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Analysis and phylogenetic status of the eusuchian fragmentary material from Western Europe assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens

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Abstract

Purpose

During the last two decades, several specimens of eusuchian crocodyliforms have been described from the Campanian and Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) record of Europe. Most of them are now included in the recently described clade Allodaposuchidae. This clade is recognized as the sister group of the crown Crocodylia. The type species of Allodaposuchidae is Allodaposuchus precedens, described on material from the lower Maastrichtian of Vălioara (Hunedoara, Romania). The group also comprises several species from Spain and France. Some specimens from Spain, southern France and Romania were assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens by different authors. Thus, fragmentary cranial specimens from the upper Campanian of Armuña (Segovia, Spain) and the lower Maastrichtian of Bellevue (Aude, France) and Vilamitjana (Lleida, Spain), were attributed to Allodaposuchus precedens helping to propose a new diagnosis of this species. In fact, the assignment of specimens from Western Europe to Allodaposuchus precedens has been questioned in recent publications.

Methods

The present paper analyses the fragmentary material from Spain and France previously assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens.

Results

The material analysed, which previously had been attributed to Allodaposuchus precedens, has been reassigned here to Allodaposuchidae indet.

Conclusions

This study confirms that the species Allodaposuchus precedens was clearly restricted to Eastern Europe, clarifying the palaeobiogeography of the clade Allodaposuchidae during Campanian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous).

Resumen

Objetivos

Durante las dos últimas décadas, se han descrito varios ejemplares de crocodiliformes eusuquios procedentes del Campaniense y Maastrichtiense (Cretácico Superior) de Europa. La mayor parte de estos ejemplares se han incluido en el clado Allodaposuchidae, recientemente descrito. Este clado constituye el grupo hermano de Crocodylia. La especie tipo de Allodaposuchidae es Allodaposuchus precedens, descrito a partir de material procedente del Maastrichtiense inferior de Vălioara (Hunedoara, Rumanía). El grupo también incluye varias especies procedentes de España y Francia. En los últimos años, algunos ejemplares de España, sur de Francia y Rumanía han sido asignados a la especie Allodaposuchus precedens por diferentes autores. De esta forma, distintos ejemplares craneales fragmentarios del Campaniense superior de Armuña (Segovia, España) y del Maastrichtiense inferior de Bellevue (Aude, Francia) y Vilamitjana (Lleida, España), se atribuyeron a Allodaposuchus precedens, ayudando a proponer una nueva diagnosis de esta especie. No obstante, la asignación de ejemplares del oeste de Europa a Allodaposuchus precedens ha sido cuestionada en publicaciones recientes.

Metodología

En el presente trabajo se analiza el material fragmentario procedente de España y Francia previamente asignado a Allodaposuchus precedens.

Resultados

El material analizado que previamente había sido atribuido a Allodaposuchus precedens, se ha reasignado a Allodaposuchidae indet.

Conclusiones

Este estudio confirma que la especie Allodaposuchus precedens estaba claramente restringida al Este de Europa, clarificando la paleobiogeografía del clado Allodaposuchidae durante el Campaniense-Maastrichtiense.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the projects “Estudio paleoambiental, faunístico y florístico del yacimiento del Cretácico Superior de Lo Hueco (Fuentes, Cuenca)” (CGL2012-35199) and “Nuevos conceptos y herramientas de análisis para el estudio del paleoecosistema de Lo Hueco (Cretácico Superior. Fuentes, Cuenca)” (CGL2015-68363-P). We thank M. Norell (American Museum of Natural History, New York); J.M. Gasca, I. Canudo and E. Puértolas (Universidad de Zaragoza); J. Le Loeuff (Musée des Dinosaures d’Espéraza, France); A. D. Buscalioni and J.L. Sanz (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid); T. Tortosa (Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle d’Aix-en-Provence); M. Delfino (Università degli Studi di Torino); C. Barbera (Università Federico II, Napoli); F. Fages, D. Clavel and members of Association Culturelle Archéologique et Paléontologique (Musée de Cruzy); A. and P. Mechin (Vitrolles); M. Padilla (Museo de Anatomía de Vertebrados Universidad Complutense de Madrid); S. Bailón (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris); V. Codrea (University of Babes-Bolyai, Cluj Napoca); A. Ösi and M. Rabi (Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum, Budapest), and L. Makádi (Magyar Állami Földtani Intézet, Budapest) for access to collections. Special thanks to members of Grupo de Biología Evolutiva UNED, V. Fondevilla (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and the reviewers D. Pol (Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio) and E. Puértolas (Universidad de Zaragoza) for comments and suggestions. The comparative studies have been supported by the SYNTHESYS Project (http://www.synthesys.info), financed by the European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 Integrating Activities Programme. C.A.B. was supported by US National Science Foundation DEB 1257786-125748.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo Senda del Rey, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    I. Narváez, F. Escaso, A. Pérez-García & F. Ortega

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    C. A. Brochu

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  1. I. Narváez
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Correspondence to I. Narváez.

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Narváez, I., Brochu, C.A., Escaso, F. et al. Analysis and phylogenetic status of the eusuchian fragmentary material from Western Europe assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens . J Iber Geol 43, 345–361 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-017-0025-3

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