RE-DESCRIPTION OF THE CRANIO-MANDIBULAR ANATOMY OF NOTOSUCHUS TERRESTRIS (CROCODYLIFORMES, MESOEUCROCODYLIA) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF PATAGONIA

BARRIOS, F.; BONA, P.; PAULINA CARABAJAL, A.; GASPARINI, Z.

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2018 vol. 83 p. 3 - 39

0195-6671

Notosuchusterrestris wasthe first notosuchian described worldwide and the most abundant crocodyliformspecies in Gondwana during the Late Cretaceous. Here, the lectotype and morethan 60 complete and fragmentary specimens were studied allowing the mostdetailed description of the cranio-mandibular anatomy of this taxon, includingpoorly known regions as the braincase. Thirty-fourth characters were describedand confirmed by the first time for Notosuchus. Possible autapomorphies include:frontal with olfactory tract groove convex posteriorly and with well marked furrowsfor laterosphenoid, small premaxillary knob fits a maxillary notch in thepalate adjacent to the toothrow, small bilobate trigeminal fossa with groovesfor the branches the CN Vso, CN V2 andCN V3, parietal and laterosphenoid hightly pneumatic,post-temporal fenestra obliterated, presence of vestigial quadratojugal spine,ascending process of quadratojugal with posterior groove, vomer lateromediallybroad, incisive foramen in heart-shaped delimited by premaxillae and maxillae,and choana with narrow pterygoid septum. We propose a cristapseudo-tuberalis separating the occiput from the braincase wall, as presentin some notosuchians. Contrary to previous work, the carotid foramen and themetotic foramen open within a fossa lateral to the occipital condyle, a commonfeature in advanced notosuchians.