Saltoposuchus
Encyclopedia
Saltoposuchus is an extinct genus
of small (3–5 feet), long- tailed crocodylomorph reptile
(Sphenosuchia
), from the Norian
(Upper Triassic) of Europe. The name translated means "leaping crocodile". It has been proposed that Terrestrisuchus
gracilis and Saltoposuchus connectens represent different ontogenetic stages of the same genus. In which case, the name Saltoposuchus would take precedence over Terrestrisuchus (1984). However, there is no consensus upon this yet.
The front arms were short and the hind legs were long. It was clearly a swift bipedal runner, though it was probably comfortable on all four feet as well. It possessed pointed teeth and a double row of bony scutes along its back.
It is not well known, though it used to enjoy some fame and was commonly referred to in popular literature as close to the ancestor of the dinosaur
s, if not the ancestor of the dinosaurs. Superficially, it does resemble a small theropod and indeed, a skull of Saltoposuchus was formerly attributed to the theropod Procompsognathus
. Current scientific opinion does not however consider Saltoposuchus to be ancestral to the dinosaurs. Saltoposuchus was classified in the Thecodont
ia, but this group is no longer considered valid (due to paraphyly
). In some popular literature Saltoposuchus is erroneously referred to as a dinosaur
.
Saltoposuchus is not to be confused with Saltasaurus
or with Saltopus
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small (3–5 feet), long- tailed crocodylomorph reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
(Sphenosuchia
Sphenosuchia
Sphenosuchia is a suborder of basal crocodylomorphs that first appeared in the Triassic and occurred into the Late Jurassic. Most were small, gracile animals with an erect limb posture. They are now thought to be ancestral to crocodyliforms, which include all living crocodilians.-Stratigraphic...
), from the Norian
Norian
The Norian is a division of the Triassic geological period. It has the rank of an age or stage . The Norian lasted from 216.5 ± 2.0 to 203.6 ± 1.5 million years ago. It was preceded by the Carnian and succeeded by the Rhaetian.-Stratigraphic definitions:The Norian was named after the Noric Alps in...
(Upper Triassic) of Europe. The name translated means "leaping crocodile". It has been proposed that Terrestrisuchus
Terrestrisuchus
Terrestrisuchus is an extinct genus of early crocodylomorph that was about 50 cm long. Fossils have been found in Wales and date from the Late Triassic....
gracilis and Saltoposuchus connectens represent different ontogenetic stages of the same genus. In which case, the name Saltoposuchus would take precedence over Terrestrisuchus (1984). However, there is no consensus upon this yet.
The front arms were short and the hind legs were long. It was clearly a swift bipedal runner, though it was probably comfortable on all four feet as well. It possessed pointed teeth and a double row of bony scutes along its back.
It is not well known, though it used to enjoy some fame and was commonly referred to in popular literature as close to the ancestor of the dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s, if not the ancestor of the dinosaurs. Superficially, it does resemble a small theropod and indeed, a skull of Saltoposuchus was formerly attributed to the theropod Procompsognathus
Procompsognathus
Procompsognathus is a genus of small theropod dinosaur that lived during the late Triassic period , about 210 million years ago. Procompsognathus was named by Eberhard Fraas in 1913. He named the type species, P...
. Current scientific opinion does not however consider Saltoposuchus to be ancestral to the dinosaurs. Saltoposuchus was classified in the Thecodont
Thecodont
Thecodont , now considered an obsolete term, was formerly used to describe a diverse range of early archosaurs that first appeared in the Latest Permian and flourished until the end of the Triassic period...
ia, but this group is no longer considered valid (due to paraphyly
Paraphyly
A group of taxa is said to be paraphyletic if the group consists of all the descendants of a hypothetical closest common ancestor minus one or more monophyletic groups of descendants...
). In some popular literature Saltoposuchus is erroneously referred to as a dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
.
Saltoposuchus is not to be confused with Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
or with Saltopus
Saltopus
Saltopus is a genus of very small bipedal dinosauriform, roughly 60 centimeters long, not much bigger than a rabbit, that was discovered in Scotland by Friedrich von Huene in 1910. It was a late Triassic carnivore. Probably the size of a small cat, with hollow bones like those of a bird,...
.