Eopneumatosuchus

Eopneumatosuchus is an extinct genus of basal crocodyliform. Fossils have been found from two localities within the Kayenta Formation of Arizona. Both localities are around 20 miles southeast of the Grand Canyon and in close proximity to one another. The localities probably date back to the Early Jurassic, most likely during the Sinemurian stage.

Eopneumatosuchus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic, 196.5–183.0 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Genus: †Eopneumatosuchus
Crompton and Smith, 1980
Species:
†E. colberti
Binomial name
†Eopneumatosuchus colberti
Crompton and Smith, 1980

Eopneumatosuchus was initially considered to be a protosuchian, first proposed when the genus was named in 1980.[1] However, this classification was later questioned on the basis of several features of the holotype material, and as a result it is no longer considered to be within Protosuchia.[2] Particular features of the posterior part of the cranium, the only material associated with the genus, suggest that Eopneumatosuchus may have close relations with Early Jurassic teleosaurs.[3] The large supratemporal fenestrae of Eopneumatosuchus are characteristic of longirostrine crocodilians. Despite the similar cranial morphology with crocodilians, the genus is currently regarded as a basal crocodyliform. Nonetheless, it is considered to be more derived than protosuchians such as Protosuchus, found from the Moenave Formation, whose deposition preceded that of the Kayenta Formation. The basicranium had many cavities that made up a complex tympanic pneumatic system for which the genus has been named.[4] These types of cavities can also be seen in some protosuchians such as Protosuchus and Hemiprotosuchus, although they are less elongated than in Eopneumatosuchus.

References
  1. Crompton, A. W. and Smith, K. K. (1980). A new genus and species from the Kayenta Formation (Late Triassic?) of Northern Arizona. In Jacobs, L (ed.), Aspects of Vertebrate History Flagstaff: Museum of Northern Arizona Press, pp. 193-217.
  2. Hecht, M. K.; Tarsitano, S. F. (1983). "On the cranial morphology of the Protosuchia, Notosuchia and Eusuchia". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Monatshefte. 1983 (11): 657–668.
  3. Clark, J. M. and Fastovsky, D. E. (1986) Vertebrate biostratigraphy of the Glen Canyon Group in northern Arizona. In Padian, K. (ed.) The Beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs: Faunal Change Across the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  4. Dufeau, D. L.; Witmer, L. M. (2007). "Ontogeny and phylogeny of the tympanic pneumatic system of crocodyliform archosaurs". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (3 [Abstracts of Papers. 67th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology]): 70A. doi:10.2307/30126393. JSTOR 30126393.


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