Gavialidae

General information

Of the gavialidés was created by the doctor-soldier Andrew Adams (1827-1882), British zoologist. This family comprises one, with only one current: Gavialis gangeticus , the Gavial of Gange. Formerly classified in the same kind, the False-gavial (or Gavial de Schlegel) is included today in the Crocodylidae under the name of Tomistoma schlegelii . Doubts persist as for its systematic position ( cf § Systématique).

Systematic

Gavialidés to the Clade Gavialoidea, formerly flourishing belong. This group is most basal in the crocodiliens: it is the Groupe brother of all the others crocodiliens (alligatoroïdés and crocodiloïdés, i.e. Alligator S and Crocodiles in the broad sense).

The last analyzes of the relations linking the crocodiliens (modern crocodiles) are contradictory as for the systematic position of Tomistoma .

Morphological assumption

The use of morphological natures indicates that Tomistoma belongs to the Crocodylidae, with the others tomistominés:

─o Crocodilia ├─o Gavialis └─o ├─o Alligator └─o ├─o Tomistoma └─o Crocodylus

Molecular assumption

The molecular data show that Tomistoma schlegelii and Gavialis gangeticus is groups brothers, i.e. the False-gavial one is gavialidé:

─o Crocodilia ├─o │ ├─o Gavialis │ └─o Tomistoma └─o ├─o Alligator └─o Crocodylus

Phylogenetic relations according to Brochu (2001).

References

Brochu, C. (2001). Progress and future directions in archosaur phylogenetics. Newspaper off Paleontology 75 (6): 1185-1201.

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