Description

Late Triassic

Chinle Formation

Northwestern New Mexico, USA

Fine Phytosaur tooth. Average 0.5 inch

Reptile, Phytosaur.

Rutiodon is a genus of phytosaur, a group of crocodile-like archosaurs.  It lived in parts of North America during the latter part of the Triassic Period.   Some individuals were larger than any crocodile living today, exceeding 25 feet in length.

Phytosaurs died out during the end-Triassic mass extinction.

This is an anterior tooth.