Mahajangasuchidae

Mahajangasuchidae is an extinct family of neosuchian crocodyliforms. It currently contains two genera, Mahajangasuchus and Kaprosuchus, both of which lived during the Late Cretaceous in Gondwana. It is defined as the most inclusive clade containing Mahajangasuchus insignis but not Notosuchus terrestris, Simosuchus clarki, Araripesuchus gomesii, Baurusuchus pachecoi, Peirosaurus torminni, Goniopholis crassidens, Pholidosaurus schaumbergensis, or Crocodylus niloticus.[1] Phylogenetically, Mahajangasuchidae is placed just outside pholidosaurids and more derived neosuchians.

Skull of Kaprosuchus saharicus

Mahajangasuchidae Temporal range: 95–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Cenomanian - Maastrichtian
Mahajangasuchus insignis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Metasuchia
Family:	†Mahajangasuchidae Sereno and Larsson, 2009[1]
Genera
Kaprosuchus Mahajangasuchus (type)

Defining characters of the family include fused nasals, a jaw articulation below the posterior maxillary tooth row, a deep mandibular symphysis that is oriented anterodorsally, and the formation of a hornlike posterodorsal process from the squamosal and parietal (which is much more pronounced in Kaprosuchus).

Cladogram showing the phylogenetic relationship of Mahajangasuchidae within Neosuchia after Sereno and Larsson, 2009:[1]

Neosuchia	Sebecia   unnamed  Mahajangasuchidae    Mahajangasuchus     Kaprosuchus     unnamed   Pholidosauridae   unnamed   Laganosuchus   unnamed   Bernissartia   unnamed   Isisfordia     Crocodylia

References

1. Sereno, Paul; Larsson, Hans (2009-11-19). "Cretaceous Crocodyliforms from the Sahara". ZooKeys. 28: 1–143. doi:10.3897/zookeys.28.325. ISSN 1313-2970.

See also