Erythrochampsa
Encyclopedia
Erythrochampsa is an extinct genus
of protosuchia
n crocodylomorph
. Fossil
s have been found from the Red Beds of the Stormberg Group
, the youngest group
of strata from the Karoo Supergroup
outcropping in South Africa
.
Material from E. longipes, the type
(and only) species
of Erythrochampsa, was originally referred to the genus Notochampsa
in 1904 along with specimens of another species named N. istedana. However, certain features of material from this species, such as divided external nares, have been considered to be indications of a position within Pseudosuchia
rather than Crocodilia
as was originally supposed. Despite this, the material of N. longipes remained highly suggestive of a crocodilian, and thus the species was eventually placed within its own distinct genus, Erythrochampsa, in 1924. It was placed in the family
Notochampsidae, and was considered closely related to Notochampsa, whose position within Crocodylomorpha
had been reconsidered to be intermediate between "thecodont
s" and crocodilians. The family Notochampsidae is now known as Protosuchidae
There is no skull present in the material associated with the genus, making further classification rather difficult. Although the postcranial skeleton is quite fragmentary, the pelvis clearly shows of its relations to other crocodilians by the absence of the pubis
in the acetabular border. Features of the pelvis as well as the hind limb and pes
bore a close resemblance to early crocodyliformes
such as Protosuchus
, used as evidence of its relations as a protosuchid
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of protosuchia
Protosuchia
Protosuchia is a group of extinct Mesozoic crocodyliforms. They were small in size and terrestrial. In phylogenetic terms, Protosuchia is considered an informal group because it is a grade of basal crocodyliforms, not a true clade....
n crocodylomorph
Crocodylomorpha
The Crocodylomorpha are an important group of archosaurs that include the crocodilians and their extinct relatives.During Mesozoic and early Tertiary times the Crocodylomorpha were far more diverse than they are now. Triassic forms were small, lightly built, active terrestrial animals. These were...
. Fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s have been found from the Red Beds of the Stormberg Group
Stormberg Group
The Stormberg Group is the name given to the sedimentary geological formations found in Karoo Basin region of Southern Africa, immediately above the Beaufort Group...
, the youngest group
Group (stratigraphy)
A group in stratigraphy is a lithostratigraphic unit, a part of the geologic record or rock column that consists of defined rock strata. Groups are divided into formations and are sometimes themselves grouped into "supergroups"....
of strata from the Karoo Supergroup
Karoo Supergroup
The Karoo Supergroup is the largest stratigraphic unit in Southern Africa, covering almost two thirds of the present land surface, including central Cape Province, almost all of Orange Free State, western Natal, much of south-east Transvaal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi...
outcropping in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Material from E. longipes, the type
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
(and only) species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Erythrochampsa, was originally referred to the genus Notochampsa
Notochampsa
Notochampsa is an extinct genus of protosuchian crocodylomorph. Fossils have been found from the upper Elliot Formation and the lower Clarens Formation of the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa, dating back to the Early Jurassic. It lends its name to the family Notochampsidae, a taxon that has...
in 1904 along with specimens of another species named N. istedana. However, certain features of material from this species, such as divided external nares, have been considered to be indications of a position within Pseudosuchia
Pseudosuchia
Pseudosuchia is the name originally given to a group of prehistoric reptiles from the Triassic period. The name has been variously interpreted, and it is still sometimes, if infrequently, used in scientific literature today. A more commonly used name, Crurotarsi, is often substituted for...
rather than Crocodilia
Crocodilia
Crocodilia is an order of large reptiles that appeared about 84 million years ago in the late Cretaceous Period . They are the closest living relatives of birds, as the two groups are the only known survivors of the Archosauria...
as was originally supposed. Despite this, the material of N. longipes remained highly suggestive of a crocodilian, and thus the species was eventually placed within its own distinct genus, Erythrochampsa, in 1924. It was placed in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Notochampsidae, and was considered closely related to Notochampsa, whose position within Crocodylomorpha
Crocodylomorpha
The Crocodylomorpha are an important group of archosaurs that include the crocodilians and their extinct relatives.During Mesozoic and early Tertiary times the Crocodylomorpha were far more diverse than they are now. Triassic forms were small, lightly built, active terrestrial animals. These were...
had been reconsidered to be intermediate between "thecodont
Thecodont
Thecodont , now considered an obsolete term, was formerly used to describe a diverse range of early archosaurs that first appeared in the Latest Permian and flourished until the end of the Triassic period...
s" and crocodilians. The family Notochampsidae is now known as Protosuchidae
Protosuchidae
Protosuchidae was a family of crocodylmorph reptiles from the Late Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time periods.-Distribution:Triassic protosuchids are known from Lesotho and Arizona. Jurassic protosuchids are known from Nova Scotia, Poland, South Africa, and Arizona...
There is no skull present in the material associated with the genus, making further classification rather difficult. Although the postcranial skeleton is quite fragmentary, the pelvis clearly shows of its relations to other crocodilians by the absence of the pubis
Pubis
Pubis may refer to:* Pubis * Mons pubis, a padding of fat that protects the pubis bone...
in the acetabular border. Features of the pelvis as well as the hind limb and pes
Pes (zoology)
The pes is the zoological term for the distal portion of the hind limb of tetrapod animals. It is the part of the pentadactyl limb that includes the metatarsals and digits . During evolution, it has taken many forms and served a variety of functions...
bore a close resemblance to early crocodyliformes
Crocodylomorpha
The Crocodylomorpha are an important group of archosaurs that include the crocodilians and their extinct relatives.During Mesozoic and early Tertiary times the Crocodylomorpha were far more diverse than they are now. Triassic forms were small, lightly built, active terrestrial animals. These were...
such as Protosuchus
Protosuchus
Protosuchus is an extinct genus of carnivorous crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic. The name Protosuchus means "first crocodile", and is among the earliest animals that resemble crocodilians...
, used as evidence of its relations as a protosuchid
Protosuchidae
Protosuchidae was a family of crocodylmorph reptiles from the Late Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time periods.-Distribution:Triassic protosuchids are known from Lesotho and Arizona. Jurassic protosuchids are known from Nova Scotia, Poland, South Africa, and Arizona...
.