- Megadontosuchus
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Megadontosuchus
Temporal range: Bartonian to Priabonian
Skull Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Subfamily: Tomistominae Genus: Megadontosuchus
Mook, 1955Species - M. arduini (De Zigno, 1880 [Originally Crocodilius arduini]) (type)
Megadontosuchus is a genus of tomistomine from the middle Eocene of Italy. Fossils have been found from Monte Duello in the province of Verona. The genus is currently monotypic, with the type and only species being M. arduini. The species was originally named in 1880, although it was assigned to the genus Crocodilius (now spelled Crocodylus). The genus was first erected by paleontologist Charles C. Mook in 1955 along with the tomistomine genus Kentisuchus, which was also first classified as Crocodilius. No holotype for Megadontosuchus was designated in 1880, and a lectotype wasn't proposed until 2007.[1]
Megadontosuchus differs from other tomistomines in that it has a more robust rostrum, very large teeth (hence the generic name meaing "big-toothed crocodile"), and large supratemporal fenestrae on the skull table.[1]
References
- ^ a b Piras, P.; Delfino, M.; Favero, L.D.; and Kotsakis, T. (2007). "Phylogenetic position of the crocodylian Megadontosuchus arduini and tomistomine palaeobiogeography". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52 (2): 315–328. http://www.musei.unipd.it/geologia/doc/megadontosuchus-app52-315.pdf.
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