Dollosuchus
Encyclopedia
Dollosuchoides is an extinct tomistomine. . It is a basal form possibly related to Kentisuchus
, according to several phylogenetic analyses
that have been conducted in recent years, and is the oldest known tomistomine to date. Fossil
s have been found from Belgium
and the United Kingdom
. It had large supratemporal fenestrae in relation to its orbits, similar to Kentisuchus and Thecachampsa
.
Dollosuchus was originally described on the basis of numerous mandibular
fragments found from the Early to Middle Eocene
Bracklesham Beds in the United Kingdom. The material cannot be distinguished from other related longirostrine, or long-snouted, crocodilia
ns. A nearly complete skeleton from Belgium (IRScNB 482) described by Swinton, and referred to Dollosuchus, formed the basis of the new taxon Dollosuchoides densmorei.. It is currently housed in the Gand Museum in Belgium.
of Dollosuchus is D. dixoni. Many other species that once belonged to other genera have been proposed as members of the genus, but little work has been published to support these claims. Charactosuchus kugleri
, another Eocene crocodilian, has been suggested to be synonymous
with Dollosuchus, but this is no longer likely because C. kugleri is now thought to be a member of the family
Crocodylidae, and thus closer related to modern crocodiles than to gharial
s. It has been suggested that Kentisuchus spenceri, Megadontosuchus arduini
, and Dollosuchus dixoni are all synonymous
with one another. If this is the case, the name Dollosuchus would be adopted for all three genera, as the name has seniority over the other two. Despite this, the three taxa would remain their own distinct species
.
Kentisuchus
Kentisuchus is an extinct genus of tomistomine . It is considered one of the most basal members of the subfamily. Fossils have been found from England that date back to the early Eocene...
, according to several phylogenetic analyses
Phylogenetics
In biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...
that have been conducted in recent years, and is the oldest known tomistomine to date. Fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s have been found from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It had large supratemporal fenestrae in relation to its orbits, similar to Kentisuchus and Thecachampsa
Thecachampsa
Thecachampsa is an extinct genus of tomistomine crocodilian. Fossils have been found from the eastern United States in deposits that are late Oligocene in age. The type species is T. antiqua. Several other species have been erected. Those named in the 19th century were distinguished primarily by...
.
Dollosuchus was originally described on the basis of numerous mandibular
Mandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
fragments found from the Early to Middle Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
Bracklesham Beds in the United Kingdom. The material cannot be distinguished from other related longirostrine, or long-snouted, crocodilia
Crocodilia
Crocodilia is an order of large reptiles that appeared about 84 million years ago in the late Cretaceous Period . They are the closest living relatives of birds, as the two groups are the only known survivors of the Archosauria...
ns. A nearly complete skeleton from Belgium (IRScNB 482) described by Swinton, and referred to Dollosuchus, formed the basis of the new taxon Dollosuchoides densmorei.. It is currently housed in the Gand Museum in Belgium.
Species
The type speciesType species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of Dollosuchus is D. dixoni. Many other species that once belonged to other genera have been proposed as members of the genus, but little work has been published to support these claims. Charactosuchus kugleri
Charactosuchus
Charactosuchus is an extinct genus of crocodilian. It was assigned to the family Crocodylidae in 1988. Specimens have been found from Colombia, Brazil, Jamaica, and possibly Florida and South Carolina...
, another Eocene crocodilian, has been suggested to be synonymous
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
with Dollosuchus, but this is no longer likely because C. kugleri is now thought to be a member of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Crocodylidae, and thus closer related to modern crocodiles than to gharial
Gharial
The gharial , , also called Indian gavial or gavial, is the only surviving member of the once well-represented family Gavialidae, a long-established group of crocodilians with long, slender snouts...
s. It has been suggested that Kentisuchus spenceri, Megadontosuchus arduini
Megadontosuchus
Megadontosuchus is a genus of tomistomine from the middle Eocene of Italy. Fossils have been found from Monte Duello in the province of Verona. The genus is currently monotypic, with the type and only species being M. arduini. The species was originally named in 1880, although it was assigned to...
, and Dollosuchus dixoni are all synonymous
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
with one another. If this is the case, the name Dollosuchus would be adopted for all three genera, as the name has seniority over the other two. Despite this, the three taxa would remain their own distinct species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
.
External links
- Dollosuchus in the Paleobiology DatabasePaleobiology Database' is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms.-History:The Paleobiology Database was founded in 2000. It has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Australian Research Council...