Kayentasuchus

Kay-en-tah-soo-kus.
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Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Name

Kayentasuchus ‭(‬Kayenta Crocodile,‭ ‬named after the Kayenta Formation‭)‬.

Phonetic

Kay-en-tah-soo-kus.

Named By

J.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Clark‭ & ‬H.-D.‭ ‬Sues‭ ‬-‭ ‬2002.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Crocodylomorpha,‭ ‬Sphenosuchidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

K.‭ ‬walkeri‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬Arizona‭ ‬-‭ ‬Kayenta Formation.

Time Period

Sinemurian-Pliensbachian of the Jurassic.

Fossil representation

Skull and partial postcranial skeletal remains.

In Depth

       Kayentasuchus is a genus of small sphenosuchian crocodilomorph that lived in the south-west of the USA during the early Jurassic.‭ ‬Overall Kayentasuchus is noted for having a gracile build with slender limbs.‭ ‬The front of the skull is narrow with the lower jaw curved upwards,‭ ‬indicating that Kayentasuchus may have been quite specialised in their feeding habits.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Two new basal crocodylomorph archosaur from the Lower Jurassic and the monophyly of the Sphenosuchia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society‭ ‬136:77-95.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Clark‭ & ‬H.-D.‭ ‬Sues‭ ‬-‭ ‬2002.

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