US EditionPredator Was a Precursor of the Crocodile—and Although It Lived Before the Early Dinosaurs, It Looked Just Like One
Tainrakuasuchus bellator was a 2.4-meter armored predator living 240 million years ago, linking South American and African prehistoric ecosystems, researchers reported.
- On Nov. 13, researchers published the formal description of Tainrakuasuchus bellator from a partial skeleton found in Dona Francisca, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
- The name blends Guarani, Greek and Latin to describe Tainrakuasuchus, referencing its pointed teeth; authors say bellator honors Rio Grande do Sul's resilience, while poposauroids remain very rare in South America.
- Measured at about 2.4 m, the animal weighed around 60 kg, had osteoderms, a long neck, recurved teeth, and likely walked on all fours striking quickly at prey.
- Researchers say the discovery illuminates predator diversity in Triassic ecosystems and provides a rare glimpse into ecosystems that preceded the rise of dinosaurs, clarifying relationships within pseudosuchia, the research community of paleontologists reported in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
- Around 240 million years ago, Tainrakuasuchus bellator hunted, closely related to Mandasuchus tanyauchen from Tanzania, supporting faunal links across Pangaea and long-term crocodilian persistence.
13 Articles
13 Articles
A team of paleontologists in southern Brazil identified a new species of carnivorous reptile that lived 240 million years ago and that looks like a dinosaur, but it is not.The finding was reported on November 12 in the scientific journal Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.The specimen was called Tainrakuasusuchus bellator.It was 2.4 meters long, weighed about 60 kilograms and belonged to the group of the Pseudosuchia, direct ancestors of crocod…
Science Daily
ecotopical.comA fierce crocodile ancestor that hunted before dinosaurs has been found
Scientists have identified a new crocodile precursor that looked deceptively dinosaur-like and hunted with speed and precision. Named Tainrakuasuchus bellator, the armored “warrior” lived 240 million years ago and occupied a powerful niche in the Triassic food chain. Its fossils reveal deep evolutionary links between South America and Africa. The find sheds light on a vibrant ecosystem that existed just before dinosaurs emerged.
Predator was a precursor of the crocodile—and although it lived before the early dinosaurs, it looked just like one
A newly discovered, carnivorous lizard ostensibly represents what most casual onlookers would perhaps perceive to be a dinosaur; however, it is in fact a precursor of the modern crocodile.
New Species of Triassic Armor-Plated Reptile Unearthed in Brazil
A new genus and species of pseudosuchian archosaur has been identified from the fossil remains found in southern Brazil. The post New Species of Triassic Armor-Plated Reptile Unearthed in Brazil appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
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