Krokolithes, Hirsch, 1985

Vianey-Liaud, Monique, Comte, Bernard, Marandat, Bernard, Peigné, Stéphane, Rage, Jean-Claude & Sudre, Jean, 2014, A new early Late Oligocene (MP 26) continental vertebrate fauna from Saint-Privat-des-Vieux (Alès Basin, Gard, Southern France), Geodiversitas 36 (4), pp. 565-622 : 571-572

Krokolithes sp.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Seven small fragments (from 1 to 3 mm 2); thickness = 0.33, 0.35, 0.38, 0.39, 0.40, 0.42, 0.45 mm; SPV 750.

DESCRIPTION ( Fig. 3A )

Two fragments of eggshells from this locality are figured in Bonnet et al. (2011: pl. II, figs B, C).

Ŋe size of fragments does not allow to infer the shape of the egg.Like in Krokolithes wilsoni Hirsch, 1985 the outer surface is rough, and shows erosion craters and circular pore openings(diameter = 0.09 and 0.13 mm) with stepped erosion rings;therefore there are low blunt anastomosed and irregular ridges.Basal knobs are well distinct on two fragments and worn on the others. Ŋus, the radiating wedges are visible. Ŋe units are relatively wide (as wide as high, or wider than high) and display the typical wedge pattern of crocodylian eggshells.Ŋere are deep insterstices between the units. Ŋe fragments are thinner than in the Eocene K. wilsoni Hirsch, 1985 and much more than the Miocene crocodylian indet. ( Hirsch & Kohring 1992).

DISCUSSION

Ŋe small size of our fragments does not allow to make a precise identification. Ŋe general ultrastructure – coarse wedges and tabular crystalline structure –, the figures of erosion, the arrangement of units and their width allow an assignment to Krokolithes . Ŋis ootaxon was formerly recovered from the Eocene of North America ( Hirsch 1985) and from the Eocene and Miocene of Germany. Kohring & Hirsch (1996) suggested that at least part of the material assigned to Krokolithes may represent eggs of Diplocynodon .

Figures

FIG. 3. — Saint-Privat-des-Vieux (Gard, Lower Chattian, MP 26): A, SEM view of a fragment of Krokolithes sp. SPV750; B-H teeth of mammals: B, cf. Geotrypus sp. SPV800, left m1, occlusal view; C-I, Cuvierimops sp.: C, SPV810, left p4-m1, labial view; D, SPV814, left m3: D1, occlusal view, D2, distal view; E, SPV812, left m2: E1, occlusal view, drawing, E2, occlusal view SEM, E3, distal view; F, SPV815, right upper canine: F1, occlusal view, F2, lingual view, F3, labial view; G, SPV820, right M3, occlusal view; H, SPV816, left M1: H1, occlusal view, H2, lingual view; I, SPV817, right M2: I1, occlusal view, I2, lingual view. Scale bars:A, 167 µm; B-I2, 1 mm.