Re: MANDASUCHUS, CALLAWAYIA, THYREOPHORAN

[Danvarner@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/21/01 6:35:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
darren.naish@port.ac.uk writes:


<< Charig wrote the text for the Brooke Bond picture card book 
_Prehistoric Animals_ (1971). I don't have this to hand but there was 
an entry, and a Maurice Wilson painting, on _Mandasuchus_. As I 
recall, the animal was restored as a quadrupedal _Rauisuchus_-like 
creature (incidentally this volume must have been one of the first 
popular texts to feature _Deinonychus_). I don't remember exactly 
what was said about it in the text, but there was some information. >>

       Charig's text says:

 " 09 MANDASUCHUS (from Manda in Tanzania and Greek 'crocodile')
This reptile was a typical pseudosuchian, belonging to the group from which 
dinosaurs, pterosaurs, crocodiles and birds all evolved. Contrary to what is 
stated in many books, however, most of the pseudosuchians showed no tendency 
towards walking or running on their hind legs alone. Mandasuchus lived in 
Tanzania in Middle Triassic times, 210 million years ago. It was of crocodile 
like size and build, with large teeth of the carnivorous type, a double row 
of armour plates down the middle of the back and hind legs rather longer than 
the front ones. Its habits too were probably like those of modern crocodiles, 
though it may have been less found of the water. "

       The illustration can be seen at: 
http://www.whom.co.uk/squelch/bbprehis.htm  

    DV