Proterosuchus was an early archosaur that lived during the Triassic period, approximately 250 million years ago.
| Meaning | Early crocodile [Protero-suchus] |
| Pronunciation | PRO-ter-oh-SOO-kus |
| When: | Early Triassic (about 252–247 million years ago) |
| Where: | Africa, Asia South Africa, China, Russia |
| What: | Archosaur (carnivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 40–50 kg (88–110 pounds) |
| Length: | Approximately 3 meters (10 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate other small animals) |
| Discovered: | First described by Robert Broom in 1903 |
Found in various locations including South Africa, Russia, and China, Proterosuchus was not a dinosaur but rather an archosauriform, which is an extinct group of reptiles closely related to the ancestors of dinosaurs and modern crocodiles.
Measuring about 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet) in length, Proterosuchus had a long, slender body and walked on four legs.
It had a typical reptilian appearance with a sprawling posture.
Proterosuchus was carnivorous, with sharp teeth adapted for catching and eating small animals.
Proterosuchus is significant because it represents an early stage in the evolutionary lineage that eventually gave rise to dinosaurs and modern archosaurs.