PBDB Taxon

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Archosauria (archosaur)

Reptilia

Taxonomy

Archosauria was named by Cope (1869) ["great order"]. It is extant. It was considered monophyletic by Thies et al. (1997), Nesbitt (2011), Ezcurra (2016).

It was synonymized subjectively with Hyperosauria by Jaekel (1911); it was reranked as the infraclass Archosauria by Williston (1917), Olson (1966), Olshevsky (1992); it was reranked as the subclass Archosauria by Haughton and Brink (1954), Parsch (1963), Bakker and Galton (1974), Haubold (1974), Thulborn (1975), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Thies et al. (1997); it was reranked as the superorder Archosauria by Kuhn (1966), Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004); it was reranked as the class Archosauria by Bakker (1986); it was reranked as the unranked clade Archosauria by Gardiner (1982), Gauthier et al. (1989), Parrish (1993), Long and Murry (1995), Senter (2004), Nesbitt (2011), Nesbitt et al. (2014), Ezcurra (2016), O'Sullivan and Martill (2018).

It was assigned to Diapsida by Olson (1947), Kuhn (1966); to Amniota by Bakker and Galton (1974); to Thecodontia by Gardiner (1982); to Diapsida by Bakker (1986); to Diapsida by Williston (1917), Roxo (1937), Olson (1966), Olshevsky (1992); to Archosauromorpha by Benton (1985), Carroll (1988), Benton (1990), Peng et al. (2001), Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004); to Crurotarsi by Nesbitt (2011); to Archosauriformes by Gauthier et al. (1989), Sereno (1991), Parrish (1993), Long and Murry (1995), Senter (2004), Nesbitt et al. (2014); to Eucrocopoda by Ezcurra (2016); and to Reptilia by Cope (1870), Lydekker (1888), Haughton and Brink (1954), Parsch (1963), Haubold (1974), Thulborn (1975), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Thies et al. (1997), O'Sullivan and Martill (2018).

Subtaxa

Agrestipus, Avemetatarsalia, Avipes, Caenagnathiformes, Longisquamidae, Megalosaurus terquemi, Neoarchosauria, Palaeosauriscus, Parrishia, Parrishia mccreai, Picrodon, Pseudosuchia, Sikannisuchus, Smok, Strigosuchus, Strigosuchus licinus, Thecodontia, Theropodomorpha

Sister taxa

Caenagnathiformes, Thecodontia

Year	Name and author
1869	Archosauria Cope p. 30
1870	Archosauria Cope p. 28
1888	Archosauria Lydekker p. 1
1898	Picrodon Seeley
1898	Picrodon herveyi Seeley
1901	Avalonia herveyi Nopcsa p. 196
1917	Archosauria Williston p. 414
1926	Megalosaurus terquemi Huene p. 80
1932	Avipes Huene p. 47
1932	Avipes dillstedtianus Huene p. 47 figs. Pl. 1:7
1937	Archosauria Roxo p. 44
1938	Avipes dillstedtianus Schmidt p. 73
1939	Avipes Kuhn p. 38
1939	Avipes dillstedtianus Kuhn p. 38
1947	Archosauria Olson pp. 44, 45
1952	Avipes dillstedtianus Lang and Huene p. 34
1954	Archosauria Haughton and Brink p. 4
1956	Avipes Romer p. 611
1959	Palaeosauriscus Kuhn p. 425
1963	Archosauria Parsch p. 4
1964	Palaeosauriscus Kuhn p. 325
1964	Avipes Tatarinov p. 530
1964	Palaeosauriscus Tatarinov p. 535
1965	Strigosuchus Simmons p. 31
1965	Strigosuchus licinus Simmons p. 31 fig. 8
1966	Archosauria Kuhn p. 69
1966	Archosauria Olson p. 301
1966	Avipes Romer p. 369
1966	Palaeosauriscus Romer p. 370
1967	Palaeosauriscus Charig p. 712
1967	Avipes Charig p. 713
1967	Avipes dillstedtianus Charig p. 713
1967	Gresslyosaurus terquemi Lapparent p. 10
1970	Palaeosauriscus Colbert p. 26
1970	Palaeosauriscus Ellenberger p. 348
1970	Avipes Steel p. 10
1970	Avipes dillstedtianus Steel p. 10
1970	Palaeosauriscus Steel p. 25
1970	Picrodon Steel p. 26
1970	Picrodon herveyi Steel p. 26
1970	Megalosaurus terquemi Steel p. 35
1971	Avipes Kuhn p. 16
1971	Avipes dillstedtianus Kuhn p. 16
1971	Palaeosauricus Kuhn p. 16
1974	Archosauria Bakker and Galton p. 171
1974	Archosauria Haubold p. 39
1975	Archosauria Thulborn p. 267
1978	Avipes Anderson and Cruickshank p. 31
1981	Archosauria Thurmond and Jones p. 142
1982	Archosauria Gardiner p. 229
1984	Avipes Welles p. 156
1985	Archosauria Benton p. 154
1986	Archosauria Bakker p. 472
1986	Avipes Battail p. 47
1986	Picrodon Battail p. 48
1987	Agrestipus Weems pp. 13, 15
1988	Archosauria Carroll
1988	Avipes Carroll
1988	Strigosuchus Carroll
1989	Archosauria Gauthier et al. p. 345
1990	Archosauria Benton p. 15
1991	Archosauria Sereno p. 39 fig. 26
1992	Archosauria Olshevsky
1993	Archosauria Parrish p. 290 fig. 1
1995	Archosauria Long and Murry
1995	Parrishia Long and Murry p. 164
1995	Parrishia mccreai Long and Murry p. 167 figs. 174-175
1997	Archosauria Thies et al.
1999	Avesuchia Benton
2001	Archosauria Peng et al. p. 32
2003	Agrestipus Romero Molina et al. p. 24
2004	Archosauria Martinelli and Forasiepi p. 260
2004	Archosauria Senter p. 260
2006	Agrestipus Weishampel pp. 133-134
2007	Gresslyosaurus terquemi Gand et al. p. 74
2011	Archosauria Nesbitt p. 193 fig. 51
2014	Archosauria Nesbitt et al.
2016	Archosauria Ezcurra
2018	Archosauria O'Sullivan and Martill

Unr. Archosauria Cope 1869 [archosaur]

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Unr. †Avemetatarsalia Benton 1999

Unr. †Aphanosauria Nesbitt et al. 2017

G. †Dongusuchus Sennikov 1988

†Dongusuchus efremovi Sennikov 1988

G. †Spondylosoma Huene 1942

†Spondylosoma absconditum Huene 1942

G. †Teleocrater Charig 1967

†Teleocrater rhadinus Charig 1967

G. Yarasuchus Sen 2005

†Yarasuchus deccanensis Sen 2005

G. †Mambachiton Nesbitt et al. 2023

†Mambachiton fiandohana Nesbitt et al. 2023

Unr. Ornithodira Gauthier 1986 [ornithodiran]

Unr. Dinosauromorpha Benton 1985

Unr. Dinosauriformes Novas 1992

Unr. Dinosauria Owen 1842 [dinosaur]

Invalid names: Eudinosauria Novas 1992 [synonym], Ornithoscelida Huxley 1870 [synonym]

G. †Ignotosaurus Martínez et al. 2013

G. †Marasuchus Sereno and Arcucci 1994

G. †Saltopus Huene 1910

Unr. †Silesauridae Langer et al. 2010

Invalid names: Lagosuchus Romer 1971 [nomen dubium], Lagosuchus talampayensis Romer 1971 [nomen dubium]

G. †Prorotodactylus Ptaszynski 2000

†Prorotodactylus lutevensis Demathieu 1984

†Prorotodactylus mirus Ptaszynski 2000

Unr. †Pterosauromorpha Padian 1997

Unr. †Lagerpetidae Arcucci 1986

G. †Dromomeron Irmis et al. 2007

G. †Faxinalipterus Bonaparte et al. 2010

G. †Ixalerpeton Cabreira et al. 2016

G. †Kongonaphon Kammerer et al. 2020

G. †Lagerpeton Romer 1971

G. †Scleromochlus Woodward 1907

G. †Venetoraptor Müller et al. 2023

Or. †Pterosauria Kaup 1834 [pterosaur]

G. †Anmolpakhi Malkani 2019

G. †Antipus Hitchcock 1858

G. †Arcticodactylus Kellner 2015

G. †Austriadactylus Dalla Vecchia et al. 2002

G. †Austriadraco Kellner 2015

Fm. †Campylognathoididae

G. †Carniadactylus Dalla Vecchia 2009

G. †Caviramus Fröbisch and Fröbisch 2006

G. †Daohugoupterus Cheng et al. 2015

Unr. †Eopterosauria Andres et al. 2014

G. †Laopteryx Marsh 1881

Unr. †Macronychoptera Unwin 2003

Subor. †Ornithocephaliformes Hay 1930

G. †Ornithochirus Cope 1872

G. †Palaeocursornis Kessler and Jurcsák 1986

Invalid names: Eurolimnornis Kessler 1987 [replaced], Limnornis Kessler and Jurcsák 1984 [replaced], Palaeolimnornis Jurcsák and Kessler 1985 [replaced]

G. †Preondactylus Wild 1984

Fm. †Pteraichnidae Lockley et al. 1995

Subor. †Pterodactyloidea Plieninger 1901

Subor. †Rhamphorhynchoidea Plieninger 1901

G. †Samrukia Naish et al. 2012

G. †Seazzadactylus Dalla Vecchia 2019

Fm. †Wukongopteridae Wang et al. 2009

Invalid names: Aidacharidae Nessov 1981 [empty], Archaeopteryx vicensensis Lambrecht 1933 [nomen vanum], Austriadraconidae Kellner 2015 [empty], Campylognathoides indicus Jain 1974 [nomen dubium], Eurolimnornis Kessler and Jurcsák 1986 [nomen dubium], Eurolimnornis corneti Kessler and Jurcsák 1984 [nomen dubium], Laopteryx priscus Marsh 1881 [nomen dubium], Ornithocheirus hilsensis Koken 1883 [nomen dubium], Ornithocheirus nobilis Owen 1870 [nomen dubium], Ornithosaurii Bonaparte 1838 [synonym], Ptenodactylus brachyrhinus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus capito Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus crassidens Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus dentatus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus enchorhynchus Seeley 1869 [nomen dubium], Ptenodactylus eurygnathus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus macrorhinus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus oxyrhinus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus platystomus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus polyodon Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus scaphorhynchus Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Ptenodactylus tenuirostris Seeley 1869 [nomen nudum], Pteranodontes Gadow 1898 [empty], Pterodactyli Meyer 1830 [empty], Pterodactylus curtus Owen 1870 [nomen dubium], Pterodactylus hopkinsi Seeley 1864 [nomen nudum], Pterodactylus huxleyi Seeley 1865 [nomen nudum], Pterodactylus oweni Seeley 1864 [nomen nudum], Pterodactylus primus Deffner and Fraas 1859 [nomen nudum], Pterodactylus suprajurensis Sauvage 1873 [nomen dubium], Rhamphorhynchus jessoni Lydekker 1890 [nomen dubium], Rhamphorhynchus manselii Owen 1874 [nomen dubium], Rhamphorhynchus pleydellii Owen 1874 [nomen dubium], Scaphognathoidea Hooley 1913 [empty], Sharivopterygia Olshevsky 1991 [empty], Tribelesodontoidea Nopcsa 1928 [empty]

Invalid names: Prorotodactylidae Ptaszynski 2000 [empty]

Invalid names: Scleromochlidae Huene 1914 [empty]

Unr. †Pseudosuchia Zittel 1890

Fm. †Aetosauridae Baur 1887

Invalid names: Desmatosuchidae Case 1920 [synonym]

Superfm. †Aetosauroidea

Invalid names: Stagonolepoidea Kuhn 1964 [synonym]

G. †Browniella Broom 1913

Fm. †Chirotheriidae Abel 1935

G. †Brachychirotherium Beurlen 1950

†Brachychirotherium circaparvum Demathieu 1971

†Brachychirotherium eyermani Baird 1957

†Brachychirotherium gallicum Willruth 1917

†Brachychirotherium harrasense Haubold 1967

†Brachychirotherium hauboldi Ptaszynski 1990

†Brachychirotherium hessei Soergel 1925

†Brachychirotherium kalkowensis Niedzwiedzki and Ptaszynski 2007

†Brachychirotherium kuhni Demathieu and Haubold 1982

†Brachychirotherium lorteti Haubold 1970

†Brachychirotherium pachydactylum Demathieu and Gand 1973

†Brachychirotherium paraparvum Demathieu and Oosterink 1988

†Brachychirotherium parvum Hitchcock 1889

Invalid names: Agrestipus hottoni Weems 1987 [synonym], Chirotherium copei Bock 1952 [synonym]

†Brachychirotherium praeparvum Haubold 1967

†Brachychirotherium thuringiacum Rühle von Lilienstern 1938

Invalid names: Brachychirotherium coburgense Aumann 1957 [synonym], Brachychirotherium dulcis Ellenberger 1970 [synonym], Brachychirotherium hassfurtense Beurlen 1950 [synonym]

†Brachychirotherium wiorense Ptaszynski 2000

G. †Chirotherium Kaup 1835

†Chirotherium atlensis Biron and Dutuit 1981

†Chirotherium barthii Kaup 1835

Invalid names: Chirotherium bairdi Reig 1961 [synonym], Chirotherium gallicum Willruth 1917 [synonym], Chirotherium higuerensis Rusconi 1952 [synonym], Chirotherium kaupii Owen 1842 [synonym], Chirotherium majus Sickler 1836 [synonym], Chirotherium pfeifferi Soergel 1925 [synonym], Saurichnites auraensis Kirchner 1927 [synonym], Saurichnites gambaensis Schuster 1936 [synonym]

†Chirotherium culmbachense Soergel 1925

†Chirotherium ferox Demathieu 1966

†Chirotherium herculis Egerton 1839

†Chirotherium heterodactylum King 1844

†Chirotherium ischigualastianum Huene 1931

†Chirotherium ladinicus Avanzini and Wachtler 2012

†Chirotherium mediterraneum Demathieu and Durand 1991

†Chirotherium peabodyi Faber 1958

†Chirotherium postchirotherioides Rehnelt 1950

†Chirotherium praeparvum Haubold 1967

†Chirotherium reiteri Moore 1873

†Chirotherium rex Peabody 1948

Invalid names: Chirotherium moquiensis Peabody 1948 [synonym]

†Chirotherium sickleri Kaup 1835

Invalid names: Chirotherium beasleyi Nopcsa 1923 [synonym], Chirotherium bipes Berthold 1835 [synonym], Chirotherium bornemanni Willruth 1917 [synonym], Chirotherium minus Sickler 1836 [synonym]

†Chirotherium soergeli Haubold 1969

†Chirotherium storetonense Morton 1863

†Chirotherium swinnertoni Sarjeant 1970

†Chirotherium vorbachi Kirchner 1927

Invalid names: Chirosaurus Kaup 1835 [synonym], Krokodilipus Nopcsa 1923 [synonym], Quadridigitus Biron and Dutuit 1981 [synonym], Saurichnites Geinitz 1861 [synonym], Sphingopus Demathieu 1966 [synonym]

G. †Isochirotherium Haubold 1971

†Isochirotherium bipedale Abel 1935

†Isochirotherium circademathieui Gand 1979

†Isochirotherium coltoni Peabody 1948

†Isochirotherium comblei Gand 1979

†Isochirotherium coureli Demathieu 1970

†Isochirotherium delicatum Courel and Demathieu 1976

†Isochirotherium demathieui Haubold 1970

†Isochirotherium felenci Courel and Demathieu 1976

†Isochirotherium gardettensis Petti et al. 2020

†Isochirotherium gierlinskii Ptaszynski 2000

†Isochirotherium herculis Egerton 1839

†Isochirotherium hessbergense Haubold 1970

†Isochirotherium jenense Haubold 1970

†Isochirotherium lomasi Baird 1954

†Isochirotherium marshalli Peabody 1948

†Isochirotherium sanctacrucense Ptaszynski 1990

†Isochirotherium soergeli Haubold 1969

G. †Parasynaptichnium Mietto 1987

G. †Protochirotherium Fichter and Kunz 2004

†Protochirotherium wolfhagense Fichter and Kunz 2004

Invalid names: Palaeochirotherium Fichter and Kunz 2011 [synonym]

G. †Sauropodopus Ellenberger 1970

†Sauropodopus antiquus Ellenberger 1970

Invalid names: Deuterosauropodopus major Ellenberger 1970 [synonym]

G. †Synaptichnium Nopcsa 1923

†Synaptichnium argantobrivense Demathieu and Gand 1981

†Synaptichnium cameronensis Peabody 1948

†Synaptichnium chirotherioides Ptaszynski 1990

†Synaptichnium diabloensis Peabody 1948

†Synaptichnium hildburghausense Lilienstern 1939

†Synaptichnium kotanskii Ptaszynski 2000

†Synaptichnium motutongense Ellenberger 1974

†Synaptichnium priscum Demathieu 1970

†Synaptichnium pseudosuchoides Nopcsa 1923

†Synaptichnium senkowiczowae Niedzwiedzki and Ptaszynski 2007

Invalid names: Brachychirotherium tintanti Demathieu 1971 [nomen dubium], Chelonichnium Schimper 1853 [nomen dubium], Chirotherium angustum Huene 1941 [nomen dubium], Chirotherium catalaunicum Casanovas-Cladellas et al. 1979 [nomen dubium], Chirotherium huberi Bock 1952 [nomen dubium], Chirotherium ibericum Navás 1906 [nomen dubium], Chirotherium lulli Bock 1952 [nomen dubium], Chirotherium wondrai Heller 1952 [nomen dubium], Dahutherium Montenat 1968 [nomen nudum], Deuterosauropodopus Ellenberger 1970 [nomen dubium], Deuterosauropodopus minor Ellenberger 1970 [nomen dubium], Pachysaurichnium Demathieu and Weidmann 1982 [nomen dubium], Paratrisauropus Ellenberger 1970 [nomen dubium], Pentichnus Biron and Dutuit 1981 [nomen dubium], Pseudochirotherium Biron and Dutuit 1981 [nomen dubium], Shimmelia Casamiquela 1964 [nomen dubium], Swinnertonichnus Sarjeant 1967 [nomen dubium], Thecodontichnus fucinii Huene 1941 [nomen dubium]

Superfm. †Elachistosuchoidea Hoffstetter 1955

Invalid names: Elachistosuchidae Huene 1956 [empty]

Fm. †Erpetosuchidae Watson 1917

G. †Erpetosuchus Newton 1894

†Erpetosuchus granti Newton 1894

G. †Pagosvenator Lacerda et al. 2018

†Pagosvenator candelariensis Lacerda et al. 2018

G. †Parringtonia Huene 1939

†Parringtonia gracilis Huene 1939

Fm. †Gwyneddichniidae Bock 1952

G. †Gwyneddichnium Bock 1952

†Gwyneddichnium elongatum Bock 1952

†Gwyneddichnium majore Bock 1952

†Gwyneddichnium minore Bock 1952

G. †Ingenierichnus Casamiquela 1964

Invalid names: Ingenierichnus sierrai Casamiquela 1964 [nomen dubium]

G. †Koilamasuchus Ezcurra et al. 2010

†Koilamasuchus gonzalezdiazi Ezcurra et al. 2010

G. †Mambawakale Butler et al. 2022

†Mambawakale ruhuhu Butler et al. 2022

G. †Nundasuchus Nesbitt et al. 2014

†Nundasuchus songeaensis Nesbitt et al. 2014

Unr. †Ornithosuchidae Huene 1908

G. †Aenigmaspina Patrick et al. 2019

†Aenigmaspina pantyffynnonensis Patrick et al. 2019

G. †Dynamosuchus Müller et al. 2020

†Dynamosuchus collisensis Müller et al. 2020

G. †Ornithosuchus Newton 1894

†Ornithosuchus woodwardi Newton 1894

Invalid names: Ornithosuchus taylori Broom 1913 [synonym]

Invalid names: Dasygnathus Huxley 1877 [synonym]

G. †Riojasuchus Bonaparte 1969

†Riojasuchus tenuisceps Bonaparte 1969

G. †Venaticosuchus Bonaparte 1970

†Venaticosuchus rusconii Bonaparte 1970

Fm. †Pallisteriidae Charig 1967

G. †Pallisteria Charig 1967

†Pallisteria angustimentum Charig 1967

Unr. †Phytosauria Jaeger 1828

G. †Coburgosuchus Heller 1954

†Coburgosuchus goeckeli Heller 1954

G. †Diandongosuchus Li et al. 2012

†Diandongosuchus fuyuanensis Li et al. 2012

G. †Heterodontichnites Rinehart et al. 2006

†Heterodontichnites hunti Rinehart et al. 2006

Fm. †Parasuchidae Lydekker 1885

G. †Apatopus Baird 1957

†Apatopus lineatus Bock 1952

G. †Ebrachosuchus Kuhn 1936

†Ebrachosuchus neukami Kuhn 1936

Subfm. †Mystriosuchinae von Huene 1915

G. †Angistorhinus Mehl 1913

G. †Brachysuchus Case 1929

Unr. †Leptosuchomorpha Stocker 2010

G. †Protome Stocker 2012

G. †Rutiodon Emmons 1856

Invalid names: Metarhinus Jaekel 1910 [synonym]

G. †Volcanosuchus Datta et al. 2019

Invalid names: Phytosauridae Jaeger 1828 [replaced]

G. †Parasuchus Lydekker 1885

†Parasuchus angustifrons Kuhn 1936

†Parasuchus bransoni Williston 1904

†Parasuchus hislopi Lydekker 1885

†Parasuchus magnoculus Long and Murry 1995

Invalid names: Arganarhinus Long and Murry 1995 [synonym], Paleorhinus Williston 1904 [synonym]

G. †Wannia Stocker 2013

†Wannia scurriensis Langston 1949

Invalid names: Parasuchinae Lydekker 1885 [empty]

G. †Promystriosuchus Case 1922

G. †Rectilinetopus Biron and Dutuit 1981

†Rectilinetopus ourikensis Biron and Dutuit 1981

G. †Termatosaurus Plieninger 1844

†Termatosaurus alberti Meyer and Plieninger 1844

†Termatosaurus crocodilinus Quenstedt 1858

Invalid names: Angistorhinopsis Huene 1922 [nomen dubium], Angistorhinopsis ruetimeyeri Huene 1911 [nomen dubium], Angistorhinus gracilis Mehl 1915 [nomen dubium], Belodon Meyer 1844 [nomen dubium], Belodon ingens Fraas 1896 [nomen dubium], Belodon lepturus Cope 1869 [nomen dubium], Belodon plieningeri Meyer 1844 [nomen dubium], Belodon scolopax Cope 1881 [nomen dubium], Belodon superciliosus Cope 1893 [nomen dubium], Belodon validus Marsh 1893 [nomen dubium], Brachysuchus maleriensis Huene 1940 [nomen dubium], Centemodon Lea 1856 [nomen dubium], Centemodon sulcatus Lea 1856 [nomen dubium], Clepsysaurus Lea 1851 [nomen dubium], Clepsysaurus leai Emmons 1856 [nomen dubium], Clepsysaurus pennsylvanicus Lea 1851 [nomen dubium], Clepsysaurus veatleianus Cope 1877 [nomen dubium], Compsosaurus Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Compsosaurus priscus Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Dicynodon rosmarus Cope 1870 [nomen dubium], Eurydorus Leidy 1859 [nomen dubium], Eurydorus serridens Leidy 1859 [nomen dubium], Francosuchus Kuhn 1932 [nomen dubium], Francosuchus broilii Kuhn 1932 [nomen dubium], Francosuchus latus Kuhn 1932 [nomen dubium], Heterodontosuchus Lucas 1898 [nomen dubium], Heterodontosuchus ganei Lucas 1898 [nomen dubium], Leptosuchus imperfecta Case 1922 [nomen dubium], Omosaurus Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Omosaurus perplexus Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Palaeoctonus Cope 1877 [nomen dubium], Palaeoctonus appalachianus Cope 1877 [nomen dubium], Palaeoctonus aulacodus Cope 1877 [nomen dubium], Palaeoctonus dumblianus Cope 1893 [nomen dubium], Palaeoctonus orthodon Cope 1893 [nomen dubium], Palaeosaurus Riley and Stutchbury 1836 [nomen dubium], Palaeosaurus fraserianus Cope 1878 [nomen dubium], Palaeosaurus platyodon Riley and Stutchbury 1836 [nomen dubium], Palaeosaurus stricklandi Davis 1881 [nomen dubium], Parasuchia Huxley [synonym], Phytosaurus Jaeger 1828 [nomen dubium], Phytosaurus cubicodon Jaeger 1828 [nomen dubium], Phytosaurus cylindricodon Jaeger 1828 [nomen dubium], Rhytidodon rostratus Marsh 1896 [nomen dubium], Rileya bristolensis Huene 1902 [nomen dubium], Rutiodon manhattanensis Huene 1913 [nomen dubium], Suchoprion Cope 1877 [nomen dubium], Suchoprion cyphodon Cope 1877 [nomen dubium], Suchoprion sulcidens Cope 1878 [nomen dubium], Termatosaurus albertii Meyer and Plieninger 1844 [nomen dubium]

Superfm. †Poposauroidea Nopcsa 1923

G. †Benggwigwishingasuchus Smith et al. 2024

†Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis Smith et al. 2024

Unr. †Ctenosauriscidae Kuhn 1964

G. †Arizonasaurus Welles 1947

†Arizonasaurus babbitti Welles 1947

G. †Bromsgroveia Galton 1985

†Bromsgroveia walkeri Galton 1985

Invalid names: Cladeiodon lloydii Owen 1841 [synonym]

G. †Bystrowisuchus Sennikov 2012

†Bystrowisuchus flerovi Sennikov 2012

G. †Ctenosauriscus Kuhn 1964

†Ctenosauriscus koeneni Huene 1902

Invalid names: Ctenosaurus Huene 1902 [replaced]

G. †Hypselorhachis Charig 1967

†Hypselorhachis mirabilis Charig 1967

G. †Xilousuchus Wu 1981

†Xilousuchus sapingensis Wu 1981

G. †Lotosaurus Zhang 1975

†Lotosaurus adentus Zhang 1975

G. †Mandasuchus Charig 1967

†Mandasuchus tanyauchen Charig 1967

G. †Poposaurus Mehl 1915

†Poposaurus gracilis Mehl 1915

†Poposaurus langstoni Long and Murry 1995

G. †Qianosuchus Li et al. 2006

†Qianosuchus mixtus Li et al. 2006

G. †Procerosuchus Huene 1942

†Procerosuchus celer Huene 1942

G. †Prochirotherium Leonardi 1951

†Prochirotherium triasicum Biron and Dutuit 1981

Superfm. †Proterosuchoidea Broom 1906

Invalid names: Shansisuchidae Young 1964 [empty]

G. †Rileyasuchus Kuhn 1961

Invalid names: Rileya Huene 1902 [replaced]

Fm. †Rotodactylidae Peabody 1948

G. †Rotodactylus Peabody 1948

†Rotodactylus bessieri Demathieu 1984

†Rotodactylus bradyi Peabody 1948

†Rotodactylus cursorius Peabody 1948

Invalid names: Rotodactylus mckeei Peabody 1948 [synonym]

†Rotodactylus kronachensis Demathieu and Leitz 1982

†Rotodactylus lucasi Demathieu and Gand 1973

†Rotodactylus matthesi Haubold 1967

†Rotodactylus rati Demathieu 1971

†Rotodactylus tumidus Morton 1897

†Rotodactylus velox Demathieu and Gand 1974

Unr. †Suchia Krebs 1974

Unr. †Aetosauria Lydekker 1889 [aetosaur]

G. †Aetosauripus Weiss 1934

†Aetosauripus schlauersbachensis Weiss 1934

G. †Aetosauroides Casamiquela 1960

†Aetosauroides scagliai Casamiquela 1960

Invalid names: Aetosauroides inhamandensis Zacharias 1982 [synonym], Aetosauroides subsulcatus Zacarias 1982 [synonym]

Fm. †Batrachopodidae Lull 1904

G. †Angolaichnus Mateus et al. 2017

G. †Batrachopus Hitchcock 1845

Invalid names: Anisichnus Hitchcock 1871 [synonym], Anisopus Hitchcock 1848 [synonym], Arachichnus Hitchcock 1858 [synonym], Batrachoidichnites Hitchcock 1844 [synonym], Cheirotheroides Hitchcock 1858 [synonym], Chelonoides Agassiz 1857 [synonym], Comptichnus Hitchcock 1865 [synonym], Exocampe Hitchcock 1858 [synonym], Macropterna Hitchcock 1848 [synonym], Nanopodiscus Ellenberger 1970 [synonym], Orthodactylus Hitchcock 1858 [synonym], Palamopus Hitchcock 1845 [synonym], Parabatrachopus Lull 1942 [synonym], Shepardia Hitchcock 1858 [synonym], Suchopus Ellenberger 1974 [synonym], Sustenodactylus Lull 1904 [synonym]

G. †Rigalites Huene 1931

G. †Tarsodactylus Hitchcock 1858

G. †Chilenosuchus Casamiquela 1980

†Chilenosuchus forttae Casamiquela 1980

G. †Hoplitosuchus Huene 1942

†Hoplitosuchus raui Huene 1942

G. †Revueltosaurus Hunt 1989

†Revueltosaurus callenderi Hunt 1989

Invalid names: Galtonia Hunt and Lucas 1994 [synonym], Pekinosaurus Hunt and Lucas 1994 [synonym], Pekinosaurus olseni Hunt and Lucas 1994 [nomen dubium], Thecodontosaurus gibbidens Cope 1878 [nomen dubium]

Unr. †Stagonolepididae Lydekker 1887

G. †Aetobarbakinoides Desojo et al. 2012

Subfm. †Aetosaurinae Baur 1887

Subor. †Desmatosuchia Case 1920

Unr. †Stagonolepidoidea Parker 2018

G. †Stegomus Marsh 1896

G. †Typlothorax

Invalid names: Episcoposaurinae Huene 1936 [empty], Stegominae Nopcsa 1923 [empty]

Invalid names: Episcoposaurus Cope 1887 [nomen dubium], Episcoposaurus haplocerus Cope 1892 [nomen dubium]

Fm. †Gracilisuchidae Butler et al. 2014

G. †Gracilisuchus Romer 1972

†Gracilisuchus stipanicicorum Romer 1972

G. †Maehary Kellner et al. 2022

†Maehary bonapartei Kellner et al. 2022

G. †Parvosuchus Müller 2024

†Parvosuchus aurelioi Müller 2024

G. †Turfanosuchus Young 1973

†Turfanosuchus dabanensis Young 1973

G. †Yonghesuchus Wu et al. 2001

†Yonghesuchus sangbiensis Wu et al. 2001

Unr. Paracrocodylomorpha Parrish 1993

Unr. Loricata Merrem 1820

G. †Apatosuchus Sues and Schoch 2013

G. †Batrachotomus Gower 1999

Unr. Crocodylomorpha Hay 1930 [crocodilian]

G. †Dagasuchus Lacerda et al. 2015

G. †Etjosuchus Tolchard et al. 2021

G. †Fasolasuchus Bonaparte 1981

Or. †Phytosauromorphi Hay 1930

G. †Prestosuchus Huene 1942

Unr. †Rauisuchidae Huene 1942 [rauisuchid]

G. †Saurosuchus Reig 1959

Invalid names: Megalosauri Fitzinger 1843 [empty]

Fm. †Poposauridae Nopcsa 1923

G. †Heptasuchus Dawley et al. 1979

G. †Lythrosuchus Long and Murry 1995

G. †Vytshegdosuchus Sennikov 1988

†Vytshegdosuchus zheshartensis Sennikov 1988

Invalid names: Paracrocodyliformes Weinbaum and Hungerbühler 2007 [empty]

Fm. †Shuvosauridae Chatterjee 1993

G. †Effigia Nesbitt and Norell 2006

†Effigia okeeffeae Nesbitt and Norell 2006

G. †Shuvosaurus Chatterjee 1993

†Shuvosaurus inexpectatus Chatterjee 1993

Invalid names: Chatterjeea elegans Long and Murry 1995 [synonym]

Invalid names: Chatterjeea Long and Murry 1995 [synonym]

G. †Sillosuchus Alcober and Parrish 1997

†Sillosuchus longicervix Alcober and Parrish 1997

Fm. †Teratosauridae Cope 1871 [teratosaurid]

G. †Cladeiodon Owen 1841

G. †Zatomus Cope 1871

†Zatomus sarcophagus Cope 1871

G. †Ticinosuchus Krebs 1965

†Ticinosuchus ferox Krebs 1965

Invalid names: Crocodiliformes Hay 1930 [empty], Prestosuchidae Romer 1966 [empty], Rauisuchia Huene 1942 [invalid subgroup], Rauisuchiformes Parrish 1993 [empty]

G. †Youngosuchus Sennikov 1985

†Youngosuchus sinensis Young 1973

Invalid names: Chasmatosaurus ultimus Young 1964 [nomen dubium], Chirotherioidea Huene 1954 [empty], Dasygnathus longidens Huxley 1877 [nomen dubium], Dongusia Huene 1940 [nomen dubium], Dongusia colorata Huene 1940 [nomen dubium], Ornithosuchoidea Kuhn 1964 [empty], Scleromochloidea Young 1964 [empty], Sphenosuchoidea Hoffstetter 1955 [empty], Synaptichniidae Ellenberger 1974 [empty], Teleocrateridae Charig 1967 [empty]

G. †Sikannisuchus Nicholls et al. 1998

†Sikannisuchus huskyi Nicholls et al. 1998

G. †Smok Niedzwiedzki et al. 2012

†Smok wawelski Niedzwiedzki et al. 2012

Or. †Thecodontia Owen 1859

G. †Clarencea Brink 1959

G. †Dasygnathoides Kuhn 1961

G. †Jushatyria Sennikov 1985

†Jushatyria vjushkovi Sennikov 1985

Subor. †Proterosuchia Broom 1906

Invalid names: Pelycosimia Huene 1911 [synonym]

G. †Tikoepentapodiscus Ellenberger 1970

†Tikoepentapodiscus fabri Ellenberger 1970

Invalid names: Crenelosaurus Ortlam 1967 [nomen dubium], Crenelosaurus nigrosilvanus Ortlam 1967 [nomen dubium], Doswelliina Weems 1980 [empty], Haemothermia Owen 1866 [empty], Ocoyuntaia Rusconi 1947 [nomen dubium], Ocoyuntaia arquata Rusconi 1947 [nomen dubium], Platyognathidae Simmons 1965 [empty], Seemannia Huene 1958 [nomen dubium], Seemannia palaeotriadica Huene 1958 [nomen dubium], Shansisuchus heiyuekouensis Young 1964 [nomen dubium]

Superor. Theropodomorpha Olshevsky 1991

Infraor. †Herrerasauria Galton 1985

Invalid names: Staurikosauridae Galton 1977 [empty]

Or. †Lagosuchia Paul 1988

Fm. †Lagosuchidae Bonaparte 1975 [lagosuchid]

Invalid names: Lagosuchinae Paul 1988 [empty]

Invalid names: Basitheropoda Olshevsky 1991 [empty]

Invalid names: Agrestipus Weems 1987 [nomen nudum], Avesuchia Benton 1999 [synonym], Avipes Huene 1932 [nomen dubium], Caenagnathiformes Sternberg 1940 [empty], Longisquamidae Sharov 1970 [empty], Megalosaurus terquemi Huene 1926 [nomen dubium], Neoarchosauria Benton 1985 [empty], Palaeosauriscus Kuhn 1959 [nomen dubium], Parrishia Long and Murry 1995 [nomen dubium], Parrishia mccreai Long and Murry 1995 [nomen dubium], Picrodon Seeley 1898 [nomen dubium], Strigosuchus Simmons 1965 [nomen dubium], Strigosuchus licinus Simmons 1965 [nomen dubium]

Reference	Diagnosis
E. D. Cope 1870	Elements of the limbs, of the pes and manus differentiated, in definiitenumber. "Postorbitals and supratemporals " of Owen wanting. Quadratum immoveably united by suture with opisthotic, prootic and quadratojugal. Sacrum of from one to six vertebrae. Neural arches attached by suture in most. Premaxillary divided. Cranial walls cartilaginous anteriorly. Palatine bones in contact with maxilliaries, and united by suture with them. Circulatory System (known only in the Crocodilia). Heart with complete septum of the ventricles; a communication between aorta roots. Nervous System (known only in the Crocodilia). Cerebellum with small lateral lobes and weak plicae.
S. J. Nesbitt 2011	The least inclusive clade containing Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768, and Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758 (sensu Sereno, 2005).

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Wuchiapingian to the top of the Holocene or 259.90000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 259.51 Ma

Collections (17377 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Artinskian - Capitanian	290.1 - 259.51	Poland (Lower Silesia)	Saurichnites divaricatus, Saurichnites gracilis (223853) Saurichnites leisnerianus (187930)
Lopingian	259.9 - 252.17	Italy (Trentino-Alto Adige)	Prochirotherium sp. (188750)
Wuchiapingian - Olenekian	259.9 - 247.2	Argentina (Río Negro)	Ingenierichnus sierrai, Shimmelia chirotheroides (53684)
Buntsandstein	259.51 - 251.902	Germany (Bavaria)	Chirotherium vorbachi (205801) Chirotherium vorbachi, Saurichnites auraensis (205800) Saurichnites auraensis (205802)
Induan	252.17 - 251.2	China (Guizhou)	Chirotherium sp. (60516)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	Italy (Cuneo)	Isochirotherium sp., Isochirotherium gardettensis, Chirotherium sp. (224578)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate)	Rotodactylus sp., Chirotherium barthii (222574)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	Morocco (Marrakech-Safi)	Protochirotherium sp., Synaptichnium sp. (199897 199898 199899 199900)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	South Africa (Free State)	Tikoepentapodiscus fabri (84059)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	Niger (Agadez)	Chirotherium sp. (200662)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	United Kingdom (England)	Chirotherium herculis (164932) Rhynchosauroides tumidus, Isochirotherium bipedale, Isochirotherium lomasi, Chirotherium minus, Chirotherium vorbachi, Chirotherium storetonense, Synaptichnium sp., Deuterotetrapous triassicus, Chirotherium sp., Chirotherium minus (164930)
Early/Lower Triassic	252.17 - 247.2	Spain (Islas Baleares)	Chirotherium sp. (95349)
Induan - Olenekian	252.17 - 247.2	United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)	Chirotherium sp. (197357)
Induan - Olenekian	252.17 - 247.2	Russian Federation (Orenburg)	Proterosuchia indet. (37040)
Induan - Smithian	252.17 - 247.2	India (West Bengal)	Teratosaurus bengalensis (117188)
Early/Lower Triassic - Middle Triassic	252.17 - 237.0	Switzerland (Valais)	Chirotheriidae indet., Chirotherium barthii (221969)
Triassic	251.902 - 201.4	United Kingdom (Cheshire)	Isochirotherium herculis (197337)
Smithian	251.3 - 247.2	Germany (Hessen)	Protochirotherium wolfhagense (196721)
Smithian	251.3 - 247.2	Russian Federation (Orenburg)	Archosauria indet. (195830)
Smithian	251.3 - 247.2	Poland (Swietoryzskie)	Prorotodactylus sp. (175800)