Hsisosuchus
Hsisosuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyliform from China. Currently there are three species within this genus: H. dashanpuensis is from the Middle Jurassic, while H. chungkingensis and H. chowi are from the Late Jurassic.[3] It is likely to have been a medium-sized (~3 metres or 9.8 feet long) predator.[4]
Hsisosuchus Temporal range: Middle-Late Jurassic | |
---|---|
Skull and vertebrae of Hsisosuchus chungkingensis at the Hong Kong Science Museum | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Superorder: | Crocodylomorpha |
Clade: | Crocodyliformes |
Clade: | Mesoeucrocodylia |
Family: | †Hsisosuchidae Young and Chow, 1953 |
Genus: | †Hsisosuchus Young and Chow, 1953 |
Species | |
Fossils of H. chungkingensis were found in the Shangshaximiao Formation (near Chongqing city). The holotype consists of the cranial skeleton and caudal osteoderms. A more complete specimen was found and described that added significant information on the postcranium of H. chungkingensis.[3][5]
H. dashanpuensis was found in the Xiashaximiao Formation.[3]
H. chowi was found in the Shangshaximiao Formation. The holotype specimen consists of a nearly complete skull (25 cm (9.8 in) long), mandibles, most of the vertebral column, partial pectoral and pelvic girdles, most of the forelimbs, fragments of hindlimbs and many osteoderms. It differs from other species of Hsisosuchus in several features of its skull and postcrania.
References
- Young C.C., Chow M.C. 1953. New fossil reptiles from Szechuan China. Acta Paleontologica Sinica 1: 87-109.
- Gao, Yuhui (July 2001). "A new species of Hsisosuchus (Mesoeucrocodylia) from Dashanpu, Zigong Municipality, Sichuan Province" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 39 (3): 177–184.
- Peng, Guang-Zhao; Shu, Chun-Kang (2005). "A new species of Hsisosuchus (Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Late Jurassic of Zigong, Sichuan, China" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 43 (4): 312–324.
- https://sites.google.com/site/snippetsfromourthroughstreams/home/crocodiles-in-the-shadow-of-the-dinosaurs
- Li J. L., Wu X. C., Li X. M. 1994. New material of Hsisosuchus chungkingensis from Sichuan, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 32 (2): 107-126. (in Chinese with English summary)