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The world’s largest gharialsGryposuchus: description ofG. croizati n. sp. (Crocodylia, Gavialidae) from the Upper Miocene Urumaco Formation, Venezuela

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Abstract

A new fossil gharialGryposuchus species is described from the Upper Miocene Urumaco Formation, Venezuela.Gryposuchus croizati new species can be distinguished from other gavialoids, includingGryposuchus colombianus andGryposuchus neogaeus by the following combination of diagnostic characters: 1) slenderness of the parietal interfenestral bar; 2) dental formula, mainly the lesser number of maxillary teeth, with four premaxillary, 19 maxillary and 22 mandibular teeth; 3) large width of palatines between the reduced palatine fenestrae; 4) medial hemicondyle of the quadrate smaller but detached and much more posteriorly elongated than the lateral one and projected ventromedially; 5) pterygoid morphology, with two posterior vacuities. The polymorphism in the contour of the external naris inGryposuchus was evaluated for taxonomic significance. The body size ofG. croizati n. sp. was estimated in 10.15 m (9.67–10.67 m) using the dorsal skull length and the estimation of the body mass was 1,745 kg (1,280–2,379 kg) based on the braincase length. These maximal values placeG. croizati n. sp. among the world’s largest gharials and even Crocodyliforms as a whole.

Kurzfassung

Eine neue Gavialart vonGryposuchus wird aus der obermiozän Urumaco-Formation von Venezuela beschrieben.Gryposuchus croizati n. sp. kann von anderen Gavialoiden, einschließlichGryposuchus colombianus undGryposuchus neogaeus, anhand der folgenden diagnostischen Merkmale unterschieden werden: 1) Schlankheit des Interfenestralstabs des Parietale; 2) Zahnformel, vor allem die reduzierte Anzahl von Maxillarzähnen, mit vier Prämaxillar-, 19 Maxillar- und 22 Mandibularzähnen; 3) große Breite der Palatinae zwischen reduzierten Gaumenfenstern; 4) medialer Hemicondylus des Quadratums kleiner aber getrennt und sehr viel stärker posterior verlängert und ventromedial ausgerichtet als der laterale Hemicondylus; 5) Morphologie des Pterygoids, mit zwei posterioren Einbuchtungen. Die Polymorphismen in den Umrissen der äußeren Nasenöffnung inGryposuchus werden taxonomisch evaluiert. Die Körperlänge vonG. croizati n. sp. wurde, basierend auf der dorsalen Schädellänge, auf 10.15 m (9.67–10.67 m) geschätzt. Weiterhin wurde die Körpergröße basierend auf der Gehirnkapsellänge auf 1745 kg (1280–2379 kg) geschätzt. Anhand dieser maximalen Werte dürfteG. croizati n. sp. zu den weltweit größten Gavialen und sogar der Crocodyliformes gehört haben, die je existierten.

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  1. Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Estrada do Bern Querer, Km. 4, 45083-900, Vitória da Conquista-BA, Brasil

    Douglas Riff

  2. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda, Complejo Docente Los Perozos, Carretera Variante Sur, Coro, 4101, Estado Falcón, Venezuela

    Orangel A. Aguilera

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Riff, D., Aguilera, O.A. The world’s largest gharialsGryposuchus: description ofG. croizati n. sp. (Crocodylia, Gavialidae) from the Upper Miocene Urumaco Formation, Venezuela. Paläont. Z. 82, 178–195 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02988408

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