Protosuchus

Taxobox
name = "Protosuchus"
fossil_range = Early Jurassic

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = life restoration of "Protosuchus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Crocodylomorpha
ordo = Crocodylia
subordo = Protosuchia
familia = Protosuchidae
genus = "Protosuchus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "P. richardsoni" (type)
* "P. haughtoni"
* "P. micmac"

"Protosuchus" is an extinct genus of carnivorous crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic. The name "Protosuchus" means "first crocodile", and is among the earliest crocodilians that are clearly recognisable as a crocodile."Protosuchus" was about 1 metre in length and about 40 kilograms in weight.

As an early crocodile, its skull featured more crocodilian characteristics than its earlier ancestors; it had short jaws that broadened out at the base of the skull, providing a large surface to which its jaw muscles could attach. This increased the maximum gape of the animal's mouth and the force with which the jaws could be closed. The dentition of the animal also resembled modern crocodiles, including the teeth in the lower jaw that fitted into notches on either side of the upper jaw when the mouth was closed. It also possessed a powerful tail which later developed into a propulsion mechanism through water in its later descendents.

Species

Three species of "Protosuchus" have been described: the type species "P. richardsoni" from Arizona, USA, "P. micmac" from Nova Scotia, Canada and "P. haughtoni" from South Africa also fossilised remains found in Antarctica.