| Baru Temporal range: Late Oligocene - Middle Miocene |
|
|---|---|
| Harpacochampsa and Baru darrowi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Crocodylidae |
| Subfamily: | Mekosuchinae |
| Genus: | Baru |
| Species | |
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Baru was an extinct genus of Australian mekosuchine crocodilian. It was semi-aquatic, around 4 m (13 ft) in length. Being semi-aquatic its habitat was around fresh pools of water in wet forests, ambushing their prey, much like modern species. The word Baru is Aboriginal and means "crocodile's ancestor".
Fossils have been found in Australia at Riversleigh in north-western Queensland and Alcoota Station it the Northern Territory.
There are currently three valid species within the genus Baru. The type species B. darrowi is known from the Middle Miocene of the Northern Territory and is the largest reaching size of 4-5 m in length, whilst two older species, B. huberi and B. wickeni are known from the Late Oligocene of Queensland.