Microsuchus

Microsuchus is an extinct genus of mesoeucrocodylians, belonging to Notosuchia.^[1] Fossils have been found in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation, dating to the Santonian stage of the Late Cretaceous.^[2]

Microsuchus Temporal range: Santonian ~85.8–84.9 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauria
Clade:	Pseudosuchia
Clade:	Crocodylomorpha
Clade:	†Notosuchia
Genus:	†Microsuchus De Saez, 1928
Type species
†Microsuchus schilleri De Saez, 1928

Classification

Originally classified as a goniopholidid on the basis of the platycoelous vertebral centra,^[3] Microsuchus was recently redescribed and recovered as either a neosuchian or notosuchian. Diagnostic features include the presence of a bulge lateral to the prezygapophyses of the second sacral vertebra, elongated posterior zeugopodia, and proximal caudal centra with a triangular cross section.^[4] A 2017 cladistic analysis of Razanandrongobe further clarified the phylogenetic position of Microsuchus by recovering it as a primitive notosuchian.^[5]