arcosaurs

Archosaurus is an extinct genus of archosauriform reptile that lived during the Late Triassic period. Its fossils have been found in formations dating back to the Carnian stage, approximately 230 million years ago. Archosaurus is known from very limited fossil remains, primarily skull fragments and some postcranial elements. These discoveries have been crucial for understanding early archosaur evolution and their diversification during the Triassic.

The classification of Archosaurus has been subject to some debate among paleontologists due to the fragmentary nature of the fossils. However, it is generally considered to be a basal member of the Archosauria, the group that eventually gave rise to crocodiles, birds, and extinct dinosaurs. Its skull features suggest it was an early representative of a lineage that would lead to more derived archosaur groups. The environment in which Archosaurus lived was likely terrestrial, characterized by warm, seasonal climates common in the Triassic. Further research on more complete specimens, if discovered, would provide a more detailed picture of its anatomy, lifestyle, and evolutionary relationships.