Archosauriforms

Archosauriforms are a clade of archosaurs, a group of reptiles that includes extinct species such as dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodilians. The term "archosauriform" refers to a specific characteristic morphology found in these animals, typically including elongated skulls, a specific pattern of bones in the pelvis, and other distinctive features.

Archosauriforms emerged during the early Triassic period, around 245 million years ago, and were known to have descended from a common ancestor with another group of reptiles called Rauisuchians. Over time, they gave rise to a wide variety of different species, ranging in size and type from the small, insectivorous insectivorans to the large, carnivorous archosaurs.

Many archosauriforms were characterized by the development of powerful limbs and specialized teeth and skull bones adapted to either a carnivorous diet or some other type of feeding adaptation. As such, they dominated both aquatic and terrestrial environments in many parts of the world. Terrestrial forms, such as the early dinosaur-like Eoraptor and Herrerasaurus, show evidence of a strengthened tail and backbone structure that supported a more upright posture. Aquatic forms, such as the archosaur-like captorhinid-like-resembling aquatic euryapsids, are less well known, but have been depicted with similar features to some of their terrestrial contemporaries.

Some of the earliest known archosauriforms show a mix of terrestrial and marine characteristics, while more advanced forms exhibit clear signs of specialization for specific environments. Archosauriform fossils have been found in many regions, including the European and African Triassic. As new discoveries continue to shed light on this ancient group, researchers are better able to characterize archosauriform biology, ecology, and evolutionary history.