Abstract
The baurusuchids were terrestrial notosuchian crocodyliforms from the Upper Cretaceous of South America. The present study analyzes a partial postcranial skeleton, MPMA 62.0002.02, collected in strata from the Adamantina Formation (Campanian-Maastrichtia, Bauru Basin) near the General Salgado municipality, São Paulo state, Brazil. The specimen was identified as a notosuchian, and more precisely to the family Baurusuchidae because of the presence of a dorsal protuberance on the postzygapophysis, robust ribs, a scapula with a dorsal convex border, and a strong middle constriction. The presence of bone tissues with different growth rates signifies that at least some baurusuchids present different allometric rates for the humerus, vertebrae, and osteoderms. The results also show that there may be a shift between fast and slow growth rates throughout life. Our results suggest a a possible correlation between the developmental delay of these animals and the seasonal environmental changes in semiarid conditions. The histological and morphological descriptions proved to be efficient for identifying the Baurusuchidae family, as well as for defining indicators to comprehend the biology of extinct species.
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