Yonghesuchus is an extinct genus of Late Triassic archosaur reptile. Remains have been found from the early Late Triassic Tongchuan Formation in Shanxi, China. It is named after Yonghe County, the county where fossils were found. Currently only one species, Y. sangbiensis, is known. The specific name refers to Sangbi Creek, as fossils were found in one of its banks.[1]
Yonghesuchus is known from two skulls, one with an attached mandible (the holotype) and one with articulated cervical vertebrae. The holotype skull, known as IVPP V 12378, has been deformed by compression during preservation so that it has become dorsoventrally flattened. The paratype skull, known as IVPP V 12379, has also experienced damage as a result of its preservation.[1]
The premaxilla, the bone at the front of the snout, projects past the front teeth to form a small pointed tip at the end of the snout. Behind the premaxilla is the maxilla, which contains a small depression that forms part of the antorbital fossa. This depression distinguishes Yonghesuchus from related archosauriforms such as Turfanosuchus. As in other archosauriforms such as Turfanosuchus and Euparkeria, the palate is covered in very small teeth called denticles. Behind the palate, the basisphenoid bone (which forms the floor of the braincase) is long and narrows toward the front. This is another distinguishing characteristic of Yonghesuchus, as other early archosauriforms have shorter and wider basisphenoid bones. Moreover, the entrance of the internal carotid artery, which passes through a foramen in the basisphenoid to supply blood to the brain, is in a different position than related genera. Its position is more similar to that of Dorosuchus (a euparkeriid) and more derived archosauriforms.[1]
In the lower jaw, the dentary bone has two projections at its posterior end where it attaches to the mandible, the higher one being markedly longer than the lower one. The high projection comprises much of the upper margin of the mandibular fenestra, an opening along the side of the jaw. The mandibular fenestra is longer and narrower than those of related archosauriforms such as Turfanosuchus, Euparkeria, and Ornithosuchus. At the back of the jaw is the retroarticular region, which extends backward from the jaw joint. On the dorsal surface of this region on the articular bone is a prominent ridge that is not seen in other archosauriforms. There is a wing-like projection on the medial, or inner, surface of the articular which is called the medial process. This process is also seen in sphenosuchian crocodylomorphs and rauisuchians.[1]
Yonghesuchus, like Turfanosuchus, has small, compressed, recurved premaxillary teeth in the front of the upper jaw. The maxillary teeth are larger, more compressed, and serrated. The largest of these are the fourth and fifth maxillary teeth (the ninth and tenth teeth from the tip of the jaw). Teeth behind these get progressively smaller and end below the orbit, or eye socket.[1]
The cervical vertebrae, which are only known in the paratype, are amphicoelous, meaning that they are concave at both ends. These vertebrae bear small ribs that are similar to other archosauriformes, including crocodyliforms.[1]