| Prionosuchus | |
|---|---|
| |
| An artist's illustration of Prionosuchus plummeri | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Temnospondyli |
| Family: | †Archegosauridae |
| Subfamily: | †Platyoposaurinae |
| Genus: | †Prionosuchus L. I. Price, 1948 |
| Species: | †P. plummeri |
| Binomial name | |
| Prionosuchus plummeri Price, 1948 | |
Prionosuchus (meaning “saw crocodile”) was a large carnivorous temnospondyl amphibian that lived in the early Permian Period, around 299 and 272 million years ago in what is now Brazil. It is known as one of the largest amphibians that ever lived, although Mastodonsaurus might have been slightly larger in mass. Prionosuchus is believed to have usually preyed upon fish due to it being similar to a gharial in appearance (based off of its close relatives). While Prionosuchus was once believed to be 8-10 meters long, new studies showed that the animal would have actually been much smaller, only reaching a length of 5.5 metres.
Description[]
The Prionosuchus holotype was discovered in the Pedra do Fogo Formation of Northeastern Brazil and was described by L.I. Price in 1948. The skull of this specimen is highly fragmentary and has been thought to be around 50 centimetres long. After the holotype was discovered, several other fragmentary fossils was found. The largest specimen (BMNH R12005) is thought to have come from an animal that was nearly three times larger than other discovered specimens. As a result, this specimen is thought to have a skull up to 1.8 metres long and could measure around 5.5 metres long (Based on close relatives and gharials).
Prionosuchus is believed to have a similar lifestyle to an ambush predator that used its long, thin snout and sharp teeth to feed on fish and other aquatic animals. A study on Archegosaurus showed that the animal would have had heat balance, gas exchange, osmoregulation, and digestion that was more akin to fish than modern amphibians. Due to Prionosuchus being a close relative, it is possible that it had those too.
Classification[]
Carroll classifies Prionosuchus as an archegosaurian, a group of temnodospondyls that occupied a similar niche to modern crocodiles and alligators. As only one species, P. plummeri, has been described as of now, the genus is thought to be monotypic.
In 1991, Prionosuchus was considered to be a synonym of the contemporary Platyoposaurus by Cox and Hutchinson. According to this study, the Pedra do Fogo Formation was thought to be in the middle to late Permian period. This was disproven as studies based on plants and pollens from the formation show that it was actually closer to the early Permian, making Prionosuchus not contemporary with Platyoposaurus. Later studies continue to reject the later Permian date.
Paleoecology[]
Prionosuchus would have roamed a humid and tropical habitat, evidenced by the petrified forest of the location of where the animal's remains were discovered. This strata was composed of shales, siltstones and limestones (which were deposited in fluvial environments). Other animals discovered in the formation include fish (primitive sharks, palaeoniscids, and lungfish) and amphibians.
In the Media[]
- Prionosuchus is featured in Jurassic World: The Game as a Legendary amphibian.
Gallery[]
