Protoalligator

Protoalligator is an extinct genus of alligatoroid from the Paleocene Wanghudun Formation of China. It was first described as a species of Eoalligator in 1982 before being placed in its own genus in 2016. The name, which translates to "first alligator", was meant to carry on the same meaning as that of Eoalligator ("dawn alligator") as the latter was thought to be synonymous with another crocodilian by the team describing it. Recent studies have suggested that Protoalligator was part of an early radiation of alligatoroids endemic to Asia known as orientalosuchins, though not all studies agree with it being placed within this group nor with orientalosuchins being alligatoroids in the first place. Protoalligator is a monotypic genus, containing only the type species: Protoalligator huiningensis.