Syatematic Revision of the Mourasuchus genus (Alligatoroidea, Caimaninae), one of the most peculiar crocodiles of the world

• Grant number: 13/04516-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Annie Schmaltz Hsiou
• Grantee: Giovanne Mendes Cidade
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/14080-0 - Cretaceous and Tertiary (Paleogene/Neogene) Squamates (Reptilia, Lepidosauria) from the Bauru, Aiuruoca and Acre basins: systematics, evolution and palaeoenvironments, AP.JP

Abstract

Mourausuchus is an extinct genus of alligatoroid crocodiles, situated in the Caimaninae clade. Endemic to South America and composed by four species originated from Middle (M. atopus) and Late Miocene deposits (M. amazonensis, M. arendsi and M. nativus), these animals represent one of the most peculiar crocodilian forms ever known, whose characteristics include an extremely broad, flat rostrum, resembling "the beak of a duck", along with notably weak, thin mandibles. Such traits, along with aspects found in postcranial bones have taken these crocodiles to be initially interpretated as having a suspensivurous or straining feeding habit, rather than being an active predator of big preys like most crocodilians. Albeit their remarkable pecularities, Mourasuchus is a very little studied and known taxon: most of the morphological descriptions made so far have been very succint, and the phylogentic relationships between the species of the genus have not been resolved yet. Additionally, the phylogenetical proximity of Mourasuchus and the north-american Eocene form Orthogenysuchus olseni rises interesting biogeographical questions regarding the space destribution of these taxa. Then, in order to create a better understanding about all these questions, including anatomy, taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of this peculiar group, it is necessary a deep, detailed study of systematic revision of the Mourasuchus species, which cnstitutes the objective of this project.

Scientific publications

(14)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; RINCON, ASCANIO D.; SOLORZANO, ANDRES. New cranial and postcranial elements ofMourasuchus(Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) from the late Miocene of Venezuela and their palaeobiological implications. HISTORICAL BIOLOGY, JUL 2020. (13/04516-1)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; FORTIER, DANIEL; RINCON, ASCANIO DANIEL; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ. Taxonomic review of two fossil crocodylians from the Cenozoic of South America and its implications for the crocodylian fauna of the continent. Zootaxa, v. 4656, n. 3, p. 475-486, AUG 15 2019. (13/04516-1)

GODOY, PEDRO L.; BRONZATI, MARIO; ELTINK, ESTEVAN; MARSOLA, JULIO C. DE A.; CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; LANGER, MAX C.; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.. Postcranial anatomy of Pissarrachampsa sera (Crocodyliformes, Baurusuchidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil: insights on lifestyle and phylogenetic significance. PeerJ, v. 4, MAY 26 2016. (14/03825-3, 13/23114-1, 13/04516-1, 13/06811-0)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; SOUZA-FILHO, JONAS P.; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ; BROCHU, CHRISTOPHER A.; RIFF, DOUGLAS. New specimens of Mourasuchus (Alligatoroidea, Caimaninae) from the Miocene of Brazil and Bolivia and their taxonomic and morphological implications. ALCHERINGA, v. 43, n. 2, p. 1-18, MAR 2019. (11/14080-0, 13/04516-1)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; RIFF, DOUGLAS; DE SOUZA-FILHO, JONAS P.; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ. A reassessment of the osteology of Mourasuchus amazonensis Price, 1964 with comments on the taxonomy of the species. PALAEONTOLOGIA ELECTRONICA, v. 22, n. 2, 2019. (13/04516-1, 11/14080-0)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; SOLORZANO, ANDRES; RINCON, ASCANIO D.; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ; BARBOSA, FERNANDO HENRIQUE DE S.. On a cranial bony nodular protuberance on Mourasuchus pattersoni Cidade et al. 2017 (Crocodylia, Alligatoroidea) from the late Miocene of Venezuela. HISTORICAL BIOLOGY, v. 31, n. 7, p. 866-871, AUG 9 2019. (13/04516-1, 11/14080-0)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; RINCON, ASCANIO D.; SOLORZANO, ANDRES. New cranial and postcranial elements ofMourasuchus(Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) from the late Miocene of Venezuela and their palaeobiological implications. HISTORICAL BIOLOGY, v. 33, n. 10, p. 2387-2399, OCT 3 2021. (13/04516-1)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; RIFF, DOUGLAS; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ. THE FEEDING HABITS OF THE STRANGE CROCODYLIAN MOURASUCHUS (ALLIGATOROIDEA, CAIMANINAE): A REVIEW, NEW HYPOTHESES AND PERSPECTIVES. Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia, v. 22, n. 2, p. 106-119, MAY-AUG 2019. (13/04516-1, 11/14080-0)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; FORTIER, DANIEL; HSIOU, ANNIE S.. Taxonomic and phylogenetic review of Necrosuchus ionensis (Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) and the early evolution and radiation of caimanines. ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 189, n. 2, p. 657-669, JUN 2020. (13/04516-1)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; SOLORZANO, ANDRES; DANIEL RINCON, ASCANIO; RIFF, DOUGLAS; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ. Redescription of the holotype of the Miocene crocodylianMourasuchus arendsi(Alligatoroidea, Caimaninae) and perspectives on the taxonomy of the species. HISTORICAL BIOLOGY, v. 32, n. 6, p. 733-749, JUL 2 2020. (11/14080-0, 13/04516-1)

CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; SOLORZANO, ANDRE; DANIEL RINCON, ASCANIO; RIFF, DOUGLAS; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ. A new Mourasuchus (Alligatoroidea, Caimaninae) from the late Miocene of Venezuela, the phylogeny of Caimaninae and considerations on the feeding habits of Mourasuchus. PeerJ, v. 5, MAR 7 2017. (11/14080-0, 13/04516-1)

GODOY, PEDRO L.; CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.; MONTEFELTRO, FELIPE C.; LANGER, MAX C.; NORELL, MARK A.. REDESCRIPTION AND PHYLOGENETIC AFFINITIES OF THE CAIMANINE EOCAIMAN CAVERNENSIS (CROCODYLIA, ALLIGATOROIDEA) FROM THE EOCENE OF ARGENTINA. PAPERS IN PALAEONTOLOGY, v. 7, n. 3, p. 1205-1231, AUG 2021. (11/16007-9, 13/06811-0, 13/04516-1)

SOUZA-FILHO, JONAS P.; SOUZA, RAFAEL G.; HSIOU, ANNIE SCHMALTZ; RIFF, DOUGLAS; GUILHERME, EDSON; NEGRI, FRANCISCO RICARDO; CIDADE, GIOVANNE M.. A new caimanine (Crocodylia, Alligatoroidea) species from the Solimoes Formation of Brazil and the phylogeny of Caimaninae. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY, v. 38, n. 5, SEP 3 2018. (11/14080-0, 13/04516-1)

SOUZA, RAFAEL GOMES; CIDADE, GIOVANNE MENDES; CAMPOS, DIOGENES DE ALMEIDA; RIFF, DOUGLAS. NEW CROCODYLIAN REMAINS FROM THE SOLIMOES FORMATION (LOWER EOCENE-PLIOCENE), STATE OF ACRE, SOUTHWESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA. Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia, v. 19, n. 2, p. 217-232, MAY-AUG 2016. (13/04516-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CIDADE, Giovanne Mendes. Systematic revision of the Mourasuchus genus (Alligatoroidea, Caimaninae), with comments on the phylogeny, biogeography and paleoecology of Caimaninae. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.