Phytosaurus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A carnivorous aquatic reptile of the Triassic era, resembling a modern crocodile with sharp teeth and a streamlined body
2. An extinct Triassic reptile that hunted in water, featuring a crocodile-like form with powerful jaws and a long snout
3. A large predatory reptile from the Triassic period that inhabited water environments, characterized by crocodilian features and formidable teeth

Etymology: Despite its name, which means "plant lizard" from Greek "phyton" (plant) and "sauros" (lizard), this animal was a meat-eater. Its long, narrow jaws were packed with sharp teeth, suited to catching fish and other prey along the water's edge. The name is a misnomer, and the reason the early namers chose "plant" is uncertain. Phytosaurs lived during the Late Triassic and looked remarkably like crocodiles. Their nostrils were set far back, close to the eyes on top of the skull, so they could breathe while most of the body stayed submerged. Crocodilians later evolved a similar arrangement, but phytosaurs were not their ancestors. They belonged to a separate branch of archosaurs, the reptile group that also includes dinosaurs and birds, and they died out at the end of the Triassic.