Description and phylogenetic relationships of a large-bodied sphagesaurid notosuchian from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation, Bauru Group, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

In this work we describe new remains and possible gastroliths of a sphagesaurid (Mesoeucrocodylia: Notosuchia) unearthed from the Adamantina Formation (Bauru Group, Upper Cretaceous) in the municipality of Fernandópolis-SP, which add new data about the dental, dermal shield, and the post-cranial skeleton morphology of these crocodilians. Phylogenetic analyses place the studied fossil within Sphagesauridae, in a polytomy with Armadillosuchus arrudai and Caryonosuchus pricei. The anatomical comparisons are congruent to the phylogenetic analysis since they also suggest that the specimen herein described is closely related to other larger-bodied Sphagesauridae species, such as Armadillosuchus arrudai. The new skull, appendicular, and dermal elements described in this work may provide data for the elaboration of new phylogenetic characters which can improve cladistic analyses concerning Sphagesauridae species, as well as they may help to better understand the morphological complexity of this family of crocodylomorphs, especially the large-bodied species.