Terminonaris (Archosauria : Crocodyliformes): New material from Saskatchewan, Canada, and comments on its phylogenetic relationships

Citation
Xc. Wu et al., Terminonaris (Archosauria : Crocodyliformes): New material from Saskatchewan, Canada, and comments on its phylogenetic relationships, J VERTEBR P, 21(3), 2001, pp. 492-514
Citations number
48
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
ISSN journal
02724634 → ACNP
Volume
21
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
492 - 514
Database
ISI
SICI code
0272-4634(20010822)21:3<492:T(:CNM>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
A newly-discovered skeleton of Terminonaris (=Teleorhinus) robusta (=robust us) from the early Turonian marine deposits of east-central Saskatchewan af fords the opportunity for a detailed description of the anatomy of this spe cies and its placement in the context of other known species of this genus. The specific diagnosis of T. robusta and the generic diagnosis of Terminon aris are established. Terminonaris robusta differs from the type species T. browni mainly in size-related features. Teleorhinus mesabiensis Erickson, 1969 is placed into the synonymy of Terminonaris robusta. The genus can be diagnosed by features of the anterior end of the snout, sutural relationshi ps of the bones surrounding the orbit, and the structure of the occiput. A phylogenetic analysis based upon data drawn from the new material suggests that Terminonaris is not a pholidosaurid but is, instead, closely related t o Dyrosaurus. This analysis continues to support the hypothesis that long-s nouted crocodyliforms of the traditional "mesosuchian grade" form a clade.