Isisfordia

Eye-sis-for-dee-ah.
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Liam Carter

Paleoanthropologist

Liam Carter explores the roots of humanity by studying early human fossils and artifacts. His ground-breaking work has provided a deeper understanding of our ancestors' lifestyles and social structures.

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Name

Isisfordia (After the town near where the remains were discovered).

Phonetic

Eye-sis-for-dee-ah.

Named By

Salisbury et al - 2006.

Classification

Chordata, Sauropsida, Crocodylomorpha, Eusuchia.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

I. duncani

Size

1 meter long.

Known locations

Australia, Queensland, Isisford - Winton Formation.

Time Period

Cenomanian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Almost complete individual, and a second skull.

In Depth

       Although crocodiles and indeed crocodile like reptiles have existed since the Triassic, Isisfordia is considered to represent an early member of the group that make up modern crocodiles. This is evidenced by the ball and socket type connection of the vertebrae, and the presence of a secondary palate that allowed Isisfordia to breathe in without passing air through its mouth.

       The osteoderms that run along the back of Isisfordia also show increased signs of segmentation. Although not as broken up as modern crocodiles today, they still show signs of greatly increased segmentation when compared to their older relatives, meaning that Isisfordia would have appreciated a marked increase in flexibility.

       While the name Isisfordia is in reference to the town of Isisford, duncani is actually in reference to the deputy mayor of Isisford who discovered the remains.

Further Reading

– The origin of modern crocodyliforms: new evidence from the Cretaceous of Australia. – Proceedings of the Royal Society B 273:2439-2448. – S. W. Salisbury, R. E. Molnar, E. Frey & P. M. A. Willis. 2006. – Isisfordia molnari sp. nov., a new basal eusuchian from the mid-Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, Australia. – PeerJ. 7. – Lachlan J. Hart​, Phil R. Bell, Elizabeth T. Smith & Steven W. Salisbury – 2019. – Taxonomic clarifications concerning the crocodyliform genus Isisfordia. – PeerJ. 8: e8630. – Lachlan J. Hart – 2020.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT