Eopneumatosuchus was initially considered to be a
protosuchian, first proposed when the genus was named in 1980. However, this classification was later questioned on the basis of several features of the
holotype material, and as a result it is no longer considered to be within Protosuchia. Particular features of the posterior part of the cranium, the only material associated with the genus, suggest that
Eopneumatosuchus may have close relations with
Early Jurassic teleosaurs. The large supratemporal fenestrae of
Eopneumatosuchus are characteristic of longirostrine
crocodilians. Despite the similar cranial morphology with crocodilians, the genus is currently regarded as a basal crocodyliform. Nonetheless, it is considered to be more
derived than protosuchians such as
Protosuchus, found from the
Moenave Formation, whose deposition preceded that of the Kayenta Formation. The basicranium had many cavities that made up a complex
tympanic pneumatic system for which the genus has been named. These types of cavities can also be seen in some protosuchians such as
Protosuchus and
Hemiprotosuchus, although they are less elongated than in
Eopneumatosuchus. ==References==