Postcranial skeleton of Pistosaurus and interrelationships of the Sauropterygia (Diapsida)

Postcranial remains referable to the enigmatic sauropterygian Pistosaurus longaevus, from the Hauptmuschelkalk (Middle Triassic) of southern Germany, are described and comparisons are made with other sauropterygian groups. A phylogenetic hypothesis of sauropterygian interrelationships is presented. The Sauropterygia are most closely related to the Lepidosauromorpha. Pistosaurus most closely resembles the Plesiosauria in a number of cranial and postcranial features.