Postcranial skeletons of Caipirasuchus (Crocodyliformes, Notosuchia, Sphagesauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian–Santonian) of the Bauru Basin, Brazil

Caipirasuchus is a sphagesaurid crocodyliform genus known from Upper Cretaceous rocks (Turonian–Santonian) of the Bauru Basin, Brazil. Although their earlier descriptions were restricted to skull and mandible morphology, three species have been identified. In the present study, the skeletons of three specimens were analyzed from the collection of Prof. Antonio Celso de Arruda Campos Paleontology Museum: Caipirasuchus montealtensis (MPMA 68-0003/12), Caipirasuchus paulistanus (MPMA 67-0001/00) and Caipirasuchus sp. (MPMA 07-0011/00). These specimens are three individuals of a very similar size and have the same postcranial morphology. Analysis of the Caipirasuchus skeletons indicate the species were approximately 1.10 m in length and had slender-long bodies and hind limbs twice as long as the forelimbs. Regarding the general postcranial morphology of Caipirasuchus results indicate that these were agile animals and used speed as a defense mechanism against predators.

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