 "Prestosuchus chiniquensis" was first discovered in the Santa Maria Formation at the Paleontological Site Chiniquá, near the city of São Pedro do Sul in 1938, by the German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene on a trip to Brazil.Von Huene named the genus in honor of Vicentino Prestes de Almeida.This site is located in the geopark of Paleorrota.