Choristodera
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| - | '''Choristoderes''', also known as '''champsosaurs''', are a linage of crocodile like aquatic reptiles (however, unlike crocodiles they lack scutes and their nostrils are located at the tip of the skull), which became extinct in our world. Their exact relationships within class [[Sauropsida]] aren't very well understood; they have been classified both as [[Crurotarsi|archosaurs]] and as [[ | + | '''Choristoderes''', also known as '''champsosaurs''', are a linage of crocodile like aquatic reptiles (however, unlike crocodiles they lack scutes and their nostrils are located at the tip of the skull), which became extinct in our world. Their exact relationships within class [[Sauropsida]] aren't very well understood; they have been classified both as [[Crurotarsi|archosaurs]] and as [[Lepidosauria|lepidosaurs]]. |
==In Terra Alternativa== | ==In Terra Alternativa== | ||
Revision as of 17:55, 17 September 2008
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Choristoderes, also known as champsosaurs, are a linage of crocodile like aquatic reptiles (however, unlike crocodiles they lack scutes and their nostrils are located at the tip of the skull), which became extinct in our world. Their exact relationships within class Sauropsida aren't very well understood; they have been classified both as archosaurs and as lepidosaurs.
In Terra Alternativa
The evolution of choristoderes in Terra Alternativa parallels that of Earth's; however, those in this parallel Earth remained alive, occupying the niches of gharials (which either became extinct or evolved into terrestrial, ant-eater like forms). An extinct linage, Pelagochampsosauridae, gave rise to marine forms in the Eocene period, successfully outcompeting the last marine crocodiles; however, changes in the oceanic currents, plus the evolution of marine of marine cynodonts, eventually caused their demise. Nowdays most species belong to the family Champsosauridae, which was also present in our world, most members are freshwater forms from America and Africa, although a few gave rise to marine species, found mostly in the Pacific Ocean and Carabbean.
In What if Dinosaurs
In What if Dinosaurs the evolutionary history of choristoderes was similar to the previous ones; like in Terra Alternativa, some marine champsosaurids have also evolved.
See also
Choristoderes on Wikipedia
