Saltoposuchus connectens F. Huene, 1921 b

Sues, Hans-Dieter & Schoch, Rainer R., 2025, Synopsis of the Triassic reptiles from Germany, Fossil Record 28 (2), pp. 411-483 : 411-483

Saltoposuchus connectens F. Huene, 1921 b

Holotype.

SMNS 12597 a-d, cranial bones associated with much of the postcranial skeleton (Fig. 18 B, C ).

Type locality.

“ Weisser Steinbruch ” south of Pfaffenhofen, Heilbronn district, Baden-Württemberg.

Type horizon.

Middle Stubensandstein (S 2), Löwenstein Formation (equivalent of Arnstadt Formation). Age: Late Triassic (Norian: Alaunian).

Referred material.

SMNS 12597 e-f, isolated left angular and right calcaneum (which are not parts of the holotype; Spiekman 2023); SMNS 12596 , disarticulated skeleton including some cranial elements ( holotype of Saltoposuchus longipes F. Huene, 1921 b ; Fig. 18 B ); SMNS 55009 , post-cervical vertebrae, right tibia and calcaneum, and several metatarsals; SMNS 12591 a, largely complete but dorsoventrally flattened skull; and SMNS 12352 , well-preserved snout and left manus ( Spiekman 2023).

Diagnosis.

Diagnosed by the following autapomorphies: antorbital fossa approximately half size of orbit; oval fossa on ventral surface of palatine outlined by radially striated surface medially; and lateral side of proximal head of tibia notched ( Spiekman 2023). Spiekman (2023) listed additional features to distinguish Saltoposuchus connectens from other early-diverging crocodylomorphs.

Comments.

F. Huene (1921 b) named two taxa, Saltoposuchus connectens and S. longipes , each based on a partial skeleton from the “ Weisser Steinbruch, ” which was an active sandstone quarry near Pfaffenhofen at the time. The holotype of the latter ( SMNS 12596 ) is somewhat larger than that of Saltoposuchus connectens but there are no anatomical differences to support recognition of more than one species ( Crush 1984). The “ Weisser Steinbruch ” also yielded skeletal remains of other archosaurian reptiles including the coelophysid theropod Procompsognathus triassicus E. Fraas, 1913 , and the original associations of these specimens were not recorded by the quarry manager who sold the fossils to the museum in Stuttgart. This led to a long-standing debate concerning the taxonomic identification of certain fossils now referred to Saltoposuchus connectens , especially whether the cranial material belonged to this crocodylomorph or to the theropod Procompsognathus triassicus (e. g., Ostrom 1981). Walker (1970) first recognized Saltoposuchus as an early-diverging crocodylomorph. Sereno and Wild (1992) demonstrated that the partial skulls SMNS 12591 a and SMNS 12352 were identical in various features and belonged to Saltoposuchus rather than Procompsognathus . Spiekman (2023) undertook a comprehensive revision of all crocodylomorph specimens from the Löwenstein Formation and confirmed the conclusions by Sereno and Wild (1992).

References.

F. Huene (1921 b), Walker (1970), Ostrom (1981), Crush (1984), Sereno and Wild (1992), Spiekman (2023).

Figures

Figure 18. Reptiles from the Middle Keuper Subgroup. A. Rauisuchid pseudosuchian Teratosaurus suevicus, holotype (NHMUK PV OR 38646), right maxilla in medial view. Scale bar: 5 cm. B. Saltoposuchid crocodylomorph Saltoposuchus connectens (SMNS 12596), left maxilla, quadrate, and squamosal. Scale bar: 2 cm. C. Saltoposuchid crocodylomorph Saltoposuchus connectens, holotype (SMNS 12597 a), associated elements of postcranial skeleton. Scale bar: 2 cm. B, C. Photographs courtesy of S. N. F. Spiekman.