Litargosuchus: Difference between revisions

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{{Italic title}}
| fossil_range = [[Early Jurassic]]
{{Taxobox
| authority = Clark and Sues, [[2002 in paleontology|2002]]
|name = ''Litargosuchus''
| type_species = {{extinct}}'''''L. leptorhynchus'''''
|fossil_range = [[Early Jurassic]]
| type_species_authority = Clark and Sues, 2002
|regnum = [[Animal]]ia
|phylum = [[Chordata]]
|classis = [[Reptile|Sauropsida]]
|superordo = [[Crocodylomorpha]]
|unranked_familia = [[Sphenosuchia]]
|familia = [[Sphenosuchidae]]
|genus = '''''Litargosuchus'''''
|binomial = ''Litargosuchus leptorhynchus''
|binomial_authority = Clark & Sues, 2002
}}
}}


'''''Litargosuchus''''' ("fast running crocodile") was a [[genus]] of [[sphenosuchia]]n [[Crocodylomorpha|crocodylomorph]] from the [[Early Jurassic]] of [[South Africa]]. Its remains were originally described by Gow and [[James Kitching]] in 1988 as belonging to [[Pedeticosaurus|''Pedeticosaurus'' sp.]] . The fossils was re-described in 2002 by [[James Clark]] and [[Hans-Dieter Sues]], who erected a new generic name for the specimen.
'''''Litargosuchus''''' ("fast running crocodile") is an extinct [[genus]] of [[sphenosuchia]]n [[Crocodylomorpha|crocodylomorph]] from the [[Early Jurassic]] of [[South Africa]]. Its remains were originally described by Gow and [[James Kitching]] in 1988 as belonging to [[Pedeticosaurus|''Pedeticosaurus'' sp.]] . The fossils was re-described in 2002 by [[James Clark]] and [[Hans-Dieter Sues]], who erected a new generic name for the specimen.


The type species is ''L. leptorhynchus'', for its thin and delicate muzzle.
The type species is ''L. leptorhynchus'', for its thin and delicate muzzle.

Revision as of 03:59, 23 November 2011

Litargosuchus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Family: Saltoposuchidae
Genus: Litargosuchus
Clark and Sues, 2002
Type species
L. leptorhynchus
Clark and Sues, 2002

Litargosuchus ("fast running crocodile") is an extinct genus of sphenosuchian crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic of South Africa. Its remains were originally described by Gow and James Kitching in 1988 as belonging to Pedeticosaurus sp. . The fossils was re-described in 2002 by James Clark and Hans-Dieter Sues, who erected a new generic name for the specimen.

The type species is L. leptorhynchus, for its thin and delicate muzzle.

Material

The holotype for Litargosuchus was found by James Kitching, of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, on strata belonging to the lower part of the Elliot Formation, just 2 meters above the Clarens Formation. It was given the number BP/1/5237, and assigned by Gow and Kitching to Pedeticosaurus sp. The material consists of a skull, mandible and part of the postcranial skeleton.

Systematics

See Sphenosuchia for details on sphenosuchian phylogeny

According to its description, Litargosuchus belongs to the Sphenosuchidae. However, phylogenetic relationships within the Sphenosuchia are poorly understood, so its status within this clade is uncertain.

References

  • Clark, J. M. & Sues, H.-D., (2002). Two new basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic and the monophyly of Sphenosuchia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 136 (1): 77-95.