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''Rutiodon'' ("Wrinkle tooth") is an
Like other phytosaurs, ''Rutiodon'' strongly resembled a
The type species of ''Rutiodon'' is ''R. carolinensis''. A second species, ''R. manhattanensis'', was discovered in 1910 near Fort Lee, New Jersey, and named in reference to its close proximity to Manhattan.
Geological report of the midland counties of North Carolina
by Ebenezer Emmons. New York, G.P. Putnam & Co.; Raleigh, H.D. Turner, 1856. * http://www.paleodirect.com/phyto1.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20070501202333/http://www.dinosaurcollector.150m.com/NewBlood.html Phytosaurs Prehistoric reptile genera Late Triassic reptiles of North America Triassic geology of New Jersey Fossils of New Jersey Triassic geology of New York (state) Paleontology in New York (state) Triassic geology of North Carolina Fossils of North Carolina Fossil taxa described in 1856 Taxa named by Ebenezer Emmons {{triassic-reptile-stub
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
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
Crocodiles (family (biology), family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term crocodile is sometimes used even more loosely to inclu ...
, 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
The gharial (''Gavialis gangeticus''), also known as gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian in the family Gavialidae and among the longest of all living crocodilians. Mature females are long, and males . Adult males have a distinct b ...
. 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, ''R. manhattanensis'', was discovered in 1910 near Fort Lee, New Jersey, and named in reference to its close proximity to Manhattan.
Phylogeny
Below is a cladogram from Stocker (2012):References
External links
Geological report of the midland counties of North Carolina
by Ebenezer Emmons. New York, G.P. Putnam & Co.; Raleigh, H.D. Turner, 1856. * http://www.paleodirect.com/phyto1.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20070501202333/http://www.dinosaurcollector.150m.com/NewBlood.html Phytosaurs Prehistoric reptile genera Late Triassic reptiles of North America Triassic geology of New Jersey Fossils of New Jersey Triassic geology of New York (state) Paleontology in New York (state) Triassic geology of North Carolina Fossils of North Carolina Fossil taxa described in 1856 Taxa named by Ebenezer Emmons {{triassic-reptile-stub