The crocodilian Goniopholis simus from the Lower Cretaceous of north-western Germany

A re-evaluation of crocodilian material referred to Goniopholis from the Berriasian (Lower Cretaceous) of north-western Germany is presented, based on the description of a natural mould of a skull and mandible in the collections of the Institut fur Palaontologie, Bonn. Along with other material from the Obernkirchen Sandstone of the Buckeburg Member of the German 'Wealden', the Bonn specimen is referred to G. simus Owen. Two previously recognized species of Goniopholis from Germany, 'G. pugnax' Koken and 'G. minor' Koken, are considered to be nomina dubia, because they are based on undiagnostic material, much of which can no longer be located. Two complete skeletons from the Hauterivian-Barremian of Bernissart, Belgium, previously assigned to G. simus, are considered to be representative of distinct species and should be redescribed and renamed. G. simus is restricted to the Berriasian of the Wessex-Weald Basin of southern England and the Niedersachsen Basin of north-western Germany. This is the first clear evidence of interchange between the non-marine vertebrate faunas of these two regions.