Indosuchus

Taxobox
name = "Indosuchus"
fossil_range=Late Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Theropoda
infraordo = Ceratosauria
familia = Abelisauridae
genus = "Indosuchus"
genus_authority= von Huene & Matley, 1933
subdivision_ranks=Species
subdivision=
*"I. raptorius" von Huene & Matley, 1933 (type)

"Indosuchus raptorius" is a genus of 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 6 meters (20 ft) long, and had a crested skull, flattened on the top.

It was described by von Huene and Matley (1933) from remains found in India.

Etymology

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

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.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs/indos.html Dann's Dinosaurs]
* [http://home.comcast.net/~eoraptor/Ceratosauria.htm#Indosuchusraptorius "Indosuchus" at The Theropod Database]
* [http://www.dinodata.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6693&Itemid=67 "Indosuchus" at DinoData]