Desmatosuchus
Encyclopedia
Desmatosuchus is an extinct genus
of archosaur
belonging to the Order Aetosauria. It was one of the largest aetosaurs, being 5 metres (16.4 ft) long and about 1.50 m (5 ft) high. It lived during the Late Triassic
in Texas
.
Desmatosuchus looked like its relatives, possessing an armored body and pig
-like head. It had a shovel-like snout and weak teeth that suggest it lived by uprooting soft plants. Like many of its relatives, it had heavy armoured plates along its back, tail, and parts of the underside. However, unlike most other aetosaurs, Desmatosuchus also had two rows of spikes along the sides of its back. The largest spikes, above the shoulders, were 45 centimetres (17.7 in) long. These probably gave it extra protection against predators.
Two species are currently accepted: D. spurensis and D. smalli. Desmatosuchus chamaensis is recognized as a distinct genus, but there is some dispute about whether the name Heliocanthus
or Rioarribasuchus applies.
, driving away an annoying Coelophysis
and a predatory Rutiodon
. Desmatosuchus was also featured in an episode of Animal Armageddon
, where it was hunted by Staurikosaurus
, one of the first true dinosaurs, into eventual extinction. In both, Desmatosuchus was used to contrast the anatomy of the earlier archosaur reptiles with that of the first true dinosaurs. It was also featured in the 2011 video game Dino D-Day
, as a playable Nazi class. It is featured with brown skin and a 20 millimeter cannon mounted to its back. Several references are made in the game's dialogue that it is not technically a Dinosaur.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of archosaur
Archosaur
Archosaurs are a group of diapsid amniotes whose living representatives consist of modern birds and crocodilians. This group also includes all extinct non-avian dinosaurs, many extinct crocodilian relatives, and pterosaurs. Archosauria, the archosaur clade, is a crown group that includes the most...
belonging to the Order Aetosauria. It was one of the largest aetosaurs, being 5 metres (16.4 ft) long and about 1.50 m (5 ft) high. It lived during the Late Triassic
Late Triassic
The Late Triassic is in the geologic timescale the third and final of three epochs of the Triassic period. The corresponding series is known as the Upper Triassic. In the past it was sometimes called the Keuper, after a German lithostratigraphic group that has a roughly corresponding age...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
-like head. It had a shovel-like snout and weak teeth that suggest it lived by uprooting soft plants. Like many of its relatives, it had heavy armoured plates along its back, tail, and parts of the underside. However, unlike most other aetosaurs, Desmatosuchus also had two rows of spikes along the sides of its back. The largest spikes, above the shoulders, were 45 centimetres (17.7 in) long. These probably gave it extra protection against predators.
Two species are currently accepted: D. spurensis and D. smalli. Desmatosuchus chamaensis is recognized as a distinct genus, but there is some dispute about whether the name Heliocanthus
Heliocanthus
Heliocanthus is the name of a problematic genus of aetosaur that has undergone many taxonomic revisions in recent years, and may prove to be synonymous with Rioarribasuchus...
or Rioarribasuchus applies.
In popular culture
Desmatosuchus was featured in When Dinosaurs Roamed AmericaWhen Dinosaurs Roamed America
When Dinosaurs Roamed America is a two-hour American television program that first aired on Discovery Channel in 2001. It was directed by Pierre de Lespinois and narrated by actor John Goodman...
, driving away an annoying Coelophysis
Coelophysis
Coelophysis , meaning "hollow form" in reference to its hollow bones , is one of the earliest known genera of dinosaur...
and a predatory Rutiodon
Rutiodon
Rutiodon is an extinct genus of archosaur belonging to the family Phytosauridae. It lived during the Late Triassic period, and was about 10 to 25 feet in length...
. Desmatosuchus was also featured in an episode of Animal Armageddon
Animal Armageddon
Animal Armageddon is an American paleontology-based documentary television miniseries that originally aired from to on Animal Planet. All the prehistoric scenes are created 100% in Lightwave...
, where it was hunted by Staurikosaurus
Staurikosaurus
Staurikosaurus is a genus of herrerasaurid dinosaur from the Late Triassic of Brazil.-Discovery:The first known specimen of Staurikosaurus was recovered from the Paleontological Site Jazigo Cinco of the Santa Maria Formation in the geopark of paleorrota , Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil...
, one of the first true dinosaurs, into eventual extinction. In both, Desmatosuchus was used to contrast the anatomy of the earlier archosaur reptiles with that of the first true dinosaurs. It was also featured in the 2011 video game Dino D-Day
Dino D-Day
Dino D-Day is a multiplayer team-based first-person action video game, developed as a total conversion modification on the Valve Corporation's proprietary Source engine. The game was released on 8 April 2011. The game is set in 1942 during World War II...
, as a playable Nazi class. It is featured with brown skin and a 20 millimeter cannon mounted to its back. Several references are made in the game's dialogue that it is not technically a Dinosaur.