Yonghesuchus sangbiensis (Wu, Liu and Li 2001) was the first tetrapod discovered from the Late Triassic of China. The presence of pterygoid teeth was thought to preclude membership within the Archosauria despite a suite of traits to the contrary. Here Yonghesuchus nests with flat-headed Litargosuchus within the Archosauria and within the Crocodylomorpha. The presence of pterygoid teeth is a reversal perhaps due to its very flattened skull and wide gape. The maxillary teeth were angled posteriorly. The antorbital fenestra was relatively large.
The amphicoelus cervical vertebrae were elongated with ribs on elongated stems as in Dromicosuchus. It looks crushed, but it was really quite flat and wide. |
