Prestosuchus chiniquensis (von Huene 1942) Late Triass ~ 220 mya, 4-5 m long, was derived from a sister to Batrachotomus and phylogenetically preceded Saurosuchus and Postosuchus within the Rauisuchidae.
Distinct from Batrachotomus, the skull of Prestosuchus has a more slit like antorbital fenestra and an expanded fossa along with a deeper maxilla and larger teeth. The naris was more slit-like. The orbit was smaller and raised above the rostrum. The mandibular fenestra was smaller and the mandible was deeper.
The neural spines were shorter. The torso was relatively longer. The tail was smaller. Only three or four sacrals were located between the ilia.
The forelimb was relatively more robust.
The pubis was more robust and angled ventrally at mid length. The foot was smaller and quite similar to that of Erythrosuchus in having stout metatarsals and distally smaller phalanges terminating in tiny unguals.
With a longer torso and shorter toes, the ability to rise bipedally was greatly reduced. |
