Postosuchus (Walking with Dinosaurs by Toyway)

“What seems more likely is that creatures like Postosuchus were an example of parallel evolution, the same kind of creature evolving to fill the same ecological role; a morphogenetic preview of the large theropod archetype of the great dinosaurian carnivores of the later Mesozoic.”

Source:http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/270Archosauromorpha/270.700.html

Ain’t that one of the coolest bits of info ever? Something Plato or Borges would be proud of. Anyway, I decided to blog on this piece of art called Postosuchus, it’s one of my all-time favourites, and early Archosauria are very significant, biologically speaking (Alas! Not so for toy makers!)

This large predator measured up to 6 mts (quite possibly an apex predator), it was a member of the interesting Rauisuchian family (cousins of modern crocs) which prospered at first, but then became extinct at the end of the Triassic period.

Largely based on the Postosuchus created for the BBC production Walking with Dinosaurs (mind you, this was an officially licensed product) the Toyway Postosuchus holds many of the characteristicsof its digital counterpart. Even so, the detail of the replica, while more than satisfying, is nowhere near as exceptional as that of the CGI; you must keep in mind that this was supposed to be a mass-produced toy, so many of the delicate features were kind of lost in translation (most noticeable are the poorly sculpted teeth and the eyes, which seemed to be forever turned upwards) but this is still a high quality reproduction of a relatively obscure reptile, so it’s still much coveted by collectors.

The BBC guys accomplished their mission, for the original Postosuchus is accurate (skin plates, 5 digits on each paw, obligatory T-Rex-like head and straight legs correctly positioned) and managed to give it a very fearsome look. Fortunately, the replica retains all this (well, maybe the skull insinuated beneath the skin is a little bit off, but I think that’s about it), the body is muscular but not thick, there are several hints of the rest of the bone structure and they look great.

The fossil evidence suggests that at least some of the Rauisuchians were able to rear up on its hind legs (I vaguely remember seeing the Postosuchus doing that in the series, but I could be wrong) but the replica appears to be quadrupedal. It’s a rigid position, I know, but I like the neutrality of it.

The crocodilian skin is delightfuly scaly and wrinkled, but the belly is smooth. The colouring is vivid (mostly red, black, grey and pale yellow). Some of the paint, however, seems to have been crudely spread (many figures of the WwD set have black smudges, to add their own ‘feel’, I suppose) but nothing too scandalous.

Photos by forum member Piltdown Chickenraptors