Aprosuchus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aprosuchus Temporal range: Maastrichtian | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
| Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
| Family: | †Atoposauridae |
| Genus: | †Aprosuchus Venczel and Codrea, 2019 |
| Type species | |
| †Aprosuchus ghirai Venczel and Codrea, 2019 | |
Aprosuchus is a genus of small-bodied Maastrichtian atoposaurid Eusuchian from the Hateg Basin, Romania.[1]
Aprosuchus is known from an incomplete three-dimensional skull and closely associated mandibles (Holotype UBB V.562/1) as well as a cervical vertebrae found in association with the cranial remains (referred specimen UBB V.562/2). The fossils were found in Maastrichtian sediments of the Pui Gater locality in the Hateg Basin in modern day Transylvania, Romania.[1]
The name derives from the Hungarian "apró" meaning small and the Ancient Greek σοῦχος, soukhos ("crocodile"). The species name ghirai honors Ioan Ghira from the Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, for his contributions to Herpetology.[1]
Description
Aprosuchus was a small sized brevirostrine Eusuchian with an estimated body length of 600 mm. It differs from other crocodylomorphs through large palpebral strongly fused to the orbital margin of the prefrontals and frontals and partly overlapping the prefrontal and lacrimal and heterodont dentition. Aprosuchus dentition preserves at least four different morphotypes, pseudocaniniforms, pseudoziphodont lanceolate, ziphodont lanceolate and ‘low-crowned’ teeth. A further autapomorphy is the w-shaped overlap between the nasals and prefrontals which differentiates Aprosuchus from Sabresuchus symplesiodon.[1] The presence of four different tooth morphotypes casts doubt over the identification of atoposaurids based on teeth beyond a family level.[1]
