Nicrosaurus kapffi (Meyer, 1860)

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

Nicrosaurus kapffi (Meyer, 1860)

Lectotype.

SMNS 4060 , poorly preserved and damaged fragment of snout in occlusion with the anterior region of both mandibular rami ( Hungerbühler 1997).

Type locality.

Possibly Heslacher Wand quarry, Stuttgart-Heslach, Baden-Württemberg.

Type horizon.

Middle Stubensandstein (S 2), Löwenstein Formation, Middle Keuper Subgroup. Age: Late Triassic (Norian: Alaunian).

Referred material.

See Hungerbühler (1997).

Diagnosis.

Distinguished by the following combination of features: presence of at least short prenarial crest; external nares below level of skull roof; deep lateral recess on snout separating narial region from antorbital fenestra and continuing anteriorly along suture between maxilla and nasal; lacrimal with elongate depressed area between antorbital fenestra and orbit; parietal-squamosal bar depressed below skull roof; postorbital-squamosal bar thin, relatively broad and short; medial portion of postorbital squamosal bar overhanging lateral half of supratemporal fenestra; posterior process of squamosal not continuously tapering in dorsal view; suborbital opening long and at least partially slit-like; palatine visible on palatal vault in ventral view; and medial wings of palatines in contact along midline of palatal vault ( Hungerbühler 1997; Fig. 16 C ).

Comments.

Hungerbühler and Hunt (2000) named a second species, Nicrosaurus meyeri , which they distinguished from Nicrosaurus kapffi by a slender rather than deep, crestless or partially crested rostrum, a transversely narrower supratemporal opening, a pointed rather than rounded tip of the squamosal, a proportionately longer mandibular symphysis, and moderately homodont dentition. Its holotype is SMNS 12593 , a complete cranium from the Middle Stubensandstein (S 2) of the “ Weisser Steinbruch ” at Pfaffenhofen, Baden-Württemberg. As in the case of Mystriosuchus , we concur with Kimmig and Spielmann (2011) and Spielmann and Lucas (2012) that the two ‘ species’ of Nicrosaurus likely represent another example of a sexually dimorphic taxon.

References.

Meyer (1860, 1863 b), O. Fraas (1866), Westphal (1963), Hungerbühler (1997, 2000), Hungerbühler and Hunt (2000), Kimmig and Spielmann (2011), Spielmann and Lucas (2012).

Figures

Figure 16. A. Mystriosuchine parasuchid Mystriosuchus planirostris (SMNS 9134), skull in dorsal view. Scale bar: 10 cm. Courtesy of R. J. Butler. B. Mystriosuchine parasuchid Mystriosuchus planirostris (SMNS 9900), posterior portion of skull in lateral view. Scale bar: 3 cm. Courtesy of R. J. Butler. C. Mystriosuchine parasuchid Nicrosaurus kapffi, cranium (SMNS 5726) and mandible (SMNS 5730) in oblique lateral view. Scale bar: 10 cm.