Proterosuchids are an important group of carnivorous basal archosauriforms characterized by a bizarre and enigmatic downturned premaxilla that overhangs the lower jaw. They are particularly significant because they radiated in the immediate aftermath of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction and represent one of the best known ‘disaster taxa’ following that event. While traditionally considered to be semi‐aquatic, recent histological studies and geological data have suggested that it is more likely that they inhabited terrestrial environments. By using computed tomographic (CT) data, we virtually reconstruct the brain endocast and endosseous labyrinths of two adult specimens of Proterosuchus fergusi from the earliest Triassic of South Africa, in an attempt to understand its life habits within the context of basal archosauriform evolution. Endocasts reveal that the brain cavity is tubular in shape and the endosseous labyrinths are highly pyramidal. The angle of the lateral semicircular canal suggests that P. fergusi naturally held its head upwards ~17°, while the length of the cochlear duct suggests its auditory abilities were specialized towards low‐frequency sounds. Furthermore, beam theory analysis suggests that the rostrum of P. fergusi is highly resistant to both bending and torsion when compared to modern crocodilians, although this resistance is neither enhanced nor reduced by the overhanging premaxilla. Comparative anatomical analyses suggest P. fergusi was probably a semi‐aquatic, generalist apex predator capable of surviving the harsh environmental perturbations of the Early Triassic.

中文翻译：

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早期三叠纪弓形龙Proterosuchus fergusi的颅内解剖和生活习性

蕨类动物是食肉基底弓形动物的重要组成部分，其特征是悬于下颌的奇异而神秘的向下弯曲的前颌骨。它们之所以特别重要，是因为它们是在二叠纪-三叠纪大灭绝之后立即散发出来的，并代表了该事件之后最著名的“灾难分类群”之一。尽管传统上被认为是半水生的，但最近的组织学研究和地质数据表明它们更有可能居住在陆地环境中。通过使用计算机断层扫描（CT）数据，我们实际上重建了两个Proterosuchus fergusi成人标本的脑内铸和骨内迷路来自南非最早的三叠纪，试图了解其在基底弓龙类进化过程中的生活习性。内铸物显示脑腔呈管状，内生迷宫呈高度锥体状。半圆形外侧管的角度表明，P。fergusi自然地将其头部向上抬高约17°，而耳蜗管的长度表明其听觉能力专门针对低频声音。此外，射线束理论分析表明，与现代鳄鱼相比，P。fergusi的讲台对弯曲和扭转都具有很高的抵抗力，尽管悬突前突既没有增强也没有降低这种抵抗力。比较解剖学分析提示P. fergusi 可能是半水生，全能的天敌，能够在三叠纪早期的恶劣环境中生存。