Mahajangasuchus

Ma-ha-jan-ga-soo-kus.
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Harper Gray

Paleoartist

Harper Grey combines artistic talent with scientific precision to bring extinct creatures and environments back to life. Collaborating closely with paleontologists

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Name

Mahajangasuchus ‭(‬Mahajanga crocodile‭)‬.

Phonetic

Ma-ha-jan-ga-soo-kus.

Named By

Buckley‭ & ‬Brochu‭ ‬-‭ ‬1998.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Mahajangasuchus,‭ ‬Mahajangasuchidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

M.‭ ‬insignis‭

Size

Uncertain.‭ ‬Approximately‭ ‬80‭ ‬centimetre skull.

Known locations

Madagascar‭ ‬-‭ ‬Maevarano Formation.

Time Period

Late Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Almost complete skull and partial remains of other skulls.

In Depth

       Not much is known about Mahajangasuchus,‭ ‬but the robust skull suggests a strong bite force even for a crocodile.‭ ‬The teeth of Mahajangasuchus were also conical and fairly blunt suggesting that they were used on larger prey like land animals rather than small prey like fish.

       Mahajangasuchus has been moved around quite a bit in its classification history.‭ ‬Currently Mahajangasuchus resides within the Mahajangasuchidae along with the‭ ‘‬boar croc‭’‬,‭ ‬Kaprosuchus.

Further Reading

– An enigmatic new crocodile from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar, by G. A. Buckley & C. A. Brochu. – In Cretaceous Fossil Vertebrates. Special Papers in Palaeontology 60:149-175. – D. M. Unwin (ed.) – 1999. – A skull of Mahajangasuchus insignis (Crocodyliformes) from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 21 (3), supplement: A36. – G. A. Buckley – 2001.

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