In this article, we will explore the impact of Rauisuchidae on our current society. From its origins to its evolution today, Rauisuchidae has played a crucial role in various aspects of daily life. Whether as a prominent figure in history, a topic of debate today, or an event that marked a before and after, Rauisuchidae has left an indelible mark on the world in which we live. Through a detailed analysis, we will examine how Rauisuchidae has influenced different areas, its relevance in the current context, and possible implications for the future. Join us on this fascinating journey to discover more about Rauisuchidae and its impact on our society!
Rauisuchids Temporal range:
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Mounted skeleton of Postosuchus kirkpatricki in the Museum of Texas Tech University | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauria |
Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
Clade: | Loricata |
Family: | †Rauisuchidae Huene, 1942 |
Genera | |
Synonyms | |
Rauisuchidae is a group of large (up to 6 metres (20 ft)) predatory Triassic archosaurs. Some disagreement exists over which genera should be included in the Rauisuchidae and which should be in the related Prestosuchidae and Poposauridae, and indeed whether these should even be thought of as separate valid families. Rauisuchids occurred throughout much of the Triassic, and may have first occurred in the Early Triassic if some archosaurian taxa such as Scythosuchus and Tsylmosuchus are considered to be within the family.
An early cladistic analysis of crocodylotarsan (pseudosuchian) archosaurs included Lotosaurus, Fasolasuchus, Rauisuchus, and "the Kupferzell rauisuchid" (later called Batrachotomus) within the Rauisuchidae. However, a later study found that Batrachotomus was a more basal pseudosuchian only slightly more "advanced" than Prestosuchus. In addition, the toothless Lotosaurus has been found to be more closely related to the Ctenosauriscidae, a clade of poposauroids with sails on their backs.
Two genera, previously classified as poposaurids, are in fact rauisuchids. These include Teratosaurus and Postosuchus.
Genus | Status | Age | Location | Unit | Notes | Images |
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Valid | Late Triassic | Morocco | Named for the Moroccan fossil site where it was discovered, the Argana Basin. Its phylogenetic placement is uncertain. | |||
Valid | Anisian | China | May be a chimera of fossils from the erythrosuchid Shansisuchus and an indeterminate archosaur. | |||
Valid | Ladinian | Russia | Placement uncertain | |||
Valid | Carnian | Poland | ||||
Valid | Late Triassic | US | Chinle Formation |
One of the most well-known genera of Rauisuchidae | ||
Valid | Carnian | Brazil | Santa Maria Formation | Placement uncertain | ||
Valid | Late Triassic | Brazil | ||||
Scolotosuchus | Valid | Olenekian | Russia | Lipovskaya Formation | ||
Valid | Norian - | Germany | Löwenstein Formation | Once considered an early carnosaurian dinosaur | ||
Valid | Late Triassic | India | Tiki Formation | Placement uncertain | ||
Valid | Olenekian | Russia | Possibly one of the oldest archosaurs. | |||
Valid | Norian | US | Chinle Formation | |||
Valid | Anisian | Russia | May be an erythrosuchid | |||
Valid | Olenekian | Russia | Placement uncertain |