Proterosuchus
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Proterosuchus Temporal range: Early Triassic, 252–250 Ma |
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| Skull of P. fergusi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Crocopoda |
| Clade: | Archosauriformes |
| Genus: |
†Proterosuchus Broom, 1903 |
| Type species | |
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†Proterosuchus fergusi Broom, 1903 |
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Proterosuchus is an extinct genus of Early Triassic archosauriform reptiles. Remains have been found from South Africa and China. The genus Chasmatosaurus is a junior synonym of Proterosuchus, as all species of Chasmatosaurus, including C. aleandri, C. vanhoepeni, and C. yuani, have been reassigned to Proterosuchus. Elaphrosuchus has also been synonymized with Proterosuchus. The type species of Proterosuchus is P. fergusi. The Chinese species is P. yuani.
Proterosuchus was one of the largest land reptiles during the Early Triassic period, Proterosuchus species ranged in length from 1.5 to 2.2 metres (4.9 to 7.2 ft). It looked somewhat similar to a primitive crocodile, and shared many of their modern features like long jaws, powerful neck muscles, short legs and a lengthy tail, while possessing several features unique to proterosuchids such as its hook-shaped mouth and long rows of simple cone-shaped teeth. This jaw may have been an adaptation for catching prey, such as the dicynodont Lystrosaurus.
Proterosuchus, like most modern crocodiles, is theorised to be an ambush predator, waiting for its prey to enter the water, at which point they would be attacked from below the surface, using the long, muscular tail for swimming and pushing through the water at speed. However, the animal also had stout legs that enabled it to walk comfortably on land. It walked with its elbows-out in a semi-erect gait. Being able to move between the land and the water was a great advantage, and enabled Proterosuchus to control its body temperature by sunbathing or cooling off in the water. Being an ambush predator like some present-day crocodiles meant that for the most part Proterosuchus remained in one environment for most of its life. This worked as an excellent means of conserving energy, even giving it the capability of surviving for perhaps months at a time without food.
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Wikipedia