| Aetosaurus Fossil range: Late Triassic | |
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 Restoration of Aetosaurus ferratus | |
| Scientific classification
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Aetosaurus
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Aetosaurus is an extinct genus of archosaur reptile belonging to the aetosaur order. It is generally considered to be the most primitive aetosaur.[1] Three species are currently recognized: A. ferratus, the type species from Germany and Italy;[2] A. crassicauda from Germany;[3] and A. arcuatus from eastern North America. Additional specimens referred to Aetosaurus have been found from South Africa,[4] the Chinle Group of the southwestern United States,[5][6] and the Fleming Fjord Formation of Greenland.[7] Specimens of Aetosaurus occur in Norian-age. strata.[1]
Description[]
Aetosaurus was a small, primitive aetosaur. Unlike more derived aetosaurs such as Desmatosuchus or Typothorax, the carapace was long and narrow and lacked spikes. The paramedian scutes that covered the back (with one row on each side of the vertebrae) are considerably wider than they are long. The lateral scutes, which are beneath the paramedians and formed a row on either side of the animal, do not bear any spikes or other projections.