Luperosuchus
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Luperosuchus Temporal range: Middle Triassic, 236.1 Ma |
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| Life restoration of Luperosuchus fractus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Loricata |
| Genus: |
†Luperosuchus Romer, 1971 |
| Type species | |
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Luperosuchus fractus Romer, 1971 |
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Luperosuchus (meaning "vexing" or "difficult crocodile") is an extinct genus of large "rauisuchian" pseudosuchian. It lived between the Ladinian stage of the late Middle Triassic to the earliest Carnian of the Late Triassic, and is known from the Chañares Formation of Argentina. It contains only a single type species, Luperosuchus fractus.
Luperosuchus is known only from a single incomplete skull, with an associated atlas intercentrum representing the only known postcranial material. However, it is likely that it was a large quadruped, similar to other basal loricatans. Isolated osteoderms from the same region were initially attributed this genus based on their size and similarity to those of other "rauisuchian" osteoderms, however they were later found to be belong to the contemporary doswelliid Tarjadia. The presence of osteoderms in Luperosuchus is therefore left ambiguous.
The skull belongs to a large animal, with the preserved portions measuring 54.5 cm and an estimated complete length of approximately 60 cm, resembling those of other basal loricatans. The material largely consists of the skull roof, including the nasals, maxilla and part of the premaxilla. The snout is narrow and pointed, with a tall maxilla featuring a triangular antorbital fenestra. The premaxilla has a long posterodorsally directed process that articulates with the nasals, excluding the maxilla from the external naris, which tapers posteriorly. The orbit is tall and described as 'key-hole shaped', with the infratemporal fenestra exhibiting a similar size and shape. A narrow slit was identified between the premaxilla and maxilla, as in other loricatans, however this feature is likely to be from postmortem distortion rather than anatomical. An unusual feature found in Luperosuchus is the tall, mediolaterally compressed crest that sits on the front of the snout. This structure is formed by the dorsally arching nasals, and has been described as a 'roman-nose' following Romer's initial description. A similar structure is found in other loricatans, particularly Prestosuchus and Saurosuchus, although it is most prevalent in Luperosuchus.
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