Phylum Chordata Order Crocodiles | Class Reptilia Rank Genus | |
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Similar Ikanogavialis, Harpacochampsa, Kentisuchus, Gryposuchus, Thecachampsa | ||
Piscogavialis is an extinct genus of gryposuchine gavialid crocodylian. The only species yet known is P. jugaliperforatus. Fossils of Piscogavialis have been found from the Mio-Pliocene Pisco Formation of the Sacaco Basin in southern Peru. It is the first reptile known from the formation, which is otherwise notable for its high diversity of fossil vertebrates.
Piscogavialis is known only from a single specimen, but it represents some of the best preserved gavialid material known from South America. The skull is preserved in three dimensions and is nearly complete. A mandible and some postcranial material have also been found in association with the skull. Several important features of the occipital region of the skull support a referral to the family Gavialidae, which also includes the extant gharial and false gharial.
Paleobiology
The strata from which remains of Piscogavialis have been found suggest that it lived in a coastal environment. Another extinct gavialid, Siquisiquesuchus, is also known to have lived in a coastal setting. The presence of other gryposuchines in coastal strata may be an indication that all members of the subfamily inhabited coastal environments. However, some gryposuchines have been found from localities that clearly represent non-marine environments.