Deinosuchus by AQ, ZT1 DD/ZT2 EA/ATW III Special Article Options

[Atlantean_Queen]

Deinosuchus
Late Cretaceous
North America (Texas)

The name Deinosuchus means ‘terrible crocodile’.
Today’s modern crocodiles aren’t something you want to tangle with even on its good day. Deinosuchus was enormous. It is believed they were up to 50 feet/15m in length.
It brings a new meaning to the term ‘land shark’ for me.

From the fossil photo, you can see its head alone was the size of a tall man.
So far today, only a skull has been recovered. It measured 6 feet 6 inches/2m in length.
Since crocodiles have not changed much in years, it is assumed they Deinosuchus had the same body proportions as those of other crocodilians; therefore, bringing it’s body measuring up to 50 feet/15m, several times bigger than most of its relatives.

These huge creatures lived in what were swamps at the end of the cretaceous period in Texas. It is believed that it may have ambushed passing dinosaurs, lying still, just below the surface, and grabbing its prey much in the same way the modern Nile crocodile grabs birds or mammals that come to the water’s edge to drink.

This crocodile does have a slight difference from earlier crocodilians. All Eusuchians, like Deinosuchus, has a secondary bony roof (palate) to the mouth. This is an advanced feature that is clearly advantageous to the aquatic predators because it means they can open their mouths underwater to seize prey without swallowing water.
However, in common with its modern counterparts, Deinosuchus probably swallowed stones; they do this because the stones in the stomach act as stabilizing ballast when they are in the water.

There has been a jawbone of Rhamphosuchus, a gavial from the Pliocene Era that confirms giant crocodilians were not confirmed to Mesozoic Era or Texas. Based on this jawbone, Rhamphosuchus is believed to be about the same size as Deinosuchus.

There is much debate over just how this crocodile lived. Some say the measurements are much smaller; stating its body was short, with long legs and lived mainly on land.
Until more fossils are found of skeletons of this giant, many of Deinosuchus's secret will not be told.

Credits: Simon & Schuster Dino Encyclopedia, Encylopedia Britannica, letu.com, dinosalive.com, emc.maricopa.edu, dinohunter.com, gatorland.com

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This post has been edited by Atlantean_Queen: Feb 1 2009, 03:25 PM

[Atlantean_Queen]

turns the 'terrible croc' loose.

[TigerKitty]

hides behind AQ from this "croc"