A new species of phytosaur, a crocodile-like reptile that lived more than 215 million years ago, has been discovered on Jameson Land in Greenland, according to a study published Tuesday.
According to the authors, the fossil, now identified as the species “Mystriosuchus alleroq”, was discovered by paleontologists from Portugal, Denmark and Germany in 2012 during one of the expeditions sent to East Greenland, a region that has been explored by paleontologists since the early 19th century.
According to Octavio Matheus, professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT) at the University of Nova de Lisboa (UNL) and one of the researchers who made the discovery, the fossil was found in “a place where at least four phytosaurs lived.” one layer of bones, which is rare and spectacular.”
Phytosaurs lived like crocodiles in the Triassic period on almost every continent, but despite the similarities, reptiles do not belong to the same family of reptiles.
According to Victor López-Rojas, doctoral student at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa and first author of the study, phytosaurs are distinguished from other reptiles by their “nose retracted towards the back of the skull, close to the eyes.”
By analyzing the remains of the four individuals found, including infants, juveniles and adults, the researchers were able to compare them with other phytosaurs in order to identify them as a new species and understand their ontogeny.
In addition to Victor López-Rojas and Octavio Matheus, the authors of the study are Jesper Milan (Geomuseum Faxe), Lars B. Clemmensen (University of Copenhagen), Nicole Klein (University of Bonn) and Oliver Wings (Natural History Museum Bamberg).
The specimen was prepared in Germany and at the Museu da Lourinhã in Portugal and can be seen at the Portuguese Museum and the MonsKlint GeoCenter in Denmark.