Stanocephalosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Stanocephalosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 252 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 252 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early tetrapods & amphibians |
|---|---|
| Lived | 251.902–237 million years ago (Induan to Ladinian) |
| Periods | Triassic |
| Family | Paracyclotosauridae |
| Named by | Brown 1933 |
| Fossil records | 6 occurrences at 6 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Tanzania, Zambia, Algeria |
| Rock formations | Moenkopi, Manda Beds, Ntawere, txn:165250 |
About Stanocephalosaurus
Stanocephalosaurus (stano from Greek stenos, meaning "narrow", cephalo from Greek kephalē, meaning "head") is an extinct genus of large-sized temnospondyls living through the early to mid Triassic. The etymology of its name most likely came from its long narrow skull when compared to other temnospondyls. Stanocephalosaurus lived an aquatic lifestyle, with some species even living in salt lakes. There are currently three recognized species and another that needs further material to establish its legitimacy. The three known species are Stanocephalosaurus pronus from the Middle Triassic in Tanzania, Stanocephalosaurus amenasensis from the Lower Triassic in Algeria, and Stanocephalosaurus birdi, from the middle Triassic in Arizona. Stanocephalosaurus rajareddyi from the Middle Triassic in central India needs further evidence in order to establish its relationship among other Stanocephalosaurs. Like other temnospondyls, Stanocephalosaurus was an aquatic carnivore. Evidence of multiple species discovered in a wide range of localities proves that Stanocephalosaurus were present all across Pangea throughout the early to mid Triassic.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Stanocephalosaurus (revision 1369644335), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q7600145.
