Bystrowisuchus Explained

Bystrowisuchus is an extinct genus of ctenosauriscid pseudosuchian archosaur from the Early Triassic of European Russia. Fossils have been found in the Olenekian-age Lipovskaya Formation in Ilovlinsky District. The type species is Bystrowisuchus flerovi.[1]

Description

Bystrowisuchus flerovi is based on a holotype specimen including six cervical or neck vertebrae and a partial right ilium or hip bone. Its total body length is estimated at 2mto3mm (07feetto10feetm).[1]

Discovery

The holotype specimen of Bystrowisuchus was found near the eastern banks of the Don River in Ilovlinsky District, Volgograd Oblast. It came from a fossil site known as the Donskaya Luka locality, which preserves a wide diversity of Early Triassic tetrapod fossils. Along with Bystrowisuchus, the Donskaya Luka fossil assemblage includes temnospondyl amphibians, a chroniosuchian, a procolophonid, a sauropterygian, a protorosaurian, possible trilophosaurid archosauromorphs, two rauisuchid archosaurs, and a dicynodont. Elongated neural spines previously attributed to the rauisuchid Scythosuchus basileus may belong instead to Bystrowisuchus.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Sennikov . A. G. . The first ctenosauriscid (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) from the Lower Triassic of Eastern Europe . 10.1134/S0031030112050097 . Paleontological Journal . 46 . 5 . 499–511 . 2012 . 83717000 .