In Depth
The holotype specimen of Polonosuchus, a partial left maxilla was originally described as a species of Teratosaurus in 2005. A re-evaluation of the specimen led to the 2009 creation of Polonosuchus. The former species name, silesiacus was retained to create the new type species P. silesiacus, as is standard procedure in such naming circumstances.
As a rauisuchian, Polonosuchus would be expected to have been a quadrupedal predator with tough hide and armour along the back and upper flanks. Rauisuchians are also believed to have been capable of rearing up on their hind legs, perhaps to manoeuvre themselves when attacking larger animals.
Polonosuchus should not be confused with the similarly named Postosuchus from North America, something which is especially easy to do given the expected physical similarity between these two rauisuchians.
Further Reading
- A new rauisuchian reptile (Diapsida: Archosauria) from the Late Triassic of Poland - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 25(1):78-86. - T. Sulej - 2005. - The taxonomy and anatomy of rauisuchian archosaurs from the Late Triassic of Germany and Poland - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54 (2): 221–230 - Stephen L. Brusatte, Richard J. Butler, Tomasz Sulej & Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki - 2009.
