Phytosaur Fossil Collection
Phytosaurs are an extinct group of large semi-aquatic Upper Triassic archosaurs. Phytosaurs were long-snouted and heavily armored, bearing a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodiles in size, appearance, and lifestyle. This is an example of convergence or parallel evolution. The name 'phytosaur' means 'plant reptile': the first fossils of phytosaurs were mistakenly thought to belong to plant-eaters. The sharp teeth in phytosaur jaws clearly show they were predators. Although phytosaurs were not true crocodilians themselves, they were more closely related to the crocodilians than to other modern reptiles. Crocodiles did not become phytosaur-like until the Lower Jurassic. "Consensus generally places phytosaurs as basal crurotarsans, possibly the basal-most group".