Phytosaurs - family Phytosauridae or Parasuchidae - were a group of large (2 to 12 meters long - average size 3 to 4 meters) semi-aquatic predatory archosaurs that flourished during the Late Triassic period. These long snouted and heavily armoured archosaurs bore a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodiles in size, appearance, and (clearly) lifestyle, an example of convergence or parallel evolution. The name "phytosaur" (plant reptile) is very misleading, and their snapping jaws clearly show that phytosaurs were predators. The person who first described them mistakenly thought the specimens he was working with were plant-eaters .
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| - Phytosaurs - family Phytosauridae or Parasuchidae - were a group of large (2 to 12 meters long - average size 3 to 4 meters) semi-aquatic predatory archosaurs that flourished during the Late Triassic period. These long snouted and heavily armoured archosaurs bore a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodiles in size, appearance, and (clearly) lifestyle, an example of convergence or parallel evolution. The name "phytosaur" (plant reptile) is very misleading, and their snapping jaws clearly show that phytosaurs were predators. The person who first described them mistakenly thought the specimens he was working with were plant-eaters .
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Caption
| - Restoration of Rutiodon carolinensis
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Family
| - Phytosauridae
- (Jaeger, 1828)
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Order
| - Phytosauria
- (von Meyer, 1861)
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abstract
| - Phytosaurs - family Phytosauridae or Parasuchidae - were a group of large (2 to 12 meters long - average size 3 to 4 meters) semi-aquatic predatory archosaurs that flourished during the Late Triassic period. These long snouted and heavily armoured archosaurs bore a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodiles in size, appearance, and (clearly) lifestyle, an example of convergence or parallel evolution. The name "phytosaur" (plant reptile) is very misleading, and their snapping jaws clearly show that phytosaurs were predators. The person who first described them mistakenly thought the specimens he was working with were plant-eaters . Although phytosaurs were not true crocodilians themselves, they were related to the crocodilians, as both phytosaurs and proto-crocodiles share a common ancestor among the early Crurotarsi. Crocodiles did not become 'phytosaur'-like until the Early Jurassic. These animals were widely distributed, fossils being recovered from Europe, North America (namely Alberta), India, Morocco, Thailand, and Madagascar.
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