The Forgotten Archosaurs

Originating approximately 250 million years ago, the Archosauria ("Ruling Reptiles") became one of the most diverse and successful clades of vertebrates on earth. However, many of the amazing creatures that are a part of that diversity are often overshadowed by the poster children of the archosaurs - the dinosaurs. This blog looks at those often forgotten archosaurs, focusing especially on the croc-line, but occasionally looking at the bird-line and even outside of crown-group Archosauria.

Showing posts with label Aetosauria. Show all posts

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Typothorax

Sorry for the long hiatus, but you all know how busy life can get. I'm back though, with a post on Typothorax.

(from the cover of JVP, Volume 30, Number 3. By Matthew Celeskey)

Meaning: "mark made by a blow to the breastplate"

Species: T. coccinarium (Cope 1875), T. antiquum (Lucas et al 2002)
Nominal Author: Cope 1875
Age: Late Triassic
Location: North America - Arizona (Chinle Formation), New Mexico and Texas (Bull Canyon Formation, Dockum Group)
Physical Characteristics: no more than 3 meters in length, with a tail equalling approximately half the body length and a mass of about 100 kg. Typothorax possessed the typical aetosaur armor with enlarged spike on its neck.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Desmatosuchus

Meaning: "link crocodile"

Species: "D." haplocerus, D. spurensis, and D. smalli

Nominal Author: Case 1920

Age: Carnian(?)/ Norian (Late Triassic)

Location: Southwestern US (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona - Chinle and Dockum strata)

Physical Characteristics: Large (4+ meters) aetosaur. Typical aetosaur characteristics include an armored carapce arranged in four columns along the dorsal side, an upturned “pig-nosed” premaxilla, and stout forelimbs. Desmatosuchus is distinct in having large recurved spines on the posterior part of its neck.