FIGURE 7 in New early Pleistocene Alligator (Eusuchia: Crocodylia) from Florida bridges a gap in Alligator evolution

FIGURE 7. Occlusal view of left Alligator lower jaws showing the role of the splenial in lingual alveolar support. Alligator hailensis (UF 162517), top, shows extensive splenial support of the posterior toothrow, more than seven posterior alveoli (splenial outlined in white). The dentary alone provides most of the lingual toothrow in the derived condition seen in A. mississippiensis (ETMNH-Z 265), five posterior alveoli or less, bottom. Abbreviations are: dentary (d) and splenial (spl). Numbers refer to alveoli (counted from posterior to anterior). Scale = 2 cm.