Galesphyrus capensis (Carroll 1976; Late Permian ~260 mya; SAM 2758) was originally considered a primitive eosuchian reptile close to Youngina. It is a sister to Youngina, but it also nests at the base of the marine clade that includes the Enaliosauria. Galesphyrus was derived frrom a sister to Spinoaequalis and was basal to Youngina BPI 3859 , Acerosodontosaurus and the rest of the marine younginiforms. But this specimen was found in terrestrial sandstone.
The hourglass-shaped proximal carpal is a trait shared with basal diapsids, like Araeoscelis. Galesphyrus had more robust limbs and relatively larger feet. |
