Shakajlura, new paracrocodylomorph pseudosuchian from Late Triassic of Argentina
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Ben Creisler
Jun 9, 2026, 12:49:26 PM (10 days ago) Jun 9
to DinosaurMa...@googlegroups.com
Ben Creisler
A new paper:
Shakajlura riojanensis gen. et sp. nov.
Ariel F. Cardillo, Julia B. Desojo, M. Belén von Baczko, Martín D. Ezcurra, Agustín G. Martinelli, Nahuel Vega & Lucas E. Fiorelli (2026)
A new large paracrocodylomorph archosaurian from the Tarjadia Assemblage Zone (upper Ladinian to lower Carnian) of the Chañares Formation (Argentina) and a revision of key loricatan features
Papers in Palaeontology 12(3): e70086
doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70086
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.70086
We describe a new large-sized paracrocodylomorph pseudosuchian, Shakajlura riojanensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Tarjadia Assemblage Zone (AZ) levels (upper Ladinian to lower Carnian) of the Chañares Formation, La Rioja Province, northwestern Argentina. The specimen consists of several disarticulated cranial, and a few postcranial, bones and was collected from stratigraphic levels seemingly coeval with those where Luperosuchus fractus, a loricatan of similar size, was found. The general morphology and stratigraphic occurrence of Shakajlura riojanensis suggests the possibility of close affinities with Luperosuchus fractus, but considerable differences in key features between the two holotypes (e.g. Shakajlura riojanensis lacks the following: ornamentation on the lateral side of the maxilla, a prominent curvature of the dorsal portion of the nasals, and a knob-like structure on the postorbital) and a unique combination of character states among pseudosuchians enabled us to erect a new genus and species. Shakajlura riojanensis can be distinguished by the presence of a prominent shelf on the medial surface of the jugal, an incision on the ventral portion of the ascending process of the quadrate, and an enlarged prearticular compared with the preserved jaw elements. Shakajlura riojanensis is recovered as an early-diverging paracrocodylomorph, but the possibility that it represents an early-diverging member of Loricata cannot be discarded. This new species expands the current knowledge of the paracrocodylomorphs of the Tarjadia AZ and introduces a new component to the top predators of the Chañares Formation.
Shakajlura riojanensis gen. et sp. nov.
Ariel F. Cardillo, Julia B. Desojo, M. Belén von Baczko, Martín D. Ezcurra, Agustín G. Martinelli, Nahuel Vega & Lucas E. Fiorelli (2026)
A new large paracrocodylomorph archosaurian from the Tarjadia Assemblage Zone (upper Ladinian to lower Carnian) of the Chañares Formation (Argentina) and a revision of key loricatan features
Papers in Palaeontology 12(3): e70086
doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70086
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.70086
We describe a new large-sized paracrocodylomorph pseudosuchian, Shakajlura riojanensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Tarjadia Assemblage Zone (AZ) levels (upper Ladinian to lower Carnian) of the Chañares Formation, La Rioja Province, northwestern Argentina. The specimen consists of several disarticulated cranial, and a few postcranial, bones and was collected from stratigraphic levels seemingly coeval with those where Luperosuchus fractus, a loricatan of similar size, was found. The general morphology and stratigraphic occurrence of Shakajlura riojanensis suggests the possibility of close affinities with Luperosuchus fractus, but considerable differences in key features between the two holotypes (e.g. Shakajlura riojanensis lacks the following: ornamentation on the lateral side of the maxilla, a prominent curvature of the dorsal portion of the nasals, and a knob-like structure on the postorbital) and a unique combination of character states among pseudosuchians enabled us to erect a new genus and species. Shakajlura riojanensis can be distinguished by the presence of a prominent shelf on the medial surface of the jugal, an incision on the ventral portion of the ascending process of the quadrate, and an enlarged prearticular compared with the preserved jaw elements. Shakajlura riojanensis is recovered as an early-diverging paracrocodylomorph, but the possibility that it represents an early-diverging member of Loricata cannot be discarded. This new species expands the current knowledge of the paracrocodylomorphs of the Tarjadia AZ and introduces a new component to the top predators of the Chañares Formation.
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News: (in Spanish)
Descubren en La Rioja un gigantesco primo lejano de los cocodrilos que vivió hace 237 millones de años
https://unlp.edu.ar/investiga/cienciaenaccion/investigadores-de-la-unlp-hallan-en-la-rioja-el-depredador-que-goberno-la-tierra-antes-de-los-dinosaurios-124747/
Investigadores de la UNLP hallan en La Rioja el depredador que gobernó la Tierra antes de los dinosaurios
https://laplata.conicet.gov.ar/descubren-en-la-rioja-un-gigantesco-primo-lejano-de-los-cocodrilos-que-vivio-hace-237-millones-de-anos/
=====
News: (in Spanish)
Descubren en La Rioja un gigantesco primo lejano de los cocodrilos que vivió hace 237 millones de años
https://unlp.edu.ar/investiga/cienciaenaccion/investigadores-de-la-unlp-hallan-en-la-rioja-el-depredador-que-goberno-la-tierra-antes-de-los-dinosaurios-124747/
Investigadores de la UNLP hallan en La Rioja el depredador que gobernó la Tierra antes de los dinosaurios
https://laplata.conicet.gov.ar/descubren-en-la-rioja-un-gigantesco-primo-lejano-de-los-cocodrilos-que-vivio-hace-237-millones-de-anos/
=====
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