Rauisuchus

Rauisuchus Temporal range: Mid-Late Triassic ~235–205.6 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Life restoration of R. tiradentes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Family:	†Rauisuchidae
Genus:	†Rauisuchus Huene 1936
Species:	†R. tiradentes
Binomial name
Rauisuchus tiradentes Huene 1936

Rauisuchus is a genus of extinct basal 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). It contains one species, R. tiradentes.^[1]

Etymology

The crocodylian-like genus was named after fossil collector Dr. Wilhelm Rau; Rauisuchus. The name Rauisuchus means Wilhelm Rau's crocodile.

Description

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).

References

Further reading

• Holtz, Thomas; Brett-Surman, Michael (2001). Jurassic Park Institute: Dinosaur Field Guide. Random House. ISBN 0-375-81293-8.