Simosuchus ct anatomy

[Mahnmut]

Hello together,

I am not entirely sure if the fossil ID section is the right place for this, but I am hoping for information on a fossil specimen, its not one I hold in hands, but a ct scan, and I think I may not post pictures because they are copyrighted.

 

While looking for new inspirations for my model building I took a close look at this wonderful ct scan of a Simosuchus clarki skull. A pugnosed crocodile, how sweet is that?

I wonder two things:

-how is that bilateral bone called that in many crocodiles protrudes downwards from the skullbase reaching between the mandibles?

-Could the fragile structure of the distal end of said bone hint at a juvenile animal? In recent croc skulls I have seen these bones seemed quite solid.

The species description says several specimens in a range of sizes have been found, all below one meter and considered fully grown.

on the Digimorph site there are videos showing rotation and cross-sections, the structure in question is best visible in the "roll"-vid:

 

http://digimorph.org/specimens/Simosuchus_clarki/

 

Thanks and Regards,

J

[jpc]

I think that might be the pterygoid bone, with a bit of help from the ectopterygoid

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/incisive-foramen

(scroll down a few scrolls to see a nice illustration from an alligator)

[Mahnmut]

Thanks jpc,

that is the bone I am talking about.The Pterygoid/Ectopterygoid.

 

Now the second question is, looking at the 3d-reconstruction, does this skull look adult? Short snout and small size aside. That kind of "dissolving" ends that look as if they might have had cartilaginous ends in life I have seen in young birds skeletons, also in ct scans of juvenile recent crocs.

Any Croc-Expert out there who has an opinion on that?

Best Regards,

J

 

[jpc]

I noticed that, too.  I don't know the answer, but the posterior edge of the palate is also webby like the pterygoids.