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Kostensuchus

Osteichthyes

Discussion

Kosten, refers to the Patagonian wind in Aonikenk language; and suchus, latinized from the Greek Souchos in references to the Egyptian crocodile-headed god (Sebek).

Taxonomy
Kostensuchus was named by Novas et al. (2025). Its type is Kostensuchus atrox.

It was assigned to Peirosauridae by Novas et al. (2025).

Species
K. atrox (type species)

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2025Kostensuchus Novas et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
RankNameAuthor
subclassEureptilia()
Romeriida
Diapsida()
Archosauromorpha(Huene 1946)
Crocopoda
ArchosauriformesGauthier 1986
Eucrocopoda
Archosauria()
Pseudosuchia(Zittel 1890)
SuchiaKrebs 1974
Paracrocodylomorpha
Loricata(Merrem 1820)
Crocodylomorpha()
Solidocrania
suborderCrocodyliformes
MesoeucrocodyliaWhetstone and Whybrow 1983
PeirosauriaLeardi et al. 2024
Peirosauridae(Gasparini 1982)
genusKostensuchus

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. †Kostensuchus Novas et al. 2025
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Kostensuchus atrox Novas et al. 2025
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
F. E. Novas et al. 2025Kostensuchus gen. nov. is among the largest known peirosaurids (dorsal skull length = 49 cm) diagnosed by the following combination of characters (autapomorphies marked by *): skull proportionally shorter, wider and higher than in other peirosaurids (e.g., Hamadasuchus, Lomasuchus, Montealtosuchus); rostrum comprising slightly over 50% the total skull length; sinusoidal alveolar margin of maxilla (shared with Hamadasuchus); completely ossified internarial bar; lacrimal lateral surface faintly ornamented and slightly depressed between antorbital fenestra and orbit*; jugal reaching the ventral end of a circular antorbital fenestra; subtrapezoidal external supratemporal fenestra, occupying close to 70% of skull roof width; absence of anterior floor of supratemporal fossa; flat dorsal surface of parietal in occipital view; distinct step on dorsal surface of the posterolateral process of squamosal; broad palatine anterior margin, forming a bread transversal suture with maxilla; paired parasagittal ridges on the ventral surface of the basisphenoid; convex dorsal edge of surangular and craniomandibular articulation located above the level of dentary toothrow; ziphodont teeth; humerus with vertical orientation of insertion area of M. subscapularis above internal tuberosity; distal end of deltopectoral crest curves medially surpassing the lateromedial midpoint of humeral shaft; anterior surface of distal end of humerus separated from shaft by a distinct step forming a shelf.