Rauisuchus
Rauisuchus Temporal range: Mid-Late Triassic
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Life restoration of R. tiradentes | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Family: | †Rauisuchidae |
Genus: | †Rauisuchus Huene, 1936 |
Species: | †R. tiradentes
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Binomial name | |
†Rauisuchus tiradentes Huene, 1936
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Rauisuchus is a genus of extinct archosaurs which lived in what is now the Geopark of Paleorrota (Santa María Formation), Brazil, during the Middle to Late Triassic period (235–206 million years ago).[1] It contains one species, R. tiradentes.[2][3][4]
The genus belonged to a group of land-dwelling relatives to crocodiles. These reptiles were among the top predators of their day, eating other reptiles for food and maybe hunting early dinosaurs. Rauisuchus possibly grew to a length of 4 m (13 ft) and would be 90 cm (35 in) high at the hips. It had a weight of around 250 kg (550 lb).
The crocodylian-like genus was named after fossil collector Dr. , who discovered the holotype in 1928 or 1929;[3] Rauisuchus. The name Rauisuchus means Wilhelm Rau's crocodile.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Raiusuchus_scale_diagram.png/220px-Raiusuchus_scale_diagram.png)
References[]
- ^ Holtz, Thomas; Brett-Surman, Michael (2001). Jurassic Park Institute: Dinosaur Field Guide. Random House. ISBN 0-375-81293-8.
- ^ Rauisuchus at Fossilworks.org
- ^ a b F. v. Huene. (1942). Lieferungen 3/4. Pseudosuchia, Saurischia, Rhynchosauridae und Schlussabschnitt [Parts 3/4. Pseudosuchia, Saurischia, Rhynchosauridae, and Conclusions]. Die Fossilen Reptilien des Südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]. C. H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, München 161-332
- ^ Die Fossilen Reptilien des Südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]
- Rauisuchids
- Triassic reptiles of South America
- Triassic Brazil
- Fossils of Brazil
- Santa Maria Formation
- Fossil taxa described in 1936
- Taxa named by Friedrich von Huene
- Prehistoric pseudosuchian genera
- Prehistoric archosaur stubs
- Triassic reptile stubs