A new species of Doratodon (Crocodyliformes: Ziphosuchia) from the Late Cretaceous of Spain

Abstract

[EN] A new species of a ziphodont crocodyliform is described on the basis of newly-discovered material from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Sierra Perenchiza Formation of Valencia, Spain. It is referred to the genus Doratodon as D. ibericus sp. nov. To date, Doratodon (type-species D. carcharidens) was only known by fragmentary cranial remains from the Campanian of Muthmannsdorf (Austria). This genus was previously regarded either as a goniopholid or as a hsisosuchid within the Mesoeucrocodylia, but a phylogenetic analysis suggests that Doratodon is a member of Ziphosuchia, placing it as the sister taxon of Sebecosuchia. Doratodon shares with Sebecosuchia (including Bergisuchus) features concerning the shape and implantation of teeth (margins of tooth crowns with denticulate carinae; tip of tooth crowns caudally curved; tooth implantation in isolated alveoli). Its inclusion in Ziphosuchia is based also on mandibular traits (splenials broad and robust behind symphysis, sculpturing of lateral surface of dentary based on development of longitudinal depression). The absence of the external mandibular fenestra is an autopomorphy of Doratodon in the context of Ziphosuchia. Doratodon is characterized by: short and narrow rostrum with reduced dentition (11 to 13 dentary teeth); dorsal profile of lower jaw showing two vertical waves. The most distinctive characteristic of the new species relative to D. carcharidens is the heterodonty in size of teeth, especially in the caudal part of the dental series. From a palaeobiogeographical point of view, Doratodon represents the first occurrence of a sebecosuchian-like crocodyliform in the Late Cretaceous of Europe.