Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
269 / Mesozoic
Desmatosuchus
Desmatosuchus spurensis
Two huge backward-curving shoulder spikes reinforced rows of protective armor.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 230–210 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Triassic
- Geographic range
- Semi-arid floodplains · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Desmatosuchus?
Desmatosuchus (Desmatosuchus spurensis) was an extinct organism known from About 230–210 million years ago, with a range in Semi-arid floodplains · North America.
Life and ecology
Desmatosuchus was a herbivorous aetosaur that rooted for plants with an upturned snout while an upright stance supported its broad body.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Desmatosuchus disappear?
Its record ends about 210 million years ago. Aetosaurs as a group disappeared by the end of the Triassic, but this genus is not known to have survived to that crisis.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Desmatosuchus?
Armor, shoulder spikes, skulls and skeletons reveal its defenses and feeding anatomy.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Removed an extinction cause that credited a mass extinction occurring after this species' last dated record.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS