Sutekhsuchus is an extinct genus of gavialine crocodilian that lived in the Miocene of Libya and Egypt. the type species is Sutekhsuchus dowsoni.
Discovery and Naming[]
It was coined in 1920 by Rene Fourtau on the basis of assorted fragments, though the author did not provide the actual holotype. A second specimen (NHMUK PV R 4769) was discovered near Siwa Oasis and was referred to Tomistoma dowsoni in 1973. In 2000, Christopher Brochu and Philip D.Gingerich published the article that said all tomistomines of the Miocene Mediterranean represented a single taxon called Tomistoma lusitanica. However, in 2015, Stephane Jouve and his colleagues suggested that T.dowsoni was valid. In 2024, Burke and his college coined a new name, Sutekhsuchus. The generic name is named after Egyptian god Sutekh, and the specific name is dowsoni.
Description[]
It possessed long elongated snout like all gavialines. Unlike Tomistoma, The premaxilla does not extend in between the nasal and the lacrimals. Unlike its contemporary relative, the maxillae does not extend between the nasals and the lacrimals, resembling false gharial. The frontal bone serves as a bridge between the rostrum and the skull. It possessed five teeth in either premaxilla.
Classification[]
It is classified as a member of gavialinae.
Paleoenvironment[]
It lived in estuaries.
Gallery[]
