Taxonomic and phylogenetic review of Necrosuchus ionensis (Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) and the early evolution and radiation of caimanines

Autor(es)

Cidade, Giovanne M. ^[1] ; Fortier, Daniel ^[2] ; Hsiou, Annie S. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, Lab Paleontol, FFCLRP, Ave Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Piaui, CAFS, Nucleo Hist Nat, Lab Geociencias & Paleontol, Highway BR 343, Kilometer 35, BR-64808605 Floriano, Piaui - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo de Revisão
• Fonte: ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY; v. 189, n. 2, p. 657-669, JUN 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Alligatoroidea is the most species-rich crocodylomorph clade of the Cenozoic of South America, with nearly all species belonging to the Caimaninae clade. However, the earliest records of Caimaninae in South America, which are from the Palaeocene, are based mostly on incomplete specimens, which increases the importance of detailed taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on these taxa. This paper offers a taxonomic and phylogenetic review of Necrosuchus ionensis, a caimanine species from the Salamanca Formation of the Palaeocene of Argentina. Necrosuchus ionensis is considered a valid species, albeit with a different diagnosis from that proposed by previous authors. The phylogenetic analysis shows, for the first time, that N. ionensis belongs to the derived Caimaninae clade Jacarea. However, a better understanding of the Jacarea clade is needed, and alternative placements for N. ionensis might be considered. Nevertheless, the placement of N. ionensis as a derived caimanine raises interesting perspectives on the early evolution and radiation of caimanines, which are thoroughly discussed in this paper together with other results obtained in this study, such as the recovery of the North American caimanines Bottosaurus and Tsoabichi as a clade. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/04516-1 - Revisão Sistemática do gênero Mourasuchus (Alligatoroidea, Caimaninae), um dos crocodilos mais peculiares do mundo
• Beneficiário: Giovanne Mendes Cidade
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado