Kalthifrons awrivellensis

An early Pliocene Mekosuchine crocodile and the only memeber of its genus. Kalthifrons awrivellensis has a sub-triangular skull with a dorsoventrally flattened platyrostral snout. It has been hypothesised that its extinction was due to competitive exclusion with Crocodylus.

Specimen number: SAMA P35062
Geological age: Pliocene
State/territory: South Australia
Locality/site: Golden Fleece Quarry, Lake Palankarinna

Cranium of Kalthifrons awrivellensis SAMA P35062
Cranium of Kalthifrons awrivellensis SAMA P35062
Left mandible of Kalthifrons awrivellensis SAMA P35062
Left mandible of Kalthifrons awrivellensis SAMA P35062

Skeletal element: Cranium

Skeletal element: mandible (left)

Ristevski, J., Willis, P. M., Yates, A. M., White, M. A., Hart, L. J., Stein, M. D., … & Salisbury, S. W. (2023). Migrations, diversifications and extinctions: the evolutionary history of crocodyliforms in Australasia. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 1-46.

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