Name:
Habitat:
Historical Period:
Size and Weight:
Diet:
Distinguishing Characteristics:
About Suchomimus:
A relatively recent addition to the dinosaur bestiary, the first (and to date only) fossil of Suchomimus was discovered in Africa in 1997. Its name, "crocodile mimic," refers to its long, toothy, and distinctly crocodilian snout, which it probably used to snap fish out of the rivers and streams of the then-lush Sahara region of Africa. Its relatively long arms, which it may have dipped into the water to spear passing fish, are another clue that Suchomimus subsisted on an aquatic diet.
Because only a single, possibly juvenile fossil of Suchomimus has been found, it's not clear how big this dinosaur actually got. Some paleontologists believe Suchomimus, when fully grown, may have attained a length of over 40 feet and a weight of over 6 tons, placing it in the same league as landbound dinosaurs.
