Pleistocene crocodylians from Venezuela, and the description of a new species of Caiman

Abstract The fossil record of post-Miocene caimans is sparse and fragmentary, but recovered in many localities all over South America. This paper presents the first crocodylian remains from the Pleistocene of Venezuela, found in the asphalt deposits of El Breal de Orocual, which is a high diverse mammalian fossil locality. Most of the fossil crocodylians found in this locality are indeterminate fragments. However, some could be associated to indeterminate Caimaninae of Caiman sp. The most important material belongs to a new taxon. Caiman venezuelensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of fragmentary but diagnostic remains. The species is unique among caiman species in the possession of a twice as long than wide premaxilla in ventral view, with a long contact between premaxillae posterior to the incisive foramen. The El Breal de Orocual is one the most diverse localities in South America, and is probably the most important crocodylian bearing locality in the continent during the Pleistocene.