Indosuchus

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Indosuchus
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Saurischia Suborder: Theropoda Infraorder: Ceratosauria Family: Abelisauridae Genus: Indosuchus Species: I. raptorius
Binomial name
Indosuchus raptorius von Huene & Matley, 1933

Indosuchus raptorius was an abelisaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period (65 to 70 million years ago - the Maastrichtian era), a primitive theropod related to Abelisaurus. Like most theropods, Indosuchus was a bipedal carnivore. It was possibly 20 feet (6 meters) long, and had a crested skull, flattened on the top.

It was described by von Huene and Matley (1933).

[edit] Etymology

"Indos", Ancient Greek for India; "soukhos", Ancient Greek for crocodile. "raptorius": raptorial.

[edit] Classification

Because only some skull elements have been found, Indosuchus placement has been somewhat erratic. Although it's now somewhat firmly placed within the Abelisauridae, it has been also grouped with allosaurs and tyrannosaurs. The discovery of other abelisaurid species like Carnotaurus sastrei has helped clarify its position.

[edit] External links

• Dann's Dinosaurs
• Indosuchus at The Theropod Database
• See entry on Indosuchus at DinoData (registration required, free)