Rauisuchus

Rauisuchus; Temporal range: Mid-Late Triassic; ~235–205.6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Life restoration of R. tiradentes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Family:	†Rauisuchidae
Genus:	†Rauisuchus; Huene, 1936
Species:	†R. tiradentes
Binomial name
	†Rauisuchus tiradentes; Huene, 1936

Rauisuchus is a genus of extinct basal archosaurs which lived in what is now the Geopark of Paleorrota (Santa María Formation), Brazil, during the Middle to Late Triassic period (235-206 million years ago).[1] It contains one species, R. tiradentes.[2][3][4]

The genus belonged to a group of land-dwelling relatives to crocodiles. These reptiles were among the top predators of their day, eating other reptiles for food and maybe hunting early dinosaurs. Rauisuchus possibly grew to a length of 4 m (13 ft) and would be 90 cm (35 in) high at the hips. It had a weight of around 250 kg (550 lb).

The crocodylian-like genus was named after fossil collector Dr. Wilhelm Rau; Rauisuchus. The name Rauisuchus means Wilhelm Rau's crocodile.

References

Holtz, Thomas; Brett-Surman, Michael (2001). Jurassic Park Institute: Dinosaur Field Guide. Random House. ISBN 0-375-81293-8.
Rauisuchus at Fossilworks.org
F. v. Huene. 1942. Lieferungen 3/4. Pseudosuchia, Saurischia, Rhynchosauridae und Schlussabschnitt [Parts 3/4. Pseudosuchia, Saurischia, Rhynchosauridae, and Conclusions]. Die Fossilen Reptilien des Südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]. C. H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, München 161-332
Die Fossilen Reptilien des Südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]

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[1] Holtz, Thomas; Brett-Surman, Michael (2001). Jurassic Park Institute: Dinosaur Field Guide. Random House. ISBN 0-375-81293-8.

[FWRauisuchus-2] Rauisuchus at Fossilworks.org

[3] F. v. Huene. 1942. Lieferungen 3/4. Pseudosuchia, Saurischia, Rhynchosauridae und Schlussabschnitt [Parts 3/4. Pseudosuchia, Saurischia, Rhynchosauridae, and Conclusions]. Die Fossilen Reptilien des Südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]. C. H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, München 161-332

[4] Die Fossilen Reptilien des Südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]