A new genus and species of pseudosuchian archosaur have been identified from fossil remains found in southern Brazil.
Tynrakuazuh bellator lived in what is now Brazil during the Triassic period, about 240 million years ago.
This ancient predator was about 2.4 m (8 ft) long and weighed 60 kg.
The species' back was covered with bony plates known as osteoderms, structures that are also present in modern crocodiles.
It used its long neck and nimble agility to hunt prey using quick and precise movements before seizing its prey using a slender jaw full of sharp, curved teeth to hold its target, preventing it from escaping.
“This animal was an active predator, but despite its relatively large size, it was far from the largest hunter of its time, since the same ecosystem was home to giants up to 7 m (23 ft) long,” said Dr. Rodrigo Tempe Müller, paleontologists from the Federal University of Santa Maria.
Tynrakuazuh bellator was a member Pseudosuchia – predecessors of modern crocodiles and alligators.
“Pseudosuchians were a diverse group of animals capable of fighting large prey, as well as small hunters specialized in catching fast animals,” said Dr Tempe Muller.
“Although its appearance resembles that of a dinosaur, Tynrakuazuh bellator does not belong to this group.”
“One of the most obvious ways to differentiate it from dinosaurs is in the structure of the pelvis, where the characteristics of the hip and femur joints are very different.”
“Tynrakuazuh bellatorThe doctor’s discovery reflects the complexity of the ecosystem of that time: different species of pseudosuchians, varying in size and hunting strategies, occupied specific ecological niches.”
“His discovery helps illuminate a key moment in the history of life, the period that preceded the emergence of dinosaurs.”
Partial skeleton Tynrakuazuh bellatorpreserving parts of the lower jaw, spinal column and pelvic girdle, was found in May 2025 in the municipality of Dona Francisco in southern Brazil.
Although the animal's limbs were not preserved, the team believes that, like its close relatives, it walked on all four limbs.
“Tynrakuazuh bellatorThis discovery is further evidence of the ancient connection between Brazil and Africa during the Triassic period, when the world's continents were united into a single supercontinent, Pangea,” said Dr. Tempe Müller.
“Despite the diversity of pseudosuchians, they remain poorly studied because fossils of some of their lineages are extremely rare in the fossil record.”
“The fossils we found went through a rigorous preparation process in the laboratory, during which the surrounding rock was carefully removed.”
“Once the anatomical details were revealed, we were pleased and very excited to discover that this specimen represented a species previously unknown to science.”
“We discovered a species belonging to a predator closely related to one – Mandasuchus tanyauhen – found in Tanzania.”
“This connection between animals from South America and Africa can be understood in light of Triassic paleogeography.”
“At that time, the continents were still united, which allowed organisms to spread freely across regions that are now separated by oceans.”
“As a result, the faunas of Brazil and Africa shared several elements, reflecting an intertwined evolutionary and ecological history.”
“Tynrakuazuh bellator would have lived in a region bordering a vast arid desert – the same place where the first dinosaurs appeared.”
“This shows that in what is now southern Brazil, reptiles have already formed diverse communities adapted to different survival strategies.”
“Moreover, this discovery shows that such diversity was not an isolated phenomenon.”
The discovery is reported in paper V Journal of Systematic Paleontology.
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Rodrigo Tempe Muller etc.. Osteology, taxonomy and phylogenetic similarity of a new pseudosuchian archosaur from the Middle Triassic of southern Brazil. Journal of Systematic Paleontologypublished online November 12, 2025; doi: 10.1080/14772019.2025.2573750
