Archosaurus

Archosaurus Temporal range: Late Permian, 252 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Restored skull
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauromorpha
Clade:	Archosauriformes
Family:	†Proterosuchidae
Subfamily:	†Chasmatosuchinae
Genus:	†Archosaurus Tatarinov, 1960
Species:	†A. rossicus
Binomial name
†Archosaurus rossicus Tatarinov, 1960

Archosaurus (meaning "ruling lizard") is an extinct genus of carnivorous proterosuchid archosauriform reptile.^[1] Its fossils are dated to the latest Permian of Russia and Poland, it is one of the earliest known archosauriforms. The type and only species is Archosaurus rossicus, known from several fragmentary specimens which cumulatively represent parts of the skull and cervical vertebrae.^[2][3] It would have been 3 metres (9.8 ft) long when fully grown.^[4]

When first described in 1960, Archosaurus was considered the oldest known archosaur and a close relative of Proterosuchus from the Early Triassic.^[2][4] However, Archosauria in modern terms is considered a more restricted group which Archosaurus lies outside of. The "classic" definition of archosaur utilized prior to the widespread use of cladistics is now roughly equivalent to the clade Archosauriformes.^[5] Archosaurus is still considered the oldest undisputed archosauriform, as well as one of the few valid members of the family Proterosuchidae.^[6]

A 2023 study placed Archosaurus in the new subfamily Chasmatosuchinae within the proterosuchids. This would make Archosaurus significantly derived despite being the oldest known archosauriform, indicating that significant diversification already occurred among proterosuchids during the Permian.^[7]

Gallery

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  PIN 1100/55, the holotype left premaxilla
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  Restoration
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  Size comparison

See also

• Proterosuchus

References

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Archosauromorpha

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Clade: Diapsida Clade: Sauria Clade: Archelosauria
Sauropsida see Sauropsida Archosauromorpha see below↓

Archosauromorpha
Archosauromorpha †Aenigmastropheus †Czatkowiella †Elachistosuchus? †Elessaurus †Malutinisuchus †Mecistotrachelos †Prolacertoides †Protorosaurus †Rhombopholis †Vritramimosaurus †Tanysauria Jesairosaurus? Trachelosauridae Austronaga Dinocephalosaurus Fuyuansaurus? Gracilicollum? Protanystropheus Pectodens Sclerostropheus? Trachelosaurus Sharovipterygidae? Ozimek Sharovipteryx Tanystropheidae Amotosaurus Augustaburiania Cosesaurus Fuyuansaurus? Gracilicollum? Gwyneddosaurus Langobardisaurus Luxisaurus Macrocnemus Raibliania Sclerostropheus? Tanystropheus Tanytrachelos Sharovipterygidae? Crocopoda †Boreopricea †Cryptovaranoides? †Tasmaniosaurus †Teyujagua †Allokotosauria see Allokotosauria †Rhynchosauria see Rhynchosauria †Prolacertidae? Kadimakara Prolacerta Archosauriformes see below↓

Archosauriformes
Archosauriformes †Antarctanax †Cuyosuchus †Eorasaurus? †Kalisuchus †Koilamasuchus †Sarmatosuchus †Syntomiprosopus †Proterosuchidae Archosaurus Chasmatosuchus? Gamosaurus Jaikosuchus Proterosuchus Samsarasuchus Tsylmosuchus? Vonhuenia? †Protopyknosia Kranosaura Triopticus †Erythrosuchidae Bharitalasuchus Chalishevia Erythrosuchus Fugusuchus? Garjainia Guchengosuchus Shansisuchus Uralosaurus Eucrocopoda †Asperoris †Dorosuchus †Heteropelta †Litorosuchus †Polymorphodon †Vancleavea †Euparkeriidae Euparkeria Halazhaisuchus Osmolskina †Proterochampsia see Proterochampsia Crurotarsi †Phytosauria see Phytosauria Archosauria Incertae sedis †Sikannisuchus? †Smok Avemetatarsalia see Avemetatarsalia includes birds Pseudosuchia see Pseudosuchia includes crocodilians

Related topics

Tooth taxa †Crosbysaurus †Lucianosaurus †Tecovasaurus †Palaeosaurus †Protecovasaurus †Uatchitodon †Zanclodon Nomina dubia †Albisaurus †Ankistrodon †Avipes †Blomosuchus †Collilongus †Exilisuchus †Fenhosuchus †Megacnemus †Microcnemus †Vjushkovisaurus †Wangisuchus Paraphyletic groups Proterosuchia Protorosauria Thecodontia Possible members Choristodera Drepanosauromorpha Kuehneosauridae Ichthyosauromorpha Sauropterygia Thalattosauria

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