Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

Kalisuchus rewanensis Proterosuchidae Lower Triassic Arcadia Formation, the Crater, Queensland

K. rewanensis, about 3 m long, is known from isolated, fragmentary cranial and post-cranial remains - skull, vertebrae, limb and girdle bones. It is the oldest archosaur known from Australia. The bones of the skull that have been found are the jugal bones, a partial skull roof and fragments of the upper and lower jaws. The calcaneum ( one of the ankle bones) is very similar to that found in crocodiles. It is believed to have been an amphibious predator, similar to a crocodile, that is closely related to the genus Chasmatosaurs from Africa and China. Among the thecodonts it is distinctive because of its crocodiloid calcaneum, as well as a maxillary shelf, that indicates it had a broad snout. The limb bones were slender, and the neck was relatively long for a member of the Proterosuchidae.

Sources & Further reading

Dinosaurs of Australia and New Zealand, John A. Long, UNSW Press, 1998

 

Archosauria
Therapsida
Gorgonopsida
Synapsida
Lepidosauria
Eosuchia
Mekosuchines
Mudtsoiid Snakes
Australian Reptiles
Megalania
Triassic Australia
Jurassic Australia
Cretaceous Australia
Home
Journey Back Through Time
Geology
Biology
     Fauna
     Flora
Climate
Hydrology
Environment
Experience Australia
Aboriginal Australia
National Parks
Photo Galleries
Site Map
                                                                                           Author: M.H.Monroe  Email: admin@austhrutime.com     Sources & Further reading