Suchomimus
From Greek souchos ('crocodile') and Latin mimus ('mimic'), meaning 'crocodile mimic', alluding to its elongated skull and piscivorous adaptations
Suchomimus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Niger during the Aptian to Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous period, 112 million years ago. The only known species is S. tenerensis, originally described in 1998 by paleontologist Paul Sereno and colleagues from several fossils discovered one year earlier in the Elrhaz Formation. Although these fossils come from multiple specimens, they represent one of the most anatomically well-documented spinosaurids. The animal's generic name, which means "crocodile mimic", alludes to its elongated skull and piscivorous adaptations, while the specific name refers to the Ténéré Desert, where the fossils were discovered.
Diagnosis
- Elongate posterolateral premaxillary process that nearly excludes maxilla from external naris
- Broadened and heightened posterior dorsal, sacral, and anterior caudal neural spines
- Robust humeral tuberosities
- Hypertrophied ulnar olecranon process offset from humeral articulation
- Hook-shaped radial ectepicondyle
Species
Suchomimus tenerensis Sereno et al., 1998
Type species
Named for the Ténéré Desert of Niger, where the fossils were discovered in 1997.
- Holotype
- MNBH GDF500 , Musée National Boubou Hama
- Material
- Partial skeleton lacking the skull
- Horizon
- Elrhaz Formation, Aptian–Albian, Early Cretaceous , 121.4–100.5 million years ago
- Locality
- Gadoufaoua, Agadez, Niger
References
- Sereno, P. C.; Beck, A. L.; Dutheil, D. B.; Gado, B.; Larsson, H. C. E.; Lyon, G. H.; Marcot, J. D.; Rauhut, O. W. M.; Sadleir, R. W.; Sidor, C. A.; Varricchio, D. D.; Wilson, G. P.; Wilson, J. A. (1998). A Long-Snouted Predatory Dinosaur from Africa and the Evolution of Spinosaurids. Science 282(5392): 1298-1302. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). doi:10.1126/science.282.5392.1298 sereno1998b