Phylogenetic nomenclature of Notosuchia (Crocodylomorpha; Crocodyliformes)

Abstract

Notosuchia is a large and diverse clade of Mesozoic crocodyliforms that thrived in continental environments especially during the Cretaceous of Gondwana. This clade has been the focus of several phylogenetic studies that led to the consensus of two main topological arrangements, mostly differing in the position of the clade Sebecidae: the sebecosuchian and sebecian hypotheses. In this manuscript we review the main phylogenetic definitions of several clades of notosuchians in the context of these hypotheses. As a result, besides the clade names previously established under the ICPN/Phylocode (including registration in RegNum) by Ruiz et al. (2021) (Notosuchia, Xenodontosuchia, Sphagesauria, Sphagesauridae) and Darlim et al. (2021a) (Baurusuchia, Baurusuchidae, Baurusuchinae, Pissarrachampsinae), eleven clade names have been registered and are defined in this contribution. Ten of these represent converted clade names (Uruguaysuchidae, Mahajangasuchidae, Peirosauridae, Itasuchidae, Ziphosuchia, Sphagesaurinae, Caipirasuchinae, Sebecia, Sebecosuchia, and Sebecia), while one represents a new clade name (Peirosauria). Furthermore, the definition of Xenodontosuchia is emended (unrestricted emendation) so that the name can be used in the context of a wider array of topologies.