{{Short description|Extinct genus of temnospondyls}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = [[Early Triassic]], {{fossil range|Induan}} | image = Warrenisuchus ontogenesis.jpg | image_upright = 1.1 | image_caption = Skulls at various [[ontogenic]] stages | taxon = Warrenisuchus | authority = Maganuco ''et al.'', [[2009 in paleontology|2009]] | type_species = {{extinct}}'''''Warrenisuchus aliciae''''' | type_species_authority = (Warren and Hutchinson, 1988) (originally ''[[Parotosuchus]] aliciae'') }}
'''''Warrenisuchus''''' is an extinct [[genus]] of [[temnospondyl]] from the [[Early Triassic]] of Queensland, Australia. It belongs to a diverse group of Triassic temnospondyls called [[Capitosauria]]. The [[type species]] '''''Warrenisuchus aliciae''''' was erected in 2009. ''W. aliciae'' was originally described as a species of ''[[Parotosuchus]]'' in 1988, which is known from other species that have been found in Europe, Africa, and Antarctica.<ref name=SMA03>{{cite journal|last=Shishkin|first=M.A.|title=The patterns of evolution of Early Triassic herpetofauna in Europe and Gondwana: comparison and implications|journal=Russian Journal of Herpetology|volume=12(Suppl.)|series=Proceedings of the 12th Ordinary General Meeting of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica, August 12–16, 2003, St. Petersburg, Russia|pages=301–303|url=http://www.seh-herpetology.org/files/Proceedings/Herpetologia%20Petropolitana.pdf#page=301}}</ref> In 2000 it was then assigned to a new genus called ''Rewanobatrachus'' along with the newly named species ''R. gunganj'', which was declared the [[type species]] of the genus. However, ''R. gunganj'' was later reclassified as a species of ''[[Watsonisuchus]]'', invalidating the name ''Rewanobatrachus'' and requiring that ''R. aliciae'' be placed in its own genus, which was named ''Warrenisuchus''.<ref name=Metal09>{{cite journal |last=Maganuco |first=S. |author2=Steyer, J.S. |author3=Pasini, G. |author4=Boulay, M. |author5=Lorrain, S. |author6=Bénéteau, A. |author7= Auditore, M. |year=2009 |title= An exquisite specimen of ''Edingerella madagascariensis'' (Temnospondyli) from the Lower Triassic of NW Madagascar; cranial anatomy, phylogeny, and restorations |journal=Memorie della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturalie del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=1–72 |url=https://cnrs.academia.edu/JS%C3%A9bastienSteyer/Papers/1142197/An_exquisite_specimen_of_Edingerella_madagascariensis_Temnospondyli_from_the_Lower_Triassic_of_NW_Madagascar_cranial_anatomy_phylogeny_and_restorations}}</ref> However, several studies suggest that ''Warrenisuchus aliciae'' may be a species of ''Watsonisuchus'' as well. Unlike most capitosaurs, ''Warrenisuchus'' is known from many juvenile skulls less than {{convert|4|cm|in}} in length.<ref name=WH88/>
==Description== [[File:Warrenisuchus skull.png|left|thumb|Holotype skull]] ''Warrenisuchus'' is known from several fossil specimens. The [[holotype]] skeleton preserves most of the skull and lower jaws, the [[pectoral girdle]], the forward-most vertebrae and ribs, and the right hind limb and the [[paratype]] specimen includes a partial skull and pectoral girdle. All known specimens of ''Warrenisuchus'' are very small; the largest skull is only {{convert|3.9|cm|in}} long and the smallest is {{convert|1.1|cm|in}} long<ref name=WH88>{{cite journal|last=Warren|first=A.A.|author2=Hutchinson, M.N. |title=A new capitosaurid amphibian from the Early Triassic of Queensland, and the ontogeny of the capitosaur skull |journal=Palaeontology|year=1988|volume=31|issue=3|pages=857–876|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49776157#page/305/mode/1up }}</ref> (adult capitosaurs can have skulls over a meter in length).<ref name=DRJ01>{{cite journal|last=Damiani|first=R.J.|title=Cranial anatomy of the giant Middle Triassic temnospondyl ''Cherninia megarhina'' and a review of feeding in mastodonsaurids|journal=Palaeontologica Africana|year=2001|volume=37|pages=41–52}}</ref> They show many characteristics of juvenile individuals such as large eye sockets, rounded heads (adult capitosaurs typically have triangular heads), loose joints between skull bones, small [[tabular horn]]s, and [[Pineal gland|pineal foramina]] close to the back of the eye sockets (as opposed to farther back on the [[skull table]]). The smallest specimens seem to represent the stage of development immediately after [[metamorphosis]] when [[gill]]s have been lost and the skull bones have thickened but the vertebrae remain poorly developed.<ref name=WH88/>
==Classification==
===Phylogeny=== Below is a [[cladogram]] from Maganuco ''et al.'' (2009):
{{clade| style=font-size:85%;line-height:100% |label1=[[Capitosauria]] |1={{clade |1=''[[Sclerothorax hypselonotus]]'' |2={{clade |1='''''Warrenisuchus aliciae''''' |2={{clade |1=''[[Edingerella madagascariensis]]'' |2={{clade |1={{clade |1=''[[Watsonisuchus gunganj]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Watsonisuchus magnus]]'' |2=''[[Watsonisuchus rewanensis]]''}} }} |2={{clade |1=''[[Wetlugasaurus angustifrons]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Parotosuchus orenburgensis]]'' |2={{clade |1={{clade |1=''[[Stanocephalosaurus pronus]]'' |label2=[[Cyclotosauridae]] |2={{clade |1=''[[Cyclotosaurus robustus]]'' |2=''[[Tatrasuchus wildi]]''}} }} |2={{clade |1=''[[Stenotosaurus stantonensis]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Xenotosuchus africanus]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Cherninia denwai]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Wellesaurus peabodyi]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Paracyclotosaurus davidi]]'' |2={{clade |label1=[[Heylerosauridae]] |1={{clade |1=''[[Eocyclotosaurus]]'' |2=''[[Odenwaldia heidelbergensis]]''}} |label2=[[Mastodonsauridae]] |2={{clade |1=''[[Mastodonsaurus giganteus]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Eryosuchus garjainovi]]'' |2={{clade |1=''[[Yuanansuchus laticeps]]'' |2=''[[Quasicyclotosaurus campi]]'' }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }}
==Paleoenvironment== ''Warrenisuchus'' fossils are the most common components of an amphibian fauna that existed in eastern Australia during the Early Triassic. They are preserved in the [[Arcadia Formation, Australia|Arcadia Formation]], which dates back to the [[Induan]] stage. Other temnospondyl amphibians from the Arcadia Formation include [[rhytidosteid]]s and [[brachyopoid]]s. Another amphibian fauna existed around the same time in western Australia and includes a greater diversity of brachyopoids along with rhytidosteids, [[trematosaurid]]s, and the capitosaur ''[[Edingerella]]'', which was a close relative of ''Warrenisuchus''.<ref name=SMA03/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Stereospondyli|S.}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q16993491}}
[[Category:Capitosauria]] [[Category:Triassic temnospondyls of Australia]]