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Smilosuchus
''Smilosuchus'' (meaning "chisel crocodile") is an extinct genus of leptosuchomorph parasuchid from the Late Triassic of North America. History The type species was first described in 1995 as a replacement generic name for ''Leptosuchus gregorii''. Because of the large rostral crest it possessed, it was considered to be distinct enough from other species of '' Leptosuchus'' (all of which had smaller and more restricted crests) to be within its own genus. Some studies seem to suggest that ''Smilosuchus'' is congeneric with ''Leptosuchus'', as the enlarged crest could have been independently developed in ''Leptosuchus''. However, newer studies support the idea that ''Smilosuchus'' is distinct from the type species of ''Leptosuchus'', ''Leptosuchus crosbiensis''. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that ''Smilosuchus'' is more closely related to mystriosuchins than to ''Leptosuchus'' species. Description Like all phytosaurs, ''Smilosuchus'' had the nostrils close to the top of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phytosauria
Phytosaurs (Φυτόσαυροι in greek) are an extinct group of large, mostly semiaquatic Late Triassic archosauriform reptiles. Phytosaurs belong to the order Phytosauria. Phytosauria and Phytosauridae are often considered to be equivalent groupings containing the same species, but some studies have identified non-phytosaurid phytosaurians. Phytosaurs were long-snouted and heavily armoured, bearing a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodilians in size, appearance, and lifestyle, as an example of convergence or parallel evolution. The name "phytosaur" means "plant reptile", as the first fossils of phytosaurs were mistakenly thought to belong to plant eaters. The name is misleading because the sharp teeth in phytosaur jaws clearly show that they were predators. For many years, phytosaurs were considered to be the most basal group of Pseudosuchia (crocodile-line archosaurs), meaning that they were thought to be more closely related to the crocodilians than to birds (the othe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leptosuchomorph
Leptosuchomorpha is a clade of phytosaurs. It is a node-based taxon defined as the last common ancestor of '' Leptosuchus studeri'' and '' Pseudopalatus pristinus'' and all of its descendants. Phylogeny Below is a cladogram A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to ... from Stocker (2012): References Phytosaurs Late Triassic reptiles of Europe Late Triassic reptiles of North America Late Triassic first appearances Late Triassic extinctions Taxa named by Michelle R. Stocker {{paleo-reptile-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rutiodon
''Rutiodon'' ("Wrinkle tooth") is an extinct genus of phytosaur belonging to the family Parasuchidae. It lived during the Late Triassic period, and was about in length. ''Rutiodon'' is known from the eastern United States (North Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). Description Like other phytosaurs, ''Rutiodon'' strongly resembled a crocodile, but its nostrils were positioned far back on the head, close to the eyes, instead of at the tip of the snout. It had enlarged front teeth, and a relatively narrow jaw, somewhat resembling that of a modern gharial. This suggests that this carnivore probably caught fish and it may also have snatched land animals from the waterside. Also, like modern crocodiles, its back, flanks, and tail were covered with bony armored plates. ''Rutiodon'' was among the largest carnivorous animals of its environment, measuring 3–8 meters (10–26 ft) in length. Species The type species of ''Rutiodon'' is ''R. carolinensis''. A second species, ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paleorhinus Bransoni
''Paleorhinus'' (Greek: ''"Old Nose"'') is an extinct genus of widespread basal phytosaur known from the Late Triassic (late Carnian stage). The genus was named in 1904 based on the type species ''Paleorhinus bransoni'', which is known from Wyoming and Texas in the United States. Another valid species, ''Paleorhinus angustifrons'' from Bavaria, Germany, is also commonly referred to the genus. ''Paleorhinus'' had a length of about . ''Paleorhinus'' has had a complicated taxonomic history involving frequent synonymy between diagnostic and undiagnostic material. This is mainly due to the fact that it is a quintessential basal phytosaur, mostly distinguished by a lack of specializations rather than unique traits. Historically, it was common practice to lump all basal phytosaurs into only one or two genera, rendering those genera paraphyletic evolutionary grades ancestral to later phytosaurs. More recently, these grades have been broken up into multiple genera. '' Arganarhinus ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paleorhinus
''Paleorhinus'' (Greek: ''"Old Nose"'') is an extinct genus of widespread basal (phylogenetics), basal phytosaur known from the Late Triassic (late Carnian stage). The genus was named in 1904 based on the type species ''Paleorhinus bransoni'', which is known from Wyoming and Texas in the United States. Another valid species, ''Paleorhinus angustifrons'' from Bavaria, Germany, is also commonly referred to the genus. ''Paleorhinus'' had a length of about . ''Paleorhinus'' has had a complicated Taxonomy, taxonomic history involving frequent synonymy between diagnostic and undiagnostic material. This is mainly due to the fact that it is a quintessential basal phytosaur, mostly distinguished by a lack of specializations rather than unique traits. Historically, it was common practice to Lumpers and splitters, lump all basal phytosaurs into only one or two genera, rendering those genera Paraphyly, paraphyletic Evolutionary grade, evolutionary grades ancestral to later phytosaurs. More r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mystriosuchin
Mystriosuchini, historically known as Pseudopalatinae, is an extinct tribe (formerly subfamily) of derived phytosaurs in the clade Leptosuchomorpha. As with all other phytosaurs, mystriosuchins lived during Late Triassic. The name is derived from the genus '' Mystriosuchus''. Genera classified in Mystriosuchini include '' Coburgosuchus'', '' Machaeroprosopus'', '' Mystriosuchus'', '' Nicrosaurus'' and ''Redondasaurus''.Hungerbühler A. 2002. The Late Triassic phytosaur ''Mystriosuchus westphali'', with a revision of the genus. ''Palaeontology'' 45 (2): 377-418 It includes the most ecologically divergent phytosaurs, the terrestrial '' Nicrosaurus'' and the fully aquatic '' Mystriosuchus''.Gozzi, E. & Renesto, S.A. 2003. Complete specimen of Mystriosuchus (Reptilia, Phytosauria) from the Norian (Late Triassic) of Lombardy (Northern Italy). Rivista Italiana Di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 109(3): 475-498. Phylogeny Below is a cladogram A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leptosuchus
''Leptosuchus'' is an extinct genus of leptosuchomorph phytosaur with a complex taxonomical history. Fossils have been found from the Dockum Group and lower Chinle Formation outcropping in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, USA, and date back to the Carnian stage of the Late Triassic. Currently there are believed to be four species of ''Leptosuchus''. All species share in common a similar position of the temporal arch below the skull roof and a posterior process of the squamosal that extends farther than the paroccipital process.Long, R. A., and Murry, P. A. (1995). "Late Triassic (Carnian and Norian) tetrapods from the southwestern United States". ''New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin'' 4:1-254. The type species is ''L. crosbiensis'', which was named in 1922 on the basis of material found from Texas. ''L. adamanensis'' was first described in 1930 as a species of ''Machaeroprosopus'' from the Blue Mesa Member of Petrified Forest National Park, along with the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Machaeroprosopus
''Machaeroprosopus'' is an extinct genus of mystriosuchin leptosuchomorph phytosaur from the Late Triassic of the southwestern United States. ''M. validus'', once thought to be the type species of ''Machaeroprosopus'', was named in 1916 on the basis of three complete skulls from Chinle Formation, Arizona. The skulls have been lost since the 1950s, and a line drawing in the original 1916 description is the only visual record of the specimen. Another species, ''M. andersoni'', was named in 1922 from New Mexico, and the species ''M. adamanensis'', ''M. gregorii'', ''M. lithodendrorum'', ''M. tenuis'', and ''M. zunii'' were named in 1930. Most species have been reassigned to the genera ''Smilosuchus'', ''Rutiodon'', or ''Phytosaurus''. Until recently, ''M. validus'' was considered to be the only species that has not been reassigned. Thus, ''Machaeroprosopus'' was considered to be a '' nomen dubium'' or "doubtful name" because of the lack of diagnostic specimens that can support its d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leptosuchus Gregorii Skull
''Leptosuchus'' is an extinct genus of leptosuchomorph phytosaur with a complex taxonomical history. Fossils have been found from the Dockum Group and lower Chinle Formation outcropping in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, USA, and date back to the Carnian stage of the Late Triassic. Currently there are believed to be four species of ''Leptosuchus''. All species share in common a similar position of the temporal arch below the skull roof and a posterior process of the squamosal that extends farther than the paroccipital process.Long, R. A., and Murry, P. A. (1995). "Late Triassic (Carnian and Norian) tetrapods from the southwestern United States". ''New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin'' 4:1-254. The type species is ''L. crosbiensis'', which was named in 1922 on the basis of material found from Texas. ''L. adamanensis'' was first described in 1930 as a species of ''Machaeroprosopus'' from the Blue Mesa Member of Petrified Forest National Park, along with the ot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Predation
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the host) and parasitoidism (which always does, eventually). It is distinct from scavenging on dead prey, though many predators also scavenge; it overlaps with herbivory, as seed predators and destructive frugivores are predators. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often concealed. When prey is detected, the predator assesses whether to attack it. This may involve ambush or pursuit predation, sometimes after stalking the prey. If the attack is successful, the predator kills the prey, removes any inedible parts like the shell or spines, and eats it. Predators are adapted and often highly specialized for hunting, with acute senses such as vision, hearing, or smell. Many predatory animals, both vertebrate and inv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Squamosal Bone
The squamosal is a skull bone found in most reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In fishes, it is also called the pterotic bone. In most tetrapods, the squamosal and quadratojugal bones form the cheek series of the skull. The bone forms an ancestral component of the dermal roof and is typically thin compared to other skull bones. The squamosal bone lies ventral to the temporal series and otic notch, and is bordered anteriorly by the postorbital. Posteriorly, the squamosal articulates with the quadrate and pterygoid bones. The squamosal is bordered anteroventrally by the jugal and ventrally by the quadratojugal. Function in reptiles In reptiles, the quadrate and articular bones of the skull articulate to form the jaw joint. The squamosal bone lies anterior to the quadrate bone. Anatomy in synapsids Non-mammalian synapsids In non-mammalian synapsids, the jaw is composed of four bony elements and referred to as a quadro-articular jaw because the joint is between the articular an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Placerias
''Placerias'' (meaning 'broad body') is an extinct genus of dicynodonts that lived during the Carnian to the Norian age of the Triassic Period (230–220 million years ago). ''Placerias'' belongs to a group of dicynodonts called Kannemeyeriiformes, which was the last known group of dicynodonts before the taxon became extinct at the end of the Triassic. Description ''Placerias'' was one of the largest herbivores in the Late Triassic, with large skull measuring long and weighing up to with a powerful neck, strong legs, and a barrel-shaped body. There are possible ecological and evolutionary parallels with the modern hippopotamus, spending much of its time during the wet season wallowing in the water, chewing at bankside vegetation. Remaining in the water would also have given ''Placerias'' some protection against land-based predators such as ''Postosuchus''. ''Placerias'' used its beak to slice through thick branches and roots with two short tusks that could be used for defence ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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