INVESTIGADORES
FERNANDEZ Marta Susana
artículos
Título:
Purranisaurus potens Rusconi, an enigmatic metriorhynchid from the Late Jurassic?Early Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin
Autor/es:
HERRERA, Y.; GASPARINI, Z.; FERNÁNDEZ, M.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
Editorial:
SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
Referencias:
Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2015
ISSN:
0272-4634
Resumen:
ABSTRACT?The Tithonian record from northwestern Patagonia (Neuqu en Basin) documents a complete succession of
lower, middle, and late Tithonian marine reptiles. From the late Tithonian?early Berriasian of Patagonia, three marine
crocodyliforms have been recorded: Dakosaurus andiniensis, Cricosaurus araucanensis, and Purranisaurus potens. Although
P. potens includes the first metriorhynchid skull described from Patagonia, no detailed description and/or illustrations have
been published. Since the mid-20th century, several authors have discussed the validity of P. potens. Recent preparation of
the type material allowed a detailed description as well as exploration of its phylogenetic relationships.We consider P. potens
as a valid taxon characterized by a unique combination of characters, such as medial and posterolateral processes of the
frontal forming an angle of 60
; supratemporal fossae reaching the minimum interorbital distance, with the dorsal margin of
the supratemporal arch being slightly concave in lateral view; thin bony lamina projecting from the lateral and medial
alveolar margins of the maxilla; occipital surface ventral to occipital condyle parallel to transverse plane of skull; well-
developed crest that extends along the entire height of the supraoccipital; and orbital process of the quadrate very
conspicuous and acute, horizontal, and without bony attachment. Phylogenetic analysis recovers P. potens as deeply nested
within Geosaurini and, contrary to previous proposals, not closely related to ?Metriorhynchus? casamiquelai and ?M.?
westermanni. Internal relationships within Geosaurini are unresolved. Purranisaurus, as a monotypic genus, is restricted to
the late Tithonian?early Berriasian.