The caudal vertebrae are also only formed by
arcual ossifications consisting of neural and haemal
arches and spines. These neural spines are
mostly unpaired, but one or two neural spines in
the caudal peduncle might be paired (MPEF-PV
1731, 1733, 3958; Figure 12.2). Nine neural ural
arches and 11 epurals are ossified in the ural
region in MPEF-PV 1731. We interpret these latter
elements as true epurals (i.e., detached neural
spines) sensu to Schultze and Arratia (1989)
because they are directly associated with the neural
arches and no neural spine is ossified in the ural
region (Figure 12). The ural skeleton is completed
with numerous enlarged and laterally compressed
hypurals. Twelve hypurals are visible in most of the
specimens, but the exact number of hypurals is
unknown because the most posterior elements are
hidden below the scales of the body lobe