Enaliosuchus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Enaliosuchus Fossil range: Early Cretaceous |
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 restoration of Enaliosuchus macrospondylus
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Enaliosuchus is an extinct genus of marine crocodylian within the family Metriorhynchidae that lived during the Valanginian stage of the Early Cretaceous. Enaliosuchus was a carnivore that spent much, if not all, its life out at sea. No Enaliosuchus eggs or nest have been discovered, so little is known of the reptile's lifecycle, unlike other large marine reptiles of the Mesozoic, such as plesiosaurs or ichthyosaurs which are known to give birth to live young out at sea. Where Enaliosuchus mated, whether on land or at sea, is currently unknown.
[edit] Species
The species within Enaliosuchus include :
- E. macrospondylus: type species from France and Germany of the Early Cretaceous Valanginian.
- E. schroederi: from Germany of the Early Cretaceous Valanginian (Hua et al., 2000 consider this species as a junior synonym of E. macrospondylus).
[edit] Closely related species
Other genera included within the metriorhynchid family are: Teleidosaurus, Metriorhynchus, Dakosaurus and Geosaurus. The genera within Metiorhynchidae considered to be nomina dubia are Aggiosaurus and Neustosaurus.
[edit] References
- Hua, S., Vignaud, P., Atrops, F. & Clément, A. (2000). Enaliosuchus macrospondylus Koken, 1883 (Crocodylia, Metriorhynchidae) du Valanginien de Barret-le-Bas (Hautes Alpes, France): un cas unique de remontée des narines externes parmi les crocodiliens. G 33: 467-474.
