Heterosuchus

Extinct genus of reptiles

Heterosuchus
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 140–125 Ma
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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Clade: Crocodyliformes
Family: Hylaeochampsidae
Genus: Heterosuchus
Seeley, 1887
Type species
Heterosuchus valdensis
Seeley, 1887

Heterosuchus is an extinct genus of crocodylomorph that may have been a eusuchian. It is known only from neck and back vertebrae recovered from Early Cretaceous-age rocks of the Hastings Beds (Wealden Group) of Hastings, Sussex. These vertebrae are procoelous (ball-and-socket articulation with the socket in front and the ball on the back of individual vertebrae), which is a trait of eusuchians. Heterosuchus was described by Harry Seeley in 1887, with H. valdensis as the type species.[1] It may be the same genus as the slightly younger Hylaeochampsa, inferred to have been of similar evolutionary grade, but there is no overlapping material as Hylaeochampsa is known only from a partial skull; Hylaeochampsa would be the name used for both in that case, because it is the older name (coined in 1874). Because of the sparse material and apparent lack of distinguishing characteristics, James Clark and Mark Norell (1992) considered Heterosuchus a dubious name.[2]

References

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  1. ^ H. G. Seeley. (1887). On Heterosuchus valdensis, Seeley, a procoelian crocodile from the Hastings Sand of Hastings. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society 43:212-215
  2. ^ Clark, James M.; Norell, Mark A. (1992). "The Early Cretaceous crocodylomorph Hylaeochampsa vectiana from the Wealden of the Isle of Wight" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3032).
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Pseudosuchia
    • see Pseudosuchia
Neosuchia
    • see below↓
Tethysuchia
Pholidosauridae
Dyrosauridae
Atoposauridae
Stomatosuchidae
Paluxysuchidae
Goniopholididae
Bernissartiidae
Paralligatoridae
Eusuchia
    • see below↓
Oceanosuchus boecensis

Dyrosaurus phosphaticus Isisfordia duncani Goniopholis simus

Bernissartia fagesii
Hylaeochampsidae
Allodaposuchidae
Aegyptosuchidae
"Thoracosaurs"
Planocraniidae
Crocodilia
    • see Crocodilia for extant taxa, and Extinct Crocodilia for extinct ones
Allodaposuchus precedens
Taxon identifiers
Heterosuchus
Heterosuchus valdensis


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