Trialestes is a type of reptile that lived a long time ago during the Late Triassic period, about 235 to 221 million years ago.
This genus of creatures was found in South America and is related to modern crocodiles. Scientists used to think of Trialestes as a dinosaur because it was built for running and was a meat-eater.
Trialestes belongs to a group called Sphenosuchia, which includes some early relatives of today’s crocodiles.
Research by Irmis, Nesbitt, and Sues in 2013 showed that while some bones linked to this type may actually belong to dinosaurs, the main fossil, known as the holotype, confirms Trialestes is indeed part of the crocodile family.
The holotype was discovered in a formation known as the Ischigualasto Formation in Argentina. This means it shows important features that link it to crocodylomorphs.
The main species of Trialestes is named T. romeri, and it was officially named in 1963.
In summary, Trialestes helps scientists understand the early evolution of crocodiles and their relatives!