Montealtosuchus

' Montealtosuchus '

• South America ( Brazil)

• Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi

Montealtosuchus ( "Crocodile Monte Alto " ) is a genus of Peirosauridae - a group of extinct, of terrestrial crocodile relatives - from the Upper Cretaceous of Brazil. The Peirosauridae were medium-sized predators ( predators) and opportunistic scavengers.

The genus and its type species M. Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi is known only by a finding from the fossil-rich Bauru Basin. This was scientifically described by Carvalho, Vasconcellos and Tavares 2007. The reddish rocks of the locality in the Adamantina lineup on the outskirts of Monte Alto, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo are from the period from the Turonian to Santonian ( million years ago, 93.5 to 83.5 ). The Fund is relatively complete and also articulates ( in the anatomical network) receive and consists of a skull with the lower jaw as well as material of body skeleton ( postcranial ) and exoskelettalem Carapace. Therefore, it provides important insights into the general anatomy of the Peirosauriden.

Studies indicate that the Peirosauriden remained limited to the Upper Cretaceous of South America due to the paleogeographic isolation of the continent during this time. In addition, the discovery of Montealtosuchus expanded in the Adamantina lineup knowledge about the temporal reach of Mesoeucrocodylia ( which include the Peirosauridae ) in Brazil.