Batrachotomus kupferzellensis Gower, 1999

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

Batrachotomus kupferzellensis Gower, 1999

Holotype.

SMNS 52970 , dissociated premaxillae, maxillae (Fig. 11 C ), nasals, frontal, postfrontals, parietals, squamosals, postorbitals, jugals, quadrates, right lacrimal, right prefrontal, left quadratojugal, left ectopterygoid, dentaries, surangulars, articulars, left prearticular, isolated teeth, three dorsal, a single sacral, and three caudal vertebrae, single dorsal osteoderm, right ilium, femora, left tibia and fibula. This set of remains apparently represents a single, large individual.

Type locality.

Salvage excavation in 1977 at construction site for the autobahn A 6 (Heilbronn-Nürnberg) near Kupferzell-Bauersbach, Hohenlohe district, Baden-Wu ̈ rttemberg ( Wild 1978). Geographic coordinates: 49 ° 12 ' 52 " N, 9 ° 40 ' 52 " E.

Type horizon.

Untere Graue Mergel, Erfurt Formation, Lower Keuper Subgroup. Age: Middle Triassic (Ladinian: Longobardian).

Referred material.

SMNS 54840 , partial right femur; SMNS 80260 , associated cranial and postcranial bones; SMNS 80344 , pterygoid; SMNS 80268 –80273, pelvic elements of several specimens; SMNS 80274 , both scapulae; SMNS 80275 , right forelimb; SMNS 80276 , right humerus; SMNS 80283 –80343, vertebrae; SMNS 80277 , fibula; SMNS 80278 , left femur; SMNS 80279 , left pubis; SMNS 80280 , left and right ischia in articulation; SMNS 80281 , proximal part of scapula; SMNS 80282 , right pubis fragment; SMNS 90018 , abdominal ribs, right pes, calcaneum. Important additional material from Vellberg-Eschenau is housed at MHI.

Diagnosis.

Diagnosed by a single unambiguous autapomorphy: presence of small depression on lateral surface of ventral process of postorbital ( Nesbitt 2011). Gower and Schoch (2009) listed numerous differences in the structure of the skull and postcranial skeleton that clearly distinguish Batrachotomus kupferzellensis from other known loricatan taxa. It differs from its closest known relative, Heptasuchus clarki from the Middle or Upper Triassic of Wyoming, in several cranial features ( Nesbitt et al. 2020).

Comments.

Batrachotomus kupferzellensis is the most completely known ‘ rauisuchian’ pseudosuchian to date. An isolated maxillary tooth ( SMNS 53538 ), the holotype of “ Zanclodon ” schuetzii E. Fraas, 1900, which probably came from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) Erfurt Formation at Hall, Baden-Württemberg ( Hagdorn and Mutter 2011), closely resembles teeth of Batrachotomus kupferzellensis and is possibly referable to this or a closely related taxon.

The phylogenetic analysis by Nesbitt et al. (2020) found Batrachotomus kupferzellensis as most closely related to Heptasuchus clarki , but outside the clade Rauisuchidae + Crocodylomorpha.

References.

E. Fraas (1900), Gower (1999), Gower and Schoch (2009), Hagdorn and Mutter (2011), Nesbitt (2011), N. Klein et al. (2017).

Figures

Figure 11. Reptiles from the Lower Keuper Subgroup. A. Lepidosauromorph Fraxinisaura rozynekae, holotype (SMNS 91547), disarticulated but associated bones of partial skeleton. Scale bar: 2 mm. B. Lepidosauromorph Vellbergia bartholomaei, holotype (SMNS 91590), incomplete skull in oblique lateral view. Scale bar: 5 mm. C. Loricatan pseudosuchian Batrachotomus kupferzellensis, holotype (SMNS 52970), left maxilla in lateral view. Scale bar: 3 cm.