A 25-Inch Crocodile Relative Walked on Two Legs in Late Triassic Forests 225 Million Years Ago (Discovermagazine)
Written byAnastasia Scott
Mar 8, 2026, 11:01 PM | 3 min read
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The unusual reptile, named Sonselasuchus cedrus, lived during the Late Triassic, roughly 225 to 201 million years ago. The reptile likely lived in forested environments that covered much of the region during this time. The species name cedrus references the cedar-like trees that grew in Late Triassic forests. In a study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, researchers report that changes in the proportions of the animal’s limbs suggest it gradually shifted from walking on four legs as a juvenile to moving on two legs as an adult.
“Essentially, we think these creatures started out their lives on four legs… they then started walking on two legs as they grew up,” said lead author Elliott Armour Smith in a press release. “This is particularly peculiar.”
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A Triassic Crocodile Relative That Evolved a Dinosaur-Like Body
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The animal stood about 25 inches tall, roughly the size of a small dog, and likely had a toothless beak, large eye sockets, and hollow bones. At first glance, these features resemble those of ornithomimid dinosaurs — long-legged animals sometimes compared to ostriches.
But the resemblance appears to be a case of convergent evolution, when unrelated animals independently develop similar traits.
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more: https://www.discovermagazine.com/a-25-inch-crocodile-relative-walked-on-two-legs-in-late-triassic-forests-225-million-years-ago-48787
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