Paracyclotosaurus

Taxobox
name = "Paracyclotosaurus"
fossil_range = Middle Triassic-Late Triassic

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Paracyclotosaurus davidi"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
superclassis = Tetrapoda
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Temnospondyli
familia = Capitosauroidea
genus = "Paracyclotosaurus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "P. davidi"

"Paracyclotosaurus" were giant temnospondyl amphibians with a flat body, similar to today's salamander – but much larger. Although they could live on dry land, "Paracyclotosaurus" probably spent most of its time in water. A fish-eater, it might have played a waiting game, lying just below the surface of the water. When an unsuspecting fish came within reach of its jaws, "Paracyclotosaurus" lifted its massive head, its mouth opened wide and the fish was sucked inside. Modern predators, such as crocodiles, use this technique to catch some of their prey. "Paracyclotosaurus" was 6–8 feet long, and it lived in the Triassic period, about 235 million years ago (Middle Triassic). "Paracyclotosaurus" fossils were found in Sydney Australia, India and South Africa; all these areas once were part of the continent of Gondwana.

The species "P. davidi" is only known from one complete specimen recovered from Australia. The creature was probably killed by a tree crushing the back of its head.

References

* Patricia Vickers-Rich and Thomas Hewett Rich 1993, Wildlife of Gondwana, ISBN 0-7301-0315-3 Reed.

External links

* [http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=displayCollectionDetails&collection_no=38348 The Paleobiology Database: Paracyclotosaurus]