An enigmatic new crocodile from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar

Gregory A Buckley; Christopher A Brochu

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An enigmatic new crocodile from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar

Journal article

Peer reviewed

An enigmatic new crocodile from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar

Gregory A Buckley and Christopher A Brochu

Special papers in palaeontology (London), Vol.60(60), pp.149-175

01/1999

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Abstract

Material of a new mesoeucrocodylian, Mahajangasuchus insignis gen. et sp. nov. from the Late Cretaceous Maevarano Formation, Mahajanga Basin, of north-western Madagascar includes a complete left and partial right mandible, several isolated teeth, much of the postcranial skeleton, and numerous osteoderms. M. insignis differs from all known non-crocodylian crocodyliforms in possessing a broad, rounded anterior portion of the dentary with a very short mandibular symphysis, superficially resembling the condition found in nettosuchid crocodylians. Many features of the postcranial skeleton are concordant with those of other known Gondwanan crocodyliforms, whilst features of the teeth and mandible indicate close affinity with Trematochampsa and the South American peirosaurids. Indeed, a weakly supported sister-group relationship between M. insignis and Peirosauridae raises interesting questions regarding the biogeographical history of Madagascar. The potential non-monophyly of the trematochampsids, the sparse material by which they are known, and several unique features of M. insignis, combine to preclude assignment of M. insignis to a particular mesoeucrocodylian lineage.

affinities

Africa

Archosauria

biogeography

biologic evolution

bones

Chordata

cladistics

Cretaceous

Crocodilia

Diapsida

Indian Ocean Islands

Madagascar

Maevarano Formation

Mahajanga Basin

Mahajangasuchus insignis

Mesozoic

morphology

new taxa

northwestern Madagascar

Reptilia

Senonian

skeletons

taxonomy

teeth

Tetrapoda

Upper Cretaceous

Vertebrata

Vertebrate paleontology

Details

Title: Subtitle: An enigmatic new crocodile from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar
Creators: Gregory A Buckley - Field Museum of Natural History
Christopher A Brochu
Contributors: David M Unwin (Editor) - Zentralinstitut der Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Instituet fuer Palaeontologie Berlin DEU Federal Republic of Germany
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Special papers in palaeontology (London), Vol.60(60), pp.149-175
Publisher: Palaeontological Association
ISSN: 0038-6804
Alternative title: Cretaceous fossil vertebrates
Language: English
Date published: 01/1999
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9984229165102771

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