Cricosaurus (Thalattosuchia, Metriorhynchidae) survival across the J/K boundary in the High Andes (Mendoza Province, Argentina)
Metriorhynchidae is an extinct group of Jurassic–Cretaceous crocodylomorphs that developed a fully pelagic lifestyle. Its Jurassic record is outstanding (it includes around 40 nominal species), while the records that can be restricted to the Cretaceous are particularly sparse. Here we describe a par...
| Autores: | , , |
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| Formato: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2021 |
| País: | Argentina |
| Recursos: | Universidad Nacional de La Plata |
| Repositorio: | SEDICI (UNLP) |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/141314 |
| Acesso em linha: | http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/141314 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palavra-chave: | Ciencias Naturales Crocodylomorpha Ammonoidea Lower Cretaceous Vaca Muerta Formation Neuquén Basin |
| Resumo: | Metriorhynchidae is an extinct group of Jurassic–Cretaceous crocodylomorphs that developed a fully pelagic lifestyle. Its Jurassic record is outstanding (it includes around 40 nominal species), while the records that can be restricted to the Cretaceous are particularly sparse. Here we describe a partial skull of a new species of Cricosaurus, Cricosaurus puelchorum sp. nov., from the lower Berriasian of the Vaca Muerta Formation (Neuquen Basin, Argentina). The description of the specimen reveals a series of autapomorphies and a unique combination of characters that justify the creation of a new species. Phylogenetic analysis places Cricosaurus puelchorum sp. nov. closer to three upper Kimmeridgian–lower Tithonian species of southern Germany. The new taxon was recovered in connection with an accurate ammonoid-based biostratigraphic control and allows confirming the survival of Cricosaurus across the J/K boundary at the southeastern Pacific. |
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