A new early Late Oligocene (MP 26) continental vertebrate fauna from Saint-Privat-des-Vieux (Alès Basin, Gard, Southern France)
Author
Vianey-Liaud, Monique
Author
Comte, Bernard
Author
Marandat, Bernard
Author
Peigné, Stéphane
Author
Rage, Jean-Claude
Author
Sudre, Jean
text
Geodiversitas
2014
2014-12-26
36
4
565
622
http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/g2014n4a4
journal article
6390
10.5252/g2014n4a4
8bc26961-9853-4113-a63d-4cf691aa7100
1638-9395
4538625
Order
CROCODYLIA Gmelin, 1789
Crocodylian indet.
MATERIAL EXAMINED. — About 200 complete and incomplete, isolated teeth (
SPV
744 [conical teeth],
SPV
745 [globular teeth]) and five fragments of skull bones (
SPV
746).
DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION
Almost all teeth are conical, comparatively elongate and slightly curved lingually. However, rare teeth are short and globular; they come from the posterior portion of the tooth row. Ŋe longest tooth reaches
12 mm
. Longitudinal striae appear to be present on some teeth. Some specimens bear mesial and distal, non-serrated carinae. Such teeth were often referred to as
Diplocynodon
Pomel, 1847
, an alligatoroid endemic to Europe. Five fragments of skull bones bearing relatively large pits likely belong to the same taxon.
Diplocynodon
is known from the early Eocene to the middle Miocene (
Delfino & Smith 2012
;
Martin & Gross 2011
); it is the most common crocodylian from the Cenozoic of Europe. However, although the specimens from Saint-Privat-des-Vieux are consistent with
Diplocynodon
, the available material does not permit secure referral at genus level.