2013 in archosaur paleontology

The year 2013 in archosaur paleontology was eventful. Archosaurs include the only living dinosaur group — birds — and the reptile crocodilians, plus all extinct dinosaurs, extinct crocodilian relatives, and pterosaurs. Archosaur palaeontology is the scientific study of those animals, especially as they existed before the Holocene Epoch began about 10,000 years ago. The year 2013 in paleontology included various significant developments regarding archosaurs.

This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of every kind that have been described during the year 2013, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that occurred in the year 2013.

Pseudosuchians

Research Mesoeucrocodylian fossils, which might be the first recorded Cenozoic fossils of atoposaurids, are described from the Eocene Kaninah Formation of Yemen by Stevens et al. (2013).

New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAgaresuchusSp. nov ValidPuértolas-Pascual, Canudo & Moreno-AzanzaLate Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)Conqués FormationA eusuchian crocodylomorph belonging to the family Allodaposuchidae. Originally described as a species of Allodaposuchus; Narváez et al. (2016) transferred it to the genus Agaresuchus.AlmadasuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidPol et al.Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)Sediments alternatively referred by different authors to the Cañadón Calcáreo Formation or to the Puesto Almada Member of the Cañadón Asfalto FormationA non-crocodyliform crocodylomorph. The type species is Almadasuchus figarii.Anteophthalmosuchus escuchaeSp. nov ValidBuscalioni et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)Escucha FormationA goniopholidid, a species of Anteophthalmosuchus.ApatosuchusGen. et comb. nov ValidSues & SchochLate Triassic (Norian)Löwenstein FormationA non-crocodylomorph loricatan pseudosuchian, a new genus for "Halticosaurus" orbitoangulatus Huene (1932).BatrachomimusGen. et sp. nov ValidMontefeltro et al.Late JurassicA neosuchian crocodyliform related to Rugosuchus and Shamosuchus. The type species is Batrachomimus pastosbonensis.BrochuchusGen. et comb. nov ValidConrad et al.MioceneHiwegi FormationA new genus for "Crocodylus" pigotti.Caiman gasparinaeSp. nov ValidBona & CarabajalLate MioceneA caiman. Originally described as a species of Caiman; transferred to the separate genus Paranasuchus by Bona et al. (2024).Caiman venezuelensisSp. nov Junior synonymFortier & RincónPleistoceneA caiman, a species of Caiman. Considered to be a junior synonym of extant spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) by Cidade et al. (2019).CentenariosuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidHastings et al.Early or middle MioceneCucaracha FormationA caiman. The type species is Centenariosuchus gilmorei.ChalawanGen. et comb. nov ValidMartin et al.Early CretaceousPhu Kradung FormationA pholidosaurid, a new genus for "Sunosuchus" thailandicus.Cricosaurus lithographicusSp. nov ValidHerrera, Gasparini & FernándezLate Jurassic (Tithonian)Neuquén BasinA metriorhynchid, a species of Cricosaurus.Crocodylus falconensisSp. nov ValidScheyer et al.Early PlioceneSan Gregorio FormationA species of Crocodylus.CulebrasuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidHastings et al.Probably early MioceneCulebra FormationA caiman. The type species is Culebrasuchus mesoamericanus.Eocaiman itaboraiensisSp. nov ValidPinheiro et al.ItaboraianItaboraí BasinA species of Eocaiman.GlobidentosuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidScheyer et al.Late MioceneUrumaco FormationA caiman. The type species is Globidentosuchus brachyrostrisGondwanasuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidMarinho et al.Late CretaceousBauru GroupA baurusuchid. The type species is Gondwanasuchus scabrosus.HulkepholisGen. et comb. et sp. nov ValidBuscalioni et al.Early CretaceousEscucha Formation Grinstead Clay FormationA goniopholidid, a new genus for "Goniopholis" willetti Salisbury & Naish (2011); genus also contains a new species Hulkepholis plotos.MaledictosuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidParrilla-Bel et al.Middle Jurassic (middle Callovian)Ágreda FormationA metriorhynchid. The type species is Maledictosuchus riclaensis.PaluxysuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidAdamsEarly Cretaceous (late Aptian)Twin Mountains FormationA neosuchian crocodyliform. The type species is Paluxysuchus newmani.StenomytiGen. et sp. nov ValidSmall & MartzLate TriassicChinle FormationAn aetosaur. The type species is Stenomyti huangae.Torvoneustes coryphaeusSp. nov ValidYoung et al.Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)Kimmeridge Clay FormationA metriorhynchid, a species of Torvoneustes.TyrannoneustesGen. et sp. nov ValidYoung et al.Middle JurassicOxford Clay FormationA metriorhynchid. The type species is Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos.

Newly named basal dinosauromorphs

Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesIgnotosaurusGen. et sp. novValidMartínez et al.Late Triassic (late Carnian)Ischigualasto Formation A silesaurid. The type species is Ignotosaurus fragilis.LutungutaliGen. et sp. nov ValidPeecook et al.Middle Triassic (Anisian)Ntawere FormationA silesaurid. The type species is Lutungutali sitwensis.

Non-avian dinosaurs

Research A new Troodontid Tooth is reported from Kallamedu Formation of India. A study on the reproductive strategies of dinosaurs is published by Werner & Griebeler (2013). A re-analysis of prior studies on the dinosaur growth rates is published by Myhrvold (2013). A study on an assemblage of specimens of Aniksosaurus darwini from the Upper Cretaceous Bajo Barreal Formation (Argentina) evaluating whether the assemblage is truly monospecific and whether or not all the individuals died at the same time based on taphonomic data, is published by Ibiricu et al. (2013). Redescription of Lusotitan atalaiensis and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of basal titanosauriform sauropods is published by Mannion et al. (2013). A review of all fossil specimens referred to Euoplocephalus tutus, as well as specimens that were previously referred to Euoplocephalus but subsequently were assigned to different genera, is published by Arbour & Currie (2013).

New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAcheroraptorGen. et sp. novValidEvans, Larson & CurrieLate Cretaceous (latest Maastrichtian)Hell Creek FormationA dromaeosaurid. The type species is Acheroraptor temertyorum.AcrotholusGen. et sp. novValidEvans et al.Late Cretaceous (Santonian)A pachycephalosaurid. The type species is Acrotholus audeti.AjancingeniaNom. nov ValidEasterLate CretaceousA member of Oviraptoridae; a replacement name for Ingenia Barsbold (1981). Funston et al. (2018) considered this genus to be a junior synonym of the genus Heyuannia.AlbertadromeusGen. et sp. nov ValidBrown et al.Late Cretaceous (Campanian)Oldman FormationA relative of Orodromeus, Oryctodromeus and Zephyrosaurus. The type species is Albertadromeus syntarsus.AorunGen. et sp. nov ValidChoiniere et al.Middle or Late Jurassic (Callovian/Oxfordian boundary, more likely Callovian)Shishugou FormationA coelurosaur theropod, more closely related to ornithomimosaurs and maniraptorans than to tyrannosauroids. The type species is Aorun zhaoi. AurornisGen. et sp. novValidGodefroit et al.Middle or Late JurassicTiaojishan Formation A basal member of Avialae or a troodontid. The type species is Aurornis xui.BrasilotitanGen. et sp. nov.ValidMachado et al.Late CretaceousAdamantina FormationA titanosaur. The type species is Brasilotitan nemophagus. BravoceratopsGen. et sp. nov ValidWick & LehmanLate Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian)Javelina FormationA chasmosaurine ceratopsian. The type species is Bravoceratops polyphemus.CanardiaGen. et sp. nov ValidPrieto-Márquez et al.Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)Marnes d'Auzas FormationA lambeosaurine hadrosaurid related to Aralosaurus. The type species is Canardia garonnensis.DahalokelyGen. et sp. nov ValidFarke & SertichLate Cretaceous (Turonian)An abelisauroid theropod. The type species is Dahalokely tokana.DongyangopeltaGen. et sp. novValidChen et al.Cretaceous (Albian or Cenomanian)Chaochuan FormationA nodosaurid. The type species is Dongyangopelta yangyanensis.EosinopteryxGen. et sp. novValidGodefroit et al.Middle or Late JurassicTiaojishan FormationA member of Paraves. The type species is Eosinopteryx brevipenna.EuropeltaGen. et sp. nov ValidKirkland et al.Early Cretaceous (early Albian)Escucha FormationA nodosaurid. The type species is Europelta carbonensis.GannansaurusGen. et sp. novValidLü et al.Late CretaceousNanxiong FormationA sauropod, a member of Somphospondyli. The type species is Gannansaurus sinensis.GanzhousaurusGen. et sp. novValidWang et al.Late CretaceousNanxiong FormationAn oviraptorid. The type species is Ganzhousaurus nankangensis.JianchangosaurusGen. et sp. novValidPu et al.Early CretaceousYixian FormationA therizinosaur. The type species is Jianchangosaurus yixianensis.JiangxisaurusGen. et sp. novValidWei et al.Late CretaceousNanxiong FormationAn oviraptorid theropod. The type species is Jiangxisaurus ganzhouensis.JudiceratopsGen. et sp. novValidLongrichLate Cretaceous (middle Campanian)Judith River FormationA chasmosaurine ceratopsian. The type species is Judiceratops tigris.Juratyrant Gen. et comb. novValidBrusatte & BensonLate Jurassic (Tithonian)Kimmeridge ClayA basal tyrannosauroid, a new genus for "Stokesosaurus" langhami (Benson, 2008).KatepensaurusGen. et sp. nov ValidIbiricu et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian or Turonian)Bajo Barreal FormationA rebbachisaurid sauropod. The type species is Katepensaurus goicoecheai.KazaklambiaGen. et comb. novValidBell & BrinkLate Cretaceous (Santonian)A lambeosaurine hadrosaurid, a new genus for "Procheneosaurus" convincens.LeptorhynchosGen. et sp. novValidLongrich et al.Late Cretaceous (late Campanian)Aguja FormationA caenagnathid oviraptorosaur. The type species is Leptorhynchos gaddisi. Originally genus also contained "Ornithomimus" elegans Parks (1933), but this species was subsequently transferred to the separate genus Citipes.LythronaxGen. et sp. novValidLoewen et al.Late Cretaceous (middle Campanian)Wahweap FormationA tyrannosaurine tyrannosaurid. The type species is Lythronax argestes.NankangiaGen. et sp. novValidLü et al.Late CretaceousNanxiong FormationAn oviraptorosaur. The type species is Nankangia jiangxiensis.NasutoceratopsGen. et sp. nov.ValidSampson et al.Late Cretaceous (late Campanian)Kaiparowits FormationA centrosaurine ceratopsian. The type species is Nasutoceratops titusi.NormanniasaurusGen. et sp. nov ValidLe Loeuff, Suteethorn & BuffetautEarly Cretaceous (Albian)A basal member of Titanosauria. The type species is Normanniasaurus genceyi.NyasasaurusGen. et sp. novValidNesbitt et al.Middle Triassic (late Anisian)Manda FormationThe oldest known dinosaur or the sister taxon of the Dinosauria. The type species is Nyasasaurus parringtoni.OohkotokiaGen. et sp. novValidPenkalskiLate Cretaceous (late Campanian)Two Medicine FormationAn ankylosaurine ankylosaurid. The type species is Oohkotokia horneri. The species was subsequently argued by Arbour and Currie (2013) to be a junior synonym of Scolosaurus cutleri.OverosaurusGen. et sp. novValidCoria et al.Late Cretaceous (Campanian)Anacleto FormationA lithostrotian titanosaur related to Aeolosaurus. The type species is Overosaurus paradasorum. Saurolophus morrisi