Doratodon Temporal range: Late Cretaceous,
~ Notosuchian teeth from Coniacian Italy and Maastrichtian Romania are sometimes referred to Doratodon | |
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Holotype mandible of D. carcharidens (specimen PIUW 2349/57) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauria |
Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
Clade: | Crocodyliformes |
Clade: | †Notosuchia |
Clade: | †Ziphosuchia |
Genus: | †Doratodon Seeley, 1881 |
Type species | |
†Doratodon carcharidens (Bunzel, 1871)
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Other species | |
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Synonyms | |
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Doratodon is an extinct genus of Late Cretaceous crocodylomorph that may have been a member of the Sebecosuchia. Doratodon was a relatively small animal with ziphodont teeth, meaning the teeth had flattened sides and serrated edges. Two species of Doratodon are known to science: D. carcharidens from Austria (Grünbach Formation) and Hungary (Csehbánya Formation), the type species; and D. ibericus from Spain (Sierra Perenchiza Formation). Teeth similar to those of Doratodon are also known from Italy and Romania, though they cannot be confidently assigned to this genus.
Due to its relationship with crocodylomorphs native to Gondwana, Doratodon is considered to be an important indicator for the repeated faunal interchange between Europe and Africa during the Cretaceous. It was a cosmopolitan genus widespread throughout the islands that formed Europe during its time.