Macrospondylus
| Macrospondylus Temporal range: Toarcian
| |
|---|---|
| Macrospondylus bollensis, Holzmaden Germany | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
| Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
| Suborder: | †Thalattosuchia |
| Superfamily: | †Teleosauroidea |
| Family: | †Machimosauridae |
| Genus: | †Macrospondylus von Meyer, 1831 |
| Species: | †M. bollensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Macrospondylus bollensis Jäger, 1828
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Macrospondylus is an extinct genus of thalattosuchian crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) of Europe. It was a large ocean-going reptile, being the largest known crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic. Fossils have been found in the Posidonia Shale of Germany, the Whitby Mudstone of the United Kingdom, and the Schistes bitemineux of Luxembourg. The type and only species known is Macrospondylus bollensis and it is one of the best known early thalattosuchians, being known from hundreds of specimens, including complete skeletons.