Project 436: P. M. O'Connor, J. J. W. Sertich, N. J. Stevens, E. M. Roberts, M. D. Gottfried, T. L. Hieronymus, Z. A. Jinnah, R. Ridgely, S. E. Ngasala, J. Temba. 2010. The evolution of mammal-like crocodyliforms in the Cretaceous Period of Gondwana. Nature. 466 (7307):748–751.
Specimen: † Pakasuchus kapalimai (RRBP:08631)
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Abstract

Fossil crocodyliforms discovered in recent years have revealed a level of morphological and ecological diversity not exhibited by extant members of the group. This diversity is particularly notable among taxa of the Cretaceous Period (144–65 million years ago) recovered from former Gondwanan landmasses. Here we report the discovery of a new species of Cretaceous notosuchian crocodyliform from the Rukwa Rift Basin of southwestern Tanzania. This small-bodied form deviates significantly from more typical crocodyliform craniodental morphologies, having a short, broad skull, robust lower jaw, and a dentition with relatively few teeth that nonetheless show marked heterodonty. The presence of morphologically complex, complementary upper and lower molariform teeth suggests a degree of crown–crown contact during jaw adduction that is unmatched among known crocodyliforms, paralleling the level of occlusal complexity seen in mammals and their extinct relatives. The presence of another small-bodied mammal-like crocodyliform in the Cretaceous of Gondwana indicates that notosuchians probably filled niches and inhabited ecomorphospace that were otherwise occupied by mammals on northern continents.


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Project DOI: 10.7934/P436, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P436
This project contains
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  • 1 Taxon
  • 1 Specimen
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MorphoBank Project 436

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    Authors' Institutions

    • Michigan State University

    • Ohio University

    • University of the Witwatersrand

    • Stony Brook University

    • James Cook University

    • Southern Utah University

    • Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy

    • University of Dar es Salaam

    • Tanzania Antiquities Unit



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    MorphoBank Curator
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    Maureen Admin
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    Patrick O'Connor
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