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Sarcosuchus

By Bob Strauss, About.com

Sarchosuchus attacking a Nigersaurus (Wikimedia Commons)

Name:

Sarcosuchus (Greek for "flesh crocodile"); pronounced sar-co-SOOK-us

Habitat:

Rivers of Africa

Historical Period:

Middle Cretaceous (110 million years ago)

Size and Weight:

About 40 feet long and 8 tons

Diet:

Dinosaurs and fish

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Large size; odd protrusion on snout

About Sarcosuchus:

Dubbed "SuperCroc" by the media, Sarcosuchus looked and behaved like a modern crocodile, but it was much, much bigger--about the length of a city bus and the weight of a small whale (or about twice as long and 10 times as heavy as the largest crocodiles living today). Like modern crocs, it's believed that Sarcosuchus lay half-submerged in rivers and streams, tilting its eyes upward to catch sight of prey.

Aside from its enormous length and girth, the most notable feature of Sarcosuchus was the strange, bulging protuberance on the end of its snout, called a "bulla." This Jimmy Durante-like schnozz may have enabled the SuperCroc to communicate (via grunts, squeaks, and other vocalizations), it may have enhanced its sense of smell, or it may simply have been a sexually selected characteristic (meaning a Sarcosuchus with an especially big bulla was more likely to mate and have SuperCroc kids).

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