Trematochampsa
Encyclopedia
Trematochampsa is an extinct genus
of crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous
(Cenomanian
age) In Beceten Formation
of Niger
. The type species
, T. taqueti, was described by Eric Buffetaut in 1974. A second species, T. oblita, was named from Madagascar
in 1979. It became the type species of Miadanasuchus
in 2009.
Trematochampsa gives its name to the Trematochampsidae
, a poorly-known group of fossil crocodiles.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
(Cenomanian
Cenomanian
The Cenomanian is, in the ICS' geological timescale the oldest or earliest age of the Late Cretaceous epoch or the lowest stage of the Upper Cretaceous series. An age is a unit of geochronology: it is a unit of time; the stage is a unit in the stratigraphic column deposited during the corresponding...
age) In Beceten Formation
In Beceten Formation
The In Beceten Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations...
of Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. The type species
Type 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...
, T. taqueti, was described by Eric Buffetaut in 1974. A second species, T. oblita, was named from Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
in 1979. It became the type species of Miadanasuchus
Miadanasuchus
Miadanasuchus is an extinct genus of trematochampsid which existed in Maevarano Formation of Madagascar during the late Cretaceous period . It was first named by Erin L. Rasmusson Simons and Gregory A. Buckley in 2009 and the type species is Miadanasuchus oblita....
in 2009.
Trematochampsa gives its name to the Trematochampsidae
Trematochampsidae
Trematochampsidae is an extinct family of mesoeucrocodylian crocodylomorph. Fossils are present from Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Argentina, and Brazil...
, a poorly-known group of fossil crocodiles.