Original paper
An unusual Colognathus-like reptile from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) Erfurt Formation of Germany
Sues, Hans-Dieter; Kligman, Ben T.; Schoch, Rainer R.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 303 Heft 2 (2022), p. 227 - 238
31 references
published: Feb 25, 2022
manuscript accepted: Jan 21, 2022
manuscript received: Nov 30, 2021
ArtNo. ESP155030302005, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The diverse assemblage of non-marine tetrapods from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) Erfurt Formation of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) includes a reptile with thin dentaries and maxillae and two or three distinctive large teeth. The only comparable taxon is Colognathus obscurus from various Norian-age strata in the American Southwest and North Carolina, which differs primarily in the presence of a large molariform tooth at the posterior end of each tooth row. The German taxon was previously known only from partial dentaries. This paper documents a newly identified cranial fragment including the maxillary dentition. A new taxon, Quasicolognathus eothen gen. et sp. nov., is proposed for the reception of the jaw remains from the Erfurt Formation. The new cranial material refutes previous suggestions that Colognathus obscurus is a fish and supports its identification as a reptile.
Keywords
Reptilia • Triassic • Germany • United States • dentition