Desmatosuchus

Desmatosuchus is an extinct genus of pseudosuchian, a group of reptiles that includes modern crocodilians and their extinct relatives. It lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 227 to 221 million years ago, in what is now North America. Desmatosuchus was a quadrupedal animal, measuring up to 5 meters in length. Its most distinctive feature was its armor.

The body of Desmatosuchus was covered in bony plates, or osteoderms, arranged in rows along its back and sides. These osteoderms were thick and often ridged, providing substantial protection. The arrangement and shape of these plates varied between different species within the genus. Some species also possessed spikes along their flanks.

Desmatosuchus belonged to the family Aetosauridae, a group of armored pseudosuchians characterized by their extensive dermal armor. Its diet is believed to have consisted mainly of plants, with its jaws adapted for a herbivorous lifestyle. Fossil evidence suggests it inhabited terrestrial environments, likely forests or open woodlands.

The genus Desmatosuchus was first described in 1894 based on fossil remains found in Texas. Several species have since been identified, including D. haplocerus, D. spurensis, and D. ripleyorum. The discovery and study of Desmatosuchus have contributed significantly to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of archosauriform reptiles during the Triassic period, a crucial time in the development of dinosaur ancestors and other major reptile lineages.