Hesperosuchus agilis (Colbert 1952) Late Carnian, Late Triassic ~210mya, was derived from a sister to Sphenosuchus and it phylogenetically preceded Dromicosuchus.

Distinct from Sphenosuchus, the skull of Hesperosuchus had more robust bones creating a smaller orbit and lateral temporal fenestra along with a deeper cheek. The premaxilla had a "shark-nose" shape.

Hearkening back to Gracilisuchus, the dorsal ribs had intercostal plates.

In size and shape the scapula and coracoid resembled those of Saltoposuchus, but the forelimbs were longer as in Terrestrisuchus. The hind limbs were similar to those of Saltoposuchus, but the femur was relatively shorter.

SMNS 12352 is known from a complete rostrum and incomplete dentary from the Late Triassic. Also associated is a partial manus with elongate radiale and ulnare (see below). A recent paper by Knoll and Rohrberg (2012) CT-scanned and rapid-prototyped a partial skull (SMNS 12352) first described by von Huene (1921). Found in 1908, this Late Triassic specimen was originally considered a second specimen of Procompsognathus. Knoll and Rohrberg (2012) considered the skull an indeterminate basal crocodylomorph, close to, but distinct from Saltoposuchus. Here SMNS 12352 nests with Hesperosuchus.

Imaginatively restoring the rest of the skull based on the phylogenetic analysis and continuing lines from broken skull parts creates a rather plesiomorphic crocodylomorph skull.

Apparently no manus of a basal croc is complete. Therefore every image adds to our knowledge, if only in bits and pieces and a few guesses. Apparently mc3 is the longest. Metacarpal 5 varis in length. Some digits are gracile. Others are robust.

Clark JM, Sues H-D and Berman DS 2000. A new specimen of Hesperosuchus agilis from the Upper Triassic of New Mexico and the interrelationships of basal crocodylomorph archosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(4):683-704.

Colbert EH 1947. A pseudosuchian reptile from Arizona. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 99:561–592.

Knoll F and Rohrberg K 2012. CT scanning, rapid prototyping and re-examination of a partial skull of a basal crocodylomorph from the Late Triassic of Germany. Swiss Journal of Geosciences. DOI 10.1007/s00015-012-0094-4.

von Huene F 1921. Neue Pseudosuchier und Coelurosaurier aus dem württembergischen Keuper. Acta Zoologica, 2, 329–403.

van Hoepen ECN 1915. Contributions to the knowledge of the reptiles of the Karroo Formation. 4. A new pseudosuchian from the Orange Free State. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 5(1):83-87.

Sereno PC and Wild R 1992. Procompsognathus: theropod, ‘‘thecodont’’ or both? Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 12, 435–458.

wiki/Hesperosuchus