In Depth When named in 1896, Cynodontosuchus was not only the earliest known sebecosuchian crocodile, it was also the first confirmed as living before the Cenozoic period. Since this time there are now several Cretaceous sebecosuchian crocodiles known to us, and one of these genera, Baurusuchus, has been proposed by some to be a junior … Read more
In Depth The genus Lorosuchus represents one of if not the most primitive sebecid crocodiles currently known. Lorosuchus is named after the Rio Loro Formation where the holotype fossils were discovered. Further Reading – A new sebecid mesoeucrocodylian from the Rio Loro Formation (Palaeocene) of north-western Argentina. – Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163:S7-S36. … Read more
In Depth Although only described from very incomplete remains, a number of things can be inferred about Barreirosuchus. Comparison to other notosuchian genera indicates that in life Barreirosuchus may have been up to four meters long. The discovery of a nearby turtle rib is also taken as an indication that Barreirosuchus was at least semi-aquatic. … Read more
In Depth Pabwehshi is a genus of terrestrial crocodile that lived and hunted on dry land. At the time of writing, Pabwehshi is only known from the Pab Formation of Pakistan where fossils of Pabwehshi were laid down during the Maastrichtian stage of the Cretaceous. Pabwehshi is usually credited as being a member if the … Read more
In Depth Caryonosuchus is a genus of sphagesaurid notosuchian crocodylomorph that lived in South America during the latter stages of the Cretaceous. So far Caryonosuchus is only known from partial remains, but if relative genera are anything to go by, Caryonosuchus may well have been herbivorous. Further Reading - A new crocodylomorph (Sphagesauridae, Notosuchia) with … Read more
In Depth Pissarrachampsa is a genus of terrestrial crocodile that lived in Brazil during the late Cretaceous. The precise point of time of the Cretaceous is still debated as some point between the Turonian and the Maastrichtian. All that is known for certain is that the holotype fossils of Pissarrachampsa came from the Vale do … Read more
In Depth Sebecus is a genus of notosuchian crocodylomorph that is known to have lived in South America during the earliest part of the Eocene. Sebecus would have been predators of other similarly sized animals, but unlike crocodiles that we know today, Sebecus would have been more terrestrial and hunting on the land. Details of … Read more
In Depth Mariliasuchus appears to have been an almost entirely terrestrial (living on land) crocodylomorph. The eyes of Mariliasuchus are located more to the sides rather than on top of the head, and the nostrils faced forwards rather than upwards. In aquatic crocodylomorphs both the nostrils and eyes almost always face upwards. Despite this though, … Read more
In Depth Zulmasuchus was named in 2007 alongside the genus Langstonia, and both of them were former species of the genus Sebecus. At the time of writing Zulmasuchus is known from relatively incomplete material, though the genus is thought to have been a terrestrial predator like its nearest relatives. Fossils of Zulmasuchus are aged as … Read more
In Depth Itasuchus is a genus of extinct notosuchian from the late Cretaceous of Brazil. Itasuchus is considered to have been similar to Barreirosuchus which is from slightly earlier during the late Cretaceous, and Caririsuchus which is known from the late early Cretaceous. All three of these genera are known from Brazil. Further Reading - … Read more