Sphenosuchians

Sphenosuchians were the ancient ancestors of crocodilians (crocodiles, alligators, and relatives) and lived during the Triassic and Jurassic Periods. They are not dinosaurs, even though they look similar.

Photo by Audrey Horn

The sphenosuchians we are studying represent a new genus and species, discovered at the Saints & Sinners Quarry. Before we can describe it (give it an official scientific name), we have to understand more about what it looked like and what made it different from other species we already know about.