Champsosaurus

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Champsosaurus
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous to Eocene

restoration of Champsosaurus

Extinct (fossil)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Choristodera
Family:	Champsosauridae
Genus:	Champsosaurus

Species

C. profundus (type)
C. albertensis
C. annectens
C. australis
C. brevicollis
C. gigas
C. laramiensis
C. lindoei
C. natator
C. tenuis
C. vaccinsulensis

Champsosaurus is an extinct genus of diapsid reptile belonging to the choristodere order. It was about 1,50 m (5 ft) long.

Champsosaurus resembled a gharial and, just like these, hunted in rivers and swamps, catching fish with its long, tooth-lined jaws. It probably swam with lateral body movements, pinning its limbs against its body to increase its streamline, just like crocodiles and the marine iguana. Behind the eyes Champsosaurus's skull was very wide as powerful jaw muscles were attached here.