In Depth
Francosuchus has been established as a possibly primitive phytosaur that lived in Europe during the Triassic. The genus is based upon two species, but described from a single partial skull each. However, these skulls were destroyed during World War Two, and since these are now unavailable for study and comparison, Francosuchus is now treated as a dubious genus by many. A third species F. angustifrons is now treated as a species of Paleorhinus, while a fourth, F. trauthi is now moved to its own genus, Dolerosaurus.
Further Reading
- Labyrinthodonten und Parasuchier aus dem mittleren Keuper von Ebrach in Oberfranken. - Neues Jahrbuch f�r Mineralogie, Geologie und Pal�ontologie 69:94-144. - O. Kuhn - 1932. - Weitere Parasuchier und Labyrinthodonten aus dem Blasensandstein des mittleren Keuper von Ebrach. - Palaeontographica, Abteilung A, 83:61-98. - O. Kuhn - 1936. - Francosuchus’ trauthi is not Paleorhinus: Implications for Late Triassic vertebrate biostratigraphy. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33 (4): 858–864. - R. J. Butler - 2013.