鱷龍

鱷龍(學名:Champsosaurus)是雙孔類爬行動物的一屬,屬於離龍目。身長約1.5公尺長。化石發現於北美洲亞伯達省薩克奇萬省蒙大拿州新墨西哥州懷俄明州德州[1]、以及歐洲比利時法國,地質年代為白堊紀晚期到始新世。近年也發現剛孵化鱷龍的化石[2]

鳄龙属
化石时期:晚白垩世–始新世
PreЄ
鱷龍重建圖
保护状况
科学分类
界: 动物界 Animalia
门: 脊索动物门 Chordata
纲: 爬行纲 Reptilia
目: 离龙目 Choristodera
科: 鳄龙科 Champsosauridae
属: 鳄龙属 Champsosaurus
Cope, 1877
  • 亞伯達鱷龍 C. albertensis Parks, 1927
  • C. ambulator Brown, 1905
  • C. annectens Cope, 1876 (疑名) (模式種)
  • C. dolloi Sigogneau-Russell, 1979
  • 巨大鱷龍 C. gigas Erickson, 1972
  • C. laramiensis Brown, 1905
  • C. lindoei Gao & Fox, 1998
  • C. natator Parks, 1933
  • C. tenuis Erickson, 1981
異名
  • 南方鱷龍 C. australis Cope, 1881 (疑名)
  • C. brevicollis Cope, 1876 (疑名)
  • C. inelegans Parks, 1933
  • C. inflatus Parks, 1933
  • C. profundus Cope, 1876 (疑名)
  • C. puercensis Cope, 1882 (疑名)
  • C. saponensis Cope, 1882 (疑名)
鱷龍的骨骼
C. laramiensis的頭顱骨
C. natator的骨骼

離龍的屬名(Champsosaurus)意為「鱷魚蜥蜴」;Champso-根據一位古希臘語專家的宣稱:古埃及人將鱷魚稱為χαμψαι。

鱷龍外表類似恆河鱷,在水或沼澤中以牠們的長而佈滿牙齒的頜部捕食魚類。牠們可能以身體的側向運動來游泳,將四肢貼近身體以增加流線性,如同鱷魚海鬃蜥。鱷龍眼後的頭骨非常寬廣,以利於強壯的下頜肌肉可附著在上面。

參考資料

  1. Lehman, T.M., and Barnes, K., 2010, Champsosaurus (Diapsida: Choristodera) from the Paleocene of West Texas: paleoclimatic implications: Journal of Paleontology, v. 84, p. 341-345. Retrieved 20 September, 2010.
  2. Tanke, D.H. and Brett-Surman, M.K. 2001. Evidence of Hatchling and Nestling-Size Hadrosaurs (Reptilia:Ornithischia) from Dinosaur Provincial Park (Dinosaur Park Formation: Campanian), Alberta, Canada. pp. 206-218. In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life—New Research Inspired by the Paleontology of Philip J. Currie. Edited by D.H. Tanke and K. Carpenter. Indiana University Press: Bloomington. xviii + 577 pp.
  • D.Lambert, D.Naish and E.Wyse 2001, "Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and prehistoric life", p.77, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London. ISBN 0-7513-0955-9
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