Proterochampsa

Proterochampsa
Temporal range: Carnian
~235–222 Ma
The holotype skull of Proterochampsa nodosa (MCP 1694) in dorsal view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauromorpha
Clade: Archosauriformes
Clade: †Proterochampsia
Family: †Proterochampsidae
Genus: †Proterochampsa
Reig 1959
Species
  • †P. barrionuevoi Reig 1959 (type)
  • †P. nodosa Barberena 1982
Synonyms
  • †Barberenachampsa nodosa Barberena 1982

Proterochampsa is an extinct genus of proterochampsid archosauriform from the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian boundary) of South America. The genus is the namesake of the family Proterochampsidae, and the broader clade Proterochampsia. Like other proterochampsids, Proterochampsa are quadruped tetrapods superficially similar in appearance to modern crocodiles, although the two groups are not closely related.[1] Proterochampsids can be distinguished from other related archosauriformes by characters such as a dorsoventrally flattened, triangular skull with a long, narrow snout at the anterior end and that expands transversally at the posterior end, asymmetric feet, and a lack of postfrontal bones in the skull, with the nares located near the midline.[2] Proterochampsa is additionally defined by characters of dermal sculpturing consisting of nodular protuberances on the skull, antorbital fenestrae facing dorsally, and a restricted antorbital fossa on the maxilla.[3] The genus comprises two known species: Proterochampsa barrionuevoi and Proterochampsa nodosa. P. barrionuevoi specimens have been discovered in the Ischigualasto Formation in northwestern Argentina,[3] while P. nodosa specimens have been found in the Santa Maria supersequence in southeastern Brazil.[4] The two species are distinct in several characters, including that P. nodosa has larger, more well-developed nodular protuberances,[1] a more gradually narrowing snout, and a higher occiput than P. barrionuevoi.[2][1] Of the two, P. nodosa is thought to have less derived features than P. barrionuevoi.[5]

  1. ^ a b c De Simão-Oliviera, Daniel; Pinheiro, Felipe Lima; De Andrade, Marco Brandalise; Pretto, Flávio Augusto (2022). "Redescription, taxonomic revaluation and phylogenetic affinities of Proterochampsa nodosa (Archosauriformes: Proterochampsidae) from the early Late Triassic of the Candelaria Sequence (Santa Maria Supersequence)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 196 (4): 1310–1332. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac048.
  2. ^ a b Trotteyn, M. Jimena (2011). "Material Postcraneano de Proterochampsa barrionuevoi Reig 1959 (Diapsida: Archosauriformes) del Triásico Superior del Centro-oeste de Argentina". Ameghiniana. 48 (4): 424–446. doi:10.5710/AMGH.v48i4(351). hdl:11336/197236. S2CID 130001247.
  3. ^ a b Desojo, Julia B.; Fiorelli, Lucas E.; Ezcurra, Martín D.; Martinelli, Agustín G.; Ramezani, Jahandar; Da Rosa, Átila A. S.; von Baczko, M. Belén; Trotteyn, M. Jimena; Montefeltro, Felipe C.; Ezpeleta, Miguel; Langer, Max C. (29 July 2020). "The Late Triassic Ischigualasto Formation at Cerro Las Lajas (La Rioja, Argentina): fossil tetrapods, high-resolution chronostratigraphy, and faunal correlations". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 12782. Bibcode:2020NatSR..1012782D. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67854-1. PMC 7391656. PMID 32728077.
  4. ^ Langer, Max C.; Ribiero, Ana M.; Schultz, Cesar L.; Ferigolo, Jorge (2007). Lucas, S. G.; Spielmann, J. A. (eds.). "The Continental Tetrapod-Bearing Triassic of South Brazil". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 41: 201–218.
  5. ^ Kischlat, E.; Schultz, C. L. (1999). "Phylogenetic Analysis of Proterochampsia (Thecodontia: Archosauriformes)". Ameghiniana. 36 (4): 13R.