Sphenosuchus
| Sphenosuchus Temporal range: Early Jurassic | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | Crocodylomorpha |
| Informal group: | Sphenosuchia |
| Family: | Sphenosuchidae Haughton, 1924 |
| Genus: | †Sphenosuchus |
| Type species | |
| †Sphenosuchus acutus Haughton, 1915 | |
Sphenosuchus is an extinct genus of sphenosuchian from the Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic) of South Africa, discovered and described early in the 20th century. The skull is excellently preserved but other than elements of the forelimb and isolated parts of the hind limb, the Sphenosuchus material is incomplete. It was probably quadrupedal, but may have been a facultative biped.
Sphenosuchus was first thoroughly described in 1972 by the British palaeontologist Alick Walker, in a paper in the journal Nature. Walker suggested, based on detailed (but still preliminary at that time) studies of the skull of Sphenosuchus and modern birds, that crocodylomorphs and birds might share an immediate common ancestor. Walker recanted his hypothesis in 1985, but restated and elaborated on it (in essence 'de-recanting') in a monograph published in 1990, which provided the most comprehensive description and discussion of Sphenosuchus yet published.
Species
The type species, Sphenosuchus acutus is the only described species in this genus.
References
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