Diodorus

Diodorus is one of the closest relatives of true dinosaurs, belonging to a group called Silesauridae.3

Its name comes from a mythical king of North Africa, and the species name 'scytobrachion' means 'leathery arm'.1

Diodorus had forward-tilted teeth that got smaller toward the front of its jaw, which is unusual.2

A ridge on the side of its lower jaw ran parallel to the tooth sockets, helping scientists tell it apart from other silesaurids.2

Its femur (thigh bone) was only 92 mm (3.6 in) long, showing it was a small animal.2

Diodorus lived alongside phytosaurs, prolacertiforms, fish, and temnospondyls in a Late Triassic ecosystem.1

It is the first silesaurid dinosaur relative ever found in northern Africa.3