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Mahajangasuchidae

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Mahajangasuchidae
Temporal range: 95–65 Ma Cenomanian - Maastrichtian
Mahajangasuchus insignis
Scientific classification
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Mahajangasuchidae

Sereno and Larsson, 2009
Genera

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] Phyogenetically, Mahajangasuchidae is placed just outside pholidosaurids and more derived neosuchians.

Skull of Kaprosuchus saharicus

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

<font color="white">unnamed
 Mahajangasuchidae 
<font color="white">unnamed

Pholidosauridae

<font color="white">unnamed

Laganosuchus

<font color="white">unnamed

Bernissartia

<font color="white">unnamed

References

  1. ^ a b Sereno, P. C. (2009). "Cretaceous crocodyliforms from the Sahara". ZooKeys. 28 (2009): 1–143. {{cite journal}}: External link in |title= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)