Remains have been found from the early Late Triassic Tongchuan Formation in Shanxi, China.

This is another distinguishing characteristic of Yonghesuchus, as other early archosauriforms have shorter and wider basisphenoid bones.

Moreover, the entrance of the internal carotid artery, which passes through a foramen in the basisphenoid to supply blood to the brain, is in a different position than related genera.

The high projection comprises much of the upper margin of the mandibular fenestra, an opening along the side of the jaw.

The mandibular fenestra is longer and narrower than those of related archosauriforms such as Turfanosuchus, Euparkeria, and Ornithosuchus.

[1] Yonghesuchus, like Turfanosuchus, has small, compressed, recurved premaxillary teeth in the front of the upper jaw.

[3] In most recent analyses, Yonghesuchus has been recovered as in a well supported clade, the Gracilisuchidae within the Pseudosuchia, along with Gracilisuchus and Turfanosuchus.