Sign In
Learn bits
Ecology & Environment
Pradeep Kumar

13/06/21 11:20 AM IST

Bharitalasuchus tapani

In news
Bharitalasuchus Tapani, a carnivorous reptile that lived 240 million years ago

Details
  • This reptile belongs to a genus and species previously unknown to science.
  • In the Telugu language, Bhari means huge, Tala means head, and Suchus is the name of the Egyptian crocodile-headed deity.
  • The species is named after paleontologist Tapan Roy Chowdhury in honour of his contribution to Indian vertebrate paleontology and especially his extensive work on the Yerrapalli Formation tetrapod fauna.
About the reptile
  • Bharitalasuchus Tapani was robust animals with big heads and large teeth, and these probably predated other smaller reptiles.
  • They were approximately the size of an adult male lion and might have been the largest predators in their ecosystems.
  • “The first Erythrosuchidae remains were discovered in South Africa in 1905 and more were found in China and Russia.
  • The South African one is about 245 million years old, while the ones from China and Russia are around 240 million years old.
  • So the Indian one is one of the youngest fossil records we have of an erythrosuchid.
  • This is a nice example of evidence of biological interaction that occurred 240 million years ago.”
Why was it neglected?
  • It was neglected because the fossil specimen was not as complete as those of other erythrosuchids from other countries. 
  • Also, because the few paleontologists with expertise in the family had not examined the fossil or carried out the detailed comparative work needed.
Source: The Hindu

More Related Current Affairs View All

20 Feb

The Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999

'Investors who were defrauded in the Torres Ponzi scam may receive about Rs 40 crore over the next six months.' The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has begun

Read More

18 Feb

Aravali safari park project

'The Haryana government’s ambitious 3,858 hectare Aravali safari park project spread across Gurugram and Nuh — which was one of the poll promises of the ruling Bharatiy

Read More

17 Feb

President’s rule function

'Recently,  four days after Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, the Union government announced that President’s rule has been implemented in the v

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps