Choristodera

Choristodera Temporal range: Middle Jurassic – Miocene, 168–11.6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Potential Triassic records
Skeleton of Philydrosaurus proselius exhibited at the National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
Skeleton of Ikechosaurus, on display at National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Neodiapsida
Order:	†Choristodera Cope, 1876
Subgroups
†Coeruleodraco †Cteniogenys †Heishanosaurus †Irenosaurus †"Allochoristodera" Dong et al., 2020 †Lazarussuchus †Monjurosuchus †Philydrosaurus †Hyphalosaurus †Khurendukhosaurus †Shokawa †Neochoristodera Evans & Hecht, 1993 †Champsosaurus †Kosmodraco[1] †Ikechosaurus †Liaoxisaurus †Mengshanosaurus †Simoedosaurus †Tchoiria

Choristodera (from the Greek χωριστός chōristos + δέρη dérē, 'separated neck'^[2]) is an extinct order of semiaquatic diapsid reptiles that ranged from the Middle Jurassic, or possibly Triassic, to the Miocene (168 to 20 or possibly 11.6 million years ago). Choristoderes are morphologically diverse, with the best known members being the crocodile-like neochoristoderes such as Champsosaurus. Other choristoderans had lizard-like or long necked morphologies. Choristoderes appear to have been confined to the Northern Hemisphere, having been found in North America, Asia, and Europe, and possibly also North Africa. Choristoderes are generally thought to be derived neodiapsids that are close relatives or members of Sauria.