Osteology and affinities of Dollo's goniopholidid (Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium

ABSTRACT

Two specimens originally referred by Louis Dollo to Goniopholis simus from the Lower Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium, are described. They consist of fully articulated skeletons, one missing the skull and mandible. Comparison of these specimens with recently revised specimens from the Wealden of England allows confirmation that the Belgian specimens are referable to the goniopholidid Anteophthalmosuchus hooleyi. The Belgian specimens are the most completely known representatives not only of this species but also of any Goniopholididae. Study of the postcranial skeletons from Bernissart reveals that the appendicular skeleton closely resembles that of derived neosuchians. The dorsal and ventral shields present a morphology directly comparable to other goniopholidids and pholidosaurids. Such observations stress the necessity to gather an osteological database of postcranial elements to test relationships of the various neosuchian lineages. Goniopholididae were relatively diverse during the Early Cretaceous of Europe, and depending on taxonomic opinion, three to five genera are recognized: Anteophthalmosuchus, Goniopholis, Hulkepholis, and possibly Vectisuchus and Nannosuchus.

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Citation for this article: Martin, J. E., M. Delfino, and T. Smith. 2016. Osteology and affinities of Dollo's goniopholidid (Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1222534.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

At the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, we thank A. Folie, curator of paleontology collections, and M. Haemelinck, head of museology survey, for access to the mounted specimen IRSNB R47 and the organization of the opening of its delicate glass cage. This was accomplished thanks to technical staff led by M. Planchon, who was assisted by S. Berton, H. De Potter, E. Dermience, A. Drèze, P. Kileste, B. Lambert, J.-M. Lefever, D. Lieffenrinckx, L. Trevels, and F. Vanderlinden. We add a special thank you to E. De Bast for realizing pictures of Figure 1 and S. Berton for restoration of parts of the Bernissart skeleton. At Bernissart Township, we thank L. Savignat from the Musée de l'Iguanodon for access to the specimen IRSNB R290. This research was supported by Synthesys Project BE-TAF-2788 (to J.E.M.) funded by the European Commission (http://www.synthesys.info/). M.D. was supported by Università di Torino (Fondi di Ricerca Locale 2012, 2013, 2014) and Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 416 GRC). The last version of this work benefited from the comments of one anonymous reviewer and M. Brandalise de Andrade as well as the associate editor, A. Turner.