Barrosasuchus neuquenianus gen. et sp. nov.Â
Rodolfo A. Coria, Francisco Ortega, Andrea B. Arcucci & Philip J.Currie (2018)
A new and complete peirosaurid (Crocodyliformes, Notosuchia) from Sierra Barrosa (Santonian, Upper Cretaceous) of the NeuquÃn Basin, Argentina.
Cretaceous Research (advance online publication)
Highlights
Barrosasuchus neuquenianus is a new South American Upper Cretaceous peirosaurid crocodile.
Barrosasuchus is the most complete peirosaurid crocodile recorded in Patagonia at present.
Barrosasuchus is a member of the major Upper Cretaceous diversity of peirosaurids.
Abstract
A new peirosaurid crocodyliform from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) of South America, Barrosasuchus neuquenianus gen. et sp. nov. is here described. Barrosasuchus is distinguished by a combination of features that include: presence of a foramen at the mid-point of the dorsal surface of the mandibular symphysis; quadratojugal dorsally broad, extensively contacting the postorbital articulation; absence of ventral exposure of splenials along mandibular rami, posterior to the symphysis; mid to posterior teeth with roots and crowns highly compressed laterally; presence of longitudinal depressions on palatal surface of maxillae; and anterior dentary alveoli strongly procumbent.
The holotype specimen of Barrosasuchus neuquenianus, MCF-PVPH-413 is represented by an almost complete skull and most of the articulated postcranial skeleton. Thus, Barrosasuchus is currently the most complete peirosaurid taxon known from Patagonia, and represents a key element for future reviews of the phylogeny of the group. Peirosauridae represents a successful clade in Gondwana, and particularly in Patagonia, with at least six distinct genera currently recorded.