| Sphenosuchus Temporal range: Early Jurassic
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
| Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
| Genus: | †Sphenosuchus Haughton, 1915 |
| Species: | †S. acutus
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| Binomial name | |
| †Sphenosuchus acutus Haughton, 1915
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Sphenosuchus ("wedge crocodile") is an extinct genus of crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic Elliot Formation of South Africa, discovered and described early in the 20th century. The skull is preserved very well but other than elements of the forelimb and isolated parts of the hind limb, the Sphenosuchus material is incomplete. It was probably quadrupedal, but may have been a facultative biped.
Sphenosuchus was first thoroughly described in 1972 by the British palaeontologist Alick Walker, in a paper in the journal Nature. Walker suggested, based on detailed (but still preliminary at that time) studies of the skull of Sphenosuchus and modern birds, that crocodylomorphs and birds might share an immediate common ancestor. Walker recanted his hypothesis in 1985, but restated and elaborated on it (in essence 'de-recanting') in a monograph published in 1990, which provided the most comprehensive description and discussion of Sphenosuchus yet published.
Broom believed in 1927 with the evidence present in the specimens that Sphenosuchus is a Pseudosuchian which is well along the line that leads to the true Crocodiles.[1]
In a paper published by Friedrich von Huene he emphasizes Sphenosuchus as a very important stage of crocodile evolution.[2]
- ^ Broom, R. "On Sphenosuchus, and the origin of the crocodiles." Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. 97. No. 2. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1927.
- ^ von Huene F. " Die Bedeutung der Sphenosuchus-Gruppe fur den Ursprung der Krokodile." Zeitschrift fur induktive Abstammungs-und Vererbungslehre, Bd. xxxviii. Heft 4, 1925, pp. 307-322.