Zaraasuchus

Extinct genus of reptiles

Zaraasuchus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Clade: Crocodyliformes
Family: Gobiosuchidae
Genus: Zaraasuchus
Pol and Norell, 2004
Type species
Zaraasuchus shepardi
Pol and Norell, 2004

Zaraasuchus ("hedgehog crocodile") was a gobiosuchid crocodyliform described in 2004 by Diego Pol and Mark Norell. It was found in the Red Beds of Zos Canyon, in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, thus making it Late Cretaceous in age.

The type species is Z. shepardi, honouring Dr. Richard Shepard.

Material

The holotype of Z. shepardi is IGM 100/1321, consisting of the posterior region of the skull and lower jaws with articulation with cervical vertebrae, forelimb elements and osteoderms.

Systematics

Pol and Norell (2004) found Zaraasuchus shepardi to be the sister taxon of Gobiosuchus kielanae, united by 14 synapomorphies, primarily from the skull, forming the family Gobiosuchidae.

Sources

  • Pol, D. & Norell, M. A., (2004). "A new gobiosuchid crocodyliform taxon from the Cretaceous of Mongolia". American Museum Novitates 3458: 1-31.
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Sauropsida
    • see Sauropsida
Archosauromorpha
    • see Archosauromorpha
Pseudosuchia
    • see below↓
Ornithosuchidae
Erpetosuchidae
Aetosauriformes
Aetosauria
    • see Aetosauria
Gracilisuchidae
Paracrocodylomorpha
    • see below↓
Ornithosuchus longidens

Erpetosuchus granti

Gracilisuchus stepanicicorum
Poposauroidea
Ctenosauriscidae
Poposauridae
Shuvosauridae
Loricata
Rauisuchidae
Crocodylomorpha
    • see below↓
Arizonasaurus babbitti

Effigia okeeffeae Saurosuchus galilei

Postosuchus kirkpatricki
Saltoposuchidae
Hallopodidae
Thalattosuchia
    • see Thalattosuchia
Protosuchidae
Notochampsidae
Gobiosuchidae
Shartegosuchoidea
Shartegosuchidae
Metasuchia
Ziphosuchia
Neosuchia
Hesperosuchus agilis

Hoplosuchus kayi

Sichuanosuchus huidongensis
Taxon identifiers
Zaraasuchus
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