Champsosaurus

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Champsosaurus Fossil range: Late Cretaceous to Eocene
restoration of Champsosaurus
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 order Choristodera. It grew to about 1.50 m (5 ft) long.

Champsosaurus resembled a gharial and, like gharials, 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.

Its name means "crocodile lizard"; "Champso-" was taken from an Ancient Greek author's statement that "The Egyptians call the crocodiles χαμψαι.".

[edit] References

D.Lambert, D.Naish and E.Wyse 2001, "Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and prehistoric life", p.77, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London. ISBN 0-7513-0955-9