0.9" Phytosaur Fossil Tail Vertebrae Bone Late Triassic Age Archosaur Chinle FM, AZ COA

Location: Chinle Formation, Arizona (Private Land Origin) 

Weight: 0.3 Ounces 

Dimensions: 0.9 Inches Long, 0.5 Inches Wide, 0.5 Inches Thick

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Late Triassic 242 To 199 Million Years Old

Phytosaurs were large, semi-aquatic archosaurs that lived during the Late Triassic period (230–200 million years ago). These prehistoric reptiles closely resembled modern crocodiles in body shape, armor, and lifestyle, representing a classic example of convergent evolution. Despite their crocodile-like appearance, phytosaurs were not true crocodilians, but an early and primitive branch of the archosaur lineage.

Equipped with elongated snouts, razor-sharp conical teeth, and heavy bony armor, phytosaurs were powerful carnivorous predators that dominated Triassic freshwater ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, and swamps. A key identifying feature is their raised nostrils positioned near the eyes, an adaptation for ambush hunting in water.

Fossils of phytosaurs have been discovered across North America, Europe, India, and Africa, indicating a wide global distribution. Large genera such as Rutiodon reached lengths of up to 8 meters (26 feet), making them among the largest and most dangerous predators of the Triassic. Phytosaurs became extinct during the end-Triassic mass extinction, before the rise of true crocodilians in the Jurassic.