Postosuchus and other Pseudosuchians filled the roles of apex predators. However, none of them could match its robust skull and mouth full of serrated teeth. Even the largest theropods at the time, Gojirasaurus, were only starting to approach Postosuchus in terms of mass. Dinosaurs, while they were starting to become more and more prevalent at this time (~216,000,000 years ago), and while they had a foothold on the supercontinent, they did not have a firm grip on the planet yet. Furthermore, the structure of the pelvis, vertebra, and robust hindlimbs were more in line with theropod dinosaurs.Īnd given the build and size of this predator, it's likely it filled a similar niche to the large theropods that would evolve during the Jurassic. The reason given for this view is that the size of the forelimbs was reduced in size. This was shown in the paleo-documentary Walking With Dinosaurs, where it was shown to be exclusively an obligate quadruped. However, a study from 2013 re-examined many skeletons and found that it was more likely to be an obligate biped. A study from 1995 found the body was front-heavy, and thus it had to have its forelimbs planted on the ground to support its bulk and walk around. Among the most iconic was Postosuchus from North America.įor a long time, it was thought it was a quadruped. However, during the Triassic, many Pseudosuchians superficially resembled dinosaurs. Two groups would emerge, the Avemetatarsalians, which would give rise to dinosaurs, pterosaurs, birds, and Pseudosuchians, leading to crocodilians and their cousins. The Great Dying that marked the end of the Permian wiped out over 80% of all life on earth, and out of the ashes of that extinction would arise the most successful of all vertebrates, the Archosaurs. This period was right after one of the most catastrophic extinction events the planet had ever witnessed.

The Triassic was among the oddest periods in the history of life on earth.

Walking with dinosaurs postosuchus