Knoetschkesuchus
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Knoetschkesuchus Temporal range: Kimmeridgian |
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| Type specimen of Knoetschkesuchus langenbergensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Eusuchia |
| Family: | †Atoposauridae |
| Genus: |
†Knoetschkesuchus Schwartz et al., 2017 |
| Type species | |
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Knoetschkesuchus langenbergensis Schwartz et al., 2017 |
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| Species | |
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Knoetschkesuchus is a genus of small atoposaurid eusuchian from the Late Jurassic of Germany and Portugal. Two species are known: the German species K. langenbergensis, described by Schwartz et al. in 2017 based on two partial skeletons and various isolated bones; and the Portuguese species K. guimarotae, named from over 400 specimens including several partial skeletons. Knoetschkesuchus was a small and short-snouted crocodilian, measuring about 55 centimetres (22 in) in length, that primarily fed on small prey, including invertebrates, amphibians, and mammals. This specialization towards small prey ecologically separated Knoetschkesuchus from most of the other diverse crocodilians that it lived with in the island ecosystem of Jurassic Europe.
Both species were formerly recognized as belonging to Theriosuchus; K. guimarotae was initially named as T. guimarotae, and specimens of K. langenbergensis were initially referred to T. pusillus upon their discovery. Schwartz et al. recognized a number of characteristics that united these two taxa to the exclusion of other species of Theriosuchus; in particular, Knoetschkesuchus only has two distinct types of teeth, lacking the leaf-shaped teeth seen in other atoposaurids. Other distinguishing traits include the relatively wide skull, and the presence of the antorbital and mandibular fenestrae in all life stages.
As with other members of the Atoposauridae,Knoetschkesuchus is very small, with K. guimarotae measuring only 55 centimetres (22 in) long at maximum. The backs of both of the known species are covered with two rows of bony rectangular osteoderms, centred at the midline, that are wider than they are long. Each osteoderm bears a keel running longitudinally, although the keels are less-developed in K. langenbergensis. In at least K. guimarotae, the osteoderms on the tail have sharper and higher keels; the ones near the back of the tail tend to be longer than they are wide, unlike the other osteoderms, and are also vaulted. The vertebrae of K. guimarotae are additionally amphicoelous, or concave at both ends; while initially proposed as a unique trait, Theriosuchus pusillus bears amphicoelous vertebrae as well. The skull and jaws, which exhibit a number of characteristics that separate Knoetschkesuchus from other atoposaurids, are described in further detail below.
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