Saltoposuchus
Saltoposuchus is an extinct genus of small, long-tailed crocodylomorph reptile, from the Norian of Europe. The name translated means "leaping foot crocodile". It has been proposed that Terrestrisuchus gracilis and Saltoposuchus connectens represent different ontogenetic stages of the same genus. Saltoposuchus was commonly referred to in popular literature as the ancestor to dinosaurs; however, recent scientific research shows that this is not the case.Description and paleobiology
Fossil evidence of Sphenosuchia and early crocodylomorphs lead paleontologists to conclude that Saltoposuchus is a terrestrial animal. As a monophyletic group of crocodylomorphs, Saltoposuchidae have many key morphological traits shared with most crocodylomorphs.Skull
Much like other crocodylomorphs, Saltoposuchus skulls had a antorbital fenestra, an overhanging squamosal bone, and a medially shifted, forwards sloping quadrate and quadratojugal. Saltoposuchus have a long pointed skull and slender pointed teeth. The pointed teeth of Saltoposuchus indicate that this species is most likely carnivorous. At the back of the skull, Saltoposuchus share many specializations of crocodylomorphs including a square skull table made out of post-orbital and squamosal bones which overhangs the temporal region, a lateral mandibular fenestra, and a cheek region that is overhung by the squamosal. In sphenosuchians, the quadrate head makes contact with the prootic and squamosal bones.Skeleton
Saltoposuchus has a long backward pointing spine at the coracoid. Another key feature of Saltoposuchus includes a non-perforated acetabulum, which is a defining characteristic of all dinosaurs. Saltoposuchus were also considered to be bipedal based on its skeletal constitution, but could walk on all four limbs as well, making it a facultative biped. Saltoposuchus also had a double row of bony scutes along its back, which can be seen on modern crocodilians today. Like with other sphenosuchians and early crocodylomorphs, Saltoposuchus had fully erect slender limbs, a slender body, and long legs. Saltoposuchus was likely fast and nimble. Early crocodylomorphs, such as Saltoposuchus, have very long centra in their vertebrae, short vertebral processes, and medium-sized zygapophyseal joints. Molnar et al. concluded that the average mediolateral range of motion in the early crocodylomorphs was greater than dorsoventral range of motion, and dorsoventral stiffness was estimated to be higher than mediolateral stiffness. In the wrists of Saltoposuchus, the radiale and ulnare are elongated into rod shaped elements instead of being button-shaped, which is a shared characteristic among crocodylomorphs.Behavior
The Saltoposuchus is a terrestrial animal whose body was built for running at fast speeds. It is also possible that Saltoposuchus could exhibit cannibalistic behavior because a few of the Coelophysis individuals found had remains of smaller members of the species inside the larger animals. The diet of related species suggests Saltoposuchus ate small lizards, insects, and mammals that existed during the Triassic period.Discovery
Saltoposuchus connectens and Saltoposuchus longipes were discovered and named by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene in 1921. Both species were found in the Burrer Quarry, Pfaffenhofen, which is an Alaunian terrestrial sandstone/marl in the Löwenstein Formation of south-west Germany. The Löwenstein Formation has been dated back to 215.6 - 212.0 Ma, which dates back to the Late Triassic Period. Fossils have also been found in the Trossingen Formation, and the Lossiemouth Sandstone formation.Geographical/historical information
Fossils found in Germany indicate that Saltoposuchus existed in Europe, or more appropriately, Laurasia. The Mesozoic Era has been regarded as "The Age of Reptiles" so Saltoposuchus lived among many different species including the earliest species of pterosaurs and other bipedal reptilians. Archosaurs, the ancestor to Crocodylomorpha, made its first appearance in the middle of the Triassic era. This is also the period in which the earliest mammals started appearing. Therapsids dominated the Early - Middle Triassic Period, but as time went on, therapsids started becoming extinct and archosaurs became the dominant group of reptiles. After the Permian–Triassic extinction event wiped out 90% of species in the world, conifer forests started to recover, species started occupying and thriving in newly found ecological niches, Pangaea started splitting into Laurasia and Gondwana, and the air was very arid with hot summers and cold winters. After marine life had been wiped out by the mass extinction event, the Triassic waters were populated with very few families of fish. The Triassic Period showed the first development of modern stony corals and a time of modest reef building activity in the shallower waters of the Tethys near the coasts of Pangaea. During the Mesozoic Era, early mammals, reptilian species, and other insects populated the land. Arthropods that had survived the mass extinction and were existing during this time include spiders, scorpions, millipedes, centipedes, and a newer group of beetles.Related species
Sister groups to Saltoposuchus include Gracilisuchus, Hesperosuchus, Dromicosuchus, Dibothrosuchus, Terrestrisuchus, Litargosuchus, Kayentasuchus. These genera are known the Late Triassic to the Early Jurassic. All of these genera are part of the Sphenosuchia clade, have similar morphology. Sphenosuchia are ancestors to crocodyliformes, which constitute modern crocodilians.