It is a node-based taxon defined by Michelle R. Stocker in 2010 as the last common ancestor of Leptosuchus studeri and Pseudopalatus pristinus and all of its descendants.

[1] A new definition was proposed by Andrew S. Jones and Richard J. Butler in 2018 as the last common ancestor and all descendants of Smilosuchus lithodendrorum, Leptosuchus studeri, and Machaeroprosopus pristinus to reflect the new interrelationships of Phytosauria they recovered.

[2] Below is a cladogram from Stocker (2012)[1] "Paleorhinus" scurriensis Paleorhinus bransoni "Paleorhinus" sawini Brachysuchus megalodon Angistorhinus Rutiodon carolinensis "Machaeroprosopus" zunii Protome batalaria "Phytosaurus" doughtyi

Leptosuchus crosbiensis Leptosuchus studeri Smilosuchus lithodendrorum Smilosuchus adamanensis Smilosuchus gregorii Pravusuchus hortus Pseudopalatus mccauleyi Mystriosuchus westphali Pseudopalatus pristinus

This article about a prehistoric reptile is a stub.