The first crocodylomorph from the Mesozoic of Turkey (Barremian of Zonguldak) and the dispersal of the eusuchians during the Cretaceous

A new crocodylomorph from the upper Barremian İncigez Formation of Zonguldak (NW Turkey) is described for the first time based on jaw and limb bone elements from the collection of the Istanbul Technical University. The material is attributed to Turcosuchus okani gen. et sp. nov. according to a unique combination of character states, such as a strong heterodonty, composed of non-spatulated teeth, a maximum of 10 teeth posterior to the symphysis, a sigmoidal dorsal margin of the dentary in lateral view, and a splenial excluded from the symphysis. An updated phylogenetic analysis of crocodylomorphs confirms that this new taxon belongs to the Hylaeochampsidae, and that it forms a relatively robust clade with the derived Unasuchus, Acynodon, Iharkutosuchus and Hylaeochampsa. Turcosuchus also presents some anatomical convergence with bernissartids, allodaposuchids, basal globidontans and other crocodylians. Turcosuchus okani is one of the earliest, but not basal hylaeochampsids, and the first known Early Cretaceous eusuchian outside Europe and North America. Our results support the clear geographical segregation between the Late Cretaceous tribodont eusuchians: basal globidontans in North America, and hylaeochampsids in the Tethyan area.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7071FA88-2C3D-4814-8649-4ADB581E190A