Geosaurus vignaudi n.sp. (Crocodyliformes: Thalattosuchia), first evidence of metriorhynchid crocodilians in the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) of central-east Mexico (State of Puebla)

摘要

Thalattosuchian crocodilians of the genus Geosaurus have mostly been recorded from the Jurassic of Europe. A single species was reported from Argentina. Here we describe a new species of Geosaurus vignaudi from the middle Tithonian La Pimienta Formation of State of Puebla, Mexico. Diagnostic for this species are the extremely low tooth count and a rostroventrally directed process at the rostral terminus of the mandible combined with a pair of horizontally directed rostral teeth. The skull of the holotype shows bite marks that probably caused the death of the animal.