Erythrosuchia

Erythrosuchia is an extinct group of archosauriform reptiles that lived during the Triassic period. They are considered among the earliest known true archosaurs, belonging to a lineage that would eventually give rise to crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds. Erythrosuchids were generally medium to large-sized reptiles, with some species reaching lengths of up to 5 meters. They possessed robust bodies, powerful hind limbs for locomotion, and relatively short forelimbs. Their skulls were well-developed, often featuring a prominent ridge or crest on the snout, and they had sharp teeth, indicating a carnivorous diet.

The exact phylogenetic position of Erythrosuchia within Archosauria has been a subject of debate, but they are widely accepted as an early offshoot of the archosaur lineage, predating the divergence of crurotarsans and ornithodirans. Their fossils are found in deposits from the Early to Middle Triassic, with significant discoveries in Africa, Russia, and China. Erythrosuchids represent an important transitional group, bridging the gap between earlier archosauriforms and the more specialized archosaurs that dominated the Mesozoic Era. Their extinction likely occurred before the end of the Triassic, making way for the diversification of other archosaur groups.