Smilosuchus

Smilosuchus gregorii

Resurrected on:

1 feb. 2021

Genus information

Smilosuchus is an extinct genus of phytosaur (crocodile-like reptiles) that lived during the Upper Triassic epoch of North America. They were large animals with massive skulls that could grow up to 1.5 meters long! Several large tusks were spread through its mouth, making it able to hold on to prey. Many other blade-like teeth filled its mouth to slice through meat. It was probably an ambush predator, hunting for larger prey species. Smilosuchus had a large nasal crest with its nostrils on top of its head.

Family:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Phytosauridae

North America

Upper Triassic

Species information

Smilosuches gregorii is one of at least two species of Smilosuchus that has been discovered so far. Fossils have been found in the USA along with several other species of phytosaurs. The name "phytosaur" means "plant reptile" which was based on the first findings, thinking that the fossils belonged to a herbivore. Smilosuchus gregorii could grow up to 7.6 meters in length!

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Smilosuchus gregorii

Camp, 1930

North America

Upper Triassic

Length:

Height:

Weight:

7.6 m

n/a

2.000 kg

Reference:

C. L. Camp. 1930. A study of the phytosaurs with description of new material from western North America. University of California Memoirs 10:1-174