Erythrosuchus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Erythrosuchus
Fossil range: Early Triassic
life restoration of Erythrosuchus
life restoration of Erythrosuchus
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Infraclass: Archosauromorpha
Family: Erythrosuchidae
Genus: Erythrosuchus
Binomial name
Erythrosuchus africanus
Broom, 1905

Erythrosuchus is an extinct genus of archosaur reptile that was about 5 m (17 ft) long and 2,10 m (7 ft) tall.

Erythrosuchus was the largest predator of its time. It walked on all fours and had limbs which were positioned semi-vertically under its body. Its head was huge and dinosaur-like, reaching a length of 1 m (3 ft 4 in). In the Late Triassic, the ecological niche left by Erythrosuchus was filled by creatures like Saurosuchus and Postosuchus.