Suchodus is an extinct genus of marine crocodyliform from the Middle to Late Jurassic period of England and France. It measured between 3.3 and 4.7 m (11 and 15 ft) in total body length.[1]

Suchodus
Temporal range: Callovian - Oxfordian, 167–160 Ma
Restoration of S. durobrivensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Clade: Crocodyliformes
Suborder: Thalattosuchia
Family: Metriorhynchidae
Subtribe: Plesiosuchina
Genus: Suchodus
Lydekker, 1890
Type species
Suchodus durobrivensis
Lydekker, 1890

Taxonomy and phylogeny edit

In the 2000s, phylogenetic analysis has shown that Suchodus is a distinct metriorhynchid genus.[2][3]

S. durobrivensis was originally the type species of the genus Suchodus, but it was regarded as a junior synonym of Metriorhynchus by Andrews, 1913.[4] It's the only known valid species of the genus.

References edit

  1. ^ Young, M.T.; Bell, M.A.; de Andrade, M.B.; Brusatte, S.L. (2011). "Body size estimation and evolution in metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs: implications for species diversification and niche partitioning". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 163 (4): 1199–1216. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00734.x.
  2. ^ Young, Mark T., and Marco Brandalise de Andrade, 2009. "What is Geosaurus? Redescription of Geosaurus giganteus (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae) from the Upper Jurassic of Bayern, Germany." Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 157: 551-585.
  3. ^ Young, Mark T., Brusatte, Stephen L., Ruta, M., Andrade, Marco B. 2009. "The evolution of Metriorhynchoidea (Mesoeucrocodylia, Thalattosuchia): an integrated approach using geometrics morphometrics, analysis of disparity and biomechanics". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158: 801-859.
  4. ^ Andrews C. W. (1913). A descriptive catalogue of the marine reptiles of the Oxford Clay, Part Two. London: British Museum (Natural History), 206 pp.