Mesosuchus

Me-so-soo-kus.
By Emerson Winslow
Published on

Emerson Winslow

Paleoichthyologist

Emerson Winslow delves into the underwater world of prehistoric fish, uncovering the mysteries of early marine life. His discoveries have enhanced understanding of vertebrate evolution in aquatic environments.

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Winslow, E. (2013, November 21). Mesosuchus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/mesosuchus/

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Name

Mesosuchus ‭(‬middle crocodile‭)‬.

Phonetic

Me-so-soo-kus.

Named By

David Meredith Seares Watson‭ ‬-‭ ‬1912.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Rhynchosauria.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

M.‭ ‬browni‭

Size

About‭ ‬30‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

South Africa‭ ‬-‭ ‬Burgersdorp Formation.

Time Period

Anisian of the‭ ‬Triassic.

Fossil representation

Skull and partial skeletons.

In Depth

       Though the name means‭ ‘‬crocodile‭’‬,‭ ‬Mesosuchus was actually one of the rhynchosaurs,‭ ‬a distinct group of archosaurs noted for having a herbivorous diet.‭ ‬Mesosuchus seems to be one of the more primitive forms with later relatives showing distinctly more developed adaptations for their lifestyles.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Mesosuchus browni,‭ ‬gen.‭ ‬et spe.‭ ‬Nov.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Records of the Albany Museum‭ ‬2:‭ ‬298‭–‬299.‭ ‬-‭ ‬David Meredith Seares Watson‭ ‬-‭ ‬1912. -‭ ‬The Early Triassic rhynchosaur Mesosuchus browni and the interrelationships of basal archosauromorph reptiles‭‬ -.‭ ‬Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London,‭ ‬Series B‭ ‬353:‭ ‬501‭–‬541‭ ‬-‭ ‬David M.‭ ‬Dilkes‭ ‬-‭ ‬1998.

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