Rhinesuchus fossil map
Where fossils of Rhinesuchus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 252 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 252 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early tetrapods & amphibians |
|---|---|
| Lived | 264.28–247 million years ago |
| Periods | Permian, Triassic |
| Family | Rhinesuchidae |
| Named by | Broom 1908 |
| Fossil records | 10 occurrences at 9 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | South Africa, Russia, India |
| Rock formations | txn:37065, Abrahamskraal, Raniganj, Balfour, Teekloof |
About Rhinesuchus
Rhinesuchus (meaning "rasp crocodile" for the ridged surface texture on its skull bones) is a large temnospondyl. Remains of the genus are known from the Permian of the South African Karoo Basin's Tapinocephalus and Cistecephalus assemblage zones, both belonging to the Beaufort Group. The skull of Rhinesuchus had a flat triangular shape with blunt snout similar to some of the other large temnospondyls, and had a palate filled with small sharp teeth, suggesting that it hunted fish. Also, the small eyes were on top of the head suggesting that it approached its prey from below.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Rhinesuchus (revision 1363440346), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q2696795.
