EUSUCHIA Huxley, 1875

Zouhri, Samir, Gingerich, Philip D., Khalloufi, Bouziane, Bourdon, Estelle, Adnet, Sylvain, Jouve, Stéphane, Elboudali, Najia, Amane, Ayoub, Rage, Jean-Claude & Tabuce, Rodolphe, 2021, Middle Eocene vertebrate fauna from the Aridal Formation, Sabkha of Gueran, southwestern Morocco, Geodiversitas 43 (5), pp. 121-150 : 138

Clade EUSUCHIA Huxley, 1875 sensu Brochu (2003)

Eusuchia indet.

EXAMINED MATERIAL. — FSAC Bouj-410, could be the (?) ninth cervical vertebra; FSAC Bouj-1b, anterior? cervical vertebra; 400, posterior dorsal vertebra; 1a, first caudal vertebra; 124, caudal vertebra; 96, two fragments of large dorsal osteoderms; 94, fragment of osteoderm.

DESCRIPTION

Numerous postcranial remains have been found in Gueran.These include five procoelous vertebrae and several fragments of osteoderms.FSAC Bouj-410 is a posterior cervical vertebra ( Fig.7A ). It bears a long hypapophysis, and the location of the diapophysis and parapophysis suggests that it could be the ninth cervical vertebra. Bouj-1b is a more anterior cervical ( Fig. 7B ), but it is not possible to determine its exact location in the vertebral column. FSAC Bouj-400 is an isolated procoelous centrum lacking most of the neural arch ( Fig. 7C ). The transverse process is high on the centrum, which indicates that it is a dorsal vertebra. A first caudal vertebra with a biconvex centrum is preserved ( Fig. 7D ). The osteoderm fragments have their dorsal surfaces densely ornamented with deep pits ( Fig.7 F-H). Bouj-96 is a fragment of large and thick osteoderm with a smooth anterior articular surface.

Figures

FIG. 7. — Crocodyliformes remains from Gueran: A-J, Eusuchia indet.: A, FSAC BOUJ-410, last cervical (ninth) vertebra in left lateral view; B, FSAC BOUJ- 1b, anterior cervical vertebra in left lateral view; C, FSAC BOUJ-400, posterior dorsal vertebra in left lateral view; D, FSAC BOUJ-1a, first caudal vertebra in left lateral view; E, FSAC BOUJ-124, caudal vertebra in left lateral view; F, FSAC BOUJ-94, osteoderm in dorsal view; G, FSAC BOUJ-96, posterior portion of a dorsal osteoderm; H, FSAC BOUJ-96, lateral portion of a dorsal osteoderm in dorsal views; I, J, Crocodyliformes indet.: I, FSAC BOUJ-355, mid portion of a dentary in dorsal view; J, FSAC BOUJ-406, posterior fragment of a left mandibular ramus in dorsal view; K-P, Gavialoidea indet.: K, FSAC BOUJ-405, portion of a left dentary in dorsal view; L, FSAC BOUJ-402, mid portion of a right maxilla in ventral view; M, N, FSAC BOUJ-404, FSAC BOUJ-403 and FSAC BOUJ-401, anterior (M) and mid portion (N) of left maxilla in ventral views; O, P, FSAC BOUJ-407, posterior portion of a left maxilla in lateral (O) and ventral (P) views. Scale bar: 1 cm.