Deinosuchus
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Extinct (fossil)
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D. hatcheri (type) |
Deinosuchus is an extinct genus of alligatorid from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of North America. It was thought for several decades to be the largest crocodilian that ever lived. Deinosuchus is known mainly from skull material, and recent studies have reduced its estimated length. Some other giant crocodilians, including Sarcosuchus (the "SuperCroc"), Purussaurus and Rhamphosuchus, were as big or bigger, but accurate comparisons are difficult as Sarcosuchus is the only species known from a largely-complete skeleton.
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[edit] Size
The skull of Deinosuchus measures more than 2 m (6 ft 7 in) from front to back and has a broad rather than narrow snout. Recent studies have reduced the estimate of the animal's total length from more than 15 m (50 ft) to between 10 m and 12 m (33 ft & 40 ft). Even at this reduced estimate, Deinosuchus was larger than the saltwater crocodile of Australia, Southern and Southeast Asia, which is the biggest living reptile.
[edit] Diet and habitat
The proportions of Deinosuchus are similar to the skull of today's Nile crocodile, which is a generalist carnivore that hunts fish, crustaceans, and large mammals, such as wildebeest and zebra.
Deinosuchus probably lurked in rivers or swamps waiting for prey to come and drink from the water's edge (much like modern species). It would then have grabbed its prey in its massive jaws, containing large but somewhat blunt teeth, and then drag it into the water to drown. Perhaps it would have spun lengthways to tear off chunks of flesh (the "death roll" behaviour in modern species). It most likely preyed on fish, dinosaurs (especially the abundant hadrosaurs of the time), and anything else that strayed too close to the water.
Deinosuchus specimens have been discovered in freshwater and marine deposits.
[edit] Discovery and classification
The type species, Deinosuchus hatcheri was found by Holland at Willow Creek, Montana, in the Judith River Formation. Specimens from Big Bend National Park in Texas were originally assigned to the genus Phobosuchus in 1954 by Colbert and Bird, but are now assigned to Deinosuchus as the species D. riograndensis. Specimens have also been found in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
Originally classified in the family Crocodylidae, a better skull specimen shows it is likeliest a basal alligator in the superfamily Alligatoroidea.
[edit] In popular culture
Deinosuchus featured on the final episode of ITV's Prehistoric Park in 2006. It was shown to prey on hadrosaurs and be an ambush predator. A group were also shown confronting a pack of Albertosaurus, a confrontation which the Deinosuchus won.
Deinosuchus was also featured in Paleoworld Episode 4, depicted as a land and sea hunter. Like in Prehistoric Park, It ambushed some hadrosaurs. Deinosuchus was beaten in size by Porosaurus.
A Deinosuchus is breifly shown in the BBC documentary Walking With Dinosaurs, trying to ambush a Quetzalcoatlus.
A Deinosuchus is a boss in the video game The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
[edit] References
- Tracy Ford. February 10, 1998. "Deinosuchus list". Dinosaur Mailing List.
Deinosuchus weighed upto two double decker buses.
