A NEW CRETACEOUS NOTOSUCHIAN (MESOEUCROCODYLIA) WITH BIZARRE DENTITION FROM BRAZIL

A new species of Notosuchia, Labidiosuchus amicum gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an incomplete lower jaw (DGM 1480-R) from the Upper Cretaceous Marilia Formation (Maastrichtian) recovered from a quarry near the Peiropolis municipality, Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil. The mandibular symphysis is long, strong anterodorsally projected and ‘Y-shaped’. The bizarre dentition is formed by at least eight teeth placed in a symphyseal tooth battery, some located lateral to each other. The first pair is larger than all others and procumbent. Some teeth are obliquely implanted (anterolabially to posterolingually) and have sub circular to elliptical outline. At least the posterior teeth are single cuspidate with acute apex. Labidiosuchus amicum shows a rather bizarre dentition, increasing the taxonomic diversity and potential feeding strategies of notosuchian crocodylomorphs.