| Postosuchus Temporal range: Late Triassic | |
|---|---|
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| An artist's illustration of Postosuchus kirkpatricki compared to a human | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Family: | †Rauisuchidae |
| Genus: | †Postosuchus Chatterjee, 1985 |
| Type species | |
| †Postosuchus kirkpatricki Chatterjee, 1985 | |
| Referred species | |
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Postosuchus (Crocodile from Post) was a basal archosaur which lived in what is now North America during the middle to the late Triassic. It was not a dinosaur, having a closer relationship to crocodilians, and was even at a higher level on the food chain than the dinosaurs it lived near and preyed on. In its time it was a top predator.The Rauschia group ruled the world before the advent of dinosaurs.
General Description[]
Postosuchus was one of the largest carnivorous reptile species of the Triassic, reaching 5-7 meters (16-23 ft) long 2 to 3.5 meters tall and weighed 300–600 kg (550-660 lbs). It had a massively built skull, bearing powerful jaws and dagger like teeth that can easily kill its quarry by cutting through its flesh and ripping off pieces. Rows of protective osteoderms covering its back formed a defensive shield, protecting it from other predators and dangerous prey.
Posture[]
Postosuchus's forelimbs were over half the size of its hind legs, this characteristic of short forelimbs can usually be seen in bipedal reptiles. Chatterjee suggested that Postosuchus could walk in an erect stance, since the short forelimbs were used probably only during slow moving locomotion. However, in 1995, Robert Long and Phillip A. Murry claimed that Postosuchus was a stocky quadruped. There is a debate over whether Postosuchus was either a biped or a quadruped as scientists aren't sure yet. However, some paleontologists suggested that Postosuchus was probably a facultative biped, meaning that it altered between bipedally and quadrupedally. Some early depictions show the Postosuchus stalking around on its hind legs, with its front legs hanging irregularly from their joints as it walked.
In the media[]
Walking with Dinosaurs Postosuchus
- A Skeleton of Postosuchus was seen in the animated PBS Documentary The Dinosaurs! Part 3 - The Nature of the Beast.
- Postosuchus makes an appearance on the well known documentary Walking With Dinosaurs, where a large female is first shown preying upon and killing a Placerias. Later, she had a tusk wound on her thigh, perhaps a wound from a later attack on a Placerias, then, she is driven away from her home by a rival male Postosuchus. And then, due to her weakened back legs, she has died and became a buffet of food to a large flock of Coelophysis. Postosuchus is shown to walk on four legs, whereas recent research suggests it likely walked on two, but this is still being debated.
- Postosuchus makes an appearance on the 2007 IMAX documentary film Dinosaurs Alive!, where it was first shown resting on a log, then sees a small group of Coelophysis. As the Postosuchus attacked the early dinosaurs, a flash flood came & swept away both Postosuchus & the small group of Coelophysis. Postosuchus is shown to walk on four legs, whereas recent research suggests it likely walked on two, but this is still being debated.
A lurker, a Postosuchus-like creature from Turok
- In the 2008 video game Turok, creatures called Lurkers, resemble Postosuchus. Lurkers also share traits to jungle cats, capable of climbing up trees and observing its prey there. Postosuchus is shown to walk on four legs, whereas recent research suggests it likely walked on two, but this is still being debated.
- It was also seen in another Documentary by Discovery Channel called Prehistoric New York. Postosuchus is shown to walk on four legs, whereas recent research suggests it likely walked on two, but this is still being debated.
- Postosuchus is a super rare amphibian that can be created in Jurassic World: The Game, even though in real life it was a terrestrial reptile. It was added as part of the March 16th, 2016 update and can be acquired in a Super Rare pack, or by completing Battle Stage 70. When Postosuchus is in its pen, its tail rests on the ground. While other crocodiles did this, it is unlikely Postosuchus did this. With the legs under its hips like a dinosaur and unlike a semi aquatic crocodile, Postosuchus' tail had to be above the ground for balance. Also, Postosuchus is shown to walk on four legs, whereas recent research suggests it likely walked on two, but this is still being debated.
- Postosuchus does appear in Jurassic World: Alive. Postosuchus is shown to walk on four legs, whereas recent research suggests it likely walked on two. It is a Rare dinosaur and can be achieved by darting 100 Postosuchus DNA.
Jurassic World: The Game Postosuchus
Gallery[]
Postosuchus/Gallery