PBDB Taxon

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Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Gavialoidea

Reptilia

Taxonomy

Gavialoidea was named by Brochu (1997). It is extant.

It was reranked as the unranked clade Gavialoidea by Brochu (2004), Brochu (2006), Salisbury et al. (2006), Brochu et al. (2009), Rio and Mannion (2021).

It was assigned to Eusuchia by Martin et al. (2010); to Longirostres by Rio and Mannion (2021); and to Crocodylia by Brochu (2004), Hua and Jouve (2004), Brochu (2006), Salisbury et al. (2006), Brochu et al. (2009), Farke et al. (2014), Burke et al. (2024).

Synonyms

Crocodilus basitruncatus was named by Owen (1849). It is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Big Timber Creek, Vincentown Fm., which is in a Paleocene marine limestone in the Vincentown Formation of New Jersey.

It was recombined as Holops basitruncatus by Cope (1870), Hay (1902); it was recombined as Thoracosaurus basitruncatus by Troedsson (1924), Troxell (1925), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Crocodilus basifissus was named by Owen (1849). It is a 3D body fossil.

It was synonymized subjectively with Thoracosaurus neocesariensis by Hay (1902); it was recombined as Thoracosaurus basifissus by Troxell (1925), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Crocodilus obscurus was named by Leidy (1865). It is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Barnsboro "greensand" (Hornerstown), which is in a Maastrichtian marginal marine horizon in the Hornerstown Formation of New Jersey.

It was recombined as Holops obscurus by Cope (1869), Hay (1902); it was recombined as Thoracosaurus obscurus by Troxell (1925), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Crocodilus tenebrosus was named by Leidy (1865). Its type specimen is ANSP 9383, a set of postcrania (vertebrae and partial humeri), and it is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Holops tenebrosus by Cope (1869); it was synonymized subjectively with Holops basitruncatus by Hay (1902); it was synonymized subjectively with Thoracosaurus basitruncatus by Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Holopsisuchus pneumaticus was named by Cope (1872). Its type specimen is AMNH 2217, a partial skeleton (Skull and postcrania), and it is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Thoracosaurus pneumaticus by Troxell (1925), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Thecachampsa serratus was named by Cope (1872). It is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Crocodylus serratus by Hay (1902), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Crocodilus marylandicus was named by Clarke (1895). Its type specimen is USNM 9460 (Fragment of jaw (either dentary or maxilla) with 2 teeth) and is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Crocodylus marylandicus by Hay (1902), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Thoracosaurus glyptodon was named by Cope (1869). Its type specimen is ANSP 9388-93, a set of teeth (Teeth and bone fragments), and it is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Holops glyptodon by Cope (1869), Hay (1902); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Thoracosaurus grandis was named by Leidy (1852). It is not extant. Its type specimen is ANSP 9358, an osteoderm (scutes).

It was synonymized subjectively with Thoracosaurus neocesariensis by Hay (1902), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).
Crocodilus fastigiatus was named by Leidy (1851). Its type specimen is ANSP 9133, a tooth, and it is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Crocodylus fastigiatus by Hay (1902), Hay (1930); it was considered a nomen dubium by Brochu (2006).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1849	Crocodilus basifissus Owen
1849	Crocodilus basitruncatus Owen
1851	Crocodilus fastigiatus Leidy p. 327
1852	Thoracosaurus grandis Leidy p. 35
1865	Crocodilus obscurus Leidy
1865	Crocodilus tenebrosus Leidy
1869	Thoracosaurus glyptodon Cope
1869	Holops glyptodon Cope p. 74
1869	Holops obscurus Cope p. 75
1869	Holops tenebrosus Cope p. 78
1870	Holops basitruncatus Cope p. 231
1872	Holopsisuchus pneumaticus Cope
1872	Thecachampsa serratus Cope
1895	Crocodilus marylandicus Clarke
1902	Crocodylus fastigiatus Hay p. 512
1902	Crocodylus marylandicus Hay p. 513
1902	Crocodylus serratus Hay p. 513
1902	Holops basitruncatus Hay p. 515
1902	Holops glyptodon Hay p. 516
1902	Holops obscurus Hay p. 516
1924	Thoracosaurus basitruncatus Troedsson
1925	Thoracosaurus basifissus Troxell
1925	Thoracosaurus basitruncatus Troxell
1925	Thoracosaurus glyptodon Troxell
1925	Thoracosaurus grandis Troxell
1925	Thoracosaurus obscurus Troxell
1925	Thoracosaurus pneumaticus Troxell
1930	Thoracosaurus basifissus Hay p. 149
1930	Thoracosaurus basitruncatus Hay p. 149
1930	Thoracosaurus glyptodon Hay p. 150
1930	Thoracosaurus obscurus Hay p. 150
1930	Thoracosaurus pneumaticus Hay p. 150
1930	Crocodylus fastigiatus Hay p. 153
1930	Crocodylus marylandicus Hay p. 154
1930	Crocodylus serratus Hay p. 154
1997	Gavialoidea Brochu
2004	Gavialoidea Brochu p. 611
2004	Gavialoidea Hua and Jouve p. 341
2006	Gavialoidea Brochu p. 167
2006	Gavialoidea Salisbury et al. p. 2444
2009	Gavialoidea Brochu et al. p. 538
2010	Gavialoidea Martin et al.
2014	Gavialoidea Farke et al.
2021	Gavialoidea Rio and Mannion
2024	Gavialoidea Burke et al.

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
—	Sauropsida
class	Reptilia
subclass	Eureptilia	()

Rank	Name	Author
—	Romeriida
—	Diapsida	()
—	Archosauromorpha	(Huene 1946)
—	Crocopoda
—	Archosauriformes	Gauthier 1986
—	Eucrocopoda
—	Archosauria	()
—	Pseudosuchia	(Zittel 1890)
—	Suchia	Krebs 1974
—	Paracrocodylomorpha
—	Loricata	(Merrem 1820)
—	Crocodylomorpha	()
—	Solidocrania
suborder	Crocodyliformes
—	Mesoeucrocodylia	Whetstone and Whybrow 1983
—	Neosuchia	Clark 1988
suborder	Eusuchia	Huxley 1875
—	Crocodylia	(Owen 1842)
superfamily	Gavialoidea	Brochu 1997
superfamily	Gavialoidea	Brochu 1997

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Superfm. Gavialoidea Brochu 1997

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G. †Dolichochampsa Gasparini and Buffetaut 1980

†Dolichochampsa minima Gasparini and Buffetaut 1980

G. †Dollosuchoides Brochu 2007

†Dollosuchoides densmorei Brochu 2007

G. †Eosuchus Dollo 1907

†Eosuchus lerichei Dollo 1907

†Eosuchus minor Marsh 1870

Fm. Gavialidae Adams 1854

G. †Aktiogavialis Vélez-Juarbe et al. 2007

†Aktiogavialis caribesi Salas-Gismondi et al. 2019

†Aktiogavialis puertoricensis Vélez-Juarbe et al. 2007

G. †Argochampsa Hua and Jouve 2004

†Argochampsa krebsi Hua and Jouve 2004

G. †Dadagavialis Salas-Gismondi et al. 2019

†Dadagavialis gunai Salas-Gismondi et al. 2019

G. †Eogavialis Buffetaut 1982

†Eogavialis africanum Andrews 1901

†Eogavialis andrewsi Storrs 2003

†Eogavialis gavialoides Andrews 1905

G. †Eothoracosaurus Brochu 2004

†Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis Brochu 2004

Subfm. Gavialinae Nopcsa 1923

G. †Sutekhsuchus Burke et al. 2024

†Sutekhsuchus dowsoni Fourtau 1918

G. †Gavialinum Jourdan 1892

†Gavialinum rhodani Jourdan 1892

G. Gavialis Oppel 1811 [gharial]

†Gavialis bengawanicus Dubois 1908

†Gavialis browni Mook 1932

Gavialis gangeticus Gmelin 1789 [Gharial]

Invalid names: Gavialis hysudricus Lydekker 1886 [synonym]

†Gavialis lewisi Lull 1944

Gavialis priscus Soemmering 1815

Unr. †Gryposuchinae Vélez-Juarbe et al. 2007

G. †Gryposuchus Gürich 1912

†Gryposuchus colombianus Langston 1965

†Gryposuchus croizati Riff and Aguilera 2008

†Gryposuchus jessei Gürich 1912

†Gryposuchus neogaeus Rusconi 1933

†Gryposuchus pachakamue Salas-Gismondi et al. 2016

G. †Hanyusuchus Iijima et al. 2022

†Hanyusuchus sinensis Iijima et al. 2022

G. †Hesperogavialis Bocquentin Villanueva and Buffetaut 1981

†Hesperogavialis cruxenti Bocquentin Villanueva and Buffetaut 1981

G. †Ikanogavialis Sill 1970

†Ikanogavialis gameroi Sill 1970

G. †Penghusuchus Shan et al. 2009

†Penghusuchus pani Shan et al. 2009

G. †Piscogavialis Kraus 1998

†Piscogavialis jugaliperforatus Kraus 1998

G. †Portugalosuchus Mateus et al. 2019

†Portugalosuchus azenhae Mateus et al. 2019

G. †Rhamphostomopsis Rusconi 1933

†Rhamphostomopsis neogaeus Rusconi 1933

Invalid names: Rhamphostoma neogaea Burmeister 1885 [replaced], Rhamphostomopsis intermedius Rusconi 1935 [synonym]

Invalid names: Rhamphostoma Burmeister 1885 [replaced]

G. †Sacacosuchus Salas-Gismondi et al. 2022

†Sacacosuchus cordovai Salas-Gismondi et al. 2022

G. †Siquisiquesuchus Brochu and Rincón 2004

†Siquisiquesuchus venezuelensis Brochu and Rincón 2004

G. †Thoracosaurus Leidy 1852

†Thoracosaurus borissiaki Efimov 1988

†Thoracosaurus brevispinus Cope 1867

†Thoracosaurus isorhynchus Pomel 1847

†Thoracosaurus macrorhynchus de Blainville 1855

Invalid names: Thoracosaurus scanicus Troedsson 1924 [synonym]

†Thoracosaurus neocesariensis De Kay 1842

Invalid names: Crocodilus clavirostris Morton 1845 [synonym], Crocodilus dekayi Leidy 1852 [objective synonym], Holopsisuchus brevispinus Cope 1869 [synonym], Hyposaurus fraterculus Cope 1869 [synonym], Thoracosaurus meirsanus Troxell 1925 [synonym], Thoracosaurus mullicensis Troxell 1925 [synonym]

Invalid names: Holopsisuchus Kuhn 1961 [synonym], Sphenosaurus Agassiz 1849 [synonym]

Unr. Tomistominae Eastman 1902

G. †Dollosuchus Swinton 1937

G. †Ferganosuchus Efimov 1982

†Ferganosuchus planus Efimov 1982

†Gavialis curvirostris gajensis Pilgrim 1912

G. †Maomingosuchus Shan et al. 2017

†Maomingosuchus acutirostris Massonne et al. 2021

†Maomingosuchus petrolica Yeh 1958

G. †Megadontosuchus Mook 1955

†Megadontosuchus arduini De Zigno 1880

G. †Melitosaurus Owen 1850

†Melitosaurus champsoides Owen 1850

G. †Paratomistoma Brochu and Gingerich 2000

†Paratomistoma courtii Brochu and Gingerich 2000

G. †Rhamphosuchus Lydekker 1886

†Rhamphosuchus crassidens Cautley and Falconer 1840

G. †Sakhibaghoon Malkani et al. 2022

†Sakhibaghoon khizari Malkani et al. 2022

G. Tomistoma Müller 1846 [false gharial]

†Tomistoma borisovi Efimov 1988

†Tomistoma brumpti Joleaud 1920

†Tomistoma calaritanum Capellini 1890

†Tomistoma champsoides Owen 1850

†Tomistoma coppensi Pickford 1994

†Tomistoma gaudense Hulke 1871

†Tomistoma kerunense Andrews 1905

†Tomistoma lusitanica Antunes 1961

†Tomistoma lusitanicum Antunes 1961

Tomistoma schlegelii Müller 1846

†Tomistoma tandoni Sahni and Mishra 1975

Invalid names: Tomistoma cairense Müller 1927 [nomen dubium]

Invalid names: Atacisaurus Astre 1931 [nomen dubium], Atacisaurus glareae Astre 1931 [nomen dubium], Gavialis breviceps Pilgrim 1912 [nomen dubium], Gavialis curvirostris Lydekker 1886 [nomen dubium], Gavialis leptodus Cautley 1868 [nomen dubium], Gavialis pachyrhynchus Lydekker 1886 [nomen dubium], Tomistoma lyceense Costa 1864 [nomen dubium]

G. †Toyotamaphimeia Aoki 1983

†Toyotamaphimeia machikanense Kobatake et al. 1965

†Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis Kobatake et al. 1965

†Toyotamaphimeia taiwanicus Shikama 1972

G. †Gavialosuchus Toula and Kail 1885

†Gavialosuchus antiquus Leidy 1852

†Gavialosuchus eggenburgensis Toula and Kail 1885

Invalid names: Megalodelphis Kellogg 1944 [synonym]

G. †Gunggamarandu Ristevski et al. 2021

†Gunggamarandu maunala Ristevski et al. 2021

G. †Harpacochampsa Megirian et al. 1991

†Harpacochampsa camfieldensis Megirian et al. 1991

G. †Kentisuchus Mook 1955

†Kentisuchus astrei Jouve 2016

†Kentisuchus spenceri Buckland 1836

Invalid names: Crocodilus champsoides Owen 1849 [synonym], Crocodilus toliapicus Owen 1849 [synonym]

G. †Maroccosuchus Jonet and Wouters 1977

†Maroccosuchus zennaroi Jonet and Wouters 1977

G. †Ocepesuchus Jouve et al. 2008

†Ocepesuchus eoafricanus Jouve et al. 2008

G. †Thecachampsa Cope 1867

†Thecachampsa antiquus Leidy 1852

Invalid names: Thecachampsa contusor Cope 1867 [synonym]

†Thecachampsa carolinensis Erickson and Sawyer 1996

†Thecachampsa marylandica Clark 1895

†Thecachampsa minor Marsh 1870

†Thecachampsa sericodon Cope 1867

†Gavialosuchus americana lusitanica Vianna and Moraes 1945

Invalid names: Megalodelphis magnidens Kellogg 1944 [synonym], Thecachampsa sicaria Cope 1869 [synonym], Tomistoma americana Sellards 1915 [synonym]

G. †Thecachampsoides Norell and Storrs 1989

Invalid names: Crocodilus basifissus Owen 1849 [nomen dubium], Crocodilus basitruncatus Owen 1849 [nomen dubium], Crocodilus fastigiatus Leidy 1851 [nomen dubium], Crocodilus marylandicus Clarke 1895 [nomen dubium], Crocodilus obscurus Leidy 1865 [nomen dubium], Crocodilus tenebrosus Leidy 1865 [nomen dubium], Holopsisuchus cordatus Cope 1869 [nomen dubium], Holopsisuchus glyptodon Cope 1869 [nomen dubium], Holopsisuchus pneumaticus Cope 1872 [nomen dubium], Thecachampsa serratus Cope 1872 [nomen dubium], Thoracosaurus grandis Leidy 1852 [nomen dubium]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

marineuc

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Diet:

carnivoreuc

Created:

2009-01-03 20:38:59

Modified:

2009-01-03 22:38:59

Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade

References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009, Bush and Bambach 2015, Benton 1983

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Bathonian to the top of the Holocene or 168.30000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 166.1 Ma

Collections (332 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Bathonian	168.3 - 166.1	France (Rhône-Alpes)	Gavialinum rhodani (200133)
Early/Lower Cretaceous	145.0 - 100.5	China (Sichuan)	Gavialidae indet. (71791 71792)
Late/Upper Cretaceous	100.5 - 66.0	USA (New Jersey)	Holops brevispinus (129263)
Late/Upper Cretaceous	100.5 - 66.0	USA (Maryland)	Thoracosaurus neocesariensis (127182)
Late/Upper Cenomanian	99.6 - 93.5	Portugal	Portugalosuchus azenhae (198029)
Late/Upper Santonian - Middle Campanian	85.8 - 70.6	USA (Georgia)	Thoracosaurus neocesariensis (35289)
Late/Upper Campanian	83.5 - 70.6	USA (New Mexico)	Thoracosaurus sp. (36449)
Late/Upper Campanian	83.5 - 70.6	Mexico (Coahuila)	Gavialoidea indet. (35360)
Middle Campanian	83.5 - 70.6	USA (South Carolina)	Gavialoidea indet. (180790 201600)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian	83.5 - 66.0	USA (Tennessee)	Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis (108937 108938)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian	83.5 - 66.0	USA (New Jersey)	Thoracosaurus mullicensis, Holops glyptodon (52504) Thoracosaurus sp. (57916)
Maastrichtian	72.1 - 66.0	France	Thoracosaurus macrorhynchus, Thoracosaurus isorhynchus (195628)
Maastrichtian	72.1 - 66.0	Bolivia (Potosí)	Dolichochampsa minima (114971)
Maastrichtian	72.1 - 66.0	Bolivia (Cochabamba)	Dolichochampsa minima (214890)
Maastrichtian	72.1 - 66.0	USA (Maryland)	Thoracosaurus neocesariensis (27563 27564 27565 83331)
Early/Lower Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	Denmark	Thoracosaurus sp. (214429)
Early/Lower Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Mississippi)	Thoracosaurus neocesariensis (108936)
Lancian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Wyoming)	Thoracosaurus sp. (45844)
Lancian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (North Dakota)	Thoracosaurus neocesariensis (14610)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (New Jersey)	Crocodilus obscurus, Holops glyptodon (167780) Hyposaurus fraterculus, Crocodilus obscurus (87902) Thoracosaurus neocesariensis (129264) Thoracosaurus sp. (167531) Thoracosaurus sp., Thoracosaurus meirsanus (88034)