Malawisuchus

Name: Malawisuchus ‭(‬Malawi crocodile‭)‬.
Phonetic: Mah-lah-we-su-kus.
Named By: E.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Gomani‭ ‬-‭ ‬1997.
Classification: Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Crocodylomorpha,‭ ‬Crocodyliformes,‭ ‬Metasuchia,‭ ‬Ziphosuchia,‭ ‬Candidodontidae.
Species: M.‭ ‬mwakasyungutiensis‭ (‬type‭)‬.
Diet: Herbivore‭?
Size: Skull about‭ ‬5.9‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Femur‭ (‬thigh bone‭) ‬4.8‭ ‬centimetres.‭ ‬Humerus‭ (‬upper arm bone‭) ‬3.5‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Total body length estimated at about‭ ‬60‭ ‬centimetres.
Known locations: Malawi‭ ‬-‭ ‬Dinosaur Beds Formation.
Time period: Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Skull and partial post cranial skeletal remains of several individuals.

       Malawisuchus is a genus of ziphosuchian crocodylomorph that lived in Africa during the early Cretaceous.‭ ‬Malawisuchus has a number of interesting features,‭ ‬including mammal-like teeth which may have been used for processing tough plants,‭ ‬and muscle attachment points on the hip and rear limbs which suggest that Malawisuchus may have been able to walk upright and even run.‭ ‬Malawisuchus also shows forelimb development which suggests a powerful digging ability,‭ ‬and in extension to this,‭ ‬remains of Malawisuchus have been located in what were once burrows.
       Malawisuchus should not be confused with Malawisaurus,‭ ‬a dinosaur also known from Malawi.

Further reading
-‭ ‬A crocodyliform from the Early Cretaceous Dinosaur Beds,‭ ‬northern Malawi.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬17‭(‬2‭)‬:280-294.‭ ‬-‭ ‬E.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Gomani‭ ‬-‭ ‬1997.

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