Aristosuchus: Research Database
Coelurosauria (Theropoda) · Early Cretaceous (~130 MYA) · Europe — England (Isle of Wight)
Research Note: Aristosuchus was a small coelurosaurian theropod from the Early Cretaceous of the Isle of Wight, England — an important taxon for understanding theropod diversity in the Early Cretaceous of Europe.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hutt & Naish 2001: Aristosuchus and new data on coelurosaurian diversity from the Cretaceous of England
Hutt & Naish 2001 provide comprehensive data on Aristosuchus from the Early Cretaceous of the Isle of Wight, establishing it as a coelurosaurian theropod and documenting theropod diversity in the Cretaceous of England
|
Confirmed | A | 2001 | Fossil | Hutt & Naish, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
|
Naish 2000: Aristosuchus and additional data on theropod taxonomy
Naish 2000 provides additional data on Aristosuchus and theropod taxonomy, further contextualising its significance within Coelurosauria
|
Confirmed | B | 2000 | Fossil | Naish, Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie | Taxonomy |
Active Debate: Theropod Diversity in the Early Cretaceous of Europe
Whether Aristosuchus is a distinct taxon is debated. The evolution of theropods in the Early Cretaceous of Europe — and their relationships to other coelurosaurs — is key to understanding theropod history.
What We Still Do Not Know About Aristosuchus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Diet: Likely carnivorous.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Relationships: Partially understood.
In Depth
In 1876 Richard Owen named a new species of Poekilopleuron called P. pusillus. In 1879 this species was adjusted to P. minor by Edward Drinker Cope. Then in 1887 Harry Govier Seeley renamed this species as a new distinct genus, Aristosuchus. However, despite the name ‘suchus’ which is Ancient Greek for crocodile, this creature was actually a dinosaur. Although the incomplete remains make it difficult to reconstruct this dinosaur, it seems to have been a small compsognathid similar to Compsognathus.
Further Reading
– On Aristosuchus pusillus (Owen), being further notes on the fossils described by Sir R. Owen as Poikilopleuron pusillus, Owen. – Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. 43: 221–228. – H. G. Seeley – 1887. – Fox, Owen and the small Wealden theropods Calamospondylus and Aristosuchus. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 19 (Suppl. 3), 66. – D. Naish – 1999. – The historical taxonomy of the Lower Cretaceous theropods (Dinosauria) Calamospondylus and Aristosuchus from the Isle of Wight. – Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 113: 153–163. – D. Naish – 2002.
