Prestosuchus

Taxobox
name = "Prestosuchus"
fossil_range = Late Triassic

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image_caption = "Prestosuchus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
subclassis = Diapsida
clade=Crurotarsi
ordo = Rauisuchia
familia = Prestosuchidae
genus = "Prestosuchus" "Prestosuchus" is an extinct genus of a group of rauisuchians called prestosuchids. Like its prestosuchid cousins, "Prestosuchus" had a deep skull, and serrated teeth. "Prestosuchus" lived in Brazil of the Late Triassic Period. It reached lengths of nearly 5 metres. While it resembled a dinosaur in having a large body and upright posture it was actually a rauisuchian archosaur. It was an ambush predator and may have hunted smaller animals like "Scaphonyx". "Prestosuchus" had powerful legs that indicate it was a fast runner. Its closest relatives are "Saurosuchus" and "Postosuchus".

The "Prestosuchus chiniquensis" was discovered in the Paleontological Site Chiniquá, near the city of São Pedro do Sul in 1938, the famous paleontologist Friedrich von Huene on a trip to Brazil. This site is located in the geopark of paleorrota. [ [http://www.ufrgs.br/geociencias/paleo/tecodontei.html Picture and informations about of "Prestosuchus chiniquensis" (UFRGS)] ]

Notes and references

ee also

*Paleorrota

External links

* [http://www.ufrgs.br/geociencias/paleo/tecodonte.jpgDrawing of "Prestosuchus chiniquensis"]
* [http://www.royalsul.com.br/paleo/galeria.asp Dinosaurs of Rio grande do Sul.]
* [http://www.sbpbrasil.org/home.htm Brazilian Society of Paleontology.]
* [http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/270Archosauromorpha/270.650.html Palaeos.com: Prestosuchidae]