Calsoyasuchus valliceps

Calsoyasuchus from the Early Jurassic of Arizona is the earliest known member of the Goniopholidae. The goniopholids are an extinct group of crocodylomorphs closely related to the modern crocodilians.

Name

Calsoyasuchus valliceps

Authority

Tyloski, Rowe, Ketcham and Colbert, 2002

Meaning of generic name

to honor Dr. Kyril Calsoyas+ Greek soukhos "crocodile".

Meaning of specific name

from combination of valles (L. valley), and cephale, (Gr. head), in reference to the deep median valley present on the dorsal surface of nasals and frontal bones.

[cephale is NOT shortened -ceps, which comes from latin "capere" = take, like what you take in a stride or in a bite]

Size

Skull length: 38 cm, Length: [not given]

Remains

Holotype (TMM 43631-1): partial skull

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Kayenta Formation. Early Jurassic (Sinemurian-Plienbaschian).

Locality: Gold Spring drainage basin, Adeii Eechii Cliffs, Navajo Nation, Coconino County, Arizona.

Classification

Archosauromorpha Crurotarsi Paracrocodylomorpha Mesoeucrocodylia Goniopholididae

Further Reading

R. S. Tykoski, T. B. Rowe, R. A. Ketcham and M. W. Colbert. 2002. Calsoyasuchus valliceps, a new crocodyliform from the Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation of Arizona. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(3):593-611

Synonyms

What about "croc"? [This is of course a creationist comment, see image on the original palaeocritti site]