Mystriosuchus steinbergeri, a aquatic phytosaur.
This is my very first finished digital painting, made in october 2021
#sciart #paleoart #mystriosuchus #phytosaur #triassic

Any excuse to share this incredible reconstruction by @markwitton.bsky.social of the marine phytosaur Mystriosuchus steinbergeri, which our team described & named in 2019.

I’m thinking about some of the coolest reptiles of the Triassic: Phytosaurs! No, these AREN’T crocodiles. They are not even closely related to them. Phytosaurs evolved a body plan similar to crocodilians completely separately from them and WAY before they appeared in the fossil record
#paleoart #art

Happy #FossilFriday. Here are the fossil remains of the Austrian phytosaur Mystriosuchus steinbergeri, which were discovered in the Dead Mountains of Salzburg. Estimates suggest it might have reached a length of around 4 meters.

Forgot to post this one a while ago-

Mystriosuchus!, any resemblance to crocodilians is purely convergent evolution

Btw, phytosaur taxonomy is a mess, many names don't mean anything, and we're in dire need of someone to clean up almost two centuries of taxonomic salad history😅

Marine reptiles in Mesozoic, Faber Castell felt pens
#ichthyosaur #plesiosaur #pliosaur #mosasaur #nothosaur #turtle #placodont #phytosaur #mesozoic #paleoart #art #water

#Paleoart from 2018 for #FossilFriday, a group of Mystriosuchus steinbergeri pursue fish around a Triassic lagoon. Phytosaurs like these are meant to be freshwater species, but M. steinbergeri didn't get the memo: aspects of their fossil preservation hint at marine habits. #sciart #fossil

🦖 Daily Paleo 🦖; Mystriosuchus spp.

From Late Triassic Europe and Greenland, "spoon crocodile" was a phytosaur with a long, gahrial-like snout. More aquatic adapted than its relatives due to short, paddle-like limbs, its remains have sometimes been found in marine deposits

I understand that some have felt disappointed by some big-budget paleo media this year, BUT - we are living in a GOLDEN AGE of #paleoart, w/ stunning, original, scientifically-informed masterpieces being made daily!!! There is so much to absorb & we are so lucky

Systematic utility of the phytosaur post-dentary mandibular region onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

mystriosuchus westphali might be my favourite phytosaur

Paleo Fact!

Mystriosuchus (Spoon Crocodile) is a phytosaur from Late Triassic Europe and Greenland! Many phytosaurs were adapted to be semiaquatic, but Mystriosuchus was particularly more adapted for aquatic life than others, having paddle-like legs and multiple specimens-(1/2)

Art by Mark Witton!

-being found in marine sites, indicating that it was an ocean-dweller! Based on its long and thin, gharial-like snout, it would have fed primarily on fish! And a 2020 study on the dental microwear of phytosaurs found that Mystriosuchus likely also ate soft invertebrates! (2/2)

Art by Julio Lacerda!