Paleorhinus (Greek: "Old Nose") is an extinct genus of widespread basal phytosaur known from the Late Triassic (late Carnian stage). The genus was named in 1904 based on the type species Paleorhinus bransoni, which is known from Wyoming and Texas in the United States. Another valid species, Paleorhinus angustifrons from Bavaria, Germany, is also commonly referred to the genus.[1][2]Paleorhinus had a length of about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet).
Paleorhinus has had a complicated taxonomic history involving frequent synonymy between diagnostic and undiagnostic material. This is mainly due to the fact that it is a quintessential basal phytosaur, mostly distinguished by a lack of specializations rather than unique traits. Historically, it was common practice to lump all basal phytosaurs into only one or two genera, rendering those genera paraphyletic evolutionary grades ancestral to later phytosaurs. More recently, these grades have been broken up into multiple genera.[2]Arganarhinus magnoculus (from Morocco) and Wannia scurriensis (from Texas)[3] were two phytosaur genera originally considered species of Paleorhinus. "Paleorhinus" sawini (from Texas) and "Paleorhinus" parvus (from Wyoming) are two more phytosaur species informally referred to Paleorhinus, though likely closer to more advanced phytosaurs.[2][4]
P. angustifrons was originally considered a species of Francosuchus (a dubious phytosaur genus from the same area), and has also been compared to Ebrachosuchus neukami, another Paleorhinus-like Bavarian phytosaur. "Paleorhinus" cf. arenaceus (formerly "Zanclodon" arenaceus), fragmentary phytosaur remains from Poland, may represent Paleorhinus fossils.
Parasuchus hislopi, a basal phytosaur species named in 1885 from fossils discovered in India, was often lumped into Paleorhinus or considered a dubious chimera of phytosaur and rhynchosaur fossils. More complete neotype fossils for Parasuchus hislopi have helped to re-establish it as a valid genus and species.[5] Some phylogenetic analyses suggest that Parasuchus hislopi forms a clade with Paleorhinus bransoni and angustifrons. If this is the case, the valid species of Paleorhinus may instead be considered species of Parasuchus, since that genus name has priority over Paleorhinus.[6][4]
^Williston, S. W. (1904). "Notice of some new reptiles from the Upper Trias of Wyoming". Journal of Geology. 12 (8): 688–697. Bibcode:1904JG.....12..688W. doi:10.1086/621190. S2CID 140167568.
^ abcStocker, M. R.; Butler, R. J. (2013). "Phytosauria". Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 379 (1): 91–117. Bibcode:2013GSLSP.379...91S. doi:10.1144/SP379.5. S2CID 219192243.
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the type species Paleorhinus bransoni, which is known from Wyoming and Texas in the United States. Another valid species, Paleorhinus angustifrons from...
originally named as a species referred to Paleorhinus and later was considered as a possible junior synonym of Paleorhinus bransoni. However its re-description...
belonging to a basal grade of phytosaurs, typified by the genus Paleorhinus. Historically, Paleorhinus has been known from better-described fossils, and many species...
well adapted to capture fast aquatic prey, but not terrestrial animals. Paleorhinus, Rutiodon and Mystriosuchus are dolichorostral phytosaurs, but do not...
species is the original Paleorhinus magnoculus and the combinatio nova is Arganarhinus magnoculus. Its closest relative was Paleorhinus. Dutuit, J. M. (1977b)...
synonyms of E. neukami. Furthermore, they reassigned the species to Paleorhinus, and synonymized Ebrachosuchus with the former. Subsequent researches...
stratigraphic occurrence was incorrect. Various authors referred M. fraasi to as Paleorhinus fraasi or Parasuchus fraasi, while a more recent review of the Phytosauria...
a small fragment of rostrum. It was at some point later referred to Paleorhinus, but in 2013, it was renamed to the new genus Dolerosaurus. Unfortunately...
Rutiodon occupies a tier of the phytosaur family tree more derived than Paleorhinus and less derived than Leptosuchus. In other words, Rutiodon lies within...
ISSN 2167-8359. Stocker, M. R. (2013). "A new taxonomic arrangement for Paleorhinus scurriensis". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal...
the Popo Agie Formation, and identified it as that of the phytosaur Paleorhinus bransoni. In 1915, paleontologist M. G. Mehl named Poposaurus based on...
distinction between the two time periods. Angistorhinus, Hyperodapedon, Paleorhinus/Parasuchus (all Otischalkian index taxa) range into the Adamanian, fossils...
recently reassigned to Paleorhinus, because it shares unique synapomorphies with P. bransoni (the type species of Paleorhinus), and a species-level phylogenetic...
the supposed presence of proposed Otischalkian index fossils such as Paleorhinus, Angistorhinus, Longosuchus, Placerias, and Metoposaurus. Ichnofossils...
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