A new species of Qianichthyosaurus (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) from Xingyi Fauna (Ladinian, Middle Triassic) of Guizhou

A new species of Qianichthyosaurus Li, 1999 from the Zhuganpo Member of the Falang Formation (Ladinian, Middle Triassic), Wusha Town, Xingyi City of Guizhou is described here, namely Qianichthyosaurus xingyiensis sp. nov. The recognition of the new species revises the diagnosis of the genus: tooth size relative to the skull width slightly below 0.1; ulna peripheral “shaft” notched or largely reduced; hindlimb nearly equal or longer than forelimb; tibia peripheral “shaft” notched or largely reduced. Qianichthyosaurus xingyiensis sp. nov. differs from the type species in having relatively longer snout (snout length/skull length over 60%); humerus radial facet being prominently larger than ulnar facet; unenclosed obturator foramen on pubis; fibula posterior process on the posterior margin and the ischium sub-triangular lacking shaft. The new species is stratigraphically older than Q.zhoui, the specimens of which were exclusively known from the Wayao Member of the Falang Formation (Carnian, Late Triassic). Along with askeptosaurid thalattosaur Anshunsaurus and shastasaurid ichthyosaur Guizhouich- thyosaurus, the occurrence of Q. xingyiensis sp. nov. in Xingyi Fauna suggests a closer relationship between Xingyi Fauna (late Ladinian, Middle Triassic) and Guanling Biota (Carnian, Late Triassic).