Hadongsuchus
Hadongsuchus is an extinct genus of "protosuchian" crocodylomorph from the Hasandong Formation of Hadong, South Korea.
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Genus: | Hadongsuchus Young-nam and Hang-jae, 2005 |
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Discovery
The Hasandong Formation dates back to the Hauterivian and Barremian stages of the Early Cretaceous. A complete fossil skull was discovered in 2002, and the genus was named in 2005 on the basis of this holotype. Certain features of the third premaxillary tooth help distinguish it from other related crocodylomorphs. The estimated size of Hadongsuchus was around 50 cm in length. Like other protosuchians, it is believed to have been a fully terrestrial cursorial animal with a semi-erect posture. The binomial name of the type species H. acerdentis means "sharp-toothed crocodile from Hadong" in Greek.[1][2]
Systematics
Hadongsuchus was recovered as a close relative of Shantungosuchus, Sichuanosuchus, and Zosuchus by Hangjae et al. (2005).
References
- "Fossil Found in South Korea Indicate New Genus of Crocodile" Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine YonhapNews 2005-03-28. Retrieved on 3 May 2009.
- Y. Hangjae, Y. Yungnam, and Y. Hyesu. 2005. 경남 하동군 하산동층(전기 백악기)에서 산출된 악어 두개골의 골격학과 계통분류학적 연구 [A new protosuchian (Archosauria: Crocodyliformes) skull from the Hasandong Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Hadong, Korea]. Korean Journal of Paleontology 21(1):146-150 (pdf at http://imgsvr.riss4u.net/contents3/td_contents8/09984/433/09984433.pdf)