Rutiodon ("Wrinkle tooth") is an extinct genus of archosaur belonging to the family Phytosauridae. It lived during the Late Triassic period, and was about 10 to 25 feet (3 to 8 meters) in length. The animal is known from fossils in Europe (Germany and Switzerland) as well as North America (Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, New York, New Jersey).

 Like other phytosaurs, Rutiodon strongly resembled a crocodile, but its nostrils were positioned far back on the head, close to the eyes, instead of at the tip of the snout. It had enlarged front teeth, and a relatively narrow jaw, somewhat resembling that of a modern gharial. This suggests that this carnivore probably caught fish and it may also have snatched land animals from the waterside. Also like modern crocodiles, its back, flanks, and tail were covered with bony armored plates.

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 Redondasaurus is a genus of phytosaur from the Late Triassic of North America. Translated, the name Redondasaurus means "Redonda lizard," referring to the Redonda Formation of east-central New Mexico, USA. It was first named by Hunt & Lucas in 1993, and contains one species, R. gregorii. It is the youngest and most evolutionarily-advanced of the phytosaurs.

 Redondasaurus was a carnivore and measured from 10 to 12 meters in length, 1.5 meters of which made up the length of the head, and 1.5 meters in height. They could reach a weight of up to 26,000 lbs. It likely spent most of its time in lakes and rivers, and ambushed its prey, which consisted of fish, small reptiles, and possibly dinosaurs. There is little columnar enamel in the teeth of Redondasaurus.

 A recent phylogenetic analysis found that the genera Pseudopalatus, Mystriosuchus, Redondasaurus and Nicrosaurus were pseudopalatines.

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 Nicrosaurus is an extinct genus of phytosaur reptile. Although it looked and probably lived like a crocodile, it was not closely related to these creatures, instead being a good example of parallel evolution. The main difference between Nicrosaurus (and all other phytosaurs) and real crocodiles was the position of the nostrils - Nicrosaurus's nostrils were placed directly in front of the forehead, whereas in crocodiles, the nostrils are positioned on the end of the snout.

 A recent phylogenetic analysis found that the genera Pseudopalatus, Mystriosuchus, Redondasaurus and Nicrosaurus were pseudopalatines.

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 Mystriosuchus (meaning "spoon-crocodile") is an extinct genus of phytosaur that lived in the Late Triassic (middle Norian) in Europe. It was first named by Eberhard Fraas in 1896, and includes two species: M. westphali (formerly M. plieningeri) and the type species, M. planirostris. Mystriosuchus planirostris measured about four metres long (13 ft), according to a complete skeleton which was found in 1995. The postcranial anatomy of the skeleton suggests that Mystriosuchus was more adapted to aquatic life than other known phytosaurs, while cranial morphology is suggestive of a primarily fish eating diet.

 Mystriosuchus used to placed in its own subfamily, Mystriosuchinae, however, recent research demonstratred that it belongs to the subfamily Pseudopalatinae, despite having several physical differences from most of the genera in this group. Originally considered to be a freshwater genus, a recent specimen from Northern Italy has shown that some Mystriosuchus specimens lived a completely marine life.

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 Leptosuchus is an extinct genus of phytosaur with a complex taxonomical history. Fossils have been found from the Dockum Group and lower Chinle Formation outcropping in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona and date back to the Carnian stage of the Late Triassic.

 Currently there are believed to be four species of Leptosuchus. All species share in common a similar position of the temporal arch below the skull roof and a posterior process of the squamosal that extends farther than the paroccipital process. The type species is L. crosbiensis, which was named in 1922 on the basis of material found from Texas. L. adamanensis was first described in 1930 as a species of Machaeroprosopus from the Blue Mesa Member of Petrified Forest National Park, along with the other two species, L. lithodendrorum and L. gregorii. It was not until the publication of a 1995 paper on tetrapods of southwestern United States that these species were recognized as belonging to the genus Leptosuchus. However, because of the distinctive size of the rostral crest in L. gregorii, it was assigned to its own genus, Smilosuchus, in that same paper. Despite this, L. gregorii has recently been seen as belonging to Leptosuchus, as it is believed that the large, complete crest was independently developed in this particular species.

 The close relation of Leptosuchus and Machaeroprosopus with Rutiodon has led some paleontologists to believe that the prior two were synonymous with Rutiodon, with the latter's name having seniority. Differing features seen in the three phytosaurs have been attributed to sexual dimorphism, differing growth stages, or individual variation, while similarities could be seen in the rostral crest and the position of the nares. Previously it was believed that these were different genera due to the geographical isolation that could be seen in North American phytosaurs; Leptosuchus remains were found primarily in southern localities while Rutiodon remains could be found in more eastern localities. Other studies concluded that it was synonymous with Machaeroprosopus or Phytosaurus. One recent study has again found Leptosuchus to be congeneric with Rutiodon, but since then another study has suggested that its type species R. carolinensis, while still very similar to Leptosuchus, is synonymous with Angistorhinus.

 Smilosuchus meaning "deadly-knife crocodile" is an extinct genus of phytosaur from the Late Triassic of North America. It was first described in 1995 as a replacement generic name for Leptosuchus gregorii. Because of the large rostral crest it possessed, it was considered to be distinct enough from other species of Leptosuchus (all of which had smaller and more restricted crests) to be within its own genus. Despite this, recent studies seem to suggest that Smilosuchus is congeneric with Leptosuchus, as the enlarged crest could have been independently developed in Leptosuchus.

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 Paleorhinus was a genus of small phytosaur, a large order of semi-aquatic, crocodile-like animals that lived in the Late Triassic, specifically the earlier Late Carnian period. The reptiles lived throughout Europe, North America, and North Africa. This genus usually also includes the more appropriately named Parasuchus, which lived in India.

 Ebrachosuchus is an extinct genus of basal phytosaurid phytosaur. Fossils were first discovered from the Blasensandstein Formation near Ebrach, Germany, which dates back to the Carnian stage of the Late Triassic.

 The original holotype of E. neukami had a very elongate rostrum that was used to distinguish the genus from other phytosaurs. However, due to its many other similarities to the closely related Paleorhinus, Ebrachosuchus has since been considered to be synonymous with Paleorhinus. The rostrum length alone would not be enough to assign the original specimen of E. neukami to its own genus or subgenus, according to the authors of one paper proposing the synonymy.

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 Belodon (meaning "arrow tooth") is a genus of phytosaur, a crocodile-like reptile that lived during the Triassic. Its fossils have been found in Europe and elsewhere. The type species, Belodon plieningeri, was named by prolific German paleontologist Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer in 1844.

 Many other species were also named, among them Belodon buceros (named by Edward Drinker Cope in 1881), Belodon kapfii (von Meyer, 1861), Belodon lepturus (Cope, 1870), Belodon priscus (originally described as Compsosaurus priscus by Joseph Leidy in 1856), Belodon scolopax (Cope, 1881), and Belodon validus (Othniel Charles Marsh, 1893). Some paleontologists of the late 19th and early 20th century believed Belodon was synonymous with Phytosaurus or Machaeroprosopus.

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 Pseudopalatus (meaning "false palate") is an extinct genus of pseudopalatine phytosaur. It was assigned to Parasuchia in 2005. Specimens have been found from Arizona and New Mexico and are of Norian age. Pseudopalatus lends its name to the family Pseudopalatinae, of which it is the type genus.

 Pseudopalatus was a relatively large pseudopalatine phytosaur with a skull up to 120 cm in length. It had a robust rostrum with a distinctive dorsal crest.

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 Angistorhinus (meaning "narrow snout" or "hook snout") is an extinct genus of phytosaur known from the Late Triassic period of Texas and Wyoming, USA. It was first named by Mehl in 1913 and the type species is Angistorhinus grandis. Other species from Texas and Wyoming, A. alticephalus (Stovall and Wharton, 1936), A. gracilis (Mehl, 1915) and A. maximus (Mehl, 1928), are cospecific with the type species. Angistorhinus is known from the holotype UC 631, partial skull and lower jaws recovered from the Popo Agie Formation, Chugwater Group, Wyoming and from the associated paratype UM 531, a partial skull, TMM 31098-1, skull and lower jaws and ROM 7977, partial skull and lower jaws, recovered from the 'Pre-Tecovas Horizon' in the Dockum Group, Texas. A possible second species, A. talainti is known from the Triassic of Morocco. In 1995, Long and Murry created the new combination, Angistorhinus megalodon by synonymy for Brachysuchus. Hungerbühler and Sues (2001) hypothesised that Angistorhinus is a junior synonym of Rutiodon. However, in 2010 Michelle R. Stocker retained the validity of Brachysuchus and of A. grandis.

 Фитоза́вры (Phytosauria) — монотипический отряд вымерших пресмыкающихся из позднего триаса, относимый к архозаврам и включаемый в сборную парафилетическую группу текодонтов, или ячеистозубых. Окаменелости обнаруживались в отложениях верхнего триаса на территории Западной Европы, Северной Америки, и Азии.

 Отряд фитозавров включает единственное семейство Phytosauridae представители которого обитали в пресноводных водоёмах, в основном питались рыбой.

 Внешне и деталями строения очень схожи с крокодилами. Однако, большинство учёных рассматривают данное сходство как конвергенцию, впрочем существует мнение о том, что фитозавры были предками крокодилов.

 Крупные животные с длиной тела 5—6 метров. Имели удлинённое рыло с отнесёнными далеко назад ноздрями и глазницами обращенными вверх. Задние лапы были незначительно длиннее передних. Обладали хорошо развитым кожным панцирем.

 The phytosaur skull was characterized by three distinct morphotypes, which relate to feeding and habits and not (as was once thought) evolutionary relationships. These skull patterns are linked to characteristics of the dentition; specifically the differentiation or similarity of the teeth along the jaws.

 Dolichorostral ("long snouted") types have a long, slender snout and a large number of conical teeth that are the same throughout. These were most likely piscivorous, able to capture fast slippery prey, but not so good at tackling a land animal. Some examples are Paleorhinus, Rutiodon carolinensis, and Mystriosuchus. At one time it was believed that Paleorhinus and Mystriosuchus belonged to a distinct group of phytosaurs (subfamily of family Mystriosuchinae/Mystriosuchidae Huene, 1915) characterised by this adaptation, but it is now known that Mystriosuchus is actually more closely related to Pseudopalatus, an "altirostral" form (Hungerbühler, 2002).

 Brachyrostral ("short snouted") forms are the opposite, they have a massive, broad snout, and a very strong skull and jaws, with the front teeth like fangs for holding the prey, and the rear teeth blade-like for slicing the meat into chunks that can easily be swallowed (an animal with different types of teeth like this is called heterodont). These were powerful animals specialised for feeding on strong struggling prey, such as terrestrial animals that come to the water to drink. Examples of this type are Nicrosaurus and Smilosuchus

 Altirostral ("high snouted") animals are intermediate between the two. They had heterodont dentition but not as extremely developed as the brachyrostral type. Angistorhinus and Pseudopalatus are typical examples here. These were most likely generalist feeders.

 Modern crocodilians exhibit a similar morphological diversity, for example the broad snouted altirostral alligator and the long snouted dolichorostral gavial.

 Phytosaurs were even better armoured than crocodiles, protected by heavy bony scutes (often found as fossils), and the belly reinforced with a dense arrangement of gastralia (abdominal ribs).

 Despite their great similarities in appearance and lifestyle, there are still a number of minor differences that distinguish phytosaurs from true crocodiles. For one thing, the phytosaur ankle structure is much more primitive than that of any crocodile. Also, phytosaurs lack the bony secondary palate that crocodiles have that enables them to breathe even when the mouth is full of water. It is possible however that phytosaurs had a fleshy palate, as many Mesozoic crocodiles are presumed to have had. Finally, and most noticeably, phytosaurs had nostrils placed near or above the level of the eyes, in contrast to crocodiles where the nostrils are near the end of the snout. This adaptation may have developed to allow them to breathe while the rest of the body was submerged.

 In a 2001 study of the biomechanics of the dinosaur Albertosaurus's teeth, William L. Abler also examined a phytosaur's teeth, finding that it had had serrations so fine that they resembled a crack in the tooth. Albertosaurus had similarly crack-like serrations, but, at the base of each serration Abler discovered a round void which would have functioned to distribute force over a larger surface area. This void, termed an ampulla, would hinder the ability of the "crack" formed by the serration to propagate through the tooth. The phytosaur was found to lack adaptations for preventing its dental "cracks" from propagating. Abler examined another sort of prehistoric predator, Dimetrodon, and found that it lacked adaptations for guarding against crack propagation as well.

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