Erythrosuchus was a large, carnivorous archosauriform reptile that lived during the Middle Triassic period, approximately 240 million years ago.
| Meaning | Red crocodile [Erythro-suchus] |
| Pronunciation | eh-RITH-roh-SOO-kus |
| When: | Middle Triassic (about 247–242 million years ago) |
| Where: | Africa (South Africa) |
| What: | Archosaur (carnivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 500 kg (1,100 pounds) |
| Length: | Approximately 5 meters (16 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate other reptiles) |
| Discovered: | First described by Robert Broom in 1905 |
Found in what is now South Africa and Antarctica, Erythrosuchus belonged to a group of early archosauriforms known as erythrosuchids, characterized by their robust build and predatory adaptations.
Measuring up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length, Erythrosuchus had a powerful body with strong limbs and sharp teeth.
It likely hunted large prey, possibly other reptiles and early mammal-like creatures known as therapsids.
Erythrosuchus had a reptilian appearance with a sprawling gait, typical of early archosauriforms.
Its size and predatory adaptations make it a significant species in understanding the diversity of reptiles before the rise of dinosaurs as dominant land predators.