Redescription of the skull of Saurosuchus galilei (Archosauria: Rauisuchidae)

ABSTRACT

A new skull of Saurosuchus galilei is described from a specimen collected at the base of the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation in San Juan Province, Argentina. The skull of this taxon is described in detail and compared to those of other suchians. The poor ossification of the articular end of the quadrate, disarticulation of the braincase from the dermatocranium, and poor development of the suture between exoccipital and basioccipital in the skull of Saurosuchus indicate that the specimen was a juvenile. Possible cranial autapomorphies of Saurosuchus include: a thick, sculptured skull roof; reduced postfrontal; slender ventral projection of the lacrimai; lateral process of the posterolateral frontal; development of a crista on the dorsal supraoccipital; development of large lateral processes of the laterosphenoid; basal tuber wider than occipital condyle; and elongate anterior process of the coronoid.