Lewisuchus

Lew-iss-su-kus.
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Lewisuchus ‭(‬Lewis’s crocodile‭)‬.

Phonetic

Lew-iss-su-kus.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauriformes.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

L.‭ ‬admixtus‭

Size

Roughly about‭ ‬1‭ ‬meter long.

Known locations

Argentina‭ ‬-‭ ‬Cha�ares Formation.

Time Period

Ladinian of the Triassic.

Fossil representation

Partial remains.

In Depth

       Though the name means‭ ‘‬Lewis’s crocodile‭’‬,‭ ‬Lewisuchus is actually a genus of silesaurid dinosauriforme.‭ ‬In simpler terms,‭ ‬Lewisuchus was closely related to the ancestors of the dinosaurs,‭ ‬though probably not an ancestor itself.‭ ‬Lewisuchus was a fairly small and lightly built predator that probably hunted for small animals such as lizards and primitive mammaliaformes.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬The Cha�ares‭ (‬Argentina‭) ‬Triassic reptile fauna‭; ‬XIV,‭ ‬Lewisuchus admixtus,‭ ‬gen.‭ ‬et sp.‭ ‬nov.,‭ ‬a further thecodont from the Cha�ares beds.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Breviora‭ ‬390:1-13‭ ‬-‭ ‬A.‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Romer‭ ‬-‭ ‬1972. -‭ ‬Ecologically distinct dinosaurian sister group shows early diversification of Ornithodira.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Nature‭ ‬464‭(‬7285‭)‬:95-8.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Sterling J.‭ ‬Nesbitt,‭ ‬Christian A.‭ ‬Sidor,‭ ‬Randal B.‭ ‬Irmis,‭ ‬Kenneth D.‭ ‬Angielczyk,‭ ‬Roger M.‭ ‬H.‭ ‬Smith‭ & ‬Linda A.‭ ‬Tsuji‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010. – Osteology of the Middle Triassic archosaur Lewisuchus admixtus Romer (Cha�ares Formation, Argentina), its inclusivity, and relationships amongst early dinosauromorphs. – Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 13 (3): 189–219. – Jonathas Bittencourt, Andrea Arcucci, Claudia Marsicano & Max Langer – 2014. – Bone microstructure of Lewisuchus admixtus Romer, 1972 (Archosauria, Dinosauriformes). – Historical Biology. 31 (2): 157–162. – Jordi Alexis Garcia Mars�, Federico L. Agnol�n & Fernando Novas – 2017. – New specimen sheds light on the anatomy and taxonomy of the early Late Triassic dinosauriforms from the Cha�ares Formation, NW Argentina. – The Anatomical Record. 303 (5): 1393–1438. – Mart�n D. Ezcurra, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Lucas E. Fiorelli & Julia B. Desojo – 2019.

Adopt A Species
prehistoric-wildlife new logo

Love this species?

Adopt it today!

(UPDATED!)

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Haast Eagle Illustration