29
2
June
293
301
BENTON, M. J. 1986. The Late Triassic reptile Teratosaurus—a rauisuchian, not a dinosaur. Palaeontology, 29, 2, 293–301.
Michael J. Benton 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. The Palaeontological Association (Free Access)