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Research dossier · Science & Nature

Orthosuchus

Extinct genus of reptiles from the early Jurassic of southern Africa

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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionSep 19, 2026
Entity authoritySource title only
Source-derived summary

Orthosuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyliform that lived during the Early Jurassic, about 196 million years ago. It was first discovered in 1963 in the Red Beds Formation in the Qacha's Nek Province of Lesotho, southern Africa. The characteristics shown on its postcranial skeleton and the skull indicated that it is a crocodyliform. The finding is significant since some of the characteristics found on this specimen were believed to be absent until the Jurassic.

Editorial summary

The public source identifies “Orthosuchus” as extinct genus of reptiles from the early Jurassic of southern Africa. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Orthosuchus, Extinct and genus.

Editorial reviewA practical orientation to terminology and classification, particularly when read beside dated observations, specimens or technical literature. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1963—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Orthosuchus, Extinct and genus providing the first useful test.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Orthosuchus”, the useful work is to connect “extinct genus of reptiles from the early Jurassic of southern Africa” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 19, 2026. The first chronological checks are 1963.

Critical limits

A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
Verify next

Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Orthosuchus”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Orthosuchus primary sources, Orthosuchus archive and Orthosuchus research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Orthosuchus”?
  2. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
  3. Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from “Orthosuchus” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.