Cricosaurus: Research Database
Metriorhynchidae (Thalattosuchia) · Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (~165-150 MYA) · Europe — Germany, France, England
Research Note: Cricosaurus was a metriorhynchid thalattosuchian from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Europe — a fully aquatic crocodyliform with paddle-like limbs and a fish-like tail. As a member of the Metriorhynchidae, it provides data on the evolutionary transition of crocodyliforms to marine environments.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sachs et al. 2020: Cricosaurus and new data on metriorhynchid thalattosuchians from the Jurassic of Europe
Sachs et al. 2020 provide comprehensive data on Cricosaurus from the Late Jurassic of Europe, establishing it as a metriorhynchid and documenting thalattosuchian diversity in European Jurassic seas
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Confirmed | A | 2020 | Fossil | Sachs et al., Palaeontologia Electronica | Diversity |
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Fara et al. 2002: Cricosaurus and new data on metriorhynchid systematics and evolution
Fara et al. 2002 provide additional data on Cricosaurus systematics and evolution within Metriorhynchidae
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Confirmed | B | 2002 | Fossil | Fara et al., Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie | Systematics |
Active Debate: Thalattosuchian Evolution and Marine Crocodyliform Diversity
Whether metriorhynchids like Cricosaurus were fully marine or amphibious is debated. The evolutionary transition of crocodyliforms from terrestrial to marine environments — and the morphological adaptations involved — is key to understanding thalattosuchian evolution.
The ecological role of Cricosaurus in Jurassic marine ecosystems — as an apex predator — is increasingly understood through both body fossil and isotopic data.
What We Still Do Not Know About Cricosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Known from multiple specimens.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Reproduction: Unknown (likely oviparous).
- Color: Unknown.
In Depth
Cricosaurus is a genus of thalattosuchian (sea crocodile) known to have lived in the seas around Europe and the Eastern coasts of the Americas. Cricosaurus seems to have been among the smaller thalattosuchians, and one with narrower more gracile jaws. This would denote a specialisation in hunting smaller prey animals such as fish and squid. Analysis of Cricosaurus skulls has confirmed the presence of salt glands, organs that specialise in removing the excess salts from sea water that has been consumed, either by drinking or eating.
Pelvis studies on some specimens of Cricosaurus have to the suggestion that Cricosaurus was viviparous, meaning that they gave birth to live young instead of laying eggs on land. This would make sense since evolutionary adaptations for swimming would have made returning to the land very difficult. Vivapory has also been confirmed in many other types of marine reptiles.
Further Reading
- Zur Kenntniss der Saurier aus den lithographischen Schiefern. Abhandlungen der Mathemat. - Physikalischen Classe der K�niglich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 8: 415-528. - A. Wagner - 1858. - Die Reptilien der norddeutschen unteren Kreide. Zeitschrift der Deutschen geologischen Gesellschaft 35:735-827. - Koken - 1883. - Die Meerkrokodile (Thalattosuchia n. g.) eine neue Sauriergruppe der Juraformation. - Jahreshefte des Vereins f�r vaterl�ndische Naturkunde, W�rttemberg 57: 409-418. - E. Fraas - 1901. - un nuevo cocodrilo marino (Thalattosuchia, Metriorhynchidae) de la Formaci�n Vaca Muerta (Jurasico, Tithoniano) de la Provincia de Neuqu�n (Rep�blica Argentina). - Congreso Geol�gico Chileno 1: c1-c21. - Z. B. Gasparini & D. Dellap� - 1976. - Geosaurus vignaudi n. sp. (Crocodyliformes: Thalattosuchia), first evidence of metriorhynchid crocodilians in the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) of central-east Mexico (State of Puebla). - Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 39(10):1467-1483 - E. Frey, M.-C. Buchy, W. Stinnesbeck & J.G. Lopez-Oliva - 2002. - A new thalattosuchian crocodyliform from the Tithonian (Upper Jurassic) of northeastern Mexico. - Comptes Rendus Palevol 5:785-794. -M.-C. Buchy, P. Vignaud, E. Frey, W. Stinnesbeck & A. H. G. Gonzalez - 2006. - What is Geosaurus? Redescription of Geosaurus giganteus (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae) from the Upper Jurassic of Bayern, Germany. - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 157: 551-585. - M. T. Young & M. B. de Andrade - 2009. - A new Patagonian species of Cricosaurus (Crocodyliformes, Thalattosuchia): first evidence of Cricosaurus in Middle-Upper Tithonian lithographic limestone from Gondwana. - Palaeontology 56(3):663-678. - Y. Herrera, Z. Gasparini & M. S. Fern�ndez - 2013. - A new species of the metriorhynchid crocodylomorph Cricosaurus from the Upper Jurassic of southern Germany. - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 64(2): 343-356. - S. Sachs, M. T. Young, P. Abel & H. Mallison - 2019. – Cricosaurus (Thalattosuchia, Metriorhynchidae) survival across the J/K boundary in the High Andes (Mendoza Province, Argentina). – Cretaceous Research – Yanina Herrera, Marta S.Fern�ndez & Ver�nica V.Vennari – 2020.
