Postosuchus

Type Species: Postosuchus kirkpatricki

Pronunciation: Post-oh-soo-kuss

Geological Layer: Upper Triassic

Baramin: Rauisuchid?

Habitat: Triassic Floodplains

Era: Pre-Flood-Post-Flood, 6,000-?

Pre-Fall Diet: Plants

Post-Fall Diet: Meat

Length: 13-16 ft.

Height: 4-6 ft.

Weight: 550-660 lbs

Description:

Postosuchus was a ferocious archosaur from the Triassic habitat. Along with a long tail and limbs that were held underneath its body, like those on a dinosaur and unlike those of a crocodile or lizard, which sprawl out to the sides, Postosuchus has a large set of jaws. This animal's skull, which was made narrow in the front and extended wide and deep behind, was about 55 centimeters in length and 21 inches deep. The jaws of this monster would have made short work of anything unfortunate enough to get caught. To add to its crocodile-like appearance, it had osteoderms – also known as thick plates which were forming scales – covering its neck, back and tail.

There has been much debate over whether Postosuchus was quadrupedal or bipedal – that is, walked on two or four legs. Some scientists believe that Postosuchus walked on four legs because it's body was too heavily built to walk otherwise. Others instead believe that this reptile was a biped because its front legs were more than half as short as its rear legs. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in the middle, making Postosuchus a faculative biped, meaning it spent time walking in a bipedal and quadrupedal fashion.

History:

The very first fossils of Postosuchus were discovered in Crosby County, Texas and were thought to be a species of dinosaur. This animal was named in 1985, but it wasn't described until 1922 by paleontologist Ermine Cowles Case.

Taxonomy:

Places where Postosuchus fossils have been discovered.

Despite it's appearance, Postosuchus was not a dinosaur, or even a crocodile, despite the fact that its name means “crocodile from Post [Texas]”. This reptile was actually a rauisuchian reptile. It is likely the scientific classification rauisuchidae is the creature's baramin.

There are two known species of Postosuchus: P. kirkpatricki and P. alisonae.

Paleobiology:

Postosuchus kirkpatricki is mostly found in the southwestern portion of the United States in states such as Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, while Postosuchus alisonae was discovered in 2008 as far east as North Carolina. When the animal was alive, it lived in a tropical environment filled with floodplains and a variety of plant life, including ferns and cycads. The rivers running through its habitat were loaded with fish and amphibians. Other animals known to live with Postosuchus include Rutiodon, Coelophysis and Placerias.

Various Triassic reptiles: Placerias (left), Postosuchus (middle) and Desmatosuchus.

Postosuchus was not only a carnivore, but the largest carnivore in its Triassic environment. It would have happily eaten just about anything that moved and would have made short work of its prey using its sharp teeth and strong jaws. Even though, like every other animal, this reptile ate plants before the Fall of Man, Postosuchus was designed to kill because God knew that mankind would eventually sin and some creatures would turn to carnivorous diets. In its predatory arsenal, it bore a single large claw on each “hand” that would have been used as an offensive weapon. Thanks to its large eyes, this animal had a good sense of sight and its jaws held large serrated teeth.

A Postosuchus attacks a smaller reptile using its strong jaws.

Postosuchus probably made a meal of lots of different species of reptiles, including dinosaurs such as Coelophysis and dicynodonts like Placerias, among other things. One specimen of Postosuchus from North Carolina was found with at least four other animals in its stomach including a species of cynodont called Plinthogomphodon and a couple of bones from a dicynodont.

Extinction:

Being a land animal, a male and female pair of Postosuchus (or one of its relations) went aboard Noah's Ark 4,350 years ago before Noah's Flood wiped the earth clean of every air-breathing terrestrial creature and all the humans except Noah and his family. After the Flood, Postosuchus went extinct either due to environmental stress and/or human interference (e.g. hunting and/or habitat disturbance).

Popular Culture:

Postosuchus has made an appearance in BBC's series Walking with Dinosaurs (1999). The series stared a large female that not only was successful in bringing down a Placerias, but also became wounded by one later in the episode. The wound turned fatal and the Postosuchus' body became no more than a banquet for a flock of Coelophysis.

Image Gallery:

A female Postosuchus roaring.