Thoracosaurus

Thoracosaurus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous–Early Paleocene
Thoracosaurus macrorhynchus skull
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Superorder: Crocodylomorpha
Order: Crocodilia
Superfamily: Gavialoidea
Genus: Thoracosaurus
Leidy, 1852
Species
  • T. neocesariensis (de Kay, 1842 [originally Gavialis neocesariensis]) (type)
  • T. macrorhynchus
  • T. scanicus

Thoracosaurus is an extinct genus of gavialoid crocodilian which existed during the Late Cretaceous and early Paleocene.[1] It contains the species Thoracosaurus neocesariensis in North America [2] and Thoracosaurus macrorhynchus in Europe. A number of species have been referred to this genus, but most are dubious.[1]

Thoracosaurus scanicus was a fairly large gavialoid, with a length of more than 4.4 m (14.4 ft) and a 55 cm skull.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Brochu, C. A. (2006) Osteology and phylogenetic significance of Eosuchus minor (Marsh, 1870) new combination, a longirostrine crocodylian from the Late Paleocene of North America. Journal of Paleontology 80(1):162–186.
  2. Page 125; A study of fossil vertebrate types in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: taxonomic, systematic, and historical perspectives Issue 16 of Special Publication Series, Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia, Pa.) By Earle E. Spamer, Edward Daeschler, L. Gay Vostreys-Shapiro. Academy of Natural Sciences, 1995 ISBN 0-910006-51-2 ISBN 978-0-910006-51-4
  3. http://paleopedia.free.fr/croco_eusuchia.html
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