phytosaurs

Phytosaurs were large, crocodile-like reptiles that thrived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 230 to 201 million years ago. Named for their "plant-like" snouts (a misnomer, as they were carnivorous), phytosaurs belonged to the Archosauriformes group, closely related to early dinosaurs and modern crocodilians.

Fossils, including skulls, jaws, and partial skeletons, have been found across North America, Europe, and Africa, with notable specimens in the Chinle Formation of the southwestern U.S.

Phytosaurs, such as Smilosuchus or Redondasaurus, could grow up to 12 meters long, with long, narrow snouts filled with sharp, conical teeth suited for catching fish, small reptiles, or other prey. Their semi-aquatic lifestyle is inferred from their anatomy—streamlined bodies, short limbs, and long tails—allowing them to ambush prey in rivers and lakes within the warm, humid environments of the Triassic.

Despite their resemblance to modern crocodiles, phytosaurs were distinct, with nostrils positioned high on their heads near their eyes, unlike crocodiles’ snouts. This adaptation likely aided breathing while mostly submerged. Their robust jaws and varied tooth shapes suggest a diet ranging from fish to terrestrial animals, making them apex predators in their ecosystems. Phytosaurs lived in a world of early dinosaurs, rauisuchians, and aetosaurs, but they went extinct at the end of the Triassic, likely due to the mass extinction event that paved the way for dinosaurs to dominate.