Article: The Late Triassic reptile Teratosaurus—a rauisuchian, not a dinosaur
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume:
29
Part:
2
Publication Date:
June
1986
Page(s):
293
–
301
Author(s):
Michael J. Benton
Abstract
Teratosaurus, based on a maxilla from the late Triassic of Germany, is shown to have been a rauisuchian, and not a dinosaur. The Family Teratosauridae, based on skull remains and skeletons from around the world, is not an early radiation of carnivorous dinosaurs: it consists of the skeletons of prosauropod dinosaurs and the skulls and teeth of rauisuchians, or unidentifiable archosaurs. Other records of middle Triassic dinosaurs are also suspect. The Rauisuchia was a widespread and important group of large carnivores in the middle and late Triassic, and they had no close relationship with any dinosaurs.