A new peirosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina: Implications for specimens referred to Peirosaurus torminni Price (Crocodyliformes: Peirosauridae)

Two crocodyliform specimens recovered from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina and originally referred to Peirosaurus torminni Price from Minas Gerais State, Brazil are reassigned to Gasparinisuchus peirosauroides gen. et sp. nov. No unique features are shared between the Brazilian and Argentinian specimens and many traits, including the presence of five premaxillary teeth, a noticeably smooth perinarial region, a lateral notch at the premaxilla-maxilla contact for the reception of an enlarged anterior dentary tooth, and the shape of the external nares, are widely distributed among peirosaurids and, in some cases, other mesoeucrocodylians. Though overlapping elements are limited to the premaxilla and the dentition, the broad, rounded rostrum, anteroposteriorly short premaxilla, reduced perinareal fossa, and short premaxillary interdental spaces in Gasparinisuchus differentiate it from P. torminni. Additionally, Gasparinisuchus is unique among peirosaurids for its broad rostrum and apparent absence of an antorbital fenestra. Reassignment of the Argentinian material formerly referred to Peirosaurus therefore removes one of the few specific links between the Cretaceous terrestrial biotas of Brazil and Argentina. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.