A new helmeted frog of the genus Thaumastosaurus from the Eocene of England
J. Alan Holman and David L. Harrison
Helmeted frogs with co-ossified skulls (Thaumastosaurus ) were previously known in Europe only in the Eocene on the basis of Thaumastosaurus bottii from southwestern France and Thaumastosaurus wardi from coastal southern England. We describe Thaumastosaurus sulcatus, that differs from these species in having a different dermal sculpture pattern and tooth morphology. We suggest that the auburn colored tooth crown tips in T.sulcatus, as in some other vertebrates, reflect extra hardness for protection against tooth wear. Autochthonous Thaumastosaurus species in southern England support the concept that southern England and south-western France were distinct faunal provinces in the Late Eocene.
J. Alan Holman [holman@msu.edu], Michigan State University Museum, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824−1045, USA; David L. Harrison [hzm@btinternet.com], Harrison Institute, St. Botolphs Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN3−3AQ, England
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