Tasmaniosaurus
| Tasmaniosaurus Temporal range: Early Triassic
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| Genus: | Tasmaniosaurus Broom, 1903
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| Species: | T. triassicus
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Tasmaniosaurus triassicus ('Triassic lizard from Tasmania', Camp and Banks 1978) is an archosaur of the family Proterosuchidae, known from the Knocklofty Formation (Upper Triassic) of West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is Australia's most complete reptile fossil; the entire skeleton has been preserved. Tasmaniosaurus was about 1 metre long, and similiar in appearance to the proterosuchid Chasmatosaurus from Africa and China, which may be its closest relative (Thulborn 1968). It is however distinguished from other proterosuchids by the presence of an interclavicle, which other members had lost.The premaxilla is slightly curved. The teeth are sharp. It may have fed, amongst other creatures, on labyrinthodonts, as remains of these amphibians are associated with the skeleton. It is surmised that many proterosuchids lived an amphibious, predatory life like crocodiles today. Tasmaniosaurus had no dermal scutes. Tasmaniosaurus is one of the earliest reptiles known to have lived i Australia.
Reference
Long, J.A., Dinosaurs of Australia and New Zealand, UNSW Press 1998