Procaimanoidea
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| Procaimanoidea Fossil range: Eocene |
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Procaimanoidea ("Before Caiman-forms") is an extinct genus of alligatorid from the Eocene of North America. It was named posthumously in 1946 by Charles W. Gilmore; the type species is P. utahensis, from the Uintan (middle Eocene) of Utah. It is based on USNM 15996, a nearly complete skull and partial left hind leg.[1] A second species, P. kayi, was named in 1941 by C.C. Mook as a species of Hassiacosuchus, for remains from the Bridgerian (early Eocene) of Wyoming.[2] It was reassigned to Procaimanoidea in 1967 by Wassersug and Hecht.[3] Procaimanoidea was a small alligatorid, and slightly heterodont, the last four teeth on each side of the jaws having blunt tips.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Gilmore, Charles W.. "A new crocodilian from the Eocene of Utah". Journal of Paleontology 20 (1): 62–67.
- ^ Mook, C.C. (1941). "A new crocodilian, Hassiacosuchus kayi, from the Bridger Eocene beds of Wyoming". Annals of the Carnegie Museum 28: 207–220.
- ^ Wassersug, R.J.; and Hecht, M.K. (1967). "The status of the crocodylid genera Procaimanoidea and Hassiacosuchus in the New World". Herpetologica 23 (1): 30–34.
