#astorgosuchus

It's June 17th, world crocodile day, a day to appreciate these amazing yet endangered animals. They are my personal favourite group of animals period and just endlessly fascinating to me, both those we have today and those that lived in the ancient past. Tho I'm no professional by any means, I strive to learn about them and spread this knowledge. So here's some photos, art and skeletals of fossil crocs (using the term rather liberally I know). Feel free to drop your favourites in the reblogs, doesn't matter if extinct or not.

Astorgosuchus bugtiensis ( formerly Crocodilus bugtiensis ) was a large basal Crocodyloid from the Oligocene of Bugti Hills in Pakistan. There are only 3 specimens described, which includes a fragmentary rostrum and 2 fragmentary dentaries. The specimen reconstructed here is NHMUK R.5266, a missive fragmentary dentary.

The reconstruction of the mandible is based on Asiatosuchus germanicus, a basal Crocodyloid. This results in a mandible length of 156 cm which makes it a contender for the largest Crocodyloids and the largest Crocodylians ever. They were apex predators of the region and preyed on a variety of animals including Paraceratherium, Rhinoceros and Chalicotheres.

25 million years ago in Asia during the Oligocene Epoch, the crocodilian Astorgosuchus bugtiensis attacks a juvenile specimen of the giant hornless rhinoceros Paraceratherium bugtiensis.

Astorgosuchus was a close relative of true crocodiles that is estimated to have grown up to 26 feet long, making it a bit longer than the largest saltwater crocodiles today. There are memes going around the Internet claiming even larger sizes nearing 30 feet in length, but a paleontologist buddy of mine who specializes in reptiles tells me these are likely exaggerated. Goes to show you once again that you can't trust everything you read on social media.