Trematosauridae

Trematosauridae are a family of large temnospondyl amphibians with many members. They first appeared during the Olenekian stage of the Early Triassic, and existed up until around the Carnian stage of the Late Triassic, although by then they were very rare. By the Middle Triassic they had become widespread throughout Laurasia and Gondwana with fossils being found in Europe, Asia, Madagascar, and Australia. They are one of the most derived families of the Trematosauroidea superfamily in that they are the only family that have fully marine lifestyles. They evolved long, slender snouts that are characteristic of the Trematosaurids, with some members having rostrums resembling those of modern-day gavials. Traditionally, two subfamilies within Trematosauridae can be identified, the relatively short-nosed Trematosaurinae and the long-nosed Lonchorhynchinae.