New loricata remains from the Pinheiros-Chiniquá Sequence (Middle-Upper Triassic), southern Brazil

• Published in: Journal of South American earth sciences Vol. 120; p. 104089
• Main Authors: Rezende, Letícia D.O., Da-Rosa, Átila Augusto, Lacerda, Marcel B., Pretto, Flávio A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Dinodontosaurus AZ; Loricata; Middle triassic; Prestosuchus; Prestosuchus; Dinodontosaurus AZ; Loricata; Middle triassic
• ISSN: 0895-9811; 1873-0647
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2022.104089

Loricatans have an almost worldwide distribution, with a diverse range of body plans and a temporal distribution that extends from the Triassic Period until the present. Middle-Upper Triassic strata from southern Brazil preserved several records of Loricata traditionally bundled as ‘Rauisuchians’, including Prestosuchus chiniquensis, Decuriasuchus quartacolonia, Dagasuchus santacruzensis and Rauisuchus tirandentes. In this study we describe isolated vertebrae, scapula and ilium from the Dinodontosaurus Association Zone, which are compatible in terms of morphology, size and stratigraphical context to the other early Loricata from this unit. The ilium in particular was recognized as pertaining to the genus Prestosuchus. This assignation is supported by the shared dorsally concave curvature of the iliac blade, which was recovered as a synapomorphy for the genus in a phylogenetic analysis. Therefore, this contribution presents new comparative material, especially in the case of poorly sampled elements for the genus (such as the ilium). Additionally, the Linha Várzea Site, where the materials come from, is added to the map of records of Loricata from the Brazilian Triassic. •Highlights of the article “New Loricata remains from the Pinheiros-Chiniquá Sequence (Middle-Upper Triassic), southern Brazil”.•New record of Loricata from a Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone paleontological site.•Higher support of the genus Prestosuchus in the data matrix with a new caracter.•A well-preserved ilium assigned to Prestosuchus sp. materials.•The materials represent some of the largest individuals of Loricata from the Triassic.