Researchers in southern Brazil have unearthed bones that seem otherworldly. A complete skull, along with vertebrae and a pelvis, has revealed a new species of predatory reptile that lived about 237 million years ago, long before the era of the dinosaurs.
This new discovery has been named Parvosuchus aurelioi. Although its size was not impressive (about one meter in length), its discovery holds great scientific value. It is the first gracilisuchid specimen found in Brazil, a rare group of reptiles related to modern crocodiles.
The fossils found include a skull with jaw, 11 dorsal vertebrae, two sacral vertebrae, a complete pelvic girdle, and parts of the hind limbs, classified as CAPPA/UFSM 0412. This type of preservation is rare, especially with a complete skull.
With a skull measuring 14.4 centimeters, it is estimated that the Parvosuchus measured around one meter. It could not compete with the large predators of its time, such as Prestosuchus chiniquensis, which reached up to seven meters. This small reptile probably hunted small prey and fed on carrion.
The Parvosuchus belongs to the Gracilisuchidae, an extinct family of pseudosuchians, a group closely related to modern crocodiles. Until now, fossils of this family had only been found in Argentina and China, making this discovery even more valuable.
Similar to the crocodile
The discovery was made in the Santa Maria Formation, in Paraíso do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul), in strata associated with the Dinodontosaurus assemblage zone. These rock layers are fundamental for comparing the faunas of the Triassic in South America.
In the Triassic, pseudosuchians, distant relatives of crocodiles, dominated the land. This group experienced various adaptations, from large hunters to species with bony armor, some of which walked upright.
This discovery helps to understand how ecosystems were reconstructed after the extinction of the Permian 252 million years ago. The Parvosuchus existed about 15 million years after this event, in a period of ecological reorganization.
The name of the species honors Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurélio, who found and donated the fossils for study. In January 2024, the CAPPA team unearthed the pelvis and later discovered the skull, an exciting find for paleontologists.
Protecting these sites in Rio Grande do Sul is essential to preserve our natural and scientific heritage. These sites cannot be replaced, and their destruction would be like burning a unique library.
The study detailing this discovery has been published in Scientific Reports.
