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{{Featured article|5th May 2010}}
 
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{{italic title}}
 
{{Taxobox
 
{{Taxobox
 
| name = ''Sarcosuchus''
 
| name = ''Sarcosuchus''
 
| fossil_range = {{geological range|112|94|Early Cretaceous - Late Cretaceous}}
 
| fossil_range = {{geological range|112|94|Early Cretaceous - Late Cretaceous}}
| image = Sarcosuchus_imperator.jpg
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| image = Illustration of Sarcosuchus imperator.png
 
| image_caption = An artist's illustration of ''Sarcosuchus imperator''
 
| image_caption = An artist's illustration of ''Sarcosuchus imperator''
 
| image_width = 240px
 
| image_width = 240px
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| domain = [[wikipedia:Eukaryote|Eukaryota]]
 
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
 
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
 
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
 
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
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| subphylum = [[Vertebra]]
 
| classis = [[Reptilia]]
 
| classis = [[Reptilia]]
 
| superordo = [[Crocodylomorpha]]
 
| superordo = [[Crocodylomorpha]]
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*{{extinct}}'''''Sarcosuchus hartti''''' <small>([[Othniel Charles Marsh|Marsh]], 1869) (originally [[Crocodylus]])</small>
 
*{{extinct}}'''''Sarcosuchus hartti''''' <small>([[Othniel Charles Marsh|Marsh]], 1869) (originally [[Crocodylus]])</small>
 
*{{extinct}}'''''Sarcosuchus imperator''''' <small>(Broin & Taquet, 1966)</small>
 
*{{extinct}}'''''Sarcosuchus imperator''''' <small>(Broin & Taquet, 1966)</small>
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|temporal_range={{Geological range|133|112}}}}
}}Sarcosuchus is an extinct species of crocodyliform; distant relatives of living crocodylian species; that lived beter 129 - 112 million years ago. It dates from the Early Cretaceous Period of the landmass'es; that is now Africa and South America.
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Sarcosuchus is an extinct species of crocodyliform; distant relatives of living [[Crocodilia|crocodylian]] species; that lived appoximately 122 - 112 million years ago. It dates from the Early Cretaceous Period of the landmass; now identified as Africa and South America.
   
It was much bigger than the modern day Saltwater crocodile (which grows up to 5.2m and weighed up 1000 kilograms.)
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It was bigger than the modern day Saltwater Crocodile (which grows up to 7.01m and weighs up 2000 kilograms.)
   
 
The first remains were discovered during several expeditions led by the French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Lapparent, spanning from 1966 to 1970 in the Sahara Desert. These remains were fragments of the skull, vertebrae, teeth and scutes. In 1964, an almost complete skull was found in Niger by the French CEA, but it was not until 1997 and 2012 that most of its anatomy became known to science, when an expedition led by the American paleontologist Sereno et. al. discovered six new specimens, including one with about half the skeleton intact and most of the spine.
 
The first remains were discovered during several expeditions led by the French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Lapparent, spanning from 1966 to 1970 in the Sahara Desert. These remains were fragments of the skull, vertebrae, teeth and scutes. In 1964, an almost complete skull was found in Niger by the French CEA, but it was not until 1997 and 2012 that most of its anatomy became known to science, when an expedition led by the American paleontologist Sereno et. al. discovered six new specimens, including one with about half the skeleton intact and most of the spine.
   
== ==
 
 
[[File:20170505 153311.png|thumb|220x220px|Artistic restoration of ''Sarcosuchus imperator'']]
 
[[File:20170505 153311.png|thumb|220x220px|Artistic restoration of ''Sarcosuchus imperator'']]
   
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==Description==
''Sarcosuchus'' was a large relative of crocodiles, with fully grown individuals estimated to have reached up to 9.1–9.5 m (29.9 – 31 ft) in total length and 4.7 tonnes in weight. It had somewhat telescoped eyes and a long snout comprising 75% of the length of the skull. There were 35 teeth in each side of the upper jaw, while in the lower jaw there were 31 teeth in each side. The upper jaw was also noticeably longer than the lower one leaving a gap between them when the jaws were shut, creating an overbite. In young individuals the shape of the snout resembled that of the living gharial but in fully grown individuals it became considerably broader
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''Sarcosuchus'' was a large relative of crocodiles, with fully grown individuals estimated to have reached up anywhere between 9 to 9.5 m (29 – 31 ft) in total length and 3.5 to 4.5 tonnes in maximum weight. It had somewhat telescoped eyes and a long snout comprising 75% of the length of the skull. There were 35 teeth in each side of the upper jaw, while in the lower jaw there were 31 teeth in each side. The upper jaw was also noticeably longer than the lower one leaving a gap between them when the jaws were shut, creating an overbite. In young individuals the shape of the snout resembled that of the living gharial but in fully grown individuals it became considerably broader
   
=== Size===
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===Size===
 
[[File:440px-Large crocodyliformes.svg.png|thumb|220x220px|Size of ''S. imperator'' (blue) compared to other crocodyliforms]]
 
[[File:440px-Large crocodyliformes.svg.png|thumb|220x220px|Size of ''S. imperator'' (blue) compared to other crocodyliforms]]
   
 
A common method to estimate the size of crocodiles and crocodile-like reptiles is the use of the length of the skull measured in the midline from the tip of the snout to the back of the skull table, since in living crocodilians there is a strong correlation between skull length and total body length in subadult and adult individuals irrespective of their sex, this method is preferred for ''Sarcosuchus'' due to the absence of a complete enough skeleton.
 
A common method to estimate the size of crocodiles and crocodile-like reptiles is the use of the length of the skull measured in the midline from the tip of the snout to the back of the skull table, since in living crocodilians there is a strong correlation between skull length and total body length in subadult and adult individuals irrespective of their sex, this method is preferred for ''Sarcosuchus'' due to the absence of a complete enough skeleton.
   
Two regression equations were used to estimate the size of ''S. imperator'', they were created based on measurements gathered from 17 captive gharial individuals from northern India and from 28 wild saltwater crocodile individuals from northern Australia, both datasets supplemented by available measurements of individuals over 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length found in the literature. The largest known skull of ''S. imperator'' (the type specimen) is 1.6 m (5.2 ft) long, and it was estimated that the individual it belonged to had a total body length of hdyszgdhsdghsdm (38.2 ft), its snout-vent length of 5.7 m (19 ft) was estimated using linear equations for the saltwater crocodile and in turn this measurement was used to estimate its body weight at 8 tonnes (8.8 short tons). This shows that ''Sarcosuchus'' was able to reach a maximum body size not only greater than previously estimated but also greater than that of the Miocene ''Rhamphosuchus'', only the Late Cretaceous ''Deinosuchus'' and the Miocene ''Purussaurus'' may have achieved a comparable maximum body size.
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Two regression equations were used to estimate the size of ''S. imperator'', they were created based on measurements gathered from 17 captive gharial individuals from northern India and from 28 wild saltwater crocodile individuals from northern Australia, both datasets supplemented by available measurements of individuals over 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length found in the literature. The largest known skull of ''S. imperator'' (the type specimen) is 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) long, and it was estimated that the individual it belonged to had a total body length of (38.2 feet), its snout-vent length of 5.7 meters (19 feet) was estimated using linear equations for the saltwater crocodile and in turn this measurement was used to estimate its body weight at 8 tonnes (8.8 short tons). This shows that ''Sarcosuchus'' was able to reach a maximum body size not only greater than previously estimated but also greater than that of the Miocene ''Rhamphosuchus'', only the Late Cretaceous ''Deinosuchus'' and the Miocene ''Purussaurus'' may have achieved a comparable maximum body size.
   
However newer evidences suggest that the largest individuals were much smaller than previously estimated, with the largest individuals reaching lengths of 9.5 m (31 ft) and weighing 4.7 tonnes.[[File:Super croc.jpg|thumb|226x226px|Reconstructed ''S. imperator'' skeleton from behind, terrestrial locomotion posture]]
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However; more recent estimates suggests that the largest individuals were far much smaller than previous calculations, with the largest individuals reaching lengths of 9 to 9.5 meters (31 feet) and weighing 3.5 to 4.3 tonnes.
   
  +
==Classification==
''Sarcosuchus'' is commonly classified as part of the clade Pholidosauridae
 
  +
[[File:Super croc.jpg|thumb|226x226px|Reconstructed ''S. imperator'' skeleton from behind, terrestrial locomotion posture]]
   
Within this group it is most closely related to the North American genus ''Terminonaris''. Most members of Pholidosauridae had long, slender snouts and they all were aquatic, inhabiting several different environments, some forms are interpreted as marine, capable of tolerating saltwater while others, like ''Sarcosuchus'', were freshwater forms, the most primitive members of the clade, however, were found in coastal settings, zones of mixing of freshwater and marine waters. ''Sarcosuchus'' stands out among pholidosaurids for being considered a generalist predator, different from most known members of the clade which were specialized piscivores.
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''Sarcosuchus'' is commonly classified as part of the clade Pholidosauridae, a group of crocodile-like reptiles (Crocodyliformes) related but outside Crocodylia (the clade containing living crocodiles, alligators, and gharials). Within this group it is most closely related to the North American genus ''Terminonaris''. Most members of Pholidosauridae had long, slender snouts and they all were aquatic, inhabiting several different environments, some forms are interpreted as marine, capable of tolerating saltwater while others, like ''Sarcosuchus'', were freshwater forms, the most primitive members of the clade, however, were found in coastal settings, zones of mixing of freshwater and marine waters. ''Sarcosuchus'' stands out among pholidosaurids for being considered a generalist predator, different from most known members of the clade which were specialized piscivores.
   
 
Simplified cladogram after Fortier et al. (2011).
 
Simplified cladogram after Fortier et al. (2011).
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|}
 
|}
   
== Discovery and naming ==
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==Discovery and naming==
   
=== Early findings ===
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===Early findings===
 
[[File:220px-Sarcosuchus imperator side.JPG|thumb|220x220px|Specimen of ''S. imperator'' prior to restoration]]
 
[[File:220px-Sarcosuchus imperator side.JPG|thumb|220x220px|Specimen of ''S. imperator'' prior to restoration]]
   
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Later, in 1964, the research team of the French CEA discovered an almost complete skull in region of Gadoufaoua, in the north of Niger, said skull was shipped to Paris for study and became the holotype of the then new genus and species ''Sarcosuchus imperator'' in 1966. The genus name comes from the Greek "sarco" meaning flesh and "suchus" meaning crocodile.
 
Later, in 1964, the research team of the French CEA discovered an almost complete skull in region of Gadoufaoua, in the north of Niger, said skull was shipped to Paris for study and became the holotype of the then new genus and species ''Sarcosuchus imperator'' in 1966. The genus name comes from the Greek "sarco" meaning flesh and "suchus" meaning crocodile.
   
=== Fossils from Brazil ===
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===Fossils from Brazil===
 
[[File:20170523 182347.png|thumb|288x288px|Artist's illustration of S.hartti]]
 
[[File:20170523 182347.png|thumb|288x288px|Artist's illustration of S.hartti]]
   
 
In 1977, a new species of ''Sarcosuchus'' was named, ''S. hartti'', from remains found in the late 19th century in the Reconcavo basin of Brazil. In 1867, American naturalist Charles Hartt found two isolated teeth and sent them to the American paleontologist O. C. Marsh who erected a new species of ''Crocodylus'' for them, ''C. hartti'', this material, along with other remains were assigned in 1907 to the genus ''Goniopholis'' as ''G. hartti''. Now residing in the British Museum of Natural History the fragment of the lower jaw, dorsal scute and two teeth compromising the species ''G. hartti'' were reexamined and conclusively placed in the genus ''Sarcosuchus''.
 
In 1977, a new species of ''Sarcosuchus'' was named, ''S. hartti'', from remains found in the late 19th century in the Reconcavo basin of Brazil. In 1867, American naturalist Charles Hartt found two isolated teeth and sent them to the American paleontologist O. C. Marsh who erected a new species of ''Crocodylus'' for them, ''C. hartti'', this material, along with other remains were assigned in 1907 to the genus ''Goniopholis'' as ''G. hartti''. Now residing in the British Museum of Natural History the fragment of the lower jaw, dorsal scute and two teeth compromising the species ''G. hartti'' were reexamined and conclusively placed in the genus ''Sarcosuchus''.
   
=== Recent findings ===
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===Recent findings===
 
[[File:Sarcosuchus imperator teeth.JPG|thumb|220x220px|''S. imperator'' teeth]]
 
[[File:Sarcosuchus imperator teeth.JPG|thumb|220x220px|''S. imperator'' teeth]]
   
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Fossil teeth from the area of Nalut in northwestern Libya, possibly Hauterivian to Barremian in age, might be referable to ''S. imperator''.
 
Fossil teeth from the area of Nalut in northwestern Libya, possibly Hauterivian to Barremian in age, might be referable to ''S. imperator''.
   
== Paleobiology ==
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==Paleobiology==
   
=== Growth pattern ===
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===Growth pattern===
 
[[File:Sarcosuchus.jpg|thumb|Sarcosuchus vs Modern Orinoco Crocodile Skull|left]]
 
[[File:Sarcosuchus.jpg|thumb|Sarcosuchus vs Modern Orinoco Crocodile Skull|left]]
 
''Sarcosuchus'' was a huge crocodiloform, growing nearly as long It had 132 huge, conical teeth inside its 6-foot (1.8-meter) long head, and could easily crush bone with its powerful jaws. That alone made it a terrifying predator, along with the fact that it was also an expert ambush predator makes it even more frightening, making even some of the largest dinosaurs have to watch their backs. What it would do was wait in the murky rivers or lakes that it lived in, and waited until a fish would swim by or a dinosaur would come to drink, and then would jump out, catch its prey by surprise, then bite down and drag the unlucky prey into the water, where it would be drowned quickly after. It basically ate anything it could overpower and kill. It had thick, scaly skin like all crocodilians, and also had short legs and a long, powerful tail, perfectly designed to swim through water at fast speeds. ''Sarcosuchus'' is unique to most crocodilians, because it has a large, broad knob on the tip of its snout called a bulla, possibly to help get a better grip on prey, attract mates, or send out frequency sounds.
 
''Sarcosuchus'' was a huge crocodiloform, growing nearly as long It had 132 huge, conical teeth inside its 6-foot (1.8-meter) long head, and could easily crush bone with its powerful jaws. That alone made it a terrifying predator, along with the fact that it was also an expert ambush predator makes it even more frightening, making even some of the largest dinosaurs have to watch their backs. What it would do was wait in the murky rivers or lakes that it lived in, and waited until a fish would swim by or a dinosaur would come to drink, and then would jump out, catch its prey by surprise, then bite down and drag the unlucky prey into the water, where it would be drowned quickly after. It basically ate anything it could overpower and kill. It had thick, scaly skin like all crocodilians, and also had short legs and a long, powerful tail, perfectly designed to swim through water at fast speeds. ''Sarcosuchus'' is unique to most crocodilians, because it has a large, broad knob on the tip of its snout called a bulla, possibly to help get a better grip on prey, attract mates, or send out frequency sounds.
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[[File:220px-Sarcosuchus skull.JPG|thumb|220x220px|Skull of Sarcosuchus in adult stage]]
 
[[File:220px-Sarcosuchus skull.JPG|thumb|220x220px|Skull of Sarcosuchus in adult stage]]
   
=== Diet ===
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===Diet===
 
[[File:20170522 151914.png|thumb|220x220px|Artistic İnterpretation of a speculative behaviore; where a Sarcosuchus attacking a Nigersaurus.]]
 
[[File:20170522 151914.png|thumb|220x220px|Artistic İnterpretation of a speculative behaviore; where a Sarcosuchus attacking a Nigersaurus.]]
   
 
''Sarcosuchus'' diet is unknown. It has been speculated that it would likely have been capable of eating anything from large fish, other crocodilians, to even dinosaurs! There has been a debated evidence of a large ''Sarcosuchus'' eating a young ''[[Nigersaurus]], ''a large diplodocid from the same time period and area in Africa as ''Sarcosuchus''. It probably competed for food or territory with other large apex carnivores such as the spinosaurid dinosars like ''[[Suchomimus]] ''or the ''[[Spinosaurus]]'', or theropods such as ''[[Carcharodontosaurus]].'' Based on the broader snout of fully grown ''S. imperator'' when compared to the living gharial and other narrow-snouted crocodiles, along with a lack of interlocking of the smooth and sturdy-crowned teeth when the jaws were closed, Sereno et al. hypothesized that ''S. imperator'' had a generalized diet similar to that of the Nile crocodile. A diet that would have included large terrestrial prey such as the abundant dinosaurs that lived in the same region. However, a 2014 analysis of a biomechanical model of its skull suggested that unlike ''Deinosuchus'', ''Sarcosuchus'' may not have been able to perform the "death roll" maneuver used by extant crocodylians to dismember their prey (though the conductors of the test admitted that they possibly have made some errors). This suggests that if ''S. imperator'' ever did hunt big game, at all, it probably did not dismember prey in the same fashion as extant crocodylians; it wouldn't be capable of.
 
''Sarcosuchus'' diet is unknown. It has been speculated that it would likely have been capable of eating anything from large fish, other crocodilians, to even dinosaurs! There has been a debated evidence of a large ''Sarcosuchus'' eating a young ''[[Nigersaurus]], ''a large diplodocid from the same time period and area in Africa as ''Sarcosuchus''. It probably competed for food or territory with other large apex carnivores such as the spinosaurid dinosars like ''[[Suchomimus]] ''or the ''[[Spinosaurus]]'', or theropods such as ''[[Carcharodontosaurus]].'' Based on the broader snout of fully grown ''S. imperator'' when compared to the living gharial and other narrow-snouted crocodiles, along with a lack of interlocking of the smooth and sturdy-crowned teeth when the jaws were closed, Sereno et al. hypothesized that ''S. imperator'' had a generalized diet similar to that of the Nile crocodile. A diet that would have included large terrestrial prey such as the abundant dinosaurs that lived in the same region. However, a 2014 analysis of a biomechanical model of its skull suggested that unlike ''Deinosuchus'', ''Sarcosuchus'' may not have been able to perform the "death roll" maneuver used by extant crocodylians to dismember their prey (though the conductors of the test admitted that they possibly have made some errors). This suggests that if ''S. imperator'' ever did hunt big game, at all, it probably did not dismember prey in the same fashion as extant crocodylians; it wouldn't be capable of.
   
=== Habitat ===
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===Habitat===
 
The remains of ''S. imperator'' were found in a region of the Ténéré Desert named Gadoufaoua, more specifically in the Elrhaz Formation of the Tegama Group, dating from the late Aptian to the early Albian of the Early Cretaceous, approximately 112 million years ago. The stratigraphy of the region and the aquatic fauna that was found therein indicates that it was an inland fluvial environment, entirely freshwater in nature with a humid tropical climate. ''S. imperator'' shared the waters with the holostean fish ''Lepidotus'' and the coelacanth ''Mawsonia''. The dinosaur fauna was represented by the iguanodontian ''Lurdusaurus'', which was the most common dinosaur in the region, and its relative ''Ouranosaurus''; there were also two sauropods, ''Nigersaurus'' and a currently unnamed sauropod while the theropod fauna included the spinosaurid ''Suchomimus,'' the carcharodontosaurid ''Eocarcharia'' and the abelisaurid ''Kryptops''.
 
The remains of ''S. imperator'' were found in a region of the Ténéré Desert named Gadoufaoua, more specifically in the Elrhaz Formation of the Tegama Group, dating from the late Aptian to the early Albian of the Early Cretaceous, approximately 112 million years ago. The stratigraphy of the region and the aquatic fauna that was found therein indicates that it was an inland fluvial environment, entirely freshwater in nature with a humid tropical climate. ''S. imperator'' shared the waters with the holostean fish ''Lepidotus'' and the coelacanth ''Mawsonia''. The dinosaur fauna was represented by the iguanodontian ''Lurdusaurus'', which was the most common dinosaur in the region, and its relative ''Ouranosaurus''; there were also two sauropods, ''Nigersaurus'' and a currently unnamed sauropod while the theropod fauna included the spinosaurid ''Suchomimus,'' the carcharodontosaurid ''Eocarcharia'' and the abelisaurid ''Kryptops''.
   
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==In Popular Culture==
 
==In Popular Culture==
*''Sarcosuchus'' made an appearance in a <u>''Walking with Dinosaurs''</u> special called <u>[[Chased By Dinosaurs|''Chased By Dinosaurs'']]:</u> "<u>Land Of Giants</u>," and nearly ate Nigel Marven twice and it is shown living with [[Argentinosaurus|''Argentinosaurus'']], [[Giganotosaurus|''Giganotosaurus'']], and [[Macrogryphosaurus|''Macrogryphosaurus'']], when it is possible that the specimen S. hartti could live there but not S. imperator (the specimen that was shown in the TV show), that lived in a different continent of Africa.
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*''Sarcosuchus'' made an appearance in a ''Walking with Dinosaurs'' special called [[Chased By Dinosaurs]] "Land Of Giants” and nearly ate Nigel Marven twice and it is shown living with [[Argentinosaurus]], [[Giganotosaurus]], and [[Macrogryphosaurus]], when it is possible that the specimen S. hartti could live there but not S. imperator (the specimen that was shown in the TV show), that lived in a different continent of Africa.
   
 
*Sarcosuchus appears in the National Geographic's TV show named "Super Croc" which is completely based on the animal, the sarcosuchus shown to be in direct competition with other Large Carnivore Suchomimus.
 
*Sarcosuchus appears in the National Geographic's TV show named "Super Croc" which is completely based on the animal, the sarcosuchus shown to be in direct competition with other Large Carnivore Suchomimus.
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*It also made a debute in the popular show <u>The Most Extreme</u>, where it's shown how big it is compared to its closest relative, the Nile Crocodile.
 
*It also made a debute in the popular show <u>The Most Extreme</u>, where it's shown how big it is compared to its closest relative, the Nile Crocodile.
   
*It also appears in <u>When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs</u>, Where it was swimming in the river & then launched out of the water attacking a ''[[Suchomimus]]''. The Same ''Sarcosuchus'' model was briefly seen in another National Geographic Documentary Dinomorphosis.
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*It also appears in [[When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs]], Where it was swimming in the river & then launched out of the water attacking a ''[[Suchomimus]]''. The Same ''Sarcosuchus'' model was briefly seen in another National Geographic Documentary Dinomorphosis.
 
[[File:WhenCrocsAteDinosaurs_28.JPG|thumb|247x247px|Sarcosuchus as it appeared in "When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs"; confronting a Suchomimus on a contest for territorry.]]
 
[[File:WhenCrocsAteDinosaurs_28.JPG|thumb|247x247px|Sarcosuchus as it appeared in "When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs"; confronting a Suchomimus on a contest for territorry.]]
   
*It made an appearance in BBC's <u>[[Planet Dinosaur|''Planet Dinosaur'']]</u>, where in the first episode, it scared off a ''[[Spinosaurus]]'' during a drought, and in the fifth episode where it fought over a young ''[[Paralititan]]'' with a ''[[Carcharodontosaurus]]'', until the theropod got a better grip on the prey, so the giant croc slumped back into the river. The Same ''Sarcosuchus'' model made a brief cameo in PBS's Nova National Geographic Special Documentary Bigger Then T.REX.
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*It made an appearance in BBC's [[Planet Dinosaur]], where in the 1st episode, it scared off a [[Spinosaurus]] during a drought, and in the 5th episode where it fought over a young [[Paralititan]] with a ''[[Carcharodontosaurus]]'', until the theropod got a better grip on the prey, so the giant croc slumped back into the river. The Same ''Sarcosuchus'' model made a brief cameo in PBS's Nova National Geographic Special Documentary Bigger Then T.REX.
   
 
*It also made an appearance in [[Giant Monsters|Jeff Corwin's ''Giant Monsters'']], where Jeff was chased around by one.
 
*It also made an appearance in [[Giant Monsters|Jeff Corwin's ''Giant Monsters'']], where Jeff was chased around by one.
   
 
*It is also in [[Jurassic World: The Game]] as a legendary amphibian, when it was a crocodylomorph in reality.
*It was also in an episode of <u>Monsters Resurrected</u>, and is shown to have been a rival to ''Spinosaurus, however the Spinosaurus slashed open it's throat killing it.''
 
 
*It is also in <u>Jurassic World: The Game</u> as a legendary amphibian, when it was a crocodylomorph in reality.
 
   
 
*It also appears in <u>ARK: Survival Evolved</u>.
 
*It also appears in <u>ARK: Survival Evolved</u>.
 
[[File:Sarco.jpg|thumb|Jurassic World: The Game Sarcosuchus.|300x300px]]
 
[[File:Sarco.jpg|thumb|Jurassic World: The Game Sarcosuchus.|300x300px]]
 
*It appeared in the 2004 Sci-Fi Film Dinocroc as a hybrid that is a cross between ''Sarcosuchus'' and ''Suchomimus''
 
   
 
*It made an appearance in the 2018 television miniseries Deadly Dinosaurs With Steve Backshall where it's bite force was estimated at 8 tonnes and was shown to be able to bite through bone and even steel.
 
*It made an appearance in the 2018 television miniseries Deadly Dinosaurs With Steve Backshall where it's bite force was estimated at 8 tonnes and was shown to be able to bite through bone and even steel.
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*It even made an appearance as an animated shadow in the PBS Documentary When Whales Walked: Journeys in deep time.
 
*It even made an appearance as an animated shadow in the PBS Documentary When Whales Walked: Journeys in deep time.
   
  +
*It made 2 appearances in the National Geographic Documentary Sky Monsters.
==Gallery ==
 
  +
 
*It appeared in the 2004 Sci-Fi Film [[Dinocroc]] as a hybrid that is a cross between ''Sarcosuchus'' and ''Suchomimus''.
  +
  +
*It made its 1st video game appearance on the PS2 Game Altered Beasts as one of the main Bosses.
  +
 
*It was also in an episode of <u>Monsters Resurrected</u>, and is shown to have been a rival to ''Spinosaurus, however the Spinosaurus slashed at the right side of the Giant Crocodile & killing it''.
  +
  +
*A pair of male Sarcosuchus known as the Sarco Brothers are the main Antagonist of the Animated Film [[Dino Time "Back To The Jurassic"]]. “Despite their appearance, the Sarco Bros. Are a cross between a Dragon & the Dinocroc from the 2004 SciFi Film.
  +
*Sarcosuchus does appear in the game Jurassic World Alive.
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*Sarcosuchus appear in the movie Rampage as an individual named Lizzie, however it is oversized & has a little [[Kaprosuchus]] appearances too.
  +
*Sarcosuchus appeared in the game [[Jurassic World: Alive]].
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==Gallery==
 
See [[Sarcosuchus/Gallery]].
 
See [[Sarcosuchus/Gallery]].
 
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Revision as of 05:58, 3 June 2021


Sarcosuchus
Temporal range: 133–112 Ma
Illustration of Sarcosuchus imperator
An artist's illustration of Sarcosuchus imperator
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebra
Class: Reptilia
Superorder: Crocodylomorpha
Family: Pholidosauridae
Genus: Sarcosuchus
Broin & Taquet, 1966
Type species
Sarcosuchus imperator
Broin & Taquet, 1966
Referred species
  • Sarcosuchus hartti (Marsh, 1869) (originally Crocodylus)
  • Sarcosuchus imperator (Broin & Taquet, 1966)

Sarcosuchus is an extinct species of crocodyliform; distant relatives of living crocodylian species; that lived appoximately 122 - 112 million years ago. It dates from the Early Cretaceous Period of the landmass; now identified as Africa and South America.

It was bigger than the modern day Saltwater Crocodile (which grows up to 7.01m and weighs up 2000 kilograms.)

The first remains were discovered during several expeditions led by the French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Lapparent, spanning from 1966 to 1970 in the Sahara Desert. These remains were fragments of the skull, vertebrae, teeth and scutes. In 1964, an almost complete skull was found in Niger by the French CEA, but it was not until 1997 and 2012 that most of its anatomy became known to science, when an expedition led by the American paleontologist Sereno et. al. discovered six new specimens, including one with about half the skeleton intact and most of the spine.

20170505 153311

Artistic restoration of Sarcosuchus imperator

Description

Sarcosuchus was a large relative of crocodiles, with fully grown individuals estimated to have reached up anywhere between 9 to 9.5 m (29 – 31 ft) in total length and 3.5 to 4.5 tonnes in maximum weight. It had somewhat telescoped eyes and a long snout comprising 75% of the length of the skull. There were 35 teeth in each side of the upper jaw, while in the lower jaw there were 31 teeth in each side. The upper jaw was also noticeably longer than the lower one leaving a gap between them when the jaws were shut, creating an overbite. In young individuals the shape of the snout resembled that of the living gharial but in fully grown individuals it became considerably broader

Size

440px-Large crocodyliformes

Size of S. imperator (blue) compared to other crocodyliforms

A common method to estimate the size of crocodiles and crocodile-like reptiles is the use of the length of the skull measured in the midline from the tip of the snout to the back of the skull table, since in living crocodilians there is a strong correlation between skull length and total body length in subadult and adult individuals irrespective of their sex, this method is preferred for Sarcosuchus due to the absence of a complete enough skeleton.

Two regression equations were used to estimate the size of S. imperator, they were created based on measurements gathered from 17 captive gharial individuals from northern India and from 28 wild saltwater crocodile individuals from northern Australia, both datasets supplemented by available measurements of individuals over 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length found in the literature. The largest known skull of S. imperator (the type specimen) is 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) long, and it was estimated that the individual it belonged to had a total body length of (38.2 feet), its snout-vent length of 5.7 meters (19 feet) was estimated using linear equations for the saltwater crocodile and in turn this measurement was used to estimate its body weight at 8 tonnes (8.8 short tons). This shows that Sarcosuchus was able to reach a maximum body size not only greater than previously estimated but also greater than that of the Miocene Rhamphosuchus, only the Late Cretaceous Deinosuchus and the Miocene Purussaurus may have achieved a comparable maximum body size.

However; more recent estimates suggests that the largest individuals were far much smaller than previous calculations, with the largest individuals reaching lengths of 9 to 9.5 meters (31 feet) and weighing 3.5 to 4.3 tonnes.

Classification

Super croc

Reconstructed S. imperator skeleton from behind, terrestrial locomotion posture

Sarcosuchus is commonly classified as part of the clade Pholidosauridae, a group of crocodile-like reptiles (Crocodyliformes) related but outside Crocodylia (the clade containing living crocodiles, alligators, and gharials). Within this group it is most closely related to the North American genus Terminonaris. Most members of Pholidosauridae had long, slender snouts and they all were aquatic, inhabiting several different environments, some forms are interpreted as marine, capable of tolerating saltwater while others, like Sarcosuchus, were freshwater forms, the most primitive members of the clade, however, were found in coastal settings, zones of mixing of freshwater and marine waters. Sarcosuchus stands out among pholidosaurids for being considered a generalist predator, different from most known members of the clade which were specialized piscivores.

Simplified cladogram after Fortier et al. (2011).

Pholidosauridae

Pholidosaurus



Terminonaris


Sarcosuchus



Discovery and naming

Early findings

220px-Sarcosuchus imperator side

Specimen of S. imperator prior to restoration

During the course of several expeditions on the Sahara from 1946 to 1959, led by the French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Lapparent, several fossils of a crocodyliform of large size were unearthed in the region known as the Continental intercalaire, some of them were found in Foggara Ben Draou, near the town of Aoulef, Algeria (informally named as the Aoulef Crocodile) while others came from Gara Kamboute, in the south of Tunisia, the fossils found were fragments of the skull, teeth, scutes and vertebrae. In 1957, in the region now known as the Elrhaz Formation in the north of Nigerseveral isolated teeth of great size were found by H. Faure.

Later, in 1964, the research team of the French CEA discovered an almost complete skull in region of Gadoufaoua, in the north of Niger, said skull was shipped to Paris for study and became the holotype of the then new genus and species Sarcosuchus imperator in 1966. The genus name comes from the Greek "sarco" meaning flesh and "suchus" meaning crocodile.

Fossils from Brazil

20170523 182347

Artist's illustration of S.hartti

In 1977, a new species of Sarcosuchus was named, S. hartti, from remains found in the late 19th century in the Reconcavo basin of Brazil. In 1867, American naturalist Charles Hartt found two isolated teeth and sent them to the American paleontologist O. C. Marsh who erected a new species of Crocodylus for them, C. hartti, this material, along with other remains were assigned in 1907 to the genus Goniopholis as G. hartti. Now residing in the British Museum of Natural History the fragment of the lower jaw, dorsal scute and two teeth compromising the species G. hartti were reexamined and conclusively placed in the genus Sarcosuchus.

Recent findings

Sarcosuchus imperator teeth

S. imperator teeth

The next major findings occurred during the expeditions led by the American paleontologist Paul Sereno, in 1997 and the follow-up trip in 2000. Partial skeletons, numerous skulls and 20 tons of assorted other fossils were recovered from the deposits of the Elrhaz Formation, which has been dated as late Aptian or early Albian stages of the late Cretaceous. It took about a year to prepare the Sarcosuchus remains.

Fossil teeth from the area of Nalut in northwestern Libya, possibly Hauterivian to Barremian in age, might be referable to S. imperator.

Paleobiology

Growth pattern

Sarcosuchus

Sarcosuchus vs Modern Orinoco Crocodile Skull

Sarcosuchus was a huge crocodiloform, growing nearly as long It had 132 huge, conical teeth inside its 6-foot (1.8-meter) long head, and could easily crush bone with its powerful jaws. That alone made it a terrifying predator, along with the fact that it was also an expert ambush predator makes it even more frightening, making even some of the largest dinosaurs have to watch their backs. What it would do was wait in the murky rivers or lakes that it lived in, and waited until a fish would swim by or a dinosaur would come to drink, and then would jump out, catch its prey by surprise, then bite down and drag the unlucky prey into the water, where it would be drowned quickly after. It basically ate anything it could overpower and kill. It had thick, scaly skin like all crocodilians, and also had short legs and a long, powerful tail, perfectly designed to swim through water at fast speeds. Sarcosuchus is unique to most crocodilians, because it has a large, broad knob on the tip of its snout called a bulla, possibly to help get a better grip on prey, attract mates, or send out frequency sounds.

Sarcosuchus Imperator

Sarcosuchus making sounds

Dr. Sereno took thin sections from trunk osteoderms of an estimated subadult individual (~80% of estimated maximum adult size). Approximately 40 lines of arrested growth (LAG) were counted in these thin sections, suggesting that S. imperator took 50 to 60 years to reach adult size. Given that extant wild crocodylians rarely reach these advanced ages, Sereno suggested that S. imperator achieved its large size by extending its period of rapid, juvenile, growth. A similar growth strategy has been suggested for the larger crocodylian Deinosuchus, based on similar criteria.

220px-Sarcosuchus skull

Skull of Sarcosuchus in adult stage

Diet

20170522 151914

Artistic İnterpretation of a speculative behaviore; where a Sarcosuchus attacking a Nigersaurus.

Sarcosuchus diet is unknown. It has been speculated that it would likely have been capable of eating anything from large fish, other crocodilians, to even dinosaurs! There has been a debated evidence of a large Sarcosuchus eating a young Nigersaurus, a large diplodocid from the same time period and area in Africa as Sarcosuchus. It probably competed for food or territory with other large apex carnivores such as the spinosaurid dinosars like Suchomimus or the Spinosaurus, or theropods such as Carcharodontosaurus. Based on the broader snout of fully grown S. imperator when compared to the living gharial and other narrow-snouted crocodiles, along with a lack of interlocking of the smooth and sturdy-crowned teeth when the jaws were closed, Sereno et al. hypothesized that S. imperator had a generalized diet similar to that of the Nile crocodile. A diet that would have included large terrestrial prey such as the abundant dinosaurs that lived in the same region. However, a 2014 analysis of a biomechanical model of its skull suggested that unlike DeinosuchusSarcosuchus may not have been able to perform the "death roll" maneuver used by extant crocodylians to dismember their prey (though the conductors of the test admitted that they possibly have made some errors). This suggests that if S. imperator ever did hunt big game, at all, it probably did not dismember prey in the same fashion as extant crocodylians; it wouldn't be capable of.

Habitat

The remains of S. imperator were found in a region of the Ténéré Desert named Gadoufaoua, more specifically in the Elrhaz Formation of the Tegama Group, dating from the late Aptian to the early Albian of the Early Cretaceous, approximately 112 million years ago. The stratigraphy of the region and the aquatic fauna that was found therein indicates that it was an inland fluvial environment, entirely freshwater in nature with a humid tropical climate. S. imperator shared the waters with the holostean fish Lepidotus and the coelacanth Mawsonia. The dinosaur fauna was represented by the iguanodontian Lurdusaurus, which was the most common dinosaur in the region, and its relative Ouranosaurus; there were also two sauropods, Nigersaurus and a currently unnamed sauropod while the theropod fauna included the spinosaurid Suchomimus, the carcharodontosaurid Eocarcharia and the abelisaurid Kryptops.

Meanwhile, S. hartti was found in the Reconcavo basin of Brazil, specifically in the Ilhas Formation of the Bahia series, it was a shallow lacustrine environment dating from the late Aptian, similar in age to the habitat of S. imperator, with similar aquatic fauna, including Lepidotus and two species of Mawsonia. The dinosaur fauna is of a very fragmentary nature and identification does not go beyond indeterminate theropod and iguanodontid remains.


In Popular Culture

  • Sarcosuchus made an appearance in a Walking with Dinosaurs special called Chased By Dinosaurs "Land Of Giants” and nearly ate Nigel Marven twice and it is shown living with Argentinosaurus, Giganotosaurus, and Macrogryphosaurus, when it is possible that the specimen S. hartti could live there but not S. imperator (the specimen that was shown in the TV show), that lived in a different continent of Africa.
  • Sarcosuchus appears in the National Geographic's TV show named "Super Croc" which is completely based on the animal, the sarcosuchus shown to be in direct competition with other Large Carnivore Suchomimus.
  • It also made a debute in the popular show The Most Extreme, where it's shown how big it is compared to its closest relative, the Nile Crocodile.
  • It also appears in When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs, Where it was swimming in the river & then launched out of the water attacking a Suchomimus. The Same Sarcosuchus model was briefly seen in another National Geographic Documentary Dinomorphosis.
WhenCrocsAteDinosaurs 28

Sarcosuchus as it appeared in "When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs"; confronting a Suchomimus on a contest for territorry.

  • It made an appearance in BBC's Planet Dinosaur, where in the 1st episode, it scared off a Spinosaurus during a drought, and in the 5th episode where it fought over a young Paralititan with a Carcharodontosaurus, until the theropod got a better grip on the prey, so the giant croc slumped back into the river. The Same Sarcosuchus model made a brief cameo in PBS's Nova National Geographic Special Documentary Bigger Then T.REX.
  • It also appears in ARK: Survival Evolved.
Sarco

Jurassic World: The Game Sarcosuchus.

  • It made an appearance in the 2018 television miniseries Deadly Dinosaurs With Steve Backshall where it's bite force was estimated at 8 tonnes and was shown to be able to bite through bone and even steel.
Sarcosuchus Vs spinosaur

A Sarcosuchus as it appeared in the book "Super Croc", depicted as battling with a Suchomimus

  • It even made an appearance as an animated shadow in the PBS Documentary When Whales Walked: Journeys in deep time.
  • It made 2 appearances in the National Geographic Documentary Sky Monsters.
  • It appeared in the 2004 Sci-Fi Film Dinocroc as a hybrid that is a cross between Sarcosuchus and Suchomimus.
  • It made its 1st video game appearance on the PS2 Game Altered Beasts as one of the main Bosses.
  • It was also in an episode of Monsters Resurrected, and is shown to have been a rival to Spinosaurus, however the Spinosaurus slashed at the right side of the Giant Crocodile & killing it.
  • A pair of male Sarcosuchus known as the Sarco Brothers are the main Antagonist of the Animated Film Dino Time "Back To The Jurassic". “Despite their appearance, the Sarco Bros. Are a cross between a Dragon & the Dinocroc from the 2004 SciFi Film.
  • Sarcosuchus does appear in the game Jurassic World Alive.
  • Sarcosuchus appear in the movie Rampage as an individual named Lizzie, however it is oversized & has a little Kaprosuchus appearances too.
  • Sarcosuchus appeared in the game Jurassic World: Alive.

Gallery

See Sarcosuchus/Gallery.