Proterosuchus

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Proterosuchus
Fossil range: Early Triassic

Proterosuchus fergusi from the Early Triassic of South Africa

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Subclass:	Diapsida
Infraclass:	Archosauromorpha
(unranked)	Archosauriformes
Family:	Proterosuchidae
Genus:	Proterosuchus Broom, 1903

Species

Proterosuchus fergusi Broom, 1903 (Type)
Proterosuchus yuani
(Young, 1936) Cruickshank, 1970
Proterosuchus ultimus
(Young, 1964) Cruickshank, 1970

Proterosuchus was the largest land reptile during the Early Triassic period, equivalent in size to today's Komodo Dragons. It looked somewhat similar to a primitive crocodile, and shared many of their modern features like long jaws, powerful neck muscles, short legs and a lengthy tail, while retaining several of its own unique features such as its long legs, and hooked shaped mouth. This jaw made it near impossible for prey such as Lystrosaurus to escape death once ensnared. Proterosuchus, like most modern crocodiles, was an ambush predator, waiting for its prey to enter the water, at which point they would be attacked from below the surface, using the long, muscular tail for swimming and pushing through the water at speed. However, the animal also had stout legs that enabled it to walk comfortably at land. Being able to move between the land and the water was a great advantage, and enabled Proterosuchus to control its body temperature by sunbathing or cooling off in the water. Being an ambush predator, like some present-day crocodiles meant that for the most part Proterosuchus remained in one environment for most of its life. This worked as an excellent means of conserving energy, even giving it the capability of surviving for perhaps months at a time without food.

Proterosuchus.

Although it could live and swim in the water, Proterosuchus preferred to hunt land animals rather than fish. Its eyes were located on the top of its head, allowing it to hide just under the surface of the water, where it would wait for animals to come and drink. When close enough, Proterosuchus would spring upwards and drag its victim into the water, drowning and then eating it.

Proterosuchus is an example of an early archosaur, the group which encompasses crocodiles, pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and birds. It has was once believed to have been an ancestor to the crocodilians, but it is now known to be far more basal.

[edit] Popular culture

Proterosuchus (identified as a chasmatosaur) played a role in the BBC's series Walking with Monsters. It showed them ambushing Lystrosaurus as they swam across a river during their annual migration, much as modern crocodiles ambush zebra in Africa today.