PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



hsueo' 8^5lV.vi OfJ^ hy the 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Vol. 91 Wathington : 1941 No. 3122 



A NEW FOSSIL CROCODILIAN FROM COLOMBIA 



Bv Ch.\iiles C. Mook^ 



Fossil remains of a gigantic crocodilian were collected by Brother 

 Ariste (Dr. Maurice Rollot) between Neiva and the River Bache 

 (Colombia) in 1920. The level is not recorded. Dr. J. B. Reeside, 

 Jr., reports on the basis of invertebrates from nearby localities that 

 the horizon is probably Lower Cretaceous. These remains consist 

 of six fairly well preserved vertebrae, with parts of ribs, portions 

 of maxillary and dentar}' bones interlocked, several isolated pieces 

 from the posterior portions of the right and left rami of the lower 

 jaw, and some fragments. The maxillary portion includes part of 

 the alveolar series and was evidentlj' situated a short distance 

 posterior to the maxillo-premaxillary suture. These now constitute 

 No. 10889 of the collections of the United States National Museum. 

 I wish to thank C. W. Gilmore, of that institution, for the privilege 

 of describing this material. 



The incomplete nature of this material makes determination of the 

 i-elationships extremely difficult if not impossible. Several facts, 

 however, may be noted. The vertebrae correspond in general char- 

 acters and somewhat in size with the vertebra described by Gervais 

 as Dinosuchus terror. The indicated horizon is somewhat lower than 

 the level of this form, which Gervais notes as "lower Tertiary or 

 Cretaceous." 



Comparison with the types of Punisaurus hrasiliensis Rodriguez 

 and Brachygnathosuchys hraziliensls Mook shows clearly that the 

 form described has no close relation with either. These species, while 

 gigantic, have relatively short and broad lower jaws, with large 

 alveoli, while the form described has relatively long and slender lower 

 jaws and posterior teeth, at least, of relatively small size. 



^ Contributions to the Osteology, Affinities, and Distribution of the Crocodilia, No. 35. 

 406803—41 5- 



