Malawisuchus

Mah-lah-we-su-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

Malawisuchus ‭(‬Malawi crocodile‭)‬.

Phonetic

Mah-lah-we-su-kus.

Named By

E.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Gomani‭ ‬-‭ ‬1997.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Crocodylomorpha,‭ ‬Crocodyliformes,‭ ‬Metasuchia,‭ ‬Ziphosuchia,‭ ‬Candidodontidae.

Diet

Herbivore‭?

Species

M.‭ ‬mwakasyungutiensis‭

Size

Skull about‭ ‬5.9‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Femur‭ (‬thigh bone‭) ‬4.8‭ ‬centimetres.‭ ‬Humerus‭ (‬upper arm bone‭) ‬3.5‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Total body length estimated at about‭ ‬60‭ ‬centimetres.

Known locations

Malawi‭ ‬-‭ ‬Dinosaur Beds Formation.

Time Period

Aptian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Skull and partial post cranial skeletal remains of several individuals.

In Depth

       Malawisuchus is a genus of ziphosuchian crocodylomorph that lived in Africa during the early Cretaceous.‭ ‬Malawisuchus has a number of interesting features,‭ ‬including mammal-like teeth which may have been used for processing tough plants,‭ ‬and muscle attachment points on the hip and rear limbs which suggest that Malawisuchus may have been able to walk upright and even run.‭ ‬Malawisuchus also shows forelimb development which suggests a powerful digging ability,‭ ‬and in extension to this,‭ ‬remains of Malawisuchus have been located in what were once burrows.

       Malawisuchus should not be confused with Malawisaurus,‭ ‬a dinosaur also known from Malawi.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬A crocodyliform from the Early Cretaceous Dinosaur Beds,‭ ‬northern Malawi.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬17‭(‬2‭)‬:280-294.‭ ‬-‭ ‬E.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Gomani‭ ‬-‭ ‬1997.

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