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Description

Gavialimimus ("gharial mimic") almaghribensis is a species of plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco.

The holotype MHNM.KHG.1231 consists in a skull and associated fragmentary postcranial remains. Strong et al. (2020), who described the specimen, noticed that its teeth ressembled those of 'Platecarpus' ptychodon, a taxon described by French paleontologist Camille Arambourg in 1952. They rejected the validity of 'P'. ptychodon, due to the lack of diagnostic characters of the referred material. Instead, they designated the new specimen as the holotype of a new genus and species, Gavialimimus almaghribensis.

This medium-sized mosasaurid is mainly characterized by an elongated snout (which explains the generic name), small and retracted nares, and large supratemporal fenestrae. It would have preyed on small, agile fish and cephalopods, avoiding competition with other mosasaur species.

According to phylogenetic analysis, Selmasaurus and Goronyosaurus are Gavialimimus' closest relatives.

Main source:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10…

Description

Gavialimimus ("gharial mimic") almaghribensis is a species of plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco.

The holotype MHNM.KHG.1231 consists in a skull and associated fragmentary postcranial remains. Strong et al. (2020), who described the specimen, noticed that its teeth ressembled those of 'Platecarpus' ptychodon, a taxon described by French paleontologist Camille Arambourg in 1952. They rejected the validity of 'P'. ptychodon, due to the lack of diagnostic characters of the referred material. Instead, they designated the new specimen as the holotype of a new genus and species, Gavialimimus almaghribensis.

This medium-sized mosasaurid is mainly characterized by an elongated snout (which explains the generic name), small and retracted nares, and large supratemporal fenestrae. It would have preyed on small, agile fish and cephalopods, avoiding competition with other mosasaur species.

According to phylogenetic analysis, Selmasaurus and Goronyosaurus are Gavialimimus' closest relatives.

Main source:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10…