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492 / Cenozoic
Champsosaurus
Champsosaurus gigas
Long jaws and a powerful tail let choristoderes retain a crocodile-like niche after the dinosaurs.
- Time range
- About 60–50 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Eocene
- Geographic range
- Large freshwater lakes and rivers · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Champsosaurus?
Champsosaurus (Champsosaurus gigas) was an extinct organism known from About 60–50 million years ago, with a range in Large freshwater lakes and rivers · North America.
Life and ecology
It waited in water and trapped fish; females may have nested ashore while adult males rarely left water.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Champsosaurus disappear?
Eocene climate, drainage and predator turnover ended the species.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Champsosaurus?
Skulls, skeletons and pelvic differences support aquatic and reproductive interpretations.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS