Paleontologists have identified a new species of armored crocodile relative that hunted with speed and precision 240 million years ago, just before dinosaurs dominated. Named Tainrakuasuchus bellator, the predator measured about 2.4 meters long and weighed around 60 kilograms. The discovery highlights ancient links between South America and Africa during the supercontinent Pangaea.
In May 2025, researchers from the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria in Brazil excavated a partial skeleton in the municipality of Dona Francisca, southern Brazil. The fossils, including portions of the lower jaw, vertebrae, and pelvic girdle, revealed Tainrakuasuchus bellator, a member of the Pseudosuchia group—precursors to modern crocodiles and alligators.
The creature, protected by bony plates called osteoderms, featured a long neck and agile body for quick strikes, along with slender jaws lined with sharp, recurved teeth to secure prey. Lead author Dr. Rodrigo Temp Müller explained, "This animal was an active predator, but despite its relatively large size, it was far from the largest hunter of its time with the same ecosystem home to giants as big as seven meters long."
Although it resembled a dinosaur superficially, its pelvic structure distinguished it clearly. Dr. Müller noted, "Pseudosuchia were a diverse group of animals capable of tackling robust prey, as well as small hunters specialized in catching swift animals."
The name Tainrakuasuchus combines Guarani words for "tooth" and "pointed" with Greek for "crocodile," while "bellator" means "warrior" in Latin, honoring the resilience of Rio Grande do Sul residents amid recent floods.
This "extremely rare" find connects to Mandasuchus tanyauchen from Tanzania, evidencing faunal exchanges across Pangaea. Dr. Müller added, "Tainrakuasuchus bellator's discovery represents the complexity of the ecosystem at the time, with different pseudosuchia species—varying in sizes and hunting strategies—occupying specific ecological niches. It shows that, in what is now southern Brazil, reptiles had already formed diverse communities adapted to various survival strategies."
The species lived near a vast arid desert, illuminating pre-dinosaur biodiversity. Details appear in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, published November 12, 2025.