Hauffiopteryx

Hauffiopteryx Temporal range: Early Jurassic, 182.7–181.8 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	†Ichthyosauria
Node:	†Parvipelvia
Genus:	†Hauffiopteryx Maisch, 2008
Species:	†H. typicus
Binomial name
Hauffiopteryx typicus (von Huene, 1931 [originally Stenopterygius h. typicus])

Hauffiopteryx is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur known from Germany, Luxembourg and Somerset of the United Kingdom.

Hauffiopteryx was first described by Michael W. Maisch on the basis of some specimens that previously referred to Stenopterygius hauffianus. Maisch found that the lectotype of S. hauffianus can be determined as Stenopterygius cf. S. quadriscissus at best, and therefore this species should be considered a nomen dubium. He also found out that most specimens previously referred to S. hauffianus can be referred to S. quadriscissus, while the rest belongs to a highly distinctive new taxon that can't be referred to any valid species of Stenopterygius.

Hauffiopteryx is known from the lectotype GPIT 1491/4, articulated complete skeleton which preserved the skull and some soft tissues. The animal is about 1.93 m (6.3 ft) in length. It was collected from the Harpoceras elegantulum-exaratum ammonoid subzones (more specifically Lias ε II4), Harpoceras falcifer zone, of the famous Posidonien-Schiefer lagerstätte (Posidonia Shale) of Holzmaden, dating to the early Toarcian stage of the Early Jurassic, about 182 million years ago. Referred specimens from Holzmaden, Germany and Dudelange, Luxembourg include MHH '9', WAT 1, SMNS 51552, SMNS 80225 and probably the poorly preserved SMNS 81965. They were collected from the Harpoceras semicelatum-elegantulum-exaratum ammonoid subzones (Lias ε II1-5, about 182.7-181.8 mya), Harpoceras tenuicostatum-falcifer zones, of the Posidonia Shale.