Tasmaniosaurus
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Tasmaniosaurus Temporal range: Early Triassic |
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| Restored skull | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| Infraclass: | Archosauromorpha |
| (unranked): | Archosauriformes |
| Family: | Proterosuchidae |
| Genus: |
Tasmaniosaurus Camp and Banks, 1978 |
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Tasmaniosaurus ('Lizard from Tasmania') is an archosaur of the family Proterosuchidae, known from the Knocklofty Formation (Early Triassic) of West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is Australia's most complete Triassic reptile fossil; the entire skeleton has been preserved. The type species is T. triassicus. The genus was first described in 1978, but was first named as a nomen nudum in 1974.
Tasmaniosaurus was about 1 metre long, and similar in appearance to the proterosuchid Chasmatosaurus from Africa and China, which may be its closest relative. It is however distinguished from other proterosuchids by the presence of an interclavicle, which other members had lost. The premaxilla is slightly curved. The teeth are sharp. It may have fed, amongst other creatures, on labyrinthodonts, as remains of these amphibians are associated with the skeleton. It is surmised that many proterosuchids lived an amphibious, predatory life like crocodiles today. Tasmaniosaurus had no dermal scutes. Tasmaniosaurus is one of the earliest reptiles known to have lived in Australia. Another proterosuchid, Kalisuchus rewanensis, is known from the Early Triassic of Queensland, Australia.
Long, J.A., Dinosaurs of Australia and New Zealand, UNSW Press 1998
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