Mystriosuchus Temporal range: Upper Triassic |
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M. planirostris | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Sauropsida |
(unranked): | Archosauria |
Order: | Phytosauria |
Family: | Phytosauridae |
Subfamily: | Pseudopalatinae |
Genus: | Mystriosuchus Fraas, 1896 |
Species | |
Mystriosuchus (meaning "spoon-crocodile")[1] is an extinct genus of phytosaur that lived in the Late Triassic (middle Norian) in Europe. It was first named by Eberhard Fraas in 1896, and includes two species: M. westphali (formerly M. plieningeri) and the type species, M. planirostris.[2] Mystriosuchus planirostris measured about four metres long (13 ft), according to a complete skeleton which was found in 1995.[3] The postcranial anatomy of the skeleton suggests that Mystriosuchus was more adapted to aquatic life than other known phytosaurs,[3] while cranial morphology is suggestive of a primarily fish eating diet.[2]
Mystriosuchus used to placed in its own subfamily, Mystriosuchinae,[4][5] however, recent research demonstratred that it belongs to the subfamily Pseudopalatinae, despite having several physical differences from most of the genera in this group.[2] Originally considered to be a freshwater genus, a recent specimen from Northern Italy has shown that some Mystriosuchus specimens lived a completely marine life.[3]
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