A Thorough Overview of Prehistoric Crocodile Species
The look of crocodiles, which are often referred to as “living fossils,” has remained astonishingly constant over millions of years. They are members of the Archosaur group, which also contains pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and birds. They originated in the Triassic epoch, around 240 million years ago, predating dinosaurs. Scientists have been able to recreate the looks and habits of these extinct reptiles thanks to fossil evidence found all over the world. A thorough list of prehistoric crocodiles is provided here, along with information on their special traits and historical relevance.
- Aegisuchus: Based on its huge, flat skull, this species, known to have lived between 100.5 and 93.9 million years ago, was nicknamed “Shieldhead.” Morocco is home to fossils that shed light on the country’s distinct morphology.
- Allodaposuchus: This species, which lived between 86.3 and 66 million years ago, was quite similar to contemporary crocodiles. Its remains have been discovered in France, Romania, and Spain, and it was around nine feet in length.
- Amphicotylus milesi: Semi-aquatic Amphicotylus milesi, which dates back 150 million years, resembled modern crocodiles. Its remains were found in the Morrison Formation of Wyoming.
- Anatosuchus: Also known as the “Duck Croc,” Anatosuchus was a tiny crocodile that weighed approximately two feet and had an extended nose and bill-like snout that lived between 113 and 110.5 million years ago. In Niger, fossils were discovered.
- Angistorhinus: This species was around 26 feet long and had a long, thin snout. It lived from 237 to 208.5 million years ago. Fossils, dubbed the “Hook snout,” have been discovered in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming.
- Armadillosuchus: This crocodile, which lived between 94 and 84 million years ago, was named for its thick, armadillo-like bone plates on its back. It was about six feet long, and fossils from the Bauru Basin of Brazil were discovered there. The genus Baurusuchus included land-dwelling crocodiles that lived between 93.9 and 89.8 million years ago. Its nostrils and eyes were situated on the sides of its head. The remains of these 11–13-foot-long reptiles were found in Brazil.
- Brachychampsa: This early alligatoroid reached lengths of 8–10 feet and lived between 93.5 and 63.3 million years ago. North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana’s Hell Creek Formation, and North Dakota have all produced fossils.
- Carnufex: Also referred to as the “Carolina Butcher,” this species was able to reach lengths of nine feet and walk erect on two legs between 237 and 228 million years ago. Discoveries of fossils were made in North Carolina.
- Champsosaurus: With bigger species reaching a height of 10 feet and lesser species reaching a height of around 5 feet, Champsosaurus lived from 93.9 to 58.8 million years ago. There are fossils of them in the US, Canada, and France. They resembled modern-day gharials with their long, slender snouts.
- Crocodylus checchiai: Fossils of this species, which date from between 23 and 5.3 million years ago, have been discovered in Kenya and Libya. According to recent analyses of its cranium, prehistoric crocodiles may have originated in Australia and journeyed via Africa before arriving in the Americas.
- Dakosaurus: This marine crocodile was 13–16 feet long and had a large, deep head. It lived between 163.5 and 139.8 million years ago. Its fossils, which went by the nickname “Biter Lizard,” were found in Europe, Russia, South America, and North America.
- Deinosuchus: This crocodile, which was among the biggest, lived between 82 and 70 million years ago. A.K.A. the “terrible crocodile,” it was between 26 and 39 feet long and 5,500 and 11,000 pounds in weight. There are fossils in Mexico and the United States.
- Diplocynodon: A 3–4 foot long saltwater crocodile that lived between 83.5 and 70.6 million years ago, Diplocynodon was known for its two enormous fang-like teeth, which gave it the moniker “double dog tooth.” There are fossils in Europe, Wyoming, New Jersey, and Virginia. Fossils of the diminutive, slender Doswellia crocodile, which lived between 237 and 208.5 million years ago, have been discovered in Texas, Utah, New Mexico, and Virginia.
- Erpetosuchus: Dating back between 237 and 201.3 million years, Erpetosuchus is one of the oldest crocodiles. It was a smaller species, around two feet long, with bones discovered in Scotland and Connecticut. It moved like a grayhound.
- Euthecodon: This massive crocodile, which lived between 23 and 2.58 million years ago, had a snout that was over 32 feet long. Its four fangs and broad tail made it unique; remains of it have been discovered in Ethiopia and Egypt.
- Gryposuchus: Measuring around 32 feet in length, Gryposuchus existed between 23 and 5.3 million years ago and resembled a massive current gharial. Fossils have been found in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Peru.
- Goniopholis: Measuring around 6.5 feet in length, Goniopholis lived between 163.5 and 145 million years ago. It resembled a contemporary crocodile. There are fossils in both Africa and Europe. Gracilisuchus, sometimes referred to as the “Graceful Crocodile,” flourished from 242 to 237 million years ago. Fossils of this small, two-footed bipedal species were discovered in Argentina.
- Geosaurus: Fossils of this short-snouted sea crocodile, which lived between 163.5 and 100.5 million years ago, have been discovered in France and Germany. Its length was around 10 feet.
- Isisfordia: 3 feet long and resembling contemporary crocodiles, Isisfordia was a tiny Australian crocodile that lived from 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago. Australia is the location of fossils.
- Kaprosuchus: Also referred to as the “boar crocodile,” this organism flourished between 95 and 100 million years ago. Its remains were discovered in Africa, and it was 20 feet long and 2,000 pounds in weight, much like current saltwater crocodiles.
- Mourasuchus: A crocodile of great size that flourished between 23 and 5.3 million years ago. It was up to 39 feet long, with a beak like a duck and a pouch resembling a pelican. There are fossils in South America.
- Mahajangasuchus: Based on the size of its skull, this species, which lived between 100.5 and 66 million years ago, was thought to have been 16 feet long. There are fossils in Madagascar.
- Metriorhynchus: a marine crocodile that lived between 163.5 and 145 million years ago. Metriorhynchus was around 10 feet long and had a fluke tail like a dolphin’s. In Europe, many fossils have been found.
- Mystriosuchus: Measuring around 13 feet in length, this creature lived between 228 and 196.5 million years ago. It resembled a contemporary gharial in that it had a long, narrow snout. Its remains have been discovered in Germany and Italy. It was found in European rivers and streams.
- Neptunidraco: This 13-foot-long marine crocodile lived between 170.3 and 168.3 million years ago. Its tail resembled that of a dolphin. Italy is where fossils were found.
- Notosuchus: Approximately five feet in length, Notosuchus existed 85 million years ago and was one of the earliest fully terrestrial crocodiles. Patagonia and Argentina are home to fossils.
- Purussaurus: A giant crocodile that flourished between 23 and 5.3 million years ago. At up to 41 feet in length and 18,000 pounds in weight, it was the largest predator of the Miocene era. There are fossils in South America. From 237 to 201, Poposaurus was an early crocodile.With a tail like that of a T-rex, Poposaurus was around 13 feet long and moved on its hind legs 3 million years ago. Wyoming, Texas, and Arizona have all produced fossils. The “plant lizard,” or phytosaur, was a species that existed between 229 and 200 million years ago. It was a roughly 10-foot-long, semi-aquatic animal with a long, thin snout and pointed front teeth. Fossils have been found in India, Europe, and North America.
- Pakasuchus: This species has teeth like those of mammals and a canine-like nose at the end of its snout. It lived between 125 and 100.5 million years ago. Fossils of the “Cat crocodile,” which measured around 20 inches, have been discovered in Tanzania and South Africa.
- Pholidosaurus: Fossils of this long-snouted saltwater crocodile, which lived between 145 and 100.5 million years ago, were discovered in Germany.
- Protosuchus: Dating back between 201.3 and 145 million years, Protosuchus was one of the first crocodiles. Fossils of the diminutive, three-foot-long creature with a short snout have been discovered in South Africa, Arizona, and Canada.
- Quinkana: The crocodile native to Australia lived between 24 million and 40,000 years ago. It was a big, terrestrial crocodile with long legs that could grow up to 20 feet in length and 5 feet in height at the rear. The Australian state of Queensland is home to fossils.
- Rhamposuchus: Rhamposuchus, one of the biggest crocodiles, flourished between 23 and 5.3 million years ago. Its remains were discovered in India, and it was around 26–28 feet long and resembled the false gharial of today.
- Rutiodon: This species, which lived between 237 and 208.5 million years ago, was between 8 and 26 feet long and resembled current crocodiles in appearance. Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, and many US states have all produced fossils.
- Sarcosuchus: Also referred to as the “SuperCroc,” Sarcosuchus was 29–40 feet long and lived 110 million years ago. Fossils of this large, heavy-tailed animal have been discovered in Algeria, Brazil, Morocco, and Niger.
- Stomatosuchus: With a lower jaw devoid of teeth and a pouch like a pelican, this massive crocodile lived between 100.5 and 93.9 million years ago. Given its unusual traits, scientists are interested in learning more about its nutrition. It was around thirty-two feet long and included fossils from Egypt.
- Smilosuchus: This species, which lived between 237 and 201.3 million years ago, possessed long snouts and legs. roughly 16 feet was the smaller species, and roughly 22 feet was the bigger. In Arizona, fossils were discovered.
- Terrestrisuchus: About 30 inches long and with larger legs, which probably made it nimble, this little land crocodile lived between 208.5 and 201.3 million years ago. There are fossils in Wales and England.
Prehistoric Crocodile Species by Era
| Species | Time Period (Million Years Ago) | Distinguishing Features | Fossil Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegisuchus | 100.5–93.9 | Large, flat head (Shieldhead) | Morocco |
| Allodaposuchus | 86.3 – 66 | Similar to modern crocodiles, they are about 9 feet long | France, Romania, and Spain |
| Amphicotylus milesi | 150 | Semi-aquatic, similar to modern crocodiles | Wyoming, USA |
| Anatosuchus | 113–110.5 | Bill-like snout, elongated nose, about 2 feet long | Niger |
| Angistorhinus | 237 – 208.5 | Long, skinny snout, about 26 feet long | Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming |
| Armadillosuchus | 94 – 84 | Thick bony plates on back, about 6 feet long | Brazil |
| Baurusuchus | 93.9–89.8 | Land-dwelling, eyes and nostrils on sides of skull | Brazil |
| Brachychampsa | 93.5–63.3 | Early alligatoroid, 8–10 feet long | Montana, New Mexico, Colorado, North Dakota, and South Dakota |
| Carnufex | 237–228 | Bipedal, upright walker, about 9 feet long | North Carolina, USA |
| Champsosaurus | 93.9 – 58.8 | Long, skinny snout, about 10 feet long | USA, Canada, and France |
Prehistoric Crocodile Species with Unique Features
| Species | Time Period (Million Years Ago) | Unique Features | Fossil Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegisuchus | 100.5–93.9 | Large, flat head (Shieldhead) | Morocco |
| Anatosuchus | 113–110.5 | Bill-like snout, elongated nose, about 2 feet long | Niger |
| Armadillosuchus | 94 – 84 | Thick bony plates on back, about 6 feet long | Brazil |
| Carnufex | 237–228 | Bipedal, upright walker, about 9 feet long | North Carolina, USA |
| Champsosaurus | 93.9 – 58.8 | Long, skinny snout, about 10 feet long | USA, Canada, and France |
| Deinosuchus | 82 to 70 | One of the largest, 26-39 feet long, massive size | USA, Mexico |
| Diplocynodon | 83.5–70.6 | Two large fang-like teeth, about 3–4 feet long | Europe, New Jersey, Virginia, and Wyoming |
| Gryposuchus | 23 – 5.3 | Resembling giant modern-day gharial, about 32 feet | Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela |
| Mourasuchus | 23 – 5.3 | Duck-like bill, pelican-like pouch, up to 39 feet | South America |
| Kaprosuchus | 100 – 95 | Boar-like teeth, up to 20 feet long | Africa |
Did Tyrannosaurus Rex get eaten?
Given its size and formidable teeth, Deinosuchus, one of the biggest ancient alligators, may have been able to take down a Tyrannosaurus Rex. But because the two species did not cohabit, this scenario is not feasible. While Deinosuchus lived around 72 million years ago, T. Rex first arose about 68 million years ago. Given the considerable lapse of almost 4 million years, it may be concluded that Deinosuchus had long since gone extinct by the time T. Rex walked the Earth. Even against the powerful T. rex, Deinosuchus may have been a dangerous predator if it had lived.