Zaraasuchus
Zaraasuchus is a gobiosuchid crocodyliform described in 2004 by Diego Pol and Mark Norell. It was found in the Red Beds of Zos Canyon, in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, thus making it Late Cretaceous in age.
The type species is Z. shepardi, honouring Dr. Richard Shepard.
Description
The holotype of Z. shepardi is IGM 100/1321, consisting of the posterior region of the skull and lower jaws in articulation with cervical vertebrae, forelimb elements and osteoderms.The skull was relatively wide, with the upper temporal fenestrae of the skull being completely closed off by the surrounding squamosal and parietal bones.
It possessed highly developed osteoderms, with 4 rows of dorsal osteoderms laterally sutured to eachother, each one with a sharp, pronounced spike and several rugose ridges. The cervical ventral osteoderms were disarticulated, but these were likely sutured laterally with the dorsal osteoderms to complete a concentric "ring" of armor around the neck, presumably the torso, and tail.
The holotype preserves an incomplete forelimb, these were long and gracile.