Venaticosuchus

Taxobox
name = "Venaticosuchus"
fossil_range = Late Triassic

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Venaticosuchus rusconii"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
subclassis = Diapsida
infraclassis = Archosauromorpha
unranked_familia = Archosauria
familia = Ornithosuchidae
genus = "Venaticosuchus"
genus_authority=Bonaparte, 1971
subdivision_ranks=Species
subdivision=
*"V. rusconii" Bonaparte, 1971 (type)

"Venaticosuchus" is a genus of Late Triassic quadrupedal crurotarsan archosaur. Originally it was thought to be the ancestor to the carnosaur dinosaurs (which then included "Tyrannosaurus"); however, now it is known to be more closely related to crocodilians than dinosaurs. It was a carnivore.

Species

A single species of "Venaticosuchus" has been described, the type species, "V. rusconii" from the Late Triassic of Argentina, around 210 million years ago.

Closely related species

"Venaticosuchus" is a member of Ornithosuchidae, a family of facultatively bipedal carnivores that were geographically widespread during the Late Triassic. Two other genera, "Ornithosuchus" and "Riojasuchus", are currently known.

External links

* [http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/270Archosauromorpha/270.600.html The Ornithosuchids] from Palaeos.com