Metriorhynchus Temporal range:
Kimmeridgian,
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Partial holotype rostrum (MHNG V-2232) of M. brevirostris as illustrated in 1824 | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauria |
Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
Clade: | Crocodyliformes |
Suborder: | † Thalattosuchia |
Family: | † Metriorhynchidae |
Genus: | †
Metriorhynchus von Meyer, 1832 [2] |
Species: | †M. brevirostris
|
Binomial name | |
†Metriorhynchus brevirostris (Holl, 1828) vide Young et al., 2020
[1]
| |
Synonyms | |
|
Metriorhynchus is an extinct genus of marine crocodyliform that lived in the oceans during the Late Jurassic. The type species, M. brevirostris was named in 1829 as a species of Steneosaurus before being named as a separate genus by the German palaeontologist Christian von Meyer in 1832. [2] The name Metriorhynchus means "Moderate snout", and is derived from the Greek Metrio- ("moderate") and -rhynchos ("snout").
Fossil specimens referrable to Metriorhynchus are known from Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) deposits of France. [1]
Only one valid species is recognized today, the type species M. geoffroyii (now called M. brevirostris). [1] "Metriorhynchus" hastifer and "M." palpebrosus are generically distinct from the Metriorhynchus type species, with hastifer being recovered as a geosaurine. [3] [4] Species in this genus were traditionally classed into two skull groups: longirostrine (long, narrow jaws) and brevirostrine (short, broad jaws). However, most of brevirostrine species have been transferred to the genera Purranisaurus and Suchodus. [5] [6] Metriorhynchus superciliosus was also shown to be generically distinct from the type species, M. brevirostris, and now has its own genus Thalattosuchus. [1]
The genera Purranisaurus and Suchodus have been considered junior synonyms of Metriorhynchus. [7] Recent phylogenetic analyses however, do not support the monophyly of Metriorhynchus, as believed during the 1860s-2010. [8] [9] [10] [1]
Eudes-Deslongchamps (1867–69) recognized four Callovian species of Metriorhynchus: M. superciliosus, M. moreli, M. blainvillei, and M. brachyrhynchus. [11] Later, Andrews (1913) considered there to be seven valid species: M. superciliosus, M. moreli, M. brachyrhynchus, M. durobrivensis, M. cultridens, M. leedsi and M. laeve. [12] However, Adams-Tresman (1987), using linear morphometrics, could only distinguish between the two skull groups, so she found there to be two species from the Oxford Clay, M. superciliosus and M. brachyrhynchus. [13] Vignaud (1997) however, considered there to be three Callovian species: M. superciliosus, M. brachyrhynchus and M. leedsi, [14] and a 2022 study describing a new metriorhynchid specimen advocated returning to this taxonomic system, considering Gracilineustes and Thalattosuchus junior synonyms of Metriorhynchus. [15]
Fragmentary remains attributed to Metriorhynchus are known from South America during the Bajocian [16] and Bathonian (both Middle Jurassic). [17] However, phylogenetic analysis has shown that these species cannot be referred to Metriorhynchus. [5] [18] [1]
Metriorhynchus Temporal range:
Kimmeridgian,
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
Partial holotype rostrum (MHNG V-2232) of M. brevirostris as illustrated in 1824 | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauria |
Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
Clade: | Crocodyliformes |
Suborder: | † Thalattosuchia |
Family: | † Metriorhynchidae |
Genus: | †
Metriorhynchus von Meyer, 1832 [2] |
Species: | †M. brevirostris
|
Binomial name | |
†Metriorhynchus brevirostris (Holl, 1828) vide Young et al., 2020
[1]
| |
Synonyms | |
|
Metriorhynchus is an extinct genus of marine crocodyliform that lived in the oceans during the Late Jurassic. The type species, M. brevirostris was named in 1829 as a species of Steneosaurus before being named as a separate genus by the German palaeontologist Christian von Meyer in 1832. [2] The name Metriorhynchus means "Moderate snout", and is derived from the Greek Metrio- ("moderate") and -rhynchos ("snout").
Fossil specimens referrable to Metriorhynchus are known from Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) deposits of France. [1]
Only one valid species is recognized today, the type species M. geoffroyii (now called M. brevirostris). [1] "Metriorhynchus" hastifer and "M." palpebrosus are generically distinct from the Metriorhynchus type species, with hastifer being recovered as a geosaurine. [3] [4] Species in this genus were traditionally classed into two skull groups: longirostrine (long, narrow jaws) and brevirostrine (short, broad jaws). However, most of brevirostrine species have been transferred to the genera Purranisaurus and Suchodus. [5] [6] Metriorhynchus superciliosus was also shown to be generically distinct from the type species, M. brevirostris, and now has its own genus Thalattosuchus. [1]
The genera Purranisaurus and Suchodus have been considered junior synonyms of Metriorhynchus. [7] Recent phylogenetic analyses however, do not support the monophyly of Metriorhynchus, as believed during the 1860s-2010. [8] [9] [10] [1]
Eudes-Deslongchamps (1867–69) recognized four Callovian species of Metriorhynchus: M. superciliosus, M. moreli, M. blainvillei, and M. brachyrhynchus. [11] Later, Andrews (1913) considered there to be seven valid species: M. superciliosus, M. moreli, M. brachyrhynchus, M. durobrivensis, M. cultridens, M. leedsi and M. laeve. [12] However, Adams-Tresman (1987), using linear morphometrics, could only distinguish between the two skull groups, so she found there to be two species from the Oxford Clay, M. superciliosus and M. brachyrhynchus. [13] Vignaud (1997) however, considered there to be three Callovian species: M. superciliosus, M. brachyrhynchus and M. leedsi, [14] and a 2022 study describing a new metriorhynchid specimen advocated returning to this taxonomic system, considering Gracilineustes and Thalattosuchus junior synonyms of Metriorhynchus. [15]
Fragmentary remains attributed to Metriorhynchus are known from South America during the Bajocian [16] and Bathonian (both Middle Jurassic). [17] However, phylogenetic analysis has shown that these species cannot be referred to Metriorhynchus. [5] [18] [1]