An unusual marine crocodyliform from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary of Patagonia.

GASPARINI, Z.; POL, D.; SPALLETTI, L.,

SCIENCE

American Association for Advancement of Science

Año: 2006 vol. 311 p. 70 - 73

0036-8075

Remains of the marine crocodyliform Dakosaurus andiniensis from western South America reveal a lineage that drastically deviated from the skull morphology that characterizes marine crocodyliforms. The snout and lower jaw are extremely robust, short, and high and only bear a few large teeth with serrated edges (resembling those of some terrestrial carnivorous archosaurs). This unusual morphology contrasts with the long and gracile snout and lower jaws bearing numerous teeth present in its closest relatives (interpreted as feeding on small fish or mollusks). Thus the morphological diversity of pelagic marine crocodyliforms was wider than had been thought.