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<p>Although the remains of Metriorhynchidae have been known in Normandy since the nineteenth century, few complete postcranial elements have been studied in detail. Analysis of the angle of flexure of the tail of one of the most complete specimens of <i>Metriorhynchus</i> aff. <i>superciliosus</i> (MPV 2010.3.610) discovered in the Callovian of the Vaches-Noires cliffs provides an opportunity to conduct the first quantitative study of the angle of heterocercy in Metriorhynchidae. Until now, this angle was only estimated qualitatively for complete specimens of Metriorhynchidae from the Late Jurassic of Germany. In this paper, we investigate new metrics and present the first 3D reconstruction of the flexure in a Callovian specimen. To compare and highlight variations, we estimate the angle of tail flexure for other Metriorhynchidae from the German Late Jurassic and from the English Callovian. The measurements highlight the variation in the angle of flexure between the different Metriorhynchidae. The palaeoecological implications of these variations are discussed and imply different swimming capabilities within the studied group.</p>

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The tailbend of Metriorhynchidae (Crocodylia: Thalattosuchia) measurements, limits and paleoecological implications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月2日

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  • Jonas Le Mort,
  • Jeremy E. Martin,
  • Laurent Picot,
  • Stéphane Hua

摘要

Although the remains of Metriorhynchidae have been known in Normandy since the nineteenth century, few complete postcranial elements have been studied in detail. Analysis of the angle of flexure of the tail of one of the most complete specimens of Metriorhynchus aff. superciliosus (MPV 2010.3.610) discovered in the Callovian of the Vaches-Noires cliffs provides an opportunity to conduct the first quantitative study of the angle of heterocercy in Metriorhynchidae. Until now, this angle was only estimated qualitatively for complete specimens of Metriorhynchidae from the Late Jurassic of Germany. In this paper, we investigate new metrics and present the first 3D reconstruction of the flexure in a Callovian specimen. To compare and highlight variations, we estimate the angle of tail flexure for other Metriorhynchidae from the German Late Jurassic and from the English Callovian. The measurements highlight the variation in the angle of flexure between the different Metriorhynchidae. The palaeoecological implications of these variations are discussed and imply different swimming capabilities within the studied group.