Rauisuchus

Rauisuchus tiradentes
Temporal range: Middle Triassic, 240–230 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Family: †Rauisuchidae
Genus: †Rauisuchus
Huene, 1942
Species: †R. tiradentes
Binomial name
Rauisuchus tiradentes
Huene, 1942

Rauisuchus is a genus of extinct basal archosaur which lived in what is now the Geopark of Paleorrota, Brazil, during the middle Triassic period (240-230 million years ago). It contains one species, R. tiradentes. Named after fossil collector Dr. Wilhelm Rau, Rauisuchus 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 grew to a length of 4 m (13 ft) and was 90 cm (35 in) high at the hips. It had a weight of around 250 kg (550 lb).

References


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