CARINTHIASUCHUS KANDUTSCHI, A NEW ARCHOSAUR (REPTILIA: DIAPSIDA) FROM THE TRIASSIC OF AUSTRIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/29890Abstract
A partial skeleton of a small reptile with a distinctive maxilla, dentition, caudal vertebrae and osteoderms
from the marine Partnach Formation (Ladinian-earliest Carnian) near Jadersdorf (Gitschtal, Hermagor) in the Gailtal Alps
of Carinthia (Austria), represents a new archosaur taxon Carinthiasuchus kandutschi gen. n. sp. n.. It is diagnosed by autapomorphies
in the anterior process and subnarial foramen of the maxilla, accessory articular processes in the neural arches of
mid-distal caudal vertebrae, and shape and arrangement of the caudal osteoderms. It also shows a unique combination of
features regarding the extent of the antorbital fossa in the maxilla and the morphology of its ventral edge, dentary shape,
dentition, caudal vertebrae elongation and morphology. A segment of 16 mid-distal caudal vertebrae is one of the better articulated
tail segments ever found in Triassic archosaurs, showing the arrangement of the dorsal osteoderms and the presence
of accessory processes in the neural arches stiffening the posterior termination of the tail. Phylogenetic analysis recovered
Carinthiasuchus kandutschi as a pseudosuchian in a basal position within the Poposauroidea. Absence of swimming adaptation
in the tail and the presence of terrestrial plant remains in the same outcrop suggest terrestrial habits for this archosaur reptile.
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- The matrix used to test the affinities of Carinthiasuchus kandutschi among the archosauriforms. The new taxon has been included in the data set of Desojo & Rauhut (2024), which is an updated version of the phylogenetic matrix of Nesbitt (2011).
- Fig. 1 - High resolution photograph of the row of articulated mid-distal caudal vertebrae.
- Fig. 2- The whole reduced strict consensus of the shortest trees found by the phylogenetic analysis after a posteriori pruning of six "wildcard" terminal taxa (see text). Number at nodes indicate the Bremer support values.
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Accepted 2026-04-09
Published 2026-06-08
