In Depth
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.
