Anatomy and phylogenetic position ofVenaticosuchus rusconiiBonaparte, 1970 (Archosauria, Pseudosuchia), from the Ischigualasto Formation (Late Triassic), La Rioja, Argentina

A new phylogenetic analysis confirms that Venaticosuchus rusconii, a Late Triassic pseudosuchian archosaur from the Ischigualasto Formation in Argentina, is a valid ornithosuchid with unique morphological traits. The study, based on a rediscription of its incomplete skull and postcranial elements, identifies distinctive features such as ventrally directed basipterygoid processes, an expanded dentary margin, and the absence of specific foramina that distinguish it from other ornithosuchids like Riojasuchus tenuisceps and Ornithosuchus longidens. Phylogenetic placement shows V. rusconii is more closely related to R. tenuisceps, supported by shared traits in the antorbital fenestra and jugal structure. This research clarifies the evolutionary relationships within Ornithosuchidae, contributing to our understanding of Late Triassic archosaur diversity.

Von Baczko, M. B., Desojo, J. B., & Pol, D. (2014). Anatomy and phylogenetic position ofVenaticosuchus rusconiiBonaparte, 1970 (Archosauria, Pseudosuchia), from the Ischigualasto Formation (Late Triassic), La Rioja, Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 34(6), 1342–1356. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2014.860150