São chamados assim muitos tipos de pseudossúquios dominantes dos ecossistemas terrestres entre 249 e 200 milhões de anos atrás - embora o termo seja hoje considerado informal. Geralmente grandes e carnívoros, tinham crânios pesados e mandíbulas repletas de dentes grandes, curvados e serrilhados. Eram ágeis, com membros retos apoiados diretamente sob seus corpos. A maioria era quadrúpede, embora muitos fossem capazes de assumir postura bípede em certas ocasiões.
 

We call “rauisuchians” many types of pseudosuchians that were dominant in terrestrial ecosystems between 249 and 200 million years ago - although this term is now considered informal. Generally large and carnivorous, they had heavy skulls and jaws full of large, curved and serrated teeth. They were agile, with straight limbs resting directly beneath their bodies. Most were quadrupedal, although many were capable of assuming a bipedal stance on certain occasions.