page_title: Qianosuchus
section_title: Paleobiology
hierarchical_section_title: Qianosuchus / Paleobiology
caption_attribution_description: Qianosuchus mixtus, an archosaur from the Middle Triassic of China, after skeletal reconstruction by Matt Celeskey, pencil drawing
context_page_description: Qianosuchus is an extinct genus of aquatic poposauroid archosaur from the middle Triassic Guanling Formation of Pan County, China. It is represented by two nearly complete skeletons and a crushed skull preserved in the limestone. Qianosuchus was at least 3 metres long, and had several skeletal adaptations which indicate a semi-marine lifestyle, similar to modern-day saltwater crocodiles. These adaptations have not been seen in any other archosaur from the Triassic.
context_section_description: Qianosuchus was well adapted to a semi-marine lifestyle, with a laterally compressed tail and tall neural spines providing a greater surface area, indicating an animal reliant on its undulating tail for propulsion. Its tail is actually more expanded than those of several other marine reptiles such as Hupehsuchus and the modern marine iguana, so Qianosuchus was almost certainly a competent swimmer. The thin scapulae and coracoids are also seen in many marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and mosasaurs, while the long neck and reduced dermal armour are seen in marine reptiles such as Tanystropheus. However, its pelvic girdle and large, relatively unspecialized legs would have allowed Qianosuchus to walk around on land as well, and may well have had an erect or semi-erect posture, based on the ankle joint. All this suggests that Qianosuchus lived a semi-aquatic lifestyle in and around the shallow seas where it lived, hunting either on water or on land.
caption: Life restoration
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