Description
Leidyosuchus Alligatoroid
- Leidyosuchus sp.
- Late Cretaceous
- Hell Creek Formation
- Montana
- This well preserved rooted tooth measures 9.4mm long and will come in a 1.25″ gem jar
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WHAT WAS IT?
Leidyosuchus (meaning “Leidy’s crocodile”) is an extinct genus of alligatoroid from the Late Cretaceous. It was a medium-sized alligatoroid, with a maximum skull length greater than 40 centimeters (16 in).
Alligatoroidea is one of three superfamilies of crocodylians. Similarly the other two being Crocodyloidea and Gavialoidea. Alligatoroidea evolved in the Late Cretaceous period. As a result alligators and caimans, as well as extinct members more closely related to the alligators than the two other groups.
In this case the superfamily Alligatoroidea is thought to have split from the crocodile-gharial lineage in the late Cretaceous, about 80 million years ago, but possibly as early as 100 million years ago
