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Paleontological Research
Abstract
Abstract.
A partial crocodylian skull was found among the paleontological collection at the Archaeological Museum, Waseda University in Honjo-shi, Saitama Prefecture. Following a bibliographical survey, this was verified as a specimen reported by Tokunaga as the first known crocodile from Taiwan but then regarded as lost due to World War II. Molten glass debris is attached to the specimen, suggesting that it had been subject to air raids during World War II in May 1945, most likely at the Waseda University campus. Based on its largest seventh maxillary alveoli and the prominent lateral expansion towards the posterior direction, this specimen was identified as Toyotamaphimeia sp.; up to now a single species under this genus has been reported. The discovery demonstrates that this crocodylian genus once had a wide geographical distribution during the Pleistocene.
We would like to thank Hiroto Naora (The Australian National University) for analyzing the handwriting of his father, Nobuo Naora and proving valuable information regarding the air raid in 1945. We also thank Makoto Manabe and Chisako Sakata (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo); Ken Itoh (Kyoto Pharmaceutical University); Ryoko Matsumoto and Hajime Taru (Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History); His-yin Shan and Yen-nien Cheng (National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan), and the staff of Tsailiao Fossil Museum (Tainan City) for providing us with access to both fossil and recent materials.
We are grateful to Yoshitsugu Kobayashi and Masaya Iijima (Hokkaido University) for comments and providing valuable information on the Toyonaka specimen. We appreciate Hiroyuki Otsuka (Kagoshima University) and Ryohei Nakagawa (Mie Prefectural Museum) for comments regarding the geological setting of Taiwan. We thank Tamaki Sato (Tokyo Gakugei University) for her assistance during the specimen investigation at Taiwan. We deeply thank Masahiko Kurumazaki (Archaeological Museum) and the staff of Archaeological Museum, Waseda University for their support and providing information regarding the Tokunaga specimen.
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