Erythrosuchidae

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ARCHOSAUROMORPHA - Archosauromorpha, Archosauria (clade), Thecodontia (grade)
Taxonomy Phylogeny 
o Sauria
|--Lepidosauromorpha
`--o Archosauromorpha
   |?--Choristodera
   `--+--Rhynchosauria
      `--+--Trilophosauridae
         `--+--Prolacertiformes
            `--o--Proterosuchidae 
               `--+--Erythrosuchidae
                  `--+--Euparkeriidae
                     `--o--Proterochampsidae
                        `--o Archosauria
                           |--o Ornithodira
                           |  |--Pterosauria
                           |  `--Dinosauromorpha
                           `--Crurotarsi

Archosauromorpha topics: | Archosauromorpha Characteristics | Ecology | Evolutionary History | Archosauriformes | Archosauria | "Thecodontia" | References | Links



Erythrosuchidae




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During the later part of the Early Triassic, the first thecodonts, such as Protorosuchus, gave rise both to gigantic forms (erythrosuchids) and tiny ones (euparkeriids).

Contents

[edit] Introduction

Erythrosuchidae are a family of large basal archosaurian carnivores that lived from the later Early Triassic (Olenekian) to the early Middle Triassic (Anisian). Their fossil remains are known so far from South Africa (Beaufort Group of the Karoo Basin), the Perm region of Russia, and China. They were the apex predators of their day, with lengths of 2.5 to over 5 meters. In the largest forms, such as Erythrosuchus, the skull alone can be a meter in length. The large contemporary kannemeyeriid dicynodonts doubtless constituted much of their prey. However, the first erythrosuchids appear in the fossil record slightly earlier than the kannemeyeriids do, so it must be assumed that they also fed on other animals as well.

Erythrosuchidae were formerly classified as thecodonts of the suborder Proterosuchia. This classification is no longer used by paleontologists, who now employ a cladistic approach. In this, erythrosuchids constitute a clade of Archosauriformes that is an outgroup to the Archosauria proper. The presence of certain archosaurian features such as the triradiate pelvic girdle, the fourth trochanter, and the third metatarsal longer than the fourth, indicate that erythrosuchids are closer to the true archosaurs than the Proterosuchidae, which lack these features. Thus the Erythrosuchidae occupy a transitional evolutionary position between the most primitive Archosauriformes and more advanced Triassic archosaurs.

There is a strong similarity between the erythrosuchids of the early Triassic and the dinocephalian (primitive therapsid) anteosaurs of the Mid-Permian. In both there was a strong growth in body size, but also an even greater corresponding growth in head-size, which became fully half the length of the body excluding the tail. As with the early tetrapods, the head becomes truly enormous relative to the body. But whereas the labyrinthodonts had weak jaw and neck muscles, and had to support the weight of their great heads with the buoyancy of water, these great carnivores held their heads aloft on massive necks, and their huge teeth and tremendous jaws would have enabled them to feed easily on other animal prey.

Yet these animals, the largest predators of their time, were too heavy and clumsy to be able to actively pursue and run down prey. Like the modern crocodile or Komodo dragon, they may have been ambush predators, lying in wait for prey behind thick vegetation, then rushing out in a short burst of speed and quickly overwhelming the helpless victim with their tremendous jaws. (MAK 991018; MAK060510)

[edit] Information

Range: Early Triassic to Middle Triassic

Author: Broom, 1905

[edit] Characters

Characters: Largest terrestrial vertebrate of the Early Triassic. Dorsoventrally elongate orbit; deep maxilla beneath antorbital fossa (antorbital fossa not prominent ventral to fenestra); articulating surfaces at carpus & tarsus poorly ossified (amphibious); heavily built, to 5m; triradiate pelvis (upright?). ATW010407.

[edit] Taxonomy

see Erythrosuchidae - list of species (Mikko's Phylogeny Archive)

Erythrosuchidae
Erythrosuchus | Fugusuchus | Garjainia | Shanshisuchus | Vjushkovia

[edit] References

  • Benton, M. J. (2000), Vertebrate Paleontology, 2nd Ed. Blackwell Science Ltd (2004) 3rd edition
  • Carroll, R. L. (1988), Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution, WH Freeman & Co.
  • Parrish, J. M. (1992) Phylogeny of the Erythrosuchidae (Reptilia: Archosauridormes). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 12, N3-102.

[edit] External links

Palaeontology Fossil Picture Gallery]

Checked ATW010407.

[edit] Credits

ATW010407 Palaeos; MAK060510 Wikipedia; this page MAK061023

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