Revisiting Gryposuchus jessei Gürich, 1912 (Crocodylia: Gavialoidea): specimen description and comments on the genus

Gryposuchus Gurich, 1912 is the most diverse genus within the Gavialoidea. However, the type species G . jessei Gurich, 1912 has been subject of controversy and was regarded conspecific with G . neogaeus (Burmeinster, 1885) or G . colombianus (Langston, 1965). Here we provide a revision of G . jessei to verify the conspecific hypothesis and the implications for the genus Gryposuchus . Our study shows that G . jessei is a valid species, and a new specimen was referred to this taxon. The comparisons with other Gavialoidea species enabled the proposition of three exclusive characters for the genus. We further advocate a sister affinity between G . jessei and G . pachakamue .