This archosaur paleontology list records new fossil archosauriform taxa that were described during the year 2016, as well as notes other significant Archosaur paleontology discoveries and events which occurred during the year.

Basal archosauriforms Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesLitorosuchusGen. et sp. novValidLi et al.Middle TriassicFalang FormationProbably a relative of Vancleavea. The type species is L. somnii.TriopticusGen. et sp. novValidStocker et al.Late Triassic (latest Carnian-early Norian)Dockum Group()Probably a basal member of Archosauriformes. The type species is T. primus.

Basal archosauriform research A study on the resting metabolic rate of 14 taxa of fossil archosauromorph reptiles as indicated by bone histology is published by Legendre et al. (2016). A study of the phylogenetic relationships of the archosauriforms traditionally assigned to the family Euparkeriidae is published by Sookias (2016). A redescription of the braincase and the inner ear of Euparkeria capensis is published by Sobral et al. (2016). A study of the phylogenetic relationships of archosauromorph reptiles, with an emphasis on the phylogenetic relationships of proterosuchids and erythrosuchids, is published by Ezcurra (2016). A study on the patterns of morphological diversity of the skulls of late Permian to Early Jurassic archosauromorph reptiles is published by Foth et al. (2016). A study on the braincase anatomy of the type specimens of Pseudochampsa ischigualastensis and Tropidosuchus romeri is published by Trotteyn & Paulina-Carabajal (2016). A reevaluation of the neotype specimen of Parasuchus hislopi and a study of the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Kammerer et al. (2016), who consider the genus Parasuchus to be a senior synonym of the genera Paleorhinus and Arganarhinus, and refer the species Paleorhinus bransoni Williston (1904), Francosuchus angustifrons Kuhn (1936) and Paleorhinus magnoculus Dutuit (1977) to the genus Parasuchus. A study on the endocranial anatomy (including the brain, inner ear, neurovascular structures and sinus systems) of Parasuchus angustifrons and Ebrachosuchus neukami is published by Lautenschlager & Butler (2016).

Pseudosuchians

Research A study of the skull anatomy of the ornithosuchid Riojasuchus tenuisceps is published by von Baczko & Desojo (2016). A restudy of Dasygnathoides longidens and Ornithosuchus woodwardi, rejecting their synonymy, is published by von Baczko & Ezcurra (2016). A study on the cranial anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of the aetosaur Paratypothorax andressorum is published by Schoch & Desojo (2016). New fossil material from the Triassic (Ladinian or earliest Carnian) Pinheiros-Chiniquá Sequence of the Santa Maria Supersequence in Brazil attributed to the rauisuchian species Prestosuchus chiniquensis is described by Lacerda et al. (2016). A study on the presence, size, shape, and position of the subnarial foramen (an opening located between premaxilla and maxilla) in Prestosuchus chiniquensis and its implication for archosaurian phylogeny is published by Roberto-da-Silva et al. (2016). A redescription of the fossil material assignable to the species Trialestes romeri and a study of the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Lecuona, Ezcurra & Irmis (2016). The osteological description of Carnufex carolinensis and a study of its phylogenetic position is published by Drymala & Zanno (2016). A study on the changes of crocodyliform biodiversity through the Jurassic/Cretaceous transition and on probable causes of the decline of some crocodyliform lineages at this time is published by Tennant, Mannion & Upchurch (2016). Description of postcranial skeletons of three specimens of the sphagesaurid Caipirasuchus (representing Caipirasuchus montealtensis, Caipirasuchus paulistanus and Caipirasuchus sp.) is published by Iori, Carvalho & Marinho (2016). Description of the postcranial elements of the skeleton of Pissarrachampsa sera is published by Godoy et al. (2016). Description of new cranial remains of Pholidosaurus purbeckensis from the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) of France and a study of phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Martin, Raslan-Loubatié & Mazin (2016). Fossils of the dyrosaurid crocodylomorph Hyposaurus are described from the Late Cretaceous Shendi Formation of Sudan by Salih et al. (2016). A description of the endocranial anatomy of Steneosaurus is published by Brusatte et al. (2016). A study on the body proportions and body size of teleosaurids is published by Young et al. (2016). Fossils of teleosauroid thalattosuchians, including a close relative of Lemmysuchus and Machimosaurus, are described from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of Morocco by Jouve et al. (2016), who name a new tribe Machimosaurini. A redescription of the holotype specimen of the metriorhynchid species "Plesiosaurus" mexicanus Wieland (1910) is published by Barrientos-Lara et al. (2016), who transfer the species to the genus Torvoneustes. New goniopholidid specimen belonging or related to the species Goniopholis lucasii / Amphicotylus lucasii, representing a single individual rather than a composite of unassociated elements, is described from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Wyoming, United States) by Erickson (2016). A Middle Jurassic dentary from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, United Kingdom, referred to Theriosuchus sp., is described by Young et al. (2016). A histological study of a specimen of Susisuchus anatoceps is published by Sayão et al. (2016). New fossil material of Allodaposuchus precedens is described from the Late Cretaceous of France by Martin et al. (2016). Fossil mekosuchine vertebrae, tentatively assigned to Mekosuchus whitehunterensis, are described from Riversleigh (Australia) by Stein, Archer & Hand (2016), who interpret them as confirming that even adult specimens of this species were smaller in snout-vent length than adults of extant small crocodilian species belonging to the genera Paleosuchus and Osteolaemus, and indicating that this species employed feeding behaviours that were unusual for crocodilians. Partial skeleton of the Chinese alligator is described from the late Pliocene of western Japan by Iijima, Takahashi & Kobayashi (2016). A study on the osteology of alligator fossils from the late Miocene Moss Acres Racetrack locality in Marion County, Florida and the phylogenetic placement of the alligators these fossils belonged to within the genus Alligator is published by Whiting, Steadman & Vliet (2016). New information on the anatomy of Globidentosuchus brachyrostris and Centenariosuchus gilmorei and a study of the phylogenetic relationships of these species is published by Hastings, Reisser & Scheyer (2016).

New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAgaresuchusGen. et sp. et comb. novValidNarváez et al.Late Cretaceous (late Campanian–Maastrichtian)A member of Allodaposuchidae. Genus includes new species Agaresuchus fontisensis, as well as "Allodaposuchus" subjuniperus.BayomesasuchusGen. et sp. novValidBarrios, Paulina-Carabajal & BonaLate CretaceousCerro Lisandro FormationA peirosaurid crocodyliform. The type species is Bayomesasuchus hernandezi.Elosuchus broinaeSp. novValidMeunier & LarssonLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)FortignathusGen. et comb. novValidYoung et al.Cretaceous (late Albian-early Cenomanian)Echkar FormationA itasuchid or a relative of itasuchids; a new genus for "Elosuchus" felixi de Lapparent de Broin (2002).Gryposuchus pachakamueSp. novValidSalas-Gismondi et al.MiocenePebas FormationA member of Gryposuchinae, a species of Gryposuchus.KalthifronsGen. et sp. novValidYates & PledgePlioceneTirari FormationA member of Mekosuchinae. The type species is K. aurivellensis.Kentisuchus astreiSp. novValidJouveEocene (late Lutetian)A member of Tomistominae, a species of Kentisuchus.LavocatchampsaGen. et sp. novValidMartin & De Lapparent De BroinCretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian)Kem Kem BedsA notosuchian. The type species is L. sigogneaurusselae.LlanosuchusGen. et sp. novValidFiorelli et al.Late Cretaceous (Campanian?)Los Llanos FormationA notosuchian crocodyliform. The type species is Llanosuchus tamaensis.Machimosaurus rexSp. novValidFanti et al.Early CretaceousA machimosaurid crocodylomorph, a species of Machimosaurus.PatagosuchusGen. et sp. nov ValidLio et al.Late Cretaceous (Turonian–Coniacian)Portezuelo FormationA peirosaurid crocodylomorph. The type species is Patagosuchus anielensis.ProtoalligatorGen. et comb. novValidWang, Sullivan & LiuMiddle PaleoceneWanghudun FormationA member of Orientalosuchina of uncertain phylogenetic placement; a new genus for "Eoalligator" huiningensis Young (1982).SabinosuchusGen. et sp. novValidShiller, Porras-Muzquiz & LehmanLate Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Escondido FormationA member of Dyrosauridae or Pholidosauridae. The type species is S. coahuilensis.SabresuchusGen. et comb. novValidTennant, Mannion & UpchurchCretaceous (late Barremian–Maastrichtian)A member of Paralligatoridae. The type species is "Theriosuchus" ibericus Brinkmann (1989); genus also includes "Theriosuchus" sympiestodon Martin, Rabi & Csiki (2010).ScutarxGen. et sp. novValidParkerLate Triassic (middle Norian)Chinle Formation Cooper Canyon Formation(, )An aetosaur. The type species is Scutarx deltatylus.UltrastenosGen. et sp. novValidStein, Hand & ArcherLate OligoceneRiversleigh World Heritage AreaA member of Mekosuchinae. The type species is U. willisi. Yates & Stein (2024) subsequently interpreted U. willisi as a junior synonym of "Baru" huberi, but maintained Ultrastenos as a distinct mekosuchine genus, resulting in a new combination Ultrastenos huberi.VivaronGen. et sp. novValidLessner et al.Late Triassic (Norian)Chinle Formation()A rauisuchid. The type species is V. haydeni.

Basal dinosauromorphs

Research Marsicano et al. (2016) date the Chañares Formation, containing fossils of non-dinosaurian dinosauromorphs Lagerpeton, Lewisuchus, Marasuchus and Pseudolagosuchus, to early Carnian (236–234 Ma), 5–10 million years younger than previously thought. On this basis the authors postulate that the origin of dinosaurs was a relatively rapid event, as the transition from vertebrate communities containing only non-dinosaurian dinosauromorphs to communities containing the first dinosaurs occurred in less than a 5-million year interval. A study on the ontogeny of the femur and the histology of long bones of the silesaurid Asilisaurus kongwe is published by Griffin & Nesbitt (2016). Basal dinosauromorph fossils including fossils of both Dromomeron romeri and D. gregorii, as well as a dinosauriform fibula resembling the fibula of Marasuchus lilloensis but with much larger size, are described from the Late Triassic Dockum Group of Texas, USA by Sarıgül (2016).

New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesDromomeron gigasSp. novValidMartínez et al.Late Triassic (Norian)Quebrada del Barro FormationA lagerpetid dinosauromorph, a species of Dromomeron.IxalerpetonGen. et sp. novValidCabreira et al.Late Triassic (Carnian)Santa Maria FormationA lagerpetid dinosauromorph. The type species is I. polesinensis.

Non-avian dinosaurs

Research An assessment of methods used to the determine the ontogenetic status of non-avian dinosaur specimens is published by Hone, Farke & Wedel (2016). A study of the evolutionary dynamics of speciation and extinction through time in Mesozoic dinosaurs is published by Sakamoto, Benton & Venditti (2016). A study on the dinosaur metabolism, re-evaluating earlier studies of Werner & Griebeler (2014) and Grady et al. (2014), is published by Myhrvold (2016). A study on the morphological similarities of the skulls of Plateosaurus engelhardti, Stegosaurus stenops and Erlikosaurus andrewsi, their feeding mechanics and behaviour is published by Lautenschlager et al. (2016).