| Manistropheus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Holotype specimen | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauromorpha |
| Genus: | †Manistropheus Ezcurra,Sues & Fröbisch,2025 |
| Species: | †M. kulicki |
| Binomial name | |
| †Manistropheus kulicki Ezcurra, Sues & Fröbisch, 2025 | |
Manistropheus (meaning "moon vertebra") is anextinct genus ofarchosauromorph reptiles known from the latePermian (Wuchiapingian age)Werra Formation of Germany. The genus contains asingle species,Manistropheus kulicki, known from a single neck vertebra. It is among the oldest known archosauromorphs.
TheManistropheusholotype specimen, SMNK-PAL 76022, was discovered in a limestone quarry representing outcrops of theWerra Formation (Zechstein Group) nearKorbach inHesse, Germany. The specimen consists of an isolatedcervical (neck) vertebra, probably the fourth in the series.[1]
In 2025,Martín Ezcurra,Hans-Dieter Sues & Jörg FröbischdescribedManistropheus kulicki as a new genus and species of early-diverging archosauromorphs based on these fossil remains. Thegeneric name,Manistropheus, combines a reference toMáni, anOld Norse word for the personification of the Moon inGermanic mythology, with theGreekstropheus, meaning'vertebra'. This references the lunate (crescent) shape of afossa (depression) on the holotype vertebra that distinguishes it from related taxa. Thespecific name,kulicki, Jens Kulick, who studied the geology and fossils of thetype locality.[1]
Manistropheus is one of the few archosauromorphs named from the Permian, as this clade diversified in the followingTriassic period. The only other definitive Permian archosauromorphs areAenigmastropheus,Archosaurus,Eorasaurus, andProtorosaurus.[1]
In theirphylogenetic analysis, Ezcurra, Sues & Fröbisch (2025) recoveredManistropheus as the mostbasal member of the Archosauromorpha, diverging before the clade comprising the slightly olderAenigmastropheus andProtorosaurus. These results are displayed in thecladogram below:[1]
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