Analysis and phylogenetic status of the eusuchian fragmentary material from Western Europe assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens

Purpose During the last two decades, several specimens of eusuchian crocodyliforms have been described from the Campanian and Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) record of Europe. Most of them are now included in the recently described clade Allodaposuchidae. This clade is recognized as the sister group of the crown Crocodylia. The type species of Allodaposuchidae is Allodaposuchus precedens , described on material from the lower Maastrichtian of Vălioara (Hunedoara, Romania). The group also comprises several species from Spain and France. Some specimens from Spain, southern France and Romania were assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens by different authors. Thus, fragmentary cranial specimens from the upper Campanian of Armuña (Segovia, Spain) and the lower Maastrichtian of Bellevue (Aude, France) and Vilamitjana (Lleida, Spain), were attributed to Allodaposuchus precedens helping to propose a new diagnosis of this species. In fact, the assignment of specimens from Western Europe to Allodaposuchus precedens has been questioned in recent publications. Methods The present paper analyses the fragmentary material from Spain and France previously assigned to Allodaposuchus precedens . Results The material analysed, which previously had been attributed to Allodaposuchus precedens , has been reassigned here to Allodaposuchidae indet. Conclusions This study confirms that the species Allodaposuchus precedens was clearly restricted to Eastern Europe, clarifying the palaeobiogeography of the clade Allodaposuchidae during Campanian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous).