3D Jaw Muscles of Junggarsuchus sloani

3D Model

This 3D model of the terrestrial, predatory Sphenosuchian Junggarsuchus sloani (IVPP V14010), from the Middle Jurassic Shishugou Formation of Xinjiang, China, has largely vertically oriented temporal muscles like many of its crocodylomorph ancestors. Read more on how the evolution of skull shape in crocodilians affected jaw muscle function in Sellers et al (2022) in in Anatomical Record: https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24912. The original descriptions of this exquisite fossil can be found here: doi:10.1038/nature02802 with thanks to Jim Clark (GWU) and Xu Xing (IVPP) for sharing the data. Thanks to National Science Foundation 1631684 for supporting the work.