Crocodylomorf from Wieluń area

In the Jurassic period, besides the well-known plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs, there existed a third group of widely distributed large predatory marine reptiles – the Thalattosuchia, popularly known as “sea crocodiles”. A rostrum of a large teleosauroid from the Oxfordian of Załęcze Wielkie was studied. Mechanical preparation and application of computer microtomography allowed to interpret this fossil as a machimosaurid similar to genera Neosteneosaurus and Proexochokefalos. A pathological bending of the upper jaw of this individual occurred most likely during its lifetime.

Figure: A. Life reconstruction of the machimosaurid from south-central Poland by Stanisław Kugler. Typical specimen (whole body) and MZ VIII Vr-72 (head reconstruction). B. Overview of MZ VIII Vr-72 fossil specimen. C. A photograph of F2 (central part of preserved rostrum fragment). D. Close up of the teeth structure, with prominent enamel ornamentation.