| “ | Postosuchus, a merciless ambush predator, the largest carnivore on Earth! | ” |
Postosuchus is a genus of rauisuchian reptile that lived during the late Triassic period throughout what is now North America. It is sometimes referred to as the T. rex of the Triassic. Postosuchus & some of its relatives have heads that look like that of the Large carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex before there really was a Tyrannosaurus rex that appeared millions of years later.
Facts
It is the top predator of the Triassic period, up to 6 meters long and 2 meters high. The main diet of Postosuchus consisted of dicynodonts, (as seen in the episode) and other animals smaller than itself. Postosuchus were fiercely territorial and ready to fight to death if another member of their own species ventured into their territory.
A flock of Coelophysis attacking a Postosuchus.
A merciless ambush predator, Postosuchus was the largest carnivore of its time. It was a distant cousin of the dinosaurs, evolved from the same reptilian ancestors. They were easily fast enough to keep pace with a herd of Placerias. Heavily built with an armored back, they needed a huge amount of food and therefore had to defend a very large territory. The only creatures they usually feared were other members of their species.
Appearances in the series
Walking with Dinosaurs
New Blood
A female Postosuchus was seen spooking a herd of Placerias and attacking a member of the herd. The Postosuchus pursued the severely injured individual until it succumbed to its wounds. The Postosuchus then fed on the corpse. Later, when the herd of Placerias were bathing in a river, the Postosuchus passed by them. She wasn't looking for food, but instead was looking for water. She arrived at the local waterfall and drank.
The male Postosuchus notices the female. (New Blood)
The Postosuchus once again was hunting the herd of Placerias. However, a previous hunt has left her a severe stab wound in her left thigh, leaving her handicapped. When attempting to execute an ambush the herd noticed her and aggressively warded her off. When she returned to her territory, she encountered a male Postosuchus. She was, however, too weak to fight and lost her territory and pride.
A flock of Coelophysis later encountered the female Postosuchus slowly dying from her injuries. The Coelophysis remained far away from the animal until she finally died. The flock then ate her corpse from the inside out.
Merchandise
A toy of Postosuchus was made by Toyway for their Walking with Dinosaurs line.
The Postosuchus toy.
Errors
- Despite being depicted as a quadrupedal animal, Postosuchus is now believed to be an obligate biped. In the show it only stood on it's hindlegs on several occasions.
Gallery
Trivia
- Postosuchus was one of the last of its kind, with the last of the rauisuchians becoming extinct at the end of the Triassic period. It was also one of the largest of its kind.
- Oddly, the Postosuchus animatronic used for the scene where the female dies lacks pupils, something that isn't evident on the CG model.
- The sound effects that were used for Postosuchus was a Howie Scream. Just in the opening of the Nickelodeon show “AAAHHH Real Monsters”.
