Length of bony palate from incisive foramen to
posterior nares ·350
The _mandible_ is long, rather shallow, but very thick. The symphysis
is very long, extending as far as the seventh tooth. The chin is
quite sharp, but becomes broad, as the rami diverge quite rapidly.
The alveolar border is rounded and comparatively straight, the median
enlargement of the dentary is in thickness rather than in height.
The two rami diverge at an angle which is more open than in the
true crocodiles, and less so than in the alligator. The mandibular
foramen is smaller than in the latter genus, but corresponds with it
in position; it has its long diameter parallel with, and not oblique
to, the alveolus. The mandibular fossa is extremely large and deep.
The splenial is long and stout, ends obtusely, and does not reach
the symphysis. The articular cavity is broad from side to side, but
rather shallow; it is not divided into two distinct facets as in the
alligator. The post-glenoid process is very stout; it projects but
slightly upwards, less so than in either crocodile or alligator. It
has no median ridge as in the former genus, and is tuberous at the
end.
The teeth are much like those of the upper jaw, but are somewhat
sharper and more conical; they are not recurved, and have no distinct
constriction, as is found in most of the recent species. There are
about eighteen teeth to each ramus; the first is large and sharp, and
is followed by two small ones and then by the canine. The remaining
teeth do not exhibit any great differences of size.
_Measurements._
M.
Length of rami (straight) ·618
Width of lower jaw outside of glenoid cavities ·316
Length of symphysis ·110
Width of jaw at second enlargement ·057
Depth at oval foramen ·073
Greatest width at symphysis ·110
Space occupied by teeth ·340
Breadth of glenoid cavity ·072
Length of post-glenoid ·065
_Vertebræ._
_Cervicals._--The centra are long and nearly cylindrical, expanding
slightly near the anterior face. The hypapophyses are short and
broad; they project forwards, and are somewhat compressed. The
vascular foramina correspond in size and position to those of
the alligator. The neural canal is small and subcircular, having
comparatively short but very stout neurapophyses, which are
perforated behind the diapophyses. These are short and stout, and are
developed from the neurapophyses alone. The zygapophyses are long
and flat; the anterior ones project almost vertically. The neural
spines are stout, and of greater antero-posterior extent than in the
alligator.
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