processes more proximally, and the concavity is not evident or absent. In T. macedonicus, the ventral edge of the haemal arch is horizontal, and the haemal crest is low. In T. marmoratus MNCN 16089, the ventral tip of the haemal arch is only slightly visible or absent, and there is no posterior tip, although the posterior edge of the haemal arch/crest is rounded.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FFB14C02FC0BF59CFC3DFAEE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
9750C307FFBE4C08FD11F0E0FA17FAA5.text	9750C307FFBE4C08FD11F0E0FA17FAA5.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Amphibia LINNAEUS 1758	<div>IDENTIFICATION KEYOtic–occipitum complex 1. Smooth otic–occipitum complex, with no parietal crest and no parotic crest and process .... Speleomantes- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................2 2. Middle depression with small foramina at the bottom and tuberculum at the posterior end of the prominentia semicircularis anterioris .................................................................................... Salamandrina- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................3 3. Middle depression among prominentiae occupied by a fourth small prominentia ..................... Chioglossa- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................44. In ventral view, fenestra basicranialis posterioris entirely covered by crista retrosellaris...........................5- Fenestra basicranialis posterioris visible in ventral view...............................................................................6 5. Ventral spine present anterior to basicapsular commissure....................................................... Pleurodeles - Ventral spine absent .................................................................................................................... Salamandra 6. Crista retrosellaris covering the anterior half of the fenestra basicranialis ............................ Mertensiella- Crista retrosellaris absent.................................................................................................................................7 7. In lateral view, parotic process ventrally concave and small fenestra ovalis ............................... Calotriton- In lateral view, parotic process not ventrally concave and wide fenestra ovalis ............................................8 8. Middle depression with small foramina at the bottom................................................................... Euproctus- Smooth middle depression ................................................................................................................................9 9. In ventral view, low or absent medial crest ............................................................................... Ichthyosaura- In ventral view, medial crest high...................................................................................................................10 10. Parotic process rectangular in anterior and posterior views, minimally laterally extended...... Lissotriton- Parotic process laterally extended and sub-triangular in anterior and posterior views .............................11 11. Low parotic crest, equally high throughout its length............................................................ Ommatotriton - High parotic crest, generally higher close to the parietal crest ........................................................ TriturusAtlas+ 1. Strongly dorsoventrally compressed confluent occipital joints, with reduced horizontal odontoid process dorsal to them ....................................................................................................................................... Proteus- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................22. Neural bulge or two articular surfaces instead of neural crest.......................................................................3- No neural bulge or articular surfaces (walls of neural arch fused).................................................................4 3. Articular surface of the odontoid process unseparated ........................................................ Salamandrella - Articular surface of the odontoid process clearly separated.................................................... Speleomantes 4. High neural crest, posteriorly forked with lateral eversion .................................................. Salamandrina- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................5 5. Horizontal dorsal edge of the neural arch in lateral view and neural crest low or absent...... Mertensiella- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................6 6. Dorsal portion of the neural arch with several small foramina in posterior view ..................... Pleurodeles- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................7 7. Triangular neural canal .............................................................................................................. Salamandra- Circular neural canal.........................................................................................................................................88. Low neural crest, neither posteriorly enlarged nor forked (or absent)...........................................................9- Low neural crest, posteriorly enlarged ...........................................................................................................10 9. Neural spine present**..................................................................................................................... Euproctus - Neural spine absent......................................................................................................................... Calotriton 10. Low or absent secondary crests ............................................................................................... Ommatotriton- Marked secondary crests.................................................................................................................................11 11. Articular facets of odontoid process not contacting each other (large groove between them) Ichthyosaura- Articular facets of odontoid process contacting each other or slightly separated (narrow groove between them)..................................................................................................................................................12 12. Blade-like neural and secondary crests marked in anterior view .................................................... Triturus - Neural and secondary crests not marked in anterior view .......................................................... Lissotriton * Chioglossa is not included in the key because the only available atlas is too incomplete. **In one specimen (MDHC 507) the neural spine is not present; the diagnosis is identical to the one of Calotriton . Precaudal vertebrae1. Amphicoelous vertebrae ....................................................................................................................................2- Opisthocoelous vertebrae ..................................................................................................................................42. No ventral crests and keels ...............................................................................................................................3 - Wide ventral crests and ventral keel................................................................................................... Proteus 3. Foramen on the lateral wall of the neural arch present.......................................................... Speleomantes - Foramen on the lateral wall of the neural arch absent ........................................................ Salamandrella 4. High, forked neural crest (with lateral lips)........................................................................... Salamandrina- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................55. Dorsoventrally compressed vertebra (only one-fifth of the vertebra height formed by the neural arch dorsal to postzygapophyses), with low anterior zygapophyseal crests poorly visible in lateral view ......................6- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................8 6. Length approximately equal to width of the vertebra ............................................................... Salamandra- Elongate vertebrae.............................................................................................................................................7 7. Prezygapophyses not markedly laterally extended from the neural arch................................... Chioglossa - Prezygapophyses laterally projecting from the neural arch (vertebra with an overall hourglass-shape) ...................................................................................................................................................... Mertensiella 8. Anterior zygapophyseal crests contacting parapophyses or lamina of transverse processes or ventral half of diapophysis................................................................................................................................. Pleurodeles- Anterior zygapophyseal crests contacting dorsal half of diapophyses............................................................9 9. In anterior view, foramen at the base of parapophyses wide ................................................. Ommatotriton- In anterior view, foramen at the base of parapophyses small .......................................................................10 10. Dorsoventrally compressed vertebra (only one-fifth of the vertebra height formed by the neural arch dorsal to postzygapophyses) ........................................................................................................................... Triturus- One-third of the vertebra formed by neural crest/arch dorsal to postzygapophyses ...................................11 11. Wide, equidimensional prezygapophyses (circular or quadrangular)........................................... Calotriton- Elliptical prezygapophyses..............................................................................................................................12 12. High, posteriorly forked neural crest and condyle visible for most of its length in dorsal view .. Euproctus- Different from above ........................................................................................................................................13 13. In dorsal view, medial edges of the prezygapophyseal facets generally anteriorly diverging........ Ichthyosaura - In dorsal view, medial edges of the prezygapophyseal facets generally parallel......................... LissotritonCaudal vertebrae1. Amphicoelous vertebrae ....................................................................................................................................2- Opisthocoelous vertebrae ..................................................................................................................................42. Posterior, dorsal bulge present ..........................................................................................................................3 - Dorsal bulge absent, and forked posterior edge of the neural arch ................................................... Proteus 3. Transverse processes expanded in dorsal view and slightly dorsally concave in anterior view .................................................................................................................................................... Speleomantes - Transverse processes sub-rectangular in dorsal view and ventrally pointing in anterior view ................................................................................................................................................. Salamandrella4. Low and wide neural arch dorsal to postzygapophyses (neural arch dorsal to postzygapophyses flattened) ............................................................................................................................................................................5- High and narrow neural arch dorsal to postzygapophyses (neural arch dorsal to postzygapophyses not flattened) ............................................................................................................................................................6 5. High neural and haemal crest .................................................................................................... Mertensiella - Low haemal crest, and neural crest high only in its mid-length............................................... Salamandra 6. M-shaped transverse processes and anterior and posterior ventral crests forming an angle &lt;130° in lateral view........................................................................................................................................... Salamandrina- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................7 7. Posterior area of the dorsal surface of the neural arch and of the ventral surface of the haemal arch perforated ....................................................................................................................................... Pleurodeles- Different from above ..........................................................................................................................................88. Wide foramen on the lateral surface of the haemal arch ................................................................................9- Small foramen or no foramen on the lateral surface of the haemal arch .....................................................10 9. Height/length ratio ~1.3–1.4, and transverse processes in lateral view, laminar and anteroventrally inclined ...................................................................................................................................... Ommatotriton - Height/length ratio &lt;1.3, and transverse processes different from above ....................................... Triturus 10. Transverse processes triangular in anterior view .......................................................................... Euproctus- Transverse processes different from above ....................................................................................................11 11. Transverse processes posteriorly concave in lateral view ............................................................. Calotriton- Transverse processes different from above ....................................................................................................12 12. Height/length ratio&gt; 1.4 ................................................................................................ Lissotriton Uulgaris - Height/length ratio ~1.3–1.4 ............................................................. Ichthyosaura /other Lissotriton spp.</div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9750C307FFBE4C08FD11F0E0FA17FAA5	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Macaluso, Loredana;Wencker, Lukardis C M;Castrovilli, Maria;Carnevale, Giorgio;Delfino, Massimo	Macaluso, Loredana, Wencker, Lukardis C M, Castrovilli, Maria, Carnevale, Giorgio, Delfino, Massimo (2023): A comparative atlas of selected skeletal elements of European urodeles (Amphibia: Urodela) for palaeontological investigations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (3): 569-619, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac063, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/197/3/569/6693955
