Monjurosuchus Endo, 1940

Matsumoto, Ryoko, Evans, Susan E. & Manabe, Makoto, 2007, The choristoderan reptile Monjurosuchus from the Early Cretaceous of Japan, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52 (2), pp. 329-350 : 331

Monjurosuchus Endo, 1940

Type species: Monjurosuchus splendens Endo, 1940 ; Tanankou , China; Yixian Formation Lower Cretaceous (Hauterivian–Barremian) .

Emended diagnosis.—Choristoderan genus characterised by the combination of paired nasals that intervene posteriorly between anterior tips of prefrontals; frontals fused, posterolaterally expanded but markedly narrow and constricted between orbits; prefrontal equal to frontal in length; lachrymal facet on prefrontal longer than maxillary facet; supratemporal fenestra roughly equal to orbital length; postorbitofrontal fused; squamosal square, laterally expanded; infratemporal fenestra closed mainly by the enlarged jugal; interclavicle “ T ” shaped with straight stem; and fore− and hind feet webbed, with only the claws projecting.

The combination of narrow, fused frontals, a short neck of only eight cervicals, a short rounded preorbital region, and closed lower temporal fenestrae differentiates Monjurosuchus from all other described choristoderes (modified from Gao et al. 2000).

Distribution.—Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian–Barremian), Japan and China.