Proterosuchid archosaur remains from the Early Triassic Bulgo Sandstone of Long Reef, New South Wales

Abstract

Two associated anterior dorsal vertebrae of a primitive archosaur are described from the Early Triassic (Dienerian–Spathian) Bulgo Sandstone at Long Reef, New South Wales, Australia. Character states including anteroposteriorly elongate centra, dorsal neural spines with height greater than length, the possible presence of intercentra, double-headed rib articulations and well-developed apical tables on the neural spines suggest affinity with proterosuchid archosauriforms and permit some comparisons with previously described Australian taxa. The Bulgo Sandstone vertebrae represent the first record of archosaurian body fossils from the Sydney Basin and are one of only a handful of occurrences thus far documented from the Triassic of Australia.

Key words:

• Proterosuchidae
• archosauriformes
• Narrabeen Group
• Sydney Basin
• Scythian

Acknowledgements

This work would not have been possible without the initial discovery and generous donation of SAM P41754 by Mr John Suter (Sydney). Karin Peyer and Tom Rich gave helpful reviews. The Australian Research Council, La Trobe University and the South Australian Museum provided financial support for research and curation of the Long Reef proterosuchid material.