Morphological description and phylogenetical position of a Baurusuchidae (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) from Late Cretaceous of Bauru Basin, General Salgado area (São Paulo state)

Author(s)

Paulo Miranda Nascimento

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo. , ilustrações.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2008-07-02

Examining board members

Hussam El Dine Zaher; Sergio Alex Kugland de Azevedo; Claudio Riccomini

• Advisor: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Indexed in: Banco de Dados Bibliográficos da USP-DEDALUS; Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações - USP
• Location: Universidade de São Paulo. Biblioteca do Instituto de Biociências; IB/M-1363

Abstract

The area of General Salgado (Adamantina Formation, Bauru Basin) is extremely rich in vertebrate fossils. This richeness is evident with the presence of several records of Cretaceous crocodiliforms. Among them, an articulated skeleton of a new Baurusuchidae was found, composed by parts of the cranium and a practically complete post-cranium. Characters that place the specimen in the family Baurusuchidae are: the highly verticalized quadrate, with the presence of a cavity in its lateral surface; the configuration of the jaw; the presence of a longitudinal depression in the first portion of the jugal; and the descendent expansion of the lateral edge of the esquamosal. The present postcranial description is the first one provided for taxon of the extinct family Baurusuchidae. This fossil material appears to belong to a new taxon, due to the peculiar configuration of its jugal, of the retro-articular process, and of the descendent expansion of the lateral edge of the esquamosal. The gathered caracters were used to define the filogenetic and taxonomic position of the specimen in Notosuchia. With this filogenetic analysis, it is expected to contribute with the comprehension of the diversity of the group. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 05/52411-8 - Morphological description and taxonomic positioning of a crocodyliform of the upper Cretaceous of the Bauru Basin, region of General Salgado, SP
• Grantee: Paulo Miranda Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master