Journal article
Review of the Late Cretaceous-early Paleogene crocodylomorphs of Europe: Extinction patterns across the K-PG boundary
Cretaceous Research, Vol.57, pp.565-590
01/2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2015.08.002
Abstract
Although the European dinosaur succession during the latest Cretaceous and its relationship with the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction has been the focus of recent work, other continental vertebrates, such as crocodylomorphs, have received less attention. The European continental record of crocodylomorphs in general, and of eusuchians in particular, is relatively dense through the Maastrichtian until the K-Pg boundary. Traditionally it has been argued that continental crocodylomorphs were minimally impacted by the K-Pg extinction, but they were substantially affected in Europe with the disappearance of endemic eusuchians such as Hylaeochampsidae, Allodaposuchus and their close relatives, and non-eusuchians such as Doratodon or Theriosuchus. Despite extensive sampling in Danian continental deposits, only scarce fragmentary crocodylomorph remains have been cited. It is not until the late Paleocene and Eocene that a recovery in continental crocodylomorphs is observed. The presence of taxa such as planocraniids, the alligatoroids Diplocynodon and Hassiacosuchus, and stem crocodyloids during this period provide the first reliable continental records of Crocodylia in Europe and is best explained by post-extinction immigration from Asia or North America. By contrast, marine forms such as Thoracosaurus are found on both sides of the K-Pg boundary in Europe. The adaptation of these marine animals to different environments, from shallow seas to more transitional or fluvial environments, could be the key to their success and survival across the K-Pg boundary, as seen in other marine crocodylomorph clades such as Dyrosauridae. •Database with all sites with crocodiles from Late Cretaceous - Paleocene of Europe.•Higher abundance of Crocodylomorpha during the Campanian and Maastrichtian.•Eusuchia is the most typical clade.•Continental crocodylomorphs were highly affected at the K-Pg boundary.•Only some marine species seem to survive across the K-Pg crisis.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Review of the Late Cretaceous-early Paleogene crocodylomorphs of Europe: Extinction patterns across the K-PG boundary
- Creators
- Eduardo Puértolas-Pascual - Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, SpainAlejandro Blanco - Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, C/ Escola Industrial 23, E-08201, Sabadell, SpainChristopher A Brochu - Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, USAJosé Ignacio Canudo - Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cretaceous Research, Vol.57, pp.565-590
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.cretres.2015.08.002
- ISSN
- 0195-6671
- eISSN
- 1095-998X
- Grant note
- name: University of Zaragoza, the Development Fund; name: Government of Aragón; name: Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports; DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: DEB 1257786-125748; name: Generalitat de Catalunya, award: 2013FI_B 01059
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2016
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9983984541102771
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