Oceanosuchus boecensis n. gen, n. sp., a marine pholidosaurid (Crocodylia, Mesosuchia) from the Lower Cenomanian of Normandy (western France)

Abstract

A partial crocodilian skeleton, including a well-preserved skull and mandible, from the marine Lower Cenomanian of Normandy (northwestern France) is described as a new genus and species of the family Pholidosauridae (Mesosuchia), Oceanosuchus boecensis. Diagnosis for genus and species: Mesorostrine pholidosaurid (rostral index 66% as compared with 74% for Terminonaris robusta and 75% for Sarcosuchus imperator, hitherto the least longirostrine species in that family), relatively short mandibular symphysis (11 post-symphysial alveoli), no external mandibular fenestra, prearticular present, paired tuberosities at the base of the cervical vertebral centra.

Early eusuchia crocodylomorpha from the vertebrate-rich Plattenkalk of Pietraroia (Lower Albian, southern Apennines, Italy)

“…The slender, thin, homodont conical teeth are characteristic of piscivorous forms. Such teeth are present in various Jurassic–Cretaceous marine crocodilyforms, as in some teleosaurids (Vignaud, 1997), pholidosaurids (Hua et al ., 2007), and dyrosaurids (Wu, Russell & Cumbaa, 2001). However, all these forms are longirostrine crocodyliforms, unlike Pietraroiasuchus , which is clearly a brevirostrine taxon.…”

Redescription and phylogenetic relationships ofMeridiosaurus vallisparadisi, a pholidosaurid from the Late Jurassic of Uruguay

“…Pholidosaurs inhabited three different types of aquatic ecosystem. Terminonaris and Oceanosuchus were probably marine forms (Hua et al ., 2007; Shimada & Parris, 2007), whereas the well‐known species Pholidosaurus and Sarcosuchus , along with Elosuchus and Meridiosaurus , where freshwater forms. However, the first pholidosaurids were probably adapted to live in a mixed environment.…”

“…Pholidosauridae is a group of fossil longirostrine crocodylomophs adapted to aquatic environments, reported from the Middle Jurassic (Owen, 1884; Mook, 1942) to Late Cretaceous (Mook, 1934; Wu, Russell & Cumbaa, 2001; Hua et al ., 2007). Remains of Pholidosauridae occur in marine, estuarine, and fluviolacustrine sediments of North America (Shimada & Parris, 2007), South America (Buffetaut & Taquet, 1977), Africa (Sereno et al ., 2001), and Europe (Salisbury, 2002).…”

“…Composition: Elosuchus cherifiensis (Lavocat, 1955), Elosuchus felixi Lapparent de Broin, 2002, Meridiosaurus vallisparadisi Mones, 1980, Oceanosuchus boecensis Hua et al ., 2007, Pholidosaurus purbeckensis (Mansel‐Pleydell, 1888) Pholidosaurus schaumburgensis (Meyer, 1841), Sarcosuchus hartii (Marsh, 1869), Sarcosuchus imperator de Broin & Taquet, 1966, Terminonaris browni (Osborn, 1904), Terminonaris robusta (Mook, 1934). Putative pholidosaurids are Anglosuchus geoffroyi (Owen, 1884) and A. laticeps (Owen, 1884), Crocodilaemus robustus Jourdan in Gervais (1871), and Pholidosaurus meyeri (Dunker, 1843).…”

“…Remarks on size and weight: Usually, the ratio between the preorbital length and the total skull length is used in longirostrine crocodylomorphs (e.g. Hua et al ., 2007). However, this measure cannot be made for Meridiosaurus .…”