Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
447 / Mesozoic
Simosuchus
Simosuchus clarki
A short square snout, leaf-shaped teeth and armor belonged to a likely plant-eating crocodyliform.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 70 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Cretaceous
- Geographic range
- Semi-arid scrub · Madagascar
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Simosuchus?
Simosuchus (Simosuchus clarki) was an extinct organism known from About 70 million years ago, with a range in Semi-arid scrub · Madagascar.
Life and ecology
It walked on land and cropped low vegetation, perhaps also taking small animals.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Simosuchus disappear?
Its record, about 70 million years old, does not establish survival to the end-Cretaceous impact; the specific cause of its disappearance is unknown.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Simosuchus?
Skulls and associated skeletons preserve teeth, armor and joints; diet retains uncertainty.
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?
- Removed an extinction cause that credited a mass extinction occurring after this species' last dated record.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS