Paralligatoridae Explained

Paralligatoridae is an extinct family of neosuchian crocodyliforms that existed during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. It includes the genera Paralligator, Brillanceausuchus, Kansajsuchus, Shamosuchus, Scolomastax, Sabresuchus, Rugosuchus, Batrachomimus and Wannchampsus, as well as the yet-unnamed "Glen Rose form".[1] [2]

Evolution

Phylogenetic analyses of crocodyliforms find Paralligatoridae to nest within Neosuchia, a large clade (evolutionary grouping) that also includes modern crocodylians. In crocodyliform phylogeny, paralligatorids are usually found near the base of Neosuchia, outside the clade Eusuchia, which includes crocodylians and their closest relatives. Below is a cladogram from Montefeltro et al. (2013) showing the phylogenetic relationships of Paralligatoridae:[1]

Notes and References

  1. Montefeltro . F. C. . Larsson . H. C. E. . de França . M. A. G. . Langer . M. C. . A new neosuchian with Asian affinities from the Jurassic of northeastern Brazil . 10.1007/s00114-013-1083-9 . Naturwissenschaften . 100 . 9 . 835–841 . 2013 . 23893176. 2013NW....100..835M . 11705304 .
  2. Thomas L. Adams . 2014 . Small crocodyliform from the Lower Cretaceous (late Aptian) of central Texas and its systematic relationship to the evolution of Eusuchia . Journal of Paleontology . 88 . 5 . 1031–1049 . 10.1666/12-089 . 84776430 .