Mystriosuchus
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| Mystriosuchus Temporal range: Upper Triassic
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| Genus: | Mystriosuchus Fraas, 1896
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Mystriosuchus (meaning "Spoon-crocodile") is a genus of phytosaur that lived in the Late Triassic (middle Norian) in Europe. It was first named by Fraas in 1896, and contains two species: M. westphali and M. planirostris (Gozzi and Renesto, 2003). M. planirostris measured about four metres long, according to a complete skeleton which was found in 1995.[1] The postcranial anatomy of the skeleton suggests that Mystriosuchus was more adapted to aquatic life than other known phytosaurs.[1] Mystriosuchus primarily ate fish.[2]
Mystriosuchus is often placed in its own family, Mystriosuchinae,[2] but recent research (Hungerbühler, 2002) has shown that is actually belongs to the family Pseudopalatinae; despite having several physical differences from most genera in this group.[2] It was originally considered to be a freshwater genus, until a recent specimen from Northern Italy was discovered, which seemed to have lived a completely marine life.[2]
Sources
- ^ a b dipbsf.uninsubria.it Mystriosuchus planirostris description Retrieved on May 25th, 2008.
- ^ a b c d www.paleos.com Retrieved on May 25th, 2008.
- www.helsinki.fi
- direct.bl.uk
- www.paleodatabase.org
- www.ingentaconnect.com
- www.paleos.com (2)
- Bulletin by State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut; published 1903.
- Geological Abstracts by Geo Abstracts Bibliography; published 1986. Page 1328.
- American Journal of Science edited by Benjamin Silliman; published 1962. Pages 652-654.
- The Journal of geology By Thomas Chrowder, Chamberlin, University of Chicago Dept. of Geology, University of Chicago Dept. of Geology and Paleontology; published 1907. Page 146.
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