Xenotosuchus

Extinct genus of temnospondyls

Xenotosuchus Temporal range: Middle Triassic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N

Xenotosuchus skull, showing the full complement of tetrapod skull roof bones
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	†Temnospondyli
Suborder:	†Stereospondyli
Clade:	†Capitosauria
Family:	†Mastodonsauridae
Genus:	†Xenotosuchus Morales and Shishkin, 2002
Species
†X. africanus Morales and Shishkin, 2002 (type)
Synonyms
Parotosuchus africanus (Broom, 1909) Xenotosaurus africanus (Broom, 1909)

Xenotosuchus is an extinct genus of mastodonsaurid temnospondyl within the family Mastodonsauridae known from the Triassic of South Africa. The genus is based on a skull originally described as Parotosuchus, an animal which it resembled in general build and habit.^[1]

Life reconstruction of the similar genus *Mastodonsaurus*

Description

Like many mastodontosaurids, it was a large animal with a large head. Its amphibian life history meant that the distinct shape of the skull roof would change from a generalized tadpole-like skull type through to the distinct adult shape.^[2] The head bones are covered in large pits and grooves, indicating extensive dermal armour on the head. Both the upper and lower jaw had tusks, those of the upper jaw being situated on a 2nd row of teeth on the vomer and palatine bone. Contrary to related forms like Mastodonsaurus, the tusks of the lower jaw were of moderate size and did not penetrate the premaxilla.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Morales, M.; Shishkin, M. A. (2002). "A Re-Assessment of Parotosuchus africanus (Broom), a Capitosauroid Temnospondyl Amphibian from the Triassic of South Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0001:araopa]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 4524188.
^ Damiani, R. (2008). "A giant skull of the temnospondyl Xenotosuchus africanus from the Middle Triassic of South Africa and its ontogenetic implications" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 53 (1): 75–84. doi:10.4202/app.2008.0104.

Stereospondyli

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Tetrapodomorpha
Order: Temnospondyli

Tetrapodomorpha

- see Tetrapodomorpha

Temnospondyli

see Temnospondyli
Stereospondyli	see below↓

Stereospondyli

Arachana Capulomala Peltobatrachus
Lapillopsidae	Lapillopsis Manubrantlia Rhigerpeton Rotaurisaurus
Rhinesuchidae	Australerpeton? Broomistega Laccosaurus Parapytanga? Rastosuchus Rhineceps Rhinesuchoides Rhinesuchus Uranocentrodon
Lydekkerinidae	Chomatobatrachus Cryobatrachus Deltacephalus Eolydekkerina Indobenthosuchus Luzocephalus? Lydekkerina
Capitosauria	Antarctosuchus Bukobaja Calmasuchus Capitosaurus Cherninia Cyclotosaurus Edingerella Eocyclotosaurus Eryosuchus Heptasaurus Jammerbergia Kestrosaurus Kupferzellia Mastodonsaurus Meyerosuchus Odenwaldia Paracyclotosaurus Parotosuchus Quasicyclotosaurus Procyclotosaurus Promastodonsaurus Rhadalognathus Samarabatrachus Sassenisaurus Sclerothorax Selenocara Stanocephalosaurus Stenotosaurus Subcyclotosaurus Tatrasuchus Vladlenosaurus Volgasaurus Volgasuchus Warrenisuchus Watsonisuchus Wellesaurus Wetlugasaurus Xenotosuchus Yuanansuchus
Trematosauria	see below↓

Trematosauria

Benthosuchidae

Benthosuchus
Kwatisuchus

Trematosauridae

Metoposauridae

Rhytidosteidae

Boreopelta Mahavisaurus Nanolania Peltostega Pneumatostega Rhytidosteus Sangaia Trucheosaurus
Derwentiinae	Arcadia Acerastia Deltasaurus Derwentia Indobrachyops Rewana