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Notosuchus Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 85 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life restoration of Notosuchus terrestris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauria
Clade:	Pseudosuchia
Clade:	Crocodylomorpha
Clade:	Crocodyliformes
Clade:	†Notosuchia
Family:	†Notosuchidae
Genus:	†Notosuchus Woodward, 1896
Species
N. terrestris Woodward, 1896 (type) N. lepidus Saez, 1957

Notosuchus (/noʊtəˈsuːkəs/; 'southern crocodile') is an extinct genus of South American notosuchian crocodyliforms. It was terrestrial, living approximately 85 million years ago in the Santonian stage of the Late Cretaceous.

Description

Notosuchus was relatively small, reaching 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length and a weight of 36 kg (79 lb). Remains have been found in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation in Patagonia, Argentina. First named in 1896, Notosuchus was the first known notosuchian. The type species is N. terrestris. A second species, N. lepidus, was named in 1957.

A paper published in 2008 by Fiorelli and Calvo described new remains of the type species N. terrestris. In it, the authors suggested that the skull would have supported a short trunk, or "hog's snout" as well as fleshy upper and lower lips. The anteriorly directed nares and the absence of a bony nasal septum (which presumably indicates cartilaginous tissue serving its place) provide evidence for a trunk-like snout, while striations on the surface of the nasal bones and the lower jaw most likely acted as attachment points for the nasolabial muscles and the depressor muscle, respectively. Additionally, the authors suggested that a lateral rim on the dentary as well as numerous aligned neurovascular foramina are evidence of soft cheek-like muscular tissue. The function of the trunk was likely used for searching for food by sniffing the ground in a manner similar to extant suids and peccaries, while the cheeks would aid in mastication by preventing food loss. A re-description of the skull material has since lent evidence toward minimal soft-tissue enhancement to the snout of Notosuchus.

Diet

References

1. Hugo, CA; Leanza, HA (2001). "Hoja Geológica 3969-IV, General Roca. Provincias de Río Negro y Neuquén". Boletín Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino, Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. 308: 1–65.
2. "Notosuchus - paleofiles.com".
3. Woodward, AS (1896). "On Two Mesozoic Crocodilians Notosuchus (Genus Novum) and Cynodontosuchus (Genus Novum) from the Red Sandstone of the Territory of Neuquen (Argentine Republic)". Anales del Museo de la Plata, Paleontologia Argentina. 6: 1–20.
4. Saez, MD (1957). "Crocodiloideos Fosiles Argentinos un nuevo Crocodilo del Mesozoico Argentino". Ameghiniana. 1–2: 49–50.
5. ^ Fiorelli, L. E.; Calvo, J. O. (2008). "New remains of Notosuchus terrestris Woodward, 1896 (Crocodyliformes: Mesoeucrocodylia) from Late Cretaceous of Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina". Arquivos do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. 66 (1): 83–124.
6. Fiorelli, L. E. (2005). "Nuevos restos de Notosuchus terrestris Woodward, 1896 (Crocodyliformes: Mesoeucrocodylia) del Cretácico Superior (Santoniano) de la Provincia de Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina". 79p. Tesis (Grado) Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba.
7. Barrios, F.; Bona, P; Carabajal, A.P.; Gasparini, Z. (2017). "Re-description of the cranio-mandibular anatomy of Notosuchus terrestris (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia". Cretaceous Research. 83: 3–39. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.08.016. hdl:11336/32766.

v t e Ziphosuchia
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Mesoeucrocodylia Clade: Metasuchia Pseudosuchia see Pseudosuchia Ziphosuchia see below↓
Ziphosuchia Ziphosuchia Microsuchus? Sebecia Baharijodon Doratodon Trematochampsa? Wanosuchus Mahajangasuchidae Kaprosuchus Mahajangasuchus Sebecidae Ayllusuchus Barinasuchus Bergisuchus Bretesuchus Dentaneosuchus Iberosuchus Ilchunaia Langstonia Lorosuchus Ogresuchus Sahitisuchus Sebecus Zulmasuchus Peirosauridae Amargasuchus Fortignathus? Miadanasuchus Stolokrosuchus? Pepesuchinae Barreirosuchus Caririsuchus Epoidesuchus Itasuchus Pepesuchus Roxochampsa Peirosaurinae Antaeusuchus Barcinosuchus Barrosasuchus Bayomesasuchus Colhuehuapisuchus Gasparinisuchus Hamadasuchus Kinesuchus Lomasuchus Montealtosuchus Patagosuchus Peirosaurus Pepesuchus Rukwasuchus Uberabasuchus Notosuchia see below↓
Notosuchia Notosuchia Anatosuchus? Araripesuchus Comahuesuchus? Libycosuchus Razanandrongobe? Simosuchus Uruguaysuchus Candidodontidae? Candidodon Lavocatchampsa Malawisuchus Pakasuchus Xenodontosuchia Baurusuchia Chimaerasuchus Comahuesuchus? Eremosuchus? Pehuenchesuchus Razanandrongobe? Baurusuchidae Cynodontosuchus Gondwanasuchus Pabwehshi Baurusuchinae Aphaurosuchus Aplestosuchus Baurusuchus Stratiotosuchus Pissarrachampsinae Campinasuchus Pissarrachampsa Wargosuchus Sphagesauria Brasileosaurus? Coringasuchus Coronelsuchus Eptalofosuchus Notosuchidae Coronelsuchus? Llanosuchus Mariliasuchus? Notosuchus Sphagesauridae Adamantinasuchus Labidiosuchus Yacarerani Sphagesaurinae Armadillosuchus Caryonosuchus Sphagesaurus Caipirasuchinae Caipirasuchus Morrinhosuchus
Related categories Terrestrial crocodylomorphs

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• Notosuchians
• Late Cretaceous crocodylomorphs of South America
• Terrestrial crocodylomorphs
• Bajo de la Carpa Formation
• Fossil taxa described in 1896
• Taxa named by Arthur Smith Woodward
• Prehistoric pseudosuchian genera
• Cretaceous Argentina
• Prehistoric archosaur stubs