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Alligatorinae
Alligatorinae is a subfamily within the family Alligatoridae that contains the alligators and their closest extinct relatives, and is the sister taxon to Caimaninae (the caimans). Many genera in Alligatorinae are described, but only the genus ''Alligator'' is still living, with the remaining genera extinct. Evolution Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago and likely descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. The modern American alligator is well represented in the fossil record of the Pleistocene. The alligator's full mitochondrial genome was sequenced in the 1990s. The full genome, published in 2014, suggests that the alligator evolved much more slowly than mammals and birds. Phylogeny Alligatorinae is cladistically defined as ''Alligator mississippiensi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alligatoridae
The family Alligatoridae of crocodylians includes alligators, caimans and their extinct relatives. Phylogeny The superfamily Alligatoroidea includes all crocodilians (fossil and extant) that are more closely related to the American alligator than to either the Nile crocodile or the gharial. This is a stem-based definition for alligators, and is more inclusive than the crown group Alligatoridae. As a crown group, Alligatoridae only includes the last common ancestor of all extant (living) alligators, caimans, and their descendants (living or extinct), whereas Alligatoroidea, as a stem-based group, also includes more basal extinct alligator ancestors that are more closely related to living alligators than to crocodiles or gavialids. When considering only living taxa (neontology), this makes Alligatoroidea and Alligatoridae redundant. The simplified cladogram below shows Alligatoridae's relationships to other extant (living) crocodilians. The below detailed cladogram show ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arambourgia
''Arambourgia'' is an extinct monotypic genus of alligatorine crocodylian from Europe. It was named in 1905 as ''Allognathosuchus gaudryi''. It was made a separate genus ''Arambourgia'' in 1940. This was synonymized with '' Allognathosuchus haupti'' in 1990 (now known as '' Hassiacosuchus haupti''), but later reassigned as its own genus once again in 2004. ''Arambourgia'' was likely to have been part of an early dispersal event of alligatorines from North America to Europe during the Eocene epoch. ''Arambourgia'' had non-serrated teeth and a deep orienirostral snout, unlike the flatter snouts of most other alligatorids. Recent studies have consistently resolved ''Arambourgia'' as a member of Alligatorinae, although its relative placement is disputed, as shown by the cladogram A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceratosuchus
''Ceratosuchus'' is an extinct genus of alligatorine crocodylian from latest Paleocene rocks of Colorado's Piceance Basin and earliest Eocene rocks of Wyoming's Bighorn Basin in North America, a slice of time known as the Clarkforkian North American Land Mammal Age. Like its modern relatives, ''Ceratosuchus'' was a swamp-dwelling predator. It is named for the pair of flattened, triangular bony plates that extend from the back of its head. The type species is ''C. burdoshi'', a name chosen by the Field Museum after Theodore Burdosh discovered a nearly complete skull on an expedition to Western Colorado in 1937. "Fortunately, a knob of bone projecting from an otherwise undistinguished piece of rock had caught the eye of Mr. Burdosh, and the block had been broughtto the Museum. When the rock was chipped away, the insignificant external lump proved to belong to a fairly complete skull of a fossil crocodilian allied to the alligators; and on one posterior corner it bore a tria ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Navajosuchus
''Navajosuchus'' is an extinct genus of alligatorine crocodylian. Its fossils have been found in the Paleocene-age Nacimiento Formation of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico (United States). It was named in 1942 by Charles C. Mook, and the original type species was ''N. novomexicanus''. ''N. novomexicanus'' was based on AMNH 5186, a partial skull collected in 1913. Later research showed that ''Navajosuchus novomexicanus'' was the same as the earlier-named ''Allognathosuchus mooki''. However, ''A. mooki'' does not belong to the genus ''Allognathosuchus'', and so the name of the crocodilian becomes ''Navajosuchus mooki''. Under whichever name is used, this animal would have been a generalized predator of the Nacimiento floodplains. It was the most common Nacimiento Formation crocodilian, found in both the Puercan and Torrejonian faunal assemblages. The precise placement of ''Navajosuchus'' within Alligatoroidea is disputed. Some studies have shown it as a basal member of All ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wannaganosuchus
''Wannaganosuchus'' (meaning "Wannagan crocodile", in reference to the Wannagan Creek site where it was discovered) is an extinct genus of small alligatorid crocodylian. It was found in Late Paleocene-age rocks of Billings County, North Dakota, United States. History and description ''Wannaganosuchus'' is based on SMM P76.28.247, a mostly complete skull and postcranial skeleton missing some vertebrae, coracoids, part of the feet, ribs, and other pieces. A few small bony scutes are also assigned to the genus, but not to the type specimen. SMM P76.28.247 was found semi-articulated in the lower part of the Bullion Creek Formation, near the base of a lignitic clay layer deposited in a marsh setting on a floodplain. ''Wannaganosuchus'' was named in 1982 by Bruce R. Erickson. The type species is ''W. brachymanus''; the specific name means "short forefoot". The skull of SMM P76.28.247 was low, without elevated rims over the eyes, and was long. The snout was sh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allognathosuchus
''Allognathosuchus'' (meaning "other jaw crocodile") is an extinct genus of alligatorine crocodylian with a complicated taxonomic history. It was named in 1921. Description ''Allognathosuchus'' was a medium-sized predator up to 1.5 m in length. This alligatorine is known for its stout jaws and bulbous teeth, found near the rear of the tooth row in upper and lower jaws. These adaptations have historically been interpreted as having been for crushing mollusks. Isolated bulbous teeth are often assigned to this genus, although such teeth are known from other crocodyliform lineages. Taxonomy The type species, ''A. polyodon'', is from the Eocene-age Bridger Formation of Wyoming; it is based on fossils that are difficult to distinguish from other Paleogene alligatorids. ''A. heterodon'' is from the Eocene-age Wasatch Formation of Wyoming, ''A. wartheni'' is from the Eocene-age Wildwood Formation (also known as the "Wildwood alligatorid" and possibly two species), and ''A. w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Procaimanoidea
''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. 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. It was reassigned to ''Procaimanoidea'' in 1967 by Wassersug and Hecht. Description ''Procaimanoidea'' was a small alligatorid, and slightly heterodont, the last four teeth on each side of the jaws having blunt tips. Phylogeny Recent studies have consistently resolved ''Procaimanoidea'' as a member of Alligatorinae, although its relative placement is disputed, as shown by the cladograms below. Cladogram from 2018 Bona ''et al.'' study: Cladogram from 2019 Massonne ''et al.'' study: Cladogram fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alligators
An alligator is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus ''Alligator'' of the family Alligatoridae. The two extant species are the American alligator (''A. mississippiensis'') and the Chinese alligator (''A. sinensis''). Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. The name "alligator" is probably an anglicized form of ', the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Later English spellings of the name included ''allagarta'' and ''alagarto''. Evolution Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. The moder ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alligator
An alligator is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus ''Alligator'' of the family Alligatoridae. The two extant species are the American alligator (''A. mississippiensis'') and the Chinese alligator (''A. sinensis''). Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. The name "alligator" is probably an anglicized form of ', the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Later English spellings of the name included ''allagarta'' and ''alagarto''. Evolution Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. The modern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hassiacosuchus
''Hassiacosuchus'' is an extinct genus of small alligatorid from the early Eocene of Germany, found at the Messel pit. It was named in 1935 by K. Weitzel, and the type species is ''H. haupti''. A second species, ''H. kayi'', was named in 1941 by C.C. Mook for material from the Bridgerian (early Eocene) of Wyoming, but was reassigned to ''Procaimanoidea'' in 1967 by Wassersug and Hecht. ''Hassiacosuchus'' may be the same as ''Allognathosuchus''; Christopher Brochu has recommended continuing to use ''Hassiacosuchus''. The cladogram below from the 2020 Cossette & Brochu study shows the placement of ''Hassiacosuchus'' within Alligatoridae: References External links''Hassiacosuchus''in the Paleobiology Database The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms. History The Paleobiology Database (PBDB) originated in the NCEAS-funded Phanerozoic Marine Pale ... Alligatorida ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alligators
An alligator is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus ''Alligator'' of the family Alligatoridae. The two extant species are the American alligator (''A. mississippiensis'') and the Chinese alligator (''A. sinensis''). Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. The name "alligator" is probably an anglicized form of ', the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Later English spellings of the name included ''allagarta'' and ''alagarto''. Evolution Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. The moder ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caimaninae
A caiman (also cayman as a variant spelling) is an alligatorid belonging to the subfamily Caimaninae, one of two primary lineages within the Alligatoridae family, the other being alligators. Caimans inhabit Mexico, Central and South America from marshes and swamps to mangrove rivers and lakes. They have scaly skin and live a fairly nocturnal existence. They are relatively small-sized crocodilians with an average maximum weight of depending on species, with the exception of the black caiman (''Melanosuchus niger''), which can grow more than in length and weigh in excess of 1,000 kg (2,200 Ib). The black caiman is the largest caiman species in the world and is found in the slow-moving rivers and lakes that surround the Amazon basin. The smallest species is the Cuvier's dwarf caiman (''Paleosuchus palpebrosus''), which grows to long. There are six different species of caiman found throughout the watery jungle habitats of Central and Southern America. The average length for most o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
