Sphenosuchia

Junggarsuchus sloani

• North America, England, South Africa, China

The Sphenosuchia are a taxon of reptiles from the Upper Triassic and the Upper Jurassic, which belongs to the Crocodylomorpha, distant relatives of crocodiles. They were small and medium sized, slightly built terrestrial fauna. The group may not be monophyletic.

Features

They are characterized mainly by the absence of the derived features of the crocodiles. The pneumatization of the posterior cranial region is not as well developed. The skull was low and had his snout a significantly crocodile -like shape. A secondary palate was not or only rudimentary available. The legs were compared with those of crocodiles, very long, front and hind legs were almost equal in length. They were digitigrade, their carpal bones were extended. Its acetabulum ( acetabulum ), was similar to that of the dinosaur perforated. The square leg had no contact with the side of the skull. The shed leg was arched back and forked.

Genera

• Terrestrisuchus (upper Triassic of England)
• Dibothrosuchus (lower Jurassic of China)
• Kayentasuchus (lower Jurassic of North America )
• Litargosuchus (lower Jurassic of South Africa)
• Pedeticosaurus (lower Jurassic of South Africa)
• Platyognathus (lower Jurassic of China)
• Sphenosuchus (lower Jurassic of South Africa)
• Macelognathus (upper Jurassic of North America )
• Junggarsuchus (Middle Jurassic of China)