An Additional Baurusuchid from the Cretaceous of Brazil with Evidence of Interspecific Predation among Crocodyliformes

Autor(es)

Godoy, Pedro L. ^{[1, 2]} ; Montefeltro, Felipe C. ^[3] ; Norell, Mark A. ^[2] ; Langer, Max C. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Amer Museum Nat Hist, Div Paleontol, New York, NY 10024 - USA

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Dept Zool, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PLoS One; v. 9, n. 5 MAY 8 2014.
• Citações Web of Science: 23

Resumo

A new Baurusuchidae (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia), Aplestosuchus sordidus, is described based on a nearly complete skeleton collected in deposits of the Adamantina Formation (Bauru Group, Late Cretaceous) of Brazil. The nesting of the new taxon within Baurusuchidae can be ensured based on several exclusive skull features of this clade, such as the quadrate depression, medial approximation of the prefrontals, rostral extension of palatines (not reaching the level of the rostral margin of suborbital fenestrae), cylindrical dorsal portion of palatine bar, ridge on the ectopterygoid-jugal articulation, and supraoccipital with restricted thin transversal exposure in the caudalmost part of the skull roof. A newly proposed phylogeny of Baurusuchidae encompasses A. sordidus and recently described forms, suggesting its sixter-taxon relationship to Baurusuchus albertoi, within Baurusuchinae. Additionally, the remains of a sphagesaurid crocodyliform were preserved in the abdominal cavity of the new baurusuchid. Direct fossil evidence of behavioral interaction among fossil crocodyliforms is rare and mostly restricted to bite marks resulting from predation, as well as possible conspecific male-to-male aggression. This is the first time that a direct and unmistaken evidence of predation between different taxa of this group is recorded as fossils. This discovery confirms that baurusuchids were top predators of their time, with sphagesaurids occupying a lower trophic position, possibly with a more generalist diet. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/16007-9 - Revisão da alfa-taxonomia dos Baurusuchidae (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) da formação Vale do Rio do Peixe (Grupo Bauru, Cretáceo Superior), com a descrição de um novo espécime da região de General Salgado-SP
• Beneficiário: Pedro Lorena Godoy
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/11358-3 - A região ótica dos Crocodyliformes, implicações evolutivas e paleobiológicas
• Beneficiário: Felipe Chinaglia Montefeltro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/06811-0 - Primeiro registro de conteúdos abdominais em Crocodyliformes fósseis e suas implicações paleoecológicas e biológicas
• Beneficiário: Pedro Lorena Godoy
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Mestrado