Antarctosuchus

An-tark-to-soo-kus.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Antarctosuchus ‭(‬Antarctic crocodile‭)‬.

Phonetic

An-tark-to-soo-kus.

Named By

Christian A.‭ ‬Sidor,‭ ‬J.‭ ‬S�bastien Steyer‭ & ‬William R.‭ ‬Hammer‭ ‬-‭ ‬2014.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Amphibia,‭ ‬Temnospondyli,‭ ‬Stereospondyli,‭ ‬Capitosauria,‭ ‬Mastodonsauroidea.

Diet

Carnivore/Piscivore.

Species

A.‭ ‬polyodon‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

Antarctica‭ ‬-‭ ‬Fremouw Formation.

Time Period

Olenekian of the Triassic.

Fossil representation

Skull.

In Depth

       Antarctosuchus is noted for having relatively small teeth,‭ ‬which may indicate a specialisation towards hunting smaller animals.‭ ‬The strongly developed sensory canals in the skull also suggest that Antarctosuchus was hunted primarily in the water.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬A new capitosauroid temnospondyl from the Middle Triassic upper Fremouw Formation of Antarctica.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬34‭ (‬3‭)‬:‭ ‬539.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Christian A.‭ ‬Sidor,‭ ‬J.‭ ‬S�bastien Steyer‭ & ‬William R.‭ ‬Hammer‭ ‬-‭ ‬2014.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT