Pakasuchus
Name:
Pakasuchus
(Cat crocodile).
Phonetic: Pak-ah-soo-kus.
Named By: P. M. O'Connor, J. J. W.
Sertich, N. J. Stevens, E. M. Roberts, M. D.
Gottfried, T. L. Hieronymus, Z. A. Jinnah, R.
Ridgely, S. E. Ngasala & J. Temba - 2010.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia,
Crocodylomorpha, Notosuchia, Ziphosuchia.
Species: P. kapilimai
(type).
Diet: Insectivore/Carnivore?
Size: About 50 centimetres long.
Known locations: Tanzania - .Galula Formation.
Time period: Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Almost complete individual.
Pakasuchus
is a genus of small notosuchian crocodylomorph
that lived in Africa
during the early Cretaceous. What are most notable about Pakasuchus
are the teeth which are multicusped and very mammal-like, so much so
that they look more like those of a mammal than a crocodile.
Pakasuchus seems to have lacked large osteoderms on
the body which may
have helped increase speed and agility, however they are known on the
tail. So far it is unknown why the tail would have them when the body
did not.
As
a ziphosuchian crocodile, Pakasuchus would have
been related to
genera such as Adamantinasuchus,
Yacarerani
and Mariliasuchus
amongst
others.
Further reading
- The evolution of mammal-like crocodyliforms in the Cretaceous
Period of Gondwana. - Nature 466:748-751. - P. M.
O'Connor, J. J. W. Sertich, N. J. Stevens, E. M.
Roberts, M. D. Gottfried, T. L. Hieronymus, Z. A.
Jinnah, R. Ridgely, S. E. Ngasala & J. Temba
- 2010.
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