Baurusuchus

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Baurusuchus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, Turonian–Santonian
Baurusuchus salgadoensis (MPMA) 1.jpg
Skull of Baurusuchus salgadoensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Clade: Crocodyliformes
Suborder: Notosuchia
Clade: Sebecosuchia
Family: Baurusuchidae
Subfamily: Baurusuchinae
Genus: Baurusuchus
Price, 1945
Type species
Baurusuchus pachechoi
Price, 1945
Other species
  • B. albertoi?
    Nascimento & Zaher, 2010
  • B. salgadoensis
    Carvalho et al., 2005

Baurusuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian, which lived in Brazil from 90 to 83.5 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous period. It was a terrestrial predator and scavenger, estimated to reach up to 113.4 kilograms (250 lb) in weight. [1] Baurusuchus lived during the Turonian to Santonian stages of the Late Cretaceous Period, in Adamantina Formation, Brazil. [2] It gets its name from the Brazilian Bauru Group ("Bauru crocodile"). It was related to the earlier-named Cynodontosuchus rothi , which was smaller, with weaker dentition. [3] The three species are B. pachechoi, named after Eng Joviano Pacheco, its discoverer, [4] B. salgadoensis (named after General Salgado County in São Paulo, Brazil) [5] and B. albertoi (named after Alberto Barbosa de Carvalho, Brazilian paleontologist). [2] The latter species is disputed (see phylogeny section). Its relatives include the similarly sized Stratiotosuchus from the Adamantina Formation, and Pabweshi , from the Pakistani Pab Formation.

Paleoecology

Life restoration of B. salgadoensis Baurusuchus BW.jpg
Life restoration of B. salgadoensis

B. salgadoensis is seen as a terrestrial predator, living in a hot and arid climate. The position of the external nares was unsuited for an amphibious lifestyle like in modern crocodilians and the snout and teeth are laterally compressed like in theropods. Both of this supports the terrestrial hypothesis. The hot environment hypothesis is based on the lifestyle of modern crocodilians and the stratigraphy of Baurusuchus. B. salgadoensis was found in fine massive sandstones which are interpreted as a floodplain area in a hot and arid climate. Baurusuchus was likely able to dig holes for finding water in dry seasons or, like modern alligators do, for thermoregulation. The occurrence of very complete skeletons in correlated stratigraphic levels supports this. Such a strategy would have made it less water-bound than most modern crocodiles, allowing it to live in more continental climate. The strongly bent pterygoids suggest a powerful bite and that Baurusuchus could close its jaw very quickly. The skull and tooth morphology indicates that the biting strategies of Baurusuchus were similar to a Komodo dragon which include ambushing the prey, biting it and pulling back the serrated, blade-like teeth. Baurusuchus likely played an important role in its ecosystem, competing with the abelisaurids for food. [5]

Classification

B. albertoi Baurusuchus albertoi.png
B. albertoi
Size of B. salgadoensis (1) and other Brazilian Cretaceous Crocodylomorphs Size of Brazilian fossil crocodylomorphs.PNG
Size of B. salgadoensis (1) and other Brazilian Cretaceous Crocodylomorphs

Baurusuchus is the type genus of the family Baurusuchidae, a family consisting of crocodilians with elongated and laterally compressed skulls. [4] Other members of that family from the Cretaceous of South America include Stratiotosuchus and Cynodontosuchus , but baurusuchids are also known from the Cretaceous of Asia (Pakistan) and the Tertiary of Europe. [5]

A study in 2011 erected a new subfamily called Baurusuchinae. Seven diagnostic features for the group were described which include the moderate size and the broad frontals. The paper referred only Stratiotosuchus maxhechti and Baurusuchus to the subfamily, making StratiotosuchusBaurusuchus' closest relative so far. [6] However, a study in the year 2014 referred a new species called Aplestosuchus sordidus to the subfamily, but supported a closer relationship of Baurususchus with Stratiotosuchus than with it. The species B. albertoi is an exception. The paper does not support its affiliation to Baurusuchus and views it as a close relative of Aplestosuchus. This is the cladogram they presented: [7]

Sources

Related Research Articles

<i>Mariliasuchus</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Mariliasuchus is an extinct genus of Late Cretaceous notosuchian mesoeucrocodylian found near Marilia, Brazil. The first bone remains were found and collected in 1995 by Brazilian paleontologist William Nava, in red rocks from the fossiliferous Adamantina Formation. Four years later, it was described as Mariliasuchus amarali, by Brazilian paleontologists Ismar de Souza Carvalho and Reinaldo J. Bertini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notosuchia</span> Extinct suborder of reptiles

Notosuchia is a suborder of primarily Gondwanan mesoeucrocodylian crocodylomorphs that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. Some phylogenies recover Sebecosuchia as a clade within Notosuchia, others as a sister group ; if Sebecosuchia is included within Notosuchia its existence is pushed into the Middle Miocene, about 11 million years ago. Fossils have been found from South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Notosuchia was a clade of terrestrial crocodilians that evolved a range of feeding behaviours, including herbivory (Chimaerasuchus), omnivory (Simosuchus), and terrestrial hypercarnivory (Baurusuchus). It included many members with highly derived traits unusual for crocodylomorphs, including mammal-like teeth, flexible bands of shield-like body armor similar to those of armadillos (Armadillosuchus), and possibly fleshy cheeks and pig-like snouts (Notosuchus). The suborder was first named in 1971 by Zulma Gasparini and has since undergone many phylogenetic revisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peirosauridae</span> Extinct family of reptiles

Peirosauridae is a Gondwanan family of mesoeucrocodylians that lived during the Cretaceous period. It was a clade of terrestrial crocodyliforms that evolved a rather dog-like skull, and were terrestrial carnivores. It was phylogenetically defined in 2004 as the most recent common ancestor of Peirosaurus and Lomasuchinae and all of its descendants. Lomasuchinae is a subfamily of peirosaurids that includes the genus Lomasuchus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baurusuchidae</span> Extinct family of reptiles

Baurusuchidae is a Gondwanan family of mesoeucrocodylians that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It is a group of terrestrial hypercarnivorous crocodilians from South America and possibly Pakistan. Baurusuchidae has been, in accordance with the PhyloCode, officially defined as the least inclusive clade containing Cynodontosuchus rothi, Pissarrachampsa sera, and Baurusuchus pachecoi. Baurusuchids have been placed in the suborder Baurusuchia, and two subfamilies have been proposed: Baurusuchinae and Pissarrachampsinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sphagesauridae</span> Extinct family of reptiles

Sphagesauridae is a Gondwanan family of mesoeucrocodylians that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It was a clade of terrestrial crocodilians that evolved very mammal-like teeth and jaws. Both Sphagesaurus and Adamantinasuchus are known from the Turonian to Santonian of Brazil.

The Adamantina Formation is a geological formation in the Bauru Basin of western São Paulo state, in southeastern Brazil.

Pabwehshi is an extinct genus of mesoeucrocodylian. It is based on GSP-UM 2000, a partial snout and corresponding lower jaw elements, with another snout assigned to it. These specimens were found in Maastrichtian-age Upper Cretaceous rocks of the Vitakri and Pab Formations in Balochistan, Pakistan, and represent the first diagnostic crocodyliform fossils from Cretaceous rocks of South Asia. Pabwehshi had serrated interlocking teeth in its snout that formed a "zig-zag" cutting edge. Pabwehshi was named in 2001 by Jeffrey A. Wilson and colleagues. The type species is P. pakistanensis, in reference to the nation where it was found. It was traditionally classified as a baurusuchid closely related to Cynodontosuchus and Baurusuchus. Larsson and Sues (2007) found close affinity between Pabwehshi and the Peirosauridae within Sebecia. Montefeltro et al.Pabwehshi has a sagittal torus on its maxillary palatal shelves – a character that is absent in baurusuchids – but they did not include Pabwehshi in their phylogenetic analysis.

Trematochampsidae is an extinct family of mesoeucrocodylian crocodylomorphs. Fossils are present from Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Argentina, and Brazil. Possible trematochampsids have been found from Spain and France, but classification past the family level is indeterminant. The trematochampsids first appeared during the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous and became extinct during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous.

Cynodontosuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian. Fossils have been found from Argentina of Late Cretaceous age from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation, the Pichi Picun Leufu Formation. the Tiupampan Santa Lucía Formation of Bolivia.

Eremosuchus is an extinct genus of sebecosuchian mesoeucrocodylian. Fossils have been found from El Kohol, Algeria of Eocene age. It had serrated, ziphodont teeth.

<i>Sebecus</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Sebecus is an extinct genus of sebecid crocodylomorph from Eocene of South America. Like other sebecosuchians, it was entirely terrestrial and carnivorous. The genus is currently represented by two species, the type S. icaeorhinus and S. ayrampu. Several other species have been referred to Sebecus, but were later reclassified as their own genera.

Sebecosuchia is an extinct group of mesoeucrocodylian crocodyliforms that includes the families Sebecidae and Baurusuchidae. The group was long thought to have first appeared in the Late Cretaceous with the baurusuchids and become extinct in the Miocene with the last sebecids, but Razanandrongobe pushes the origin of Sebecosuchia to the Middle Jurassic. Fossils have been found primarily from South America but have also been found in Europe, North Africa, Madagascar, and the Indian subcontinent.

<i>Stratiotosuchus</i> Prehistoric genus of reptiles

Stratiotosuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian from the Adamantina Formation in Brazil. It lived during the Late Cretaceous. The first fossils were found in the 1980s, and the type species Stratiotosuchus maxhechti was named in 2001. A hyperpredator, it and other baurusuchids may have filled niches occupied elsewhere by theropod dinosaurs.

<i>Pissarrachampsa</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Pissarrachampsa is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. It is based on a nearly complete skull and a referred partial skull and lower jaw from the ?Campanian - ?Maastrichtian-age Vale do Rio do Peixe Formation of the Bauru Group, found in the vicinity of Gurinhatã, Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pissarrachampsinae</span> Extinct subfamily of reptiles

Pissarrachampsinae is a subfamily of baurusuchid crocodyliforms from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil and Argentina. It was named in 2011 with the description of Pissarrachampsa sera and includes P. sera from Brazil and the related Wargosuchus australis from Argentina. Pissarrachampsinae is one of two subfamilies of Baurusuchidae, the other being Baurusuchinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baurusuchinae</span> Extinct subfamily of reptiles

Baurusuchinae is a subfamily of baurusuchid crocodyliforms from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Named in 2011, it contains the baurusuchids Aphaurosuchus, Aplestosuchus, Baurusuchus and Stratiotosuchus. Baurusuchinae is one of two subfamilies of Baurusuchidae, the other being Pissarrachampsinae.

<i>Caipirasuchus</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Caipirasuchus is an extinct genus of sphagesaurid notosuchians known from the Late Cretaceous of northern São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The type species, C. paulistanus, was named in 2011. A second species, C. montealtensis, was referred to Caipirasuchus in 2013 after having been named in 2008 as a species of Sphagesaurus. A third species, C. stenognathus, was described in 2014. A fourth species, C. mineirus, was described in 2018. A fifth species, C. attenboroughi, was named in 2021 in honour of David Attenborough.

Gondwanasuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian from the Late Cretaceous Adamantina Formation of Brazil. The type species is Gondwanasuchus scabrosus.

<i>Aplestosuchus</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Aplestosuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian known from the Late Cretaceous Adamantina Formation of São Paulo, southern Brazil. It contains a single species, Aplestosuchus sordidus. A. sordidus is represented by a single articulated and nearly complete skeleton, preserving the remains of an unidentified sphagesaurid crocodyliform in its abdominal cavity. The specimen represents direct evidence of predation between different taxa of crocodyliforms in the fossil record.

Aphaurosuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian known from the Late Cretaceous Bauru Basin of São Paulo, southern Brazil. It contains two species, Aphaurosuchus escharafacies and Aphaurosuchus kaiju.

References

  1. Dumont Jr, Marcos V.; Santucci, Rodrigo M.; de Andrade, Marco Brandalise; de Oliveira, Carlos Eduardo Maia (2022). "Paleoneurology of Baurusuchus (Crocodyliformes: Baurusuchidae), ontogenetic variation, brain size, and sensorial implications". The Anatomical Record. 305 (10): 2670–2694. doi:10.1002/ar.24567. hdl: 10923/19660 . ISSN   1932-8486.
  2. 1 2 Paulo Miranda Nascimento & Hussam Zaher (2010). "A new species of Baurusuchus (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Brazil, with the first complete postcranial skeleton described from the family Baurusuchidae" (PDF). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia. 50 (21): 323‑361. doi: 10.1590/s0031-10492010002100001 .
  3. Bonaparte, Jose F. (1996). "Cretaceous tetrapods of Argentina". Muncher Geowissenschaften, Abhandlungen. 30: 73–130.
  4. 1 2 Price, L.I. (1945). "A new reptile from the Cretaceous of Brazil". Departamento Nacional da Produção Mineral, Notas Preliminares e Estudos. 25. Rio de Janeiro: 1–8.
  5. 1 2 3 Carvalho; Campos, Antonio; de Celso, Arruda; Nobre, Pedro Henrique (2005). "Baurusuchus salgadoensis, a new Crocodylomorpha from the Bauru Basin (Cretaceous), Brazil" (PDF). Gondwana Research. 8 (1): 11–30. Bibcode:2005GondR...8...11C. doi:10.1016/S1342-937X(05)70259-8. ISSN   1342-937X.
  6. Felipe C. Montefeltro; Hans C. E. Larsson; Max C. Lange (2011). "A new baurusuchid (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil and the phylogeny of Baurusuchidae". PLOS ONE. 6 (7): e21916. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...621916M. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021916 . PMC   3135595 . PMID   21765925.
  7. Godoy PL, Montefeltro FC, Norell MA, Langer MC (2014). "An additional baurusuchid from the Cretaceous of Brazil with evidence of interspecific predation among Crocodyliformes". PLOS ONE. 9 (5): e97138. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...997138G. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097138 . PMC   4014547 . PMID   24809508.