SMNS 12591a is an unnamed skull once associated with the small Late Triassic archosaur Procompsognathus (~60 cm length, von Huene 1921, Fig. 1) Sereno and Wild (1992) revealed the matrix to contain two taxa. The skull is twice as wide as tall. The quadrate leans anteriorly. Phylogenetically the skull nests with Lewisuchus.

Saltoposuchus connectens (von Huene 1921; SMNS 12591, SMNS 12352; Late Triassic ~220 mya, ~1 to 1.3m in length) is a sister to Lewisuchus. This Late Triassic specimen was originally considered a second specimen of Procompsognathus.

SMNS 12352 Knoll and Rohrberg (2012) considered the skull an indeterminate basal crocodylomorph, close to, but distinct from SMNS 12591.

Associated is a partial manus with elongate radiale and ulnare (see below). Apparently no manus of a basal croc is complete. Therefore every image adds to our knowledge, if only in bits and pieces and a few guesses. Apparently mc3 is the longest. Metacarpal 5 varis in length. Note the distinct patterns of robust and gracile digits.

Allen D 2003. When Terrestrisuchus gracilis reaches puberty it becomes Saltoposuchus connectens!. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23 (3): 29A.

Huene F von 1921. Neue Pseudosuchier und Coelurosaurier aus dem Wurttembergischen Keuper: Acta Zoologica, v. 2, p. 329-403.

Knoll F and Rohrberg K 2012. CT scanning, rapid prototyping and re-examination of a partial skull of a basal crocodylomorph from the Late Triassic of Germany. Swiss Journal of Geosciences. DOI 10.1007/s00015-012-0094-4.

Sereno PC and Wild R 1992. Procompsognathus: theropod, ‘‘thecodont’’ or both? Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 12, 435–458.

wiki/Saltoposuchus