Prestosuchids were a group of Triassic

Triassic

The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...

 carnivorous archosaurs. They were large active terrestrial apex predator

Apex predator

Apex predators are predators that have no predators of their own, residing at the top of their food chain. Zoologists define predation as the killing and consumption of another organism...

s, ranging from around 2.5 to 7 m (8.2 to 23 ft) in length. They succeeded the Erythrosuchidae

Erythrosuchidae

Erythrosuchidae are a family of large basal archosauromorph carnivores that lived from the later Early Triassic to the early Middle Triassic . Their fossil remains are known so far from South Africa , the Perm region of Russia, and China...

 as the largest archosaurs of their time. While resembling erythrosuchids in size and some features of the skull and skeleton, they were more advanced in their erect posture and crocodile-like ankle, indicating more efficient gait. Prestosuchids flourished throughout the whole of the middle, and the early part of the late Triassic, and fossils are so far known from Europe, India, Africa (Tanganyika), Argentina,and Paleorrota

Paleorrota

Paleorrota , is a geopark located in the center of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The rocks and fossils found along the route date back to the times when there was only one supercontinent Pangaea....

 in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. However, experts disagree regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the group, what genera should be included, and whether indeed the Prestosuchidae constitute a distinct family apart from the Rauisuchidae.

Classification

In 1957, Alan Charig proposed a new family, the Prestosuchidae, to include genera like Mandasuchus

Mandasuchus

"Mandasuchus" is an extinct genus of prestosuchid rauisuchian that is yet to be formally described. Thus, the name is considered a nomen nudum. Fossils have been found from the Manda Formation of Tanzania and date back to the Ladinian or Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic. The name was first used...

, Prestosuchus

Prestosuchus

Prestosuchus is an extinct genus of a group of rauisuchians called prestosuchids. Friedrich von Huene named the genus in honor of Vicentino Prestes de Almeida....

, and Spondylosoma

Spondylosoma

Spondylosoma is a genus of archosaur of uncertain affinities from the late Ladinian-age Middle Triassic Lower Santa Maria Formation in Geopark of Paleorrota, Brazil. Recent studies have gone back and forth on its identity, suggesting rauisuchian or basal saurischian dinosaur...

.

In 1967, Alfred Sherwood Romer placed Saurosuchus and Rauisuchus within Erythrosuchidae and adopted the Prestosuchidae to include Prestosuchus, Procerosuchus

Procerosuchus

Procerosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchid rauisuchian. Fossils have been collected from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation in Geopark of Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, which is Carnian in age...

, and Charig's "Mandasuchus".

Prestosuchidae have often been included within Rauisuchidae, although they have sometimes considered the sister group of the aetosaurs in a monophyletic Pseudosuchia

Pseudosuchia

Pseudosuchia is the name originally given to a group of prehistoric reptiles from the Triassic period. The name has been variously interpreted, and it is still sometimes, if infrequently, used in scientific literature today. A more commonly used name, Crurotarsi, is often substituted for...

, or as a small clade intermediate between basal Crurotarsi and more advanced archosaurs such as the Aetosauridae and Rauisuchidae. J. Michael Parrish's 1993 cladistic analysis of crocodylotarsan archosaurs places the Prestosuchidae (including Prestosuchus, Ticinosuchus, and
Saurosuchus

Saurosuchus

Saurosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian archosaur in the family Prestosuchidae. With a length of around 7 m , it was the largest rauisuchian, except perhaps for the less well known Fasolasuchus. Like other rauisuchians, Saurosuchus walked on four fully erect limbs...

) outside

Outgroup

In cladistics or phylogenetics, an outgroup is a group of organisms that serves as a reference group for determination of the evolutionary relationship among three or more monophyletic groups of organisms....

 the crocodylomorph - poposaurid - rauisuchid - aetosaur clade. In most cladograms Prestosuchids are considered more derived

Derived

In phylogenetics, a derived trait is a trait that is present in an organism, but was absent in the last common ancestor of the group being considered. This may also refer to structures that are not present in an organism, but were present in its ancestors, i.e. traits that have undergone secondary...

 than phytosaur

Phytosaur

Phytosaurs are an extinct group of large semi-aquatic Late Triassic archosaurs. Phytosaurs belong to the family Phytosauridae and the order Phytosauria. They were long-snouted and heavily armoured, bearing a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodiles in size, appearance, and lifestyle, an example...

s and ornithosuchids

Ornithosuchidae

Ornithosuchidae is an extinct family of reptiles from the Triassic period that were distantly related to crocodilians. They are classified as crurotarsan archosaurs. Ornithosuchids were quadrupedal and facultatively bipedal, meaning they had the ability to walk on two legs for short periods of time...

, but usually less derived than the poposaurids

Poposauridae

The Poposauridae are a family of large carnivorous archosaurs which lived alongside dinosaurs during the Late Triassic. They are known from fossil remains from North and South America...

 and aetosaur

Aetosaur

Aetosaurs are an extinct order of heavily armoured, medium- to large-sized Late Triassic herbivorous archosaurs. They have small heads, upturned snouts, erect limbs, and a body covered by plate-like scutes. All aetosaurs belong to the family Stagonolepididae...

s.

Evolution of the group

The earliest known prestosuchid is Mandasuchus

Mandasuchus

"Mandasuchus" is an extinct genus of prestosuchid rauisuchian that is yet to be formally described. Thus, the name is considered a nomen nudum. Fossils have been found from the Manda Formation of Tanzania and date back to the Ladinian or Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic. The name was first used...

from the Anisian

Anisian

In the geologic timescale, the Anisian is the lower stage or earliest age of the Middle Triassic series or epoch and lasted from 245 million years ago until 237 million years ago, approximately...

 of Tanganyika

Tanganyika

Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...

. This was already a large animal, about 4.75 meters long. A similar but smaller form (perhaps the same genus) is Ticinosuchus

Ticinosuchus

Ticinosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian archosaur from the Middle Triassic of Switzerland and Italy.Ticinosuchus was about long, and its whole body, even the belly, was covered in thick, armoured scutes. The structure of the hips shows that its legs were placed under the body almost...

of the Middle Triassic (Anisian

Anisian

In the geologic timescale, the Anisian is the lower stage or earliest age of the Middle Triassic series or epoch and lasted from 245 million years ago until 237 million years ago, approximately...

-Ladinian

Ladinian

The Ladinian is a stage and age in the Middle Triassic series or epoch. It spans the time between 237 ± 2 Ma and 228 ± 2 Ma...

) of Switzerland and Northern Italy, which was about 2.5 meters in length. The huge (6 meters long) Batrachotomus

Batrachotomus

Batrachotomus is a genus of prehistoric archosaur. Fossils of this animal have been found in southern Germany and dated from the Ladinian stage of Middle Triassic period, around 228 to 231 million years ago. Batrachotomus was described by palaeontologist David J...

from the latest Middle Triassic (Late Ladinian) of Germany, and Prestosuchus of the early Late Triassic (Carnian

Carnian

The Carnian is the lowermost stage of the Upper Triassic series . It lasted from about 228.7 till 216.5 million years ago . The Carnian is preceded by the Ladinian and is followed by the Norian...

) of Brazil may have been closely related animals. Yarasuchus

Yarasuchus

Yarasuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian, a group of predatory and large Triassic archosaurs. It lived during the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic of India. Being only 2 metres long, is was one of the smallest rauisuchians known...

was a lightly built animal from the Middle Triassic of India that also seems to belong to this group. Finally, Saurosuchus

Saurosuchus

Saurosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian archosaur in the family Prestosuchidae. With a length of around 7 m , it was the largest rauisuchian, except perhaps for the less well known Fasolasuchus. Like other rauisuchians, Saurosuchus walked on four fully erect limbs...

was a huge carnivore, 6 or 7 meters long, whose fossils are known from the Late Carnian

Carnian

The Carnian is the lowermost stage of the Upper Triassic series . It lasted from about 228.7 till 216.5 million years ago . The Carnian is preceded by the Ladinian and is followed by the Norian...

 of Argentina.

List of genera

Genus	Authors	Year	Status	Age	Location	Unit	Description	Images
Batrachotomus Batrachotomus Batrachotomus is a genus of prehistoric archosaur. Fossils of this animal have been found in southern Germany and dated from the Ladinian stage of Middle Triassic period, around 228 to 231 million years ago. Batrachotomus was described by palaeontologist David J...	Gower David J. Gower David J. Gower is a palaeontologist.Since 2004 he is a herpetology researcher at the Museum of Natural History in London.-External links:* *...	1999 1999 in paleontology -Insects:-Newly named taxa:-Newly named dinosaurs:Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list and Dr. Jeremy Montague's dinosaur genus database.-New taxa:-New taxa:-Non-mammalian:-References:...	Valid	Late Ladinian Ladinian The Ladinian is a stage and age in the Middle Triassic series or epoch. It spans the time between 237 ± 2 Ma and 228 ± 2 Ma...	Germany	Kupferzell Kupferzell Kupferzell is a town in the district of Hohenlohe in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The largest neighbouring towns are Künzelsau and Schwäbisch Hall . The town is named after the Kupfer river that flows through it.... , Crailsheim Crailsheim Crailsheim is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, 32 km east of Schwäbisch Hall, 40 km southwest of Ansbach in the Schwäbisch Hall district, incorporated in 1338....  and Vellberg-Eschenau
Decuriasuchus Decuriasuchus Decuriasuchus is an extinct genus of prestosuchid rauisuchian from the Middle Triassic period . It is a carnivorous archosaur that lived in what is now southern Brazil. It was first named by Marco Aurélio G. França, Jorge Ferigolo and Max C. Langer in 2011 and the type species is Decuriasuchus...	França Ferigolo Langer	2011 2011 in paleontology -Lobopods:-Arachnids:-Insects:-Newly named jawless vertebrates:-Newly named acanthodian:-Newly named cartilaginous fishes:-Newly named bony fishes:-Newly named lepospondyls:-Newly named temnospondyls:-Newly named lissamphibians:...	Valid	Ladinian Ladinian The Ladinian is a stage and age in the Middle Triassic series or epoch. It spans the time between 237 ± 2 Ma and 228 ± 2 Ma...	Brazil	Santa Maria Formation Santa Maria Formation The Santa Maria Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It has a late Ladinian – early Carnian age , and is notable for its fossils of early dinosaurs, including the herrerasaur Staurikosaurus, the basal saurischian Teyuwasu, and the basal sauropodomorph...
Karamuru Karamuru Karamuru is a genus of prestosuchid archosaur from the Middle Triassic-age Santa Maria Formation of Brazil. It was found in the Paleorrota geopark. It is based on remains that had been assigned to Prestosuchus chininiquensis, including a nearly complete skull...	Kischlat	2000 2000 in paleontology -Newly named insects:-Newly named placoderms:-Amphibians:-Ichthyosaurs:-Newly named crurotarsans:-Newly named dinosaurs:Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list and Dr...	Junior synonym	Middle Triassic Middle Triassic In the geologic timescale, the Middle Triassic is the second of three epochs of the Triassic period or the middle of three series in which the Triassic system is divided. It spans the time between 245 ± 1.5 Ma and 228 ± 2 Ma...	Brazil	Santa Maria Formation Santa Maria Formation The Santa Maria Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It has a late Ladinian – early Carnian age , and is notable for its fossils of early dinosaurs, including the herrerasaur Staurikosaurus, the basal saurischian Teyuwasu, and the basal sauropodomorph...	Probable synonym of Prestosuchus Prestosuchus Prestosuchus is an extinct genus of a group of rauisuchians called prestosuchids. Friedrich von Huene named the genus in honor of Vicentino Prestes de Almeida....
"Mandasuchus Mandasuchus "Mandasuchus" is an extinct genus of prestosuchid rauisuchian that is yet to be formally described. Thus, the name is considered a nomen nudum. Fossils have been found from the Manda Formation of Tanzania and date back to the Ladinian or Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic. The name was first used... "	Charig Alan J. Charig Alan Jack Charig was an English palaeontologist and writer who popularised his subject on television and in books at the start of the wave of interest in dinosaurs in the 1970s....	1957 1957 in paleontology -Newly named dinosaurs:Data coutersy of George Olshevky's dinosaur genera list.-Non-mammalian:...	Nomen nudum	Middle Triassic Middle Triassic In the geologic timescale, the Middle Triassic is the second of three epochs of the Triassic period or the middle of three series in which the Triassic system is divided. It spans the time between 245 ± 1.5 Ma and 228 ± 2 Ma...	Tanzania	Manda Formation	Nomen nudum, probable synonym of Ticinosuchus Ticinosuchus Ticinosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian archosaur from the Middle Triassic of Switzerland and Italy.Ticinosuchus was about long, and its whole body, even the belly, was covered in thick, armoured scutes. The structure of the hips shows that its legs were placed under the body almost...
Prestosuchus Prestosuchus Prestosuchus is an extinct genus of a group of rauisuchians called prestosuchids. Friedrich von Huene named the genus in honor of Vicentino Prestes de Almeida....	Huene Friedrich von Huene Friedrich von Huene was a German paleontologist who named more dinosaurs in the early 20th century than anyone else in Europe.-Biography:...	1942 1942 in paleontology -Newly named dinosaurs:Data coutersy of George Olshevky's dinosaur genera list.-Non-mammalian:...	Valid	Late Triassic Late Triassic The Late Triassic is in the geologic timescale the third and final of three epochs of the Triassic period. The corresponding series is known as the Upper Triassic. In the past it was sometimes called the Keuper, after a German lithostratigraphic group that has a roughly corresponding age...	Brazil	Santa Maria Formation Santa Maria Formation The Santa Maria Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It has a late Ladinian – early Carnian age , and is notable for its fossils of early dinosaurs, including the herrerasaur Staurikosaurus, the basal saurischian Teyuwasu, and the basal sauropodomorph...
Saurosuchus Saurosuchus Saurosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian archosaur in the family Prestosuchidae. With a length of around 7 m , it was the largest rauisuchian, except perhaps for the less well known Fasolasuchus. Like other rauisuchians, Saurosuchus walked on four fully erect limbs...	Reig	1959 1959 in paleontology -Newly named dinosaurs:Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list and Dr. Jeremy Montague's dinosaur genus database.-New taxa:-New taxa:...	Valid	Late Carnian Carnian The Carnian is the lowermost stage of the Upper Triassic series . It lasted from about 228.7 till 216.5 million years ago . The Carnian is preceded by the Ladinian and is followed by the Norian...	Argentina	Ischigualasto Formation
Ticinosuchus Ticinosuchus Ticinosuchus is an extinct genus of rauisuchian archosaur from the Middle Triassic of Switzerland and Italy.Ticinosuchus was about long, and its whole body, even the belly, was covered in thick, armoured scutes. The structure of the hips shows that its legs were placed under the body almost...	Krebs	1965 1965 in paleontology -Newly named dinosaurs:Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list and Dr. Jeremy Montague's dinosaur genus database.-New taxa:-Non-mammalian:...	Valid	Late Anisian Anisian In the geologic timescale, the Anisian is the lower stage or earliest age of the Middle Triassic series or epoch and lasted from 245 million years ago until 237 million years ago, approximately...	Switzerland	Mittlere Grenzbitumenzone

External links

• Taxon Search - Prestosuchidae
• Rauisuchiformes: Prestosuchidae at Palaeos