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Pseudhesperosuchus
''Pseudhesperosuchus'' (meaning "false '' Hesperosuchus''") is a genus of sphenosuchian, a type of basal crocodylomorph, the clade that comprises the crocodilians and their closest kin. It is known from a partial skeleton and skull found in rocks of the Late Triassic (Norian-age) Los Colorados Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin in northwestern Argentina. History and description ''Pseudhesperosuchus'' is based on PVL 3830. This specimen consists of a skull and lower jaws, most of the vertebral column, the shoulder girdle, and parts of the arms and legs. The genus was named by José Bonaparte in 1969. The type species is ''P. jachaleri''. The skull, though nearly complete, is poorly preserved, and some of its bones and sutures have been misidentified over the years. A 2002 phylogenetic analysis In biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphenosuchia Sphenosuchia is a suborder of basal crocodylomorphs that first appeared in the Triassic and occurred into the Middle Jurassic. Most were small, gracile animals with an erect limb posture. They are now thought to be ancestral to crocodyliforms, a group which includes all living crocodilians. Stratigraphic range The earliest known members of the group (i.e. '' Hesperosuchus'') are early Norian in age, found in the Blue Mesa Member of the Chinle Formation. Only one sphenosuchian is currently known from the Middle Jurassic, '' Junggarsuchus'', from the Junggar Basin (Shishugou Formation) of China during either the Bathonian or the Callovian (~165 Ma) age,Clark, J.M., ''et al.'' (2004A Middle Jurassic 'sphenosuchian' from China and the origin of the crocodylian skull''Nature'' 430:1021-1024. and the Hallopodidae are known from the Late Jurassic of North America. Phylogeny The monophyly of the group is debated, although several synapomorphies characterize t |