Fugusuchus

Fugusuchus
Temporal range: Early Triassic
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauriformes
Family: Erythrosuchidae
Genus: Fugusuchus
Cheng, 1980
Species
  • F. hejiapensis Cheng, 1980 (type)

Fugusuchus is an extinct genus of erythrosuchid archosauriform. It was one of the earliest and most basal erythrosuchids. The genus is known from a single fossil from the middle Early Triassic Heshankou Formation in Shanxi, China. The partial skeleton consists of an incomplete skull, parts of the right forelimb, and an intercentrum.[1] The skeleton, known as GMB V 313, is currently in the Geological Museum of China in Beijing.

Fugusuchus was a medium-sized erythrosuchid. It has a long and relatively low skull, unlike the higher more pointed skulls of related genera such as Erythrosuchus. In Fugusuchus, the tooth row of the upper jaw extends beneath the orbit, or eye socket. This feature distinguishes it from later erythrosuchids such as Garjainia and Erythrosuchus in which teeth are only present in front of the orbital area.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Parrish, J.M. (1992). "Phylogeny of the Erythrosuchidae". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 12 (1): 93–102. doi:10.1080/02724634.1992.10011434.