Necrosuchus

Necrosuchus is an extinct genus of caiman from the Paleocene epoch (Selandian age, about 60 million years ago).[1][2]

Necrosuchus
Temporal range: Early Paleocene (Peligran)
~62.5–59.0 Ma
↓
Artist's restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Alligatoridae
Subfamily: Caimaninae
Genus: †Necrosuchus
Simpson, 1937
Type species
†Necrosuchus ionensis
Simpson, 1937

Description

Necrosuchus had a long jaw, with slender teeth. The first two sets of teeth was large, the third is smaller, the fourth very large, the fifth through 10th small, the 11th through 13th increasing in size, with the 13th being nearly as large as the fourth, the remaining 14th through 18th teeth decrease in size.[3]

Distribution

Fossils of N. ionensis have been found in the Salamanca Formation near Malaspina, Chubut, in Argentina.[3]

Etymology

G. Simpson explains the meaning of the generic name as being a compound word of "necros" meaning "dead," and "suchus" meaning crocodile, in reference to during its collection, "a well-meaning lady asked if it were dead."[3]

References
  1. Necrosuchus at Fossilworks.org
  2. Brochu, C.A. (2011). "Phylogenetic relationships of Necrosuchus ionensis Simpson, 1937 and the early history of caimanines". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 163: S228–S256. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00716.x.
  3. (PDF) http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/2198//v2/dspace/ingest/pdfSource/nov/N0965.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Retrieved 4 March 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)


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