Kingdom Animalia Superorder Crocodylomorpha Rank Genus | Class Reptilia Phylum Chordata | |
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Scientific name Litargosuchus leptorhynchus Similar Trialestes, Junggarsuchus, Sphenosuchus, Hallopus, Saltoposuchus | ||
Litargosuchus ("fast running crocodile") is an extinct genus of sphenosuchian crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic of South Africa. Its remains were originally described by Gow and James Kitching in 1988 as belonging to Pedeticosaurus sp. . The fossils was re-described in 2002 by James Clark and Hans-Dieter Sues, who erected a new generic name for the specimen.
Contents
The type species is L. leptorhynchus, for its thin and delicate muzzle.
Material
The holotype for Litargosuchus was found by James Kitching, of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, on strata belonging to the lower part of the Elliot Formation, just 2 meters above the Clarens Formation. It was given the number BP/1/5237, and assigned by Gow and Kitching to Pedeticosaurus sp. The material consists of a skull, mandible and part of the postcranial skeleton.
Systematics
See Sphenosuchia for details on sphenosuchian phylogenyAccording to its description, Litargosuchus belongs to the Sphenosuchidae. However, phylogenetic relationships within the Sphenosuchia are poorly understood, so its status within this clade is uncertain.