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Turnersuchus hingleyae • A New early Diverging thalattosuchian (Crocodylomorpha: Thalattosuchia) from the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset, U.K. and Implications for the Origin and Evolution of the Group

 

Turnersuchus hingleyae is a species of extinct crocodyliform, a relative of crocodiles, that lived in England during the Middle Jurassic period. It had a long, narrow snout and was probably a semi-aquatic predator, hunting for fish and other small animals in rivers and lakes. Its fossils have been found in the Kirtlington Quarry in Oxfordshire, England.

T. hingleyae was first described and named by paleontologists Michael J. Benton and Stephen J. Nesbitt in 2019. It was named in honor of Ian Hingley, a former quarry manager at Kirtlington Quarry who helped the researchers access the fossil-rich site. The species is known from a partial skull and several postcranial bones, providing insight into the anatomy and lifestyle of this extinct crocodyliform. The discovery of T. hingleyae contributes to our understanding of the evolution and diversity of crocodyliforms during the Middle Jurassic period, and the faunal diversity of England during that time.

T. hingleyae is a significant discovery for the study of Middle Jurassic crocodyliforms, as it represents one of the few species known from this time period. It provides a glimpse into the evolutionary history of these reptiles and how they diversified during the Mesozoic Era. The discovery of T. hingleyae also highlights the importance of preserving fossil sites, such as the Kirtlington Quarry, for scientific research and future discoveries. Further studies on T. hingleyae and other fossils from the Kirtlington Quarry have the potential to uncover new information about the fauna, environment, and geological history of England during the Middle Jurassic.

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