Description

Phytosaur
Late Triassic (Norian)
Upper Redonda Formation, Chinle Group
Quay County, New Mexico, USA

34mm scute on 54mm matrix.

Phytosaurs (Order Phytosauria) were crocodile-like archosaurs that lived during the Late Triassic of various parts of North America.  Some species were larger than any crocodile living today, exceeding 25 feet in length.  The group died out during the end-Triassic mass extinction.

Most phytosaur fossils found are isolated teeth.  Scutes are uncommon.