Phytosaurus

Phytosaurus was a genus of phytosaurid pseudosuchian reptiles that lived during the Late Triassic period. These animals were among the dominant marine predators of their time. Phytosaurus fossils are found in Europe and North Africa. The name Phytosaurus means "plant lizard," a misnomer based on early, incomplete fossil discoveries that suggested a herbivorous diet. However, further research confirmed that Phytosaurus was a formidable carnivore.

Phytosaurus possessed a long, crocodile-like body with powerful limbs and a long, flattened tail. Its most distinctive feature was its elongated, narrow snout filled with numerous sharp, conical teeth, adapted for catching slippery prey. Their nostrils were located far back on the skull, near the eyes, a feature that helped them breathe while their bodies were submerged in water. This anatomical adaptation allowed them to ambush prey from below the surface.

The diet of Phytosaurus likely consisted of fish, amphibians, and other aquatic vertebrates. They were well-adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, spending much of their time in rivers, lakes, and possibly coastal marine environments. The extinction of Phytosaurus, like many other reptile groups, is linked to the end-Triassic extinction event. They were eventually replaced in many ecosystems by the early dinosaurs that rose to prominence in the Jurassic period.