Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Published Online October 25, 2001
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1066521

Reports

Submitted on September 24, 2001
Accepted on October 16, 2001

The Giant Crocodyliform Sarcosuchus from the Cretaceous of Africa

Paul C. Sereno 1*, Hans C. E. Larsson 2, Christian A. Sidor 3, Boubé Gado 4

1 Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
2 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
3 Department of Anatomy, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA.
4 Institut de Recherches en Sciences Humaines, Niamey, Niger Republic.

New fossils of the giant African crocodyliform Sarcosuchus imperator clarify its skeletal anatomy, growth patterns, size, longevity and phylogenetic position. The skull has an expansive narial bulla and elongate jaws studded with stout, smooth crowns that do not interlock. Jaw form suggests a generalized diet of large vertebrates including fish and dinosaurs. S. imperator is estimated to have grown to a maximum body length of at least 11-12 m and body weight of about eight metric tons over a lifespan of 50-60 years. Unlike its closest relatives that lived as specialized piscivores in marginal marine habitats, S. imperator thrived in fluvial environments.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
A Correction Corrected: Consensus Over the Meaning of Crocodylia and Why It Matters.
C. A. Brochu, J. R. Wagner, S. Jouve, C. D. Sumrall, and L. D. Densmore (2009)
Syst Biol 58, 537-543
   Full Text »    PDF »
Khoratosuchus jintasakuli gen. et sp. nov., an advanced neosuchian crocodyliform from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) of NE Thailand.
K. Lauprasert, G. Cuny, K. Thirakhupt, and V. Suteethorn (2009)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 315, 175-187
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Crown Clades in Vertebrate Nomenclature: Correcting the Definition of Crocodylia.
J. E. Martin and M. J. Benton (2008)
Syst Biol 57, 173-181
   Full Text »    PDF »
Oceanosuchus boecensis n. gen, n. sp., a marine pholidosaurid (Crocodylia, Mesosuchia) from the Lower Cenomanian of Normandy (western France).
S. Hua, E. Buffetaut, C. Legall, and P. Rogron (2007)
Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France 178, 503-513
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A DYROSAURID CROCODYLIFORM BRAINCASE FROM MALI.
(2002)
Journal of Paleontology 76, 1060-1071


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)