Middle Triassic reptiles of Europe

Cymbospondylus (meaning "cupped vertebrae") is an extinct genus of large ichthyosaurs, of which it is among the oldest representatives, that lived from the Lower to Middle Triassic in what are now North America and Europe. The first known fossils of this taxon are a set of more or less complete vertebrae which were discovered in the 19th century in various mountain ranges of Nevada, in the United States, before being named and described by Joseph Leidy in 1868. It is in the beginning of the 20th century that more complete fossils were discovered through several expeditions to the Fossil Hill M

Mixosaurus is an extinct genus of Middle Triassic (Anisian to Ladinian, about 250-240 Mya) ichthyosaur. Its fossils have been found near the Italy–Switzerland border and in South China.

Placodus (from , "a plate" and , "tooth") is an extinct genus of marine reptiles belonging to the order Placodontia, which swam in the shallow seas of the middle Triassic period (). Fossils of Placodus have been found in Central Europe (Germany, France, Poland) and China.

thumb|Pistosaurus longaevus skull (cast) Pistosaurus (exact etymology uncertain) is an extinct genus of aquatic sauropterygian reptile closely related to plesiosaurs. Fossils have been found in France and Germany, and date to the Middle Triassic. It contains a single species, Pistosaurus longaevus. Pistosaurus is known as the oldest "subaquatic flying" reptile on earth.

Ceresiosaurus is an extinct aquatic genus of lariosaurine nothosaurid sauropterygian known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian boundary) of Monte San Giorgio, southern Switzerland and northern Italy. Ceresiosaurus, meaning "Lizard of Ceresio" (Ceresio is the name of the Lake Lugano, in Switzerland). The type species, Ceresiosaurus calcagnii, was named by Bernhard Peyer in 1931. C. calcagnii is known from both the Cava superiore and Cava inferiore beds of the Lower Meride Limestone at Monte San Giorgio, dating to the latest Anisian of the Middle Triassic. Rieppel (1998) suggested that th

Batrachotomus is a genus of prehistoric archosaur. Fossils of this animal have been found in southern Germany and dated from the Ladinian stage of the Middle Triassic period, around 242 to 237 million years ago. Batrachotomus was described by palaeontologist David J. Gower 22 years after its discovery.

Askeptosaurus is an extinct genus of askeptosauroid, a marine reptile from the extinct order Thalattosauria. Askeptosaurus is known from several well-preserved fossils found in Middle Triassic marine strata in what is now Italy and Switzerland.

thumb|left|Restored skull

Ticinosuchus is an extinct genus of suchian archosaur (distantly related to modern crocodilians) from the Middle Triassic (Anisian–Ladinian) of Switzerland and Italy. The genus name means "Ticino crocodile" due to its origin from the Swiss canton Ticino. It is one of the only terrestrial animals found in the Besano Formation, a fossil-rich lagerstätte on Monte San Giorgio renowned for its marine fauna (including different groups of fossil fishes, ichthyosaurs, tanystropheids, nothosaurs and placodonts, among others).

Omphalosaurus (from the Greek root "Button Lizard", for their button-like teeth) is an extinct genus of marine reptile from the Early Triassic to Middle Triassic, thought to be in the order of Ichthyosauria. Most of what is known about Omphalosaurus is based on multiple jaw fragments, ribs, and vertebrae. Specimens of Omphalosaurus have been described from the western United States, Poland, Austria and the island of Spitsbergen off the northern coast of Norway.

Besanosaurus (meaning ) is an extinct genus of Middle Triassic ichthyosaur from Monte San Giorgio of Italy and Switzerland, containing the single species B. leptorhynchus. Besanosaurus was named by Cristiano Dal Sasso and Giovanni Pinna in 1996, based on the nearly complete flattened skeleton BES SC 999, the holotype specimen. This skeleton is preserved across multiple thin rock slabs spanning when assembled and took thousands of hours to prepare. Additional specimens from Monte San Giorgio that have previously been considered separate genera, including a partial skull named Mikadocephalus and

Avipes (meaning "bird foot") is a genus of extinct archosaurs represented by the single species Avipes dillstedtianus, which lived during the middle Triassic period. The only known fossil specimen, a partial foot (metatarsals), was found in Bedheim, Thuringia, Germany, in deposits of Lettenkohlensandstein (a form of sandstone). Avipes was named in 1932 by Huene. Although originally classified as a coelurosaur or a ceratosaur, a new study of the fossil specimen found that it was too incomplete to assign to a group more specific than Archosauria, and so it was regarded as indeterminate by Rauhut

Placochelys (from , "plate" and , "tortoise") is an extinct genus of placodont reptiles erected by Otto Jaekel in 1902.

Cyamodus (pron.: SIE-ah-MO-dus) is a genus of placodonts known from several species described from Middle-Late Triassic of Europe and China. The genus was described by Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer in 1863, based on specimens found in Germany. Like some other placodonts, Cyamodus has an armoured carapace composed of irregular hexagonal plates, with the mouth containing a small number of large, rounded teeth that were likely involved in crushing hard shelled organisms (durophagy).

Paraplacodus broilii is an extinct placodont sauropterygian from the Middle Triassic epoch, from the Anisian until Ladinian stages. The fossils were uncovered in Northern Italy and the species was named in 1931 by Bernhard Peyer. Paraplacodus means "Almost Placodus", in reference to its similarity to Placodus. thumb|left|Restoration thumb|left|Paraplacodus broilii fossil

Helveticosaurus is an extinct genus of diapsid marine reptile known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian boundary) of southern Switzerland and Italy. It contains a single species, Helveticosaurus zollingeri, mainly known from a nearly complete holotype skeleton, PIMUZ T 4352. The skeleton was collected at the Cava Tre Fontane site on Monte San Giorgio, a mountain well known for its rich record of marine life during the Middle Triassic.

Megachirella is an extinct genus of lepidosaur, possibly a stem-squamate that lived about 240 million years ago during the Middle Triassic and contains only one known species, Megachirella wachtleri. It is known from a partial skeleton discovered in the Dolomites of Northern Italy and was described in 2003.

Uralosaurus is an extinct genus of erythrosuchid archosauriform known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian stage) Donguz Formation of southeastern European Russia. It contains a single species, Uralosaurus magnus. It was named by Vitalii Georgievich Ochev in 1980 as a species of Erythrosuchus otherwise known from the Triassic of Africa and reassigned to its own genus by Andrey G. Sennikov in 1995.

thumb|left|Several Neusticosaurus pusillus at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin thumb|left|Neusticosaurus edwardsii

Macrocnemus is an extinct genus of archosauromorph reptile known from the Middle Triassic (Late Anisian to Ladinian) of Europe and China. Macrocnemus is a member of the Tanystropheidae family and includes three species. Macrocnemus bassanii, the first species to be named and described, is known from the Besano Formation and adjacent paleontological sites in the Italian and Swiss Alps. Macrocnemus fuyuanensis, on the other hand, is known from the Zhuganpo Formation in southern China. A third species, Macrocnemus obristi, is known from the Prosanto Formation of Switzerland and is characterized b

Cosesaurus is a genus of archosauromorph reptiles likely belonging to the family Tanystropheidae. It is known from fossil imprints of a single small skeleton, MGB V1, which was found in Muschelkalk outcrops near the municipalities of Mont-ral and Alcover in Spain. These outcrops are dated to the Ladinian age of the middle Triassic about 242 to 237 million years ago. The specimen is stored at the Museu Martorell (a.k.a. the Museu Geologia de Barcelona), which is now part of the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. The poor preservation and likely juvenile nature of the specimen has led to t

Protanystropheus is an extinct genus of archosauromorph from the Middle Triassic (Anisian stage) of Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. It was named by Sennikov in 2011 and the type species is Protanystropheus antiquus, first described in 1908 by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene under the name Tanystropheus antiquus (some authors still prefer to include this species within Tanystropheus). Sennikov (2011) referred to Protanystropheus several vertebrae, including those belonging to "Thecodontosaurus" primus, but such a referral has later been questioned, because these specimen

Sarmatosuchus is an extinct genus of archosauriform reptile found in sediments of Middle Triassic age and known from the single species Sarmatosuchus otschevi. It is one of the earliest stem-archosaur species known. The holotype and only specimen was found in lithified river deposits of the Donguz Formation exposed near the Berdyanka River, Orenburg region, Russia. The genus was originally included in the extinct family Proterosuchidae. However, later analysis by David Gower and Andrei Sennikov, the describing author, has removed it from the Proterosuchidae and designated it a basal archosauri

Tholodus is an extinct genus of basal ichthyopterygian known from the Middle Triassic (mid-late Anisian to late Ladinian stage) of Germany, northeastern Italy and possibly China. It was first named by Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer in 1851 and the type species is Tholodus schmidi. It is known from many disarticulated and fragmentary remains, mainly teeth and jaw fragments. Most specimens were collected from various localities across the Ladinian-aged Muschelkalk, Germany, mainly from the Jena Formation of the upper Lower Muschelkalk, where the holotype was found. Dalla Vecchia (2004) recent

Bentonyx (meaning "Bentons's claw") is an extinct genus of rhynchosaur from the middle Triassic epoch of Devon in England. Its fossil, a well preserved skull, BRSUG 27200, was discovered in Otter Sandstone Formation (late Anisian age) and was first assigned to Rhynchosaurus spenceri, that is known from 25 specimens. This species was reassigned to its own genus, Fodonyx, that was first described by David W. E. Hone and Michael Benton in 2008. More recently, this skull was reassigned to this genus by Max C. Langer, Felipe C. Montefeltro, David E. Hone, Robin Whatley and Cesar L. Schultz in 2010

Palatodonta is an extinct genus of neodiapsid reptile known from the early Middle Triassic (early Anisian stage) of the Netherlands. It was initially described in 2013 as a basal placodontiform closely related to a group of marine reptiles called placodonts, characterized by their crushing teeth and shell-like body armor. Under this interpretation, Palatodonta is transitional between placodonts and less specialized reptiles. Like placodonts, it has a row of large teeth on its palate, but while these teeth are thick and blunt in placodonts, Palatodonta has palatal teeth that are thin and pointe

Cymatosaurus is an extinct genus of pistosauroid or nothosauriform sauropterygian. It is known to have been alive from the Early Triassic to the Middle Triassic period (latest Olenekian to Anisian stages) of Germany and they seem to originate from the Netherlands. It was small to medium-sized for an eosauropterygian, measuring long. thumb|left|Cymatosaurus and pachypleurosaur humeri

Eusaurosphargis is an extinct genus of a diapsid reptile, known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian and Ladinian age) Besano Formation of northern Italy and Prosanto Formation of south-eastern Switzerland. It contains a single species, Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi. It was a small reptile, measuring long.

Mirasaura (meaning "wonderful reptile") is an extinct genus of drepanosauromorph reptiles known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian age) Grès à Voltzia Formation of France. The genus contains a single species, Mirasaura grauvogeli, known from two partial skeletons preserving the skull, most of the body, and the soft tissue crest, in addition to 80 incomplete specimens preserving isolated parts of this crest. Like the closely related Longisquama, Mirasaura bears an unusual crest of elongated appendages over its back, likely serving a display purpose.

Fodonyx (meaning "digging claw") is an extinct genus of rhynchosaur from the middle Triassic epoch of Devon in England. Its fossils (25 specimens) were discovered in Otter Sandstone Formation (late Anisian age) and were first assigned to Rhynchosaurus spenceri. This species was reassigned to its own genus, Fodonyx (the type and only species is Fodonyx spenceri) the holotype of which is EXEMS 60/1985/292, that described by David W. E. Hone and Michael J. Benton in 2008. In 2010, one skull was reassigned to the new genus Bentonyx. It is distinguished from other rhynchosaurs by a single autapomor

Hescheleria is an extinct genus of thalattosaurian marine reptile from the Middle Triassic (247.2 to 235 Ma) of Monte San Giorgio in Switzerland. It is represented by a single type species, H. ruebeli, which was named in 1936.

Clarazia is an extinct genus of thalattosaur from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio in Switzerland. It is represented by a single type species, Clarazia schinzi, which was named in 1936.

thumb|left|Restoration

Vjushkovisaurus is an extinct genus of Middle Triassic archosauriform. It is known from the Anisian-aged Donguz Gorizont in Sol-Iletsk, Orenburg Oblast, Russia. The genus was named in 1982, with the type species being V. berdjanensis. Material has been collected in the Berdyanka II locality from a fossil assemblage called the Eryosuchus Fauna along the Berdyanka River, specifically in a sand-carbonate concretion in the upper part of the main river channel. Vjushkovisaurus is known only from the holotype PIN 2865/62 (formerly SGU 104/3871), a partial postcranial skeleton which consists of 12 pr

Dongusuchus (meaning Donguz River crocodile in Greek, for the area where the type specimen was found) is an extinct genus of archosaur. Fossils have been found from the Donguz Formation outcropping on the banks of the Donguz River in the Orenburg Oblast of Russia. They are associated with a fossil assemblage called the Eryosuchus Fauna, named after the capitosaurid Eryosuchus, the most common organism found from the assemblage. The locality dates back to the Anisian and early Ladinian stages of the Middle Triassic. ==Taxonomic placement== Sennikov (1988) and Gower and Sennikov (2000) suggested

left|thumb|Size comparison of Chalishevia (skeletal reconstruction based from Shansisuchus) Chalishevia is an extinct genus of erythrosuchid archosauriform (quadrupedal, large-headed terrestrial carnivore) from the Ladinian Bukobay Formation of Russia (Orenburg Oblast), likely making it the youngest known erythrosuchid in the geological time scale. Though it is only known from some fragmentary cranial material, the skull is estimated to be around 80 centimeters long, making it one of the largest erythrosuchids known. left|thumb|Due to a breakage in the nasal/maxilla region, these bones were pr

Fraxinisaura is an extinct genus of basal lepidosauromorph reptile known from the Middle Triassic of Germany. The only known species is Fraxinisaura rozynekae. It possessed an elongated snout, unique features of the teeth, and an ilium (upper hip bone) which was intermediate in orientation between sphenodontians (the branch of lepidosaurs including the tuatara) and squamates (the branch including lizards). Based on characteristics of the maxilla, it is considered a close relative of Marmoretta from the Middle Jurassic of the United Kingdom, resolving a ghost lineage between that genus and othe

Serpianosaurus (meaning "Serpiano lizard") is an extinct genus of pachypleurosaurs known from the Middle Triassic (late Anisian and early Ladinian stages) deposits of Switzerland and Germany. It was a small reptile, with the type specimen of S. mirigiolensis measuring long.

Pararcus is an extinct genus of placodont marine reptile from the Middle Triassic of the Netherlands. The genus is monotypic and the type species is Pararcus diepenbroeki. Pararcus is known from a holotype skeleton about long from the Lower Muschelkalk of Winterswijk.

Simosaurus is an extinct genus of marine reptile within the superorder Sauropterygia from the Middle Triassic of central Europe. Fossils have been found in deposits in France and Germany that are roughly 230 million years old. It is usually classified as a nothosaur, but has also been considered a pachypleurosaur or a more primitive sauropterygian.

genus of procolophonians

Energosuchus (meaning "active crocodile" in Greek) is an extinct genus of rauisuchian. Fossils are present from the upper Karyomayol and lower Synya Formations outcropping along the banks of the Bolshaya Synya river in the Timan-North Urals region in northern European Russia, as well as from the Bukobay Formation in the southern part of Bashkortostan in the southern Urals of European Russia. Both localities date back to the Ladinian stage of the Middle Triassic.

Dactylosaurus is a genus of nothosaur in the family Pachypleurosauridae. Along with Anarosaurus, Dactylosaurus was one of the earliest known pachypleurosaurs to come from Europe.

Saurosphargis is an extinct genus of a basal marine reptile, saurosphargid, known from the Middle Triassic (Anisian age) of southwestern Poland and eastern Netherlands. It contains a single species, Saurosphargis volzi.