A new peirosaurid (Crocodilyformes) from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian–Coniacian) of Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

Peirosauridae is composed of mid- to large-sized terrestrial mesoeucrododylian crocodyliforms distributed throughout Gondwanan landmasses. Here we describe a new peirosaurid that comes from the upper levels of the Portezuelo Formation (Turonian–Coniacian, Upper Cretaceous) from Loma de la Lata, Neuquén Province, Argentina. This specimen consists of some associated bones belonging to a single individual. In order to facilitate comparisons, we recognise two different peirosaurid morphotypes based on skull shape: broad- and narrow-snouted taxa. The new taxon may be related to broad-snouted taxa, especially Gasparinisuchus peirosauroides. The new taxon here reported has strong heterodont dentition when compared with other peirosaurids. As in related forms, the fourth dentary tooth is caniniform, very large, acute and transversely compressed (much more than other peirosaurids), and the anterior dentary teeth have less globular, sharp serrated crowns. Large interalveolar spaces are present between both mandibular and maxillary teeth, a trait only observed on the new taxon. With this addition, we elevate the number of Patagonian peirosaurids to four. Moreover, it represents together with Lomasuchus palpebrosus the second peirosaurid species described for the Portezuelo Formation.

Keywords::

• Crocodyliformes
• Peirosauridae
• Patagonia
• Cretaceous

Acknowledgements

We like to acknowledge Federico Brissón Egli, Nicolás Chimento, Sergio Lucero and Cecilia Jarne for their help during the development of this contribution. We thank Agustín Martinelli for his help in the interpretation of Patagosuchus and Alberto Garrido from the Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales Prof. Dr. Juan A. Olsacher, Zapala for allowing the revision of materials under his care. We also thank Fernando Novas and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica for support. We thank the personnel of the Añelo Municipality for their assistance and support. We also acknowledge Andrés Altamirano for his help with classical languages. Finally, we specially thank Hans Larsson for his kind help on his revision and corrections of English language.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

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