Patagosuchus
Name:
Patagosuchus
(Patagonia crocodile).
Phonetic: Pat-a-go-su-kuss.
Named By: G. Lio, F. L. Agnol�n, R.
Juarez Valieri, L. Filippi & D. Rosales - 2015.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia,
Crocodylomorpha, Peirosauridae.
Species: P. anielensis
(type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Uncertain.
Known locations: Argentina, Neuqu�n Province -
Portezuelo Formation.
Time period: Turonian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial and fragmentary skull
and post cranial remains.
Though
only known from fragmentary fossil remains, Patagosuchus
is noted for
having a diverse heterodont dentition. What this means is that
Patagosuchus had many different kinds of teeth,
and would have been
able to adapt differing feeding strategies. Patagosuchus
is also
classed as a peirosaurid crocodylomorph,
and these are usually small
meat eaters that hunt everything from larger insects to small
vertebrates like lizards, to scavenging carrion. The heterodont
teeth of Patagosuchus meant that it could hunt and
feed in any of the
above strategies.
Patagosuchus
should not be confused with the sauropod
dinosaur Patagosaurus.
Further reading
- A new peirosaurid (Crocodilyformes) from the Late Cretaceous
(Turonian–Coniacian) of Patagonia, Argentina. - Historical
Biology - G. Lio, F. L. Agnol�n, R. Juarez Valieri,
L. Filippi & D. Rosales - 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random favourites
 |
 |
 |