Armadillosuchus

Armadillosuchus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Node: †Ziphosuchia
Genus: †Armadillosuchus
Marinho and Carvalho, 2009
Species
  • †A. arrudai Marinho and Carvalho, 2009 (type)

Armadillosuchus is an extinct genus of sphagesaurid crocodylomorph. It was described in February 2009 from the Late Cretaceous Bauru Basin of Brazil.[1] Armadillosuchus length was estimated on 2 m (6.6 ft) with a weight of 120 kg.[2]

Sphagesaurids share a number of mammal-like features in their teeth and jaws, although they are unrelated to mammals. Armadillosuchus is especially mammal-like in that it had heavy body armor characterized by flexible bands and rigid shields that covered its back, less like the traditional osteoderms that line the backs of most crurotarsans and more like that of a modern armadillo (hence the genus name meaning "armadillo crocodile"). Because of its unique morphology, it is believed to have had a terrestrial and quite possibly fossorial lifestyle.

Restoration

References

  1. ↑ Marinho, Thiago S.; Carvalho, Ismar S. (2009). "An armadillo-like sphagesaurid crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 27 (1): 36–41. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2008.11.005.
  2. ↑ http://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Armadillosuchus+Arrudai+(Ancient+animal)
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