| Prestosuchus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Name | Prestosuchus | |||
| Order | Archosauromorpha | |||
| Suborder | Rauisuchia | |||
| Class | Prestosuchidae | |||
| Name Translation | in honor of Vicentino Prestes de Almeida | |||
| Period | Late Triassic | |||
| Location | South America | |||
| Diet | Meat | |||
| Length | 5 metres (16 ft) | |||
Prestosuchus chiniquensis was a large rauisuchian archosaur, at a length of 5 metres (16 feet) from nose to tail. It was discovered in the South American country of Brazil.
Description
Restoration of Prestosuchus
Prestosuchus was a relatively large predatory reptile. Like its prestosuchid cousins, it had a deep skull with sharp, serrated teeth. It lived in Brazil (Paleorrota) of the late Triassic Period. It had powerful legs, indicating it was a fast running animal. Prestosuchus's closest relatives are Saurosuchus and Postosuchus. It eat small dinosaurs and aetosaurs.
Discovery
Prestosuchus chiniquensis was discovered in the Paleontological Site Chiniquá, near the city of São Pedro do Sul in 1938, by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene on a trip to Brazil. This site is located in the geopark of Paleorrota. A remarkably complete skeleton, with a well-preserved hind leg, was discovered at Dona Francisca in Rio Grande do Sul by a team of paleontologists from the Universidade Luterana do Brasil and published in 2010.