Description of a new specimen of the Late Cretaceous allodaposuchid crocodile Massaliasuchus affuvelensis (Matheron, 1869), with stratigraphic and palaeogeographic comments

An unpublished crocodilian specimen is assigned to Massaliasuchus affuvelensis (Matheron, 1869a), family Allodaposuchidae Narváez et al., 2015. The specimen is relocated to its original site, the Campanian Fuveau lignite Mining Basin of the Arc syncline (Provence, France), thanks to a preliminary examination of the palynoflora of its matrix, which appears to be that of the site of the syntype of “Crocodilus” affuvelensis Matheron. The discoveries of the Cretaceous reptiles by Matheron (1862–1878) in the area are presented, following his original stratigraphic and lithologic presentation, updated by more recent studies of the Basin including of  palaeomagnetism, and confirming the early Campanian age of the type locality. The study of the morphology of this specimen (a dentary with preserved teeth) consists of a detailed analysis of the characters of the dentary and its dentition, in comparison with other allodaposuchids and some other crocodiles as external witnesses, significantly broadening the knowledge of this taxon. The belonging to the family is confirmed, the relative primitiveness and antiquity of the species are addressed. The presences of the Cretaceous crocodiles including those of Matheron – and of the turtles having shared the same possible dispersal mode in the Western and Central Cretaceous European Archipelago are compared, re-evaluating the possibilities of inter-island relationships by these freshwater reptiles.