A juvenile specimen of Anshunsaurus (Reptilia : Thalattosauria)

A marine reptile from the Ladinian deposits near Xingyi is described and identified as a juvenile of Anshunsaurus wushaensis on the basis of similar skull proportions and many postcranial characters. Based on this specimen and observations of the holotype of A. wushaensis, there is no distinct ontogenetic differentiation in the length of the jugal. The absence of an astragalus in the holotype, and the greater length of metacarpal V relative to metacarpal IV, could be due to intraspecific variation. Ossification is not synchronous for corresponding elements on both sides of the body.