Fossil archosaur research published in 2026 includes the description of new taxa, as well as other peer-reviewed publications on discoveries related to archosaur paleontology.
Pseudosuchians
New pseudosuchian taxa NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesAntusuchusGen. et sp. novValidFernandez-Dumont et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)Candeleros FormationA member of the family Peirosauridae. Genus includes new species A. rionegrinus.CarinthiasuchusGen. et sp. novValidDalla Vecchia & Cau Triassic (Ladinian-Carnian) Partnach FormationA member of Poposauroidea. The type species is C. kandutschi.Crocodylus lucivenatorSp. novValidBrochu et al.PlioceneHadar FormationA crocodile, a species of Crocodylus.EosphorosuchusGen. et sp. novMargulis-Ohnuma et al.Late Triassic (Rhaetian)Chinle Formation()An early member of Crocodylomorpha. The type species is E. lacrimosa.GalahadosuchusGen. et sp. novValidBodenham et al.Late Triassic (Carnian–Rhaetian)Cromhall QuarryA member of Crocodylomorpha belonging to the family Saltoposuchidae. The type species is G. jonesi.HerugavialisGen. et comb. novValidBurke et al.Middle MioceneMokattam FormationA member of Gavialoidea. The type species is Tomistoma cairense (Müller, 1927).Indosinosuchus peninsularensisSp. novValidLauprasert et al.Middle-Late JurassicKhlong Min FormationA member of the family Teleosauridae.LabrujasuchusGen. et sp. novTurner et al.Late Triassic (Norian)Chinle Formation()A member of Poposauroidea belonging to the family Shuvosauridae. The type species is L. expectatus.MandrasuchusGen. et sp. novLessner et al.Paleocene (Danian)Denver Formation()A member of the family Alligatoridae. Genus includes new species M. milleri.ShakajluraGen. et sp. novValidCardillo et al.Triassic (Ladinian-Carnian) Chañares FormationProbably an early-diverging member of Paracrocodylomorpha. The type species is S. riojanensis.SonselasuchusGen. et sp. novValidSmith & SidorLate Triassic (Norian)Chinle Formation()A member of Poposauroidea belonging to the family Shuvosauridae. The type species is S. cedrus.
General pseudosuchian research Evidence from the study of the histology of appendicular elements of Saurosuchus galilei, Sillosuchus longicervix, Aetobarbakinoides brasiliensis, Aetosauroides scagliai, Gracilisuchus stipanicicorum, Tarjadia ruthae and Riojasuchus tenuisceps, indicative of diversity of growth rates of the studied pseudosuchians, is presented by Ponce, Cerda & Desojo (2026). Terras et al. (2026) compare the cranial morphology of Triassic pseudosuchians and other reptiles (including dinosaurs), and argue that cranial similarities among pseudosuchians and other reptiles do not necessarily reflect functional similarities. Evidence from the study of the histology of long bones of the holotype specimen of Dynamosuchus collisensis, interpreted as indicative of a sustained rapid growth, is presented by Farias et al. (2026). Ulloa-Guaiquin et al. (2026) study the neurovascular anatomy of the snout of Riojasuchus tenuisceps, interpreted as consistent with presence of sensory system similar to those seen in extant crocodilians and birds, and supporting a wading-foraging behavior of the studied ornithosuchid. A new specimen of Postosuchus cf. kirkpatricki, comparable in size to the holotype of this species, is described from the strata of the Chinle Formation from the Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona, United States) by Marsh et al. (2026). Hutchinson et al. (2026) study the locomotor biomechanics of Postosuchus kirkpatricki, reporting conflicting evidence for its possible stance and gait.
Aetosaur research Haldar & Ray (2026) study the osteoderm histology of Venkatasuchus armatum.
Crocodylomorph research Paixão et al. (2026) describe isolated eggshells and egg clutches from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation (Brazil) with the egg arrangement similar to those seen in extant crocodilians, including an assemblage of at least 47 eggs representing the largest Mesozoic crocodyliform egg clutch reported to date. Redescription of "Erythrochampsa" longipes is published by Weiss et al. (2026), who consider the studied taxon to be a nomen dubium, and interpret its holotype as likely to be fossil material of a member or a relative of the genus Protosuchus. Tan et al. (2026) describe new fossil material of Edentosuchus tienshanensis from the Lower Cretaceous Lianmuqin Formation (Xinjiang, China), providing new information on the morphology of members of this species. Soni et al. (2026) study the sensory evolution in thalattosuchians on the basis of data from digital endocranial reconstructions, reporting evidence of proportional scaling of visual structures with skull size of members of the group, and interpret metriorhynchids as maintaining visual reliance. Barrientos-Lara & Alvarado-Ortega (2026) report the first discovery of geosaurine fossil material from marine deposits of the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) Sabinal Formation (Oaxaca, Mexico). Hua & Tabouelle (2026) identify a skull of a member of the genus Metriorhynchus from the Kimmeridgian strata from Cap de la Hève (Normandy, France) as belonging to a member of the species M. palpebrosus, and consider the species Metriorhynchus hastifer to be a junior synonym of the species Metriorhynchus brevirostris. Herrera, Spindler & Bronzati (2026) redescribe the anatomy and study the phylogenetic affinities of Dakosaurus maximus on the basis of data from a new specimen from the Kimmeridgian Torleite Formation (Germany), and report evidence of preservation of cartilaginous fish (likely hybodontiform) remains within the abdominal cavity of the studied individual. Paiva et al. (2026) provide new estimates of body length of 40 notosuchian species, and report discrepancies between estimates based on skull length and those based on femoral length. Candeiro et al. (2026) describe a tooth of one of the largest sphagesaurian specimens reported to date from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation in the Goiás state, representing the first notosuchian record from mid-west Brazil. Navarro et al. (2026) study the bone histology of Yacarerani boliviensis, and interpret it as consistent with fast growth dynamics with periods of decline. Kitayama & Bertini (2026) interpret Armadillosuchus arrudai and Caryonosuchus pricei as probable junior synonyms of Sphagesaurus huenei. Carneiro et al. (2026) identify probable sebecid tooth marks on a dentary of Didelphopsis sp. from the Eocene strata from the Itaboraí Basin (Brazil), interpreted as produced during head-shaking and defleshing of the carcass by the predator, and interpret sebecids as likely killing small mammals in a manner similar to extant monitor lizards. Description of the internal rostral anatomy of Sebecus ayrampu is published by Bravo, Barrios & Pol (2026). The first formal description of crocodyliform fossil material from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Missão Velha Formation (Brazil), interpreted as belonging to indeterminate neosuchians, is published by Albuquerque et al. (2026). Castillo-Visa et al. (2026) report evidence of preservation of cartilaginous and epidermal tissues in a specimen of Montsecosuchus depereti from the Barremian strata from Spain. Jouve et al. (2026) provide phylogenetic definitions for Tethysuchia and its subgroups that are valid under the PhyloCode, and coin a new name Stenorhynchosuchia for the putative clade including Tethysuchia and Thalattosuchia. Barbini et al. (2026) provide new information on the internal cranial anatomy of Pholidosaurus purbeckensis, reporting evidence of greater similarity of the endocranial anatomy to that of goniopholidids than dyrosaurids, and evidence of presence of possible osteological correlates of nasal salt glands. A study on the histology of teeth of Guarinisuchus munizi, providing evidence of variable rates of dentine deposition, is published by Izidio et al. (2026). Szegszárdi, Ősi & Rabi (2026) describe a new partial skull of Doratodon carcharidens from the Santonian Csehbánya Formation (Hungary), reinterpret this species as a paralligatorid, and reinterpret Ogresuchus furatus as a neosuchian likely to be an atoposaurid. Redescription of the anatomy and a study on the phylogenetic affinities of Koumpiodontosuchus aprosdokiti is published by Barker et al. (2026), who support the placement of the studied species within Bernissartiidae. Prondvai et al. (2026) report evidence of Hunter-Schreger band-like patterns in the tooth enamel of Iharkutosuchus (interpreted as differing in structural origin from Hunter-Schreger bands of mammals), as well as evidence of wavy enamel in the studied crocodyliform (a feature also known in ornithopod dinosaurs), interpreted as likely adaptations to a herbivorous diet and high-efficiency chewing. Redescription and a study on the affinities of Thoracosaurus isorhynchus is published by Boerman et al. (2026). Boerman et al. (2026) reconstruct the endocranial cavities of Thoracosaurus isorhynchus and Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis, and interpret their anatomy as consistent with marine ecology and lack of capability of deep diving. Donzé et al. (2026) describe the morphology of endocranial structures of Leidyosuchus canadensis and Stangerochampsa mccabei. Bateman, Demers-Potvin & Larsson (2026) compare reconstructed jaw adductor musculature and feeding performances of Leidyosuchus canadensis and Champsosaurus lindoei, interpreted as suggestive of dietary resource partitioning between the two taxa. Lindblad et al. (2026) describe two new crocodyliform specimens from the Paleocene strata of the Ravenscrag Formation (Saskatchewan, Canada), including the first member of the genus Boverisuchus from the middle-late Paleocene of Saskatchewan and a specimen with probable alligatorid affinities. Redescription of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Boverisuchus vorax is published by Iijima & Tomiya (2026). Taxonomic revision of the genus Diplocynodon is published by Walter et al. (2026). Martin et al. (2026) report the discovery of fossil material of Diplocynodon sp. from the Oligocene strata in central Turkey, representing one of the easternmost records of the genus reported to date. Burke & Mannion (2026) study the diversity of endocranial anatomy in extant and extinct crocodylians and basal eusuchians, reporting evidence of anatomical differences facilitating the identification of members of distinct lineages. Cidade et al. (2026) revise the phylogenetic nomenclature of Caimaninae, defining new clades Bottosauria, Caimanini, Purussauria and Purussauridae. A study on the bone histology of mekosuchines, interpreted as indicative of a more terrestrial habit compared to extant crocodylians and of an extended period of moderate growth, is published by Hoffman et al. (2026). Agne et al. (2026) identify the extinct crocodile population from Seychelles as representing the westernmost known population of saltwater crocodiles on the basis of analysis of mitochondrial genomes. Puncture marks interpreted as evidence of predation by a crocodylian (likely Purussaurus) are reported in bones of Pericotoxodon platignathus, Xenastrapotherium kraglievichi and Granastrapotherium snorki from the Miocene strata from La Venta (Colombia) by Wilson et al. (2026), who also report additional traces on bones of X. kraglievichi that might be evidence of scavenging by a crocodyliform similar to Langstonia. Review of the fossil record of late Quaternary crocodilians from Australasia is published by Ristevski et al. (2026). Fernandez Blanco & Bona (2026) report evidence from the study of extant and extinct crocodyliforms indicative of similarities of embryonic development of skulls of extant caimans to changes in palate and skull roof during the evolutionary history of crocodyliforms.
Non-avian dinosaurs
New dinosaur taxa