Many of us are interested in the ancient history of the Earth, and not only related to human civilization, but also what happened before the first people appeared on the planet. For example, what were the ancient crocodiles and their immediate ancestors?
Classification
The group of reptiles, which included, in addition to ancient crocodiles, pterosaurs, dinosaurs and other animals, is called Archosaurs. One of the directions of modern systematics, cladistics, also refers to this group of birds as having occurred at one time from reptiles. In addition to them, of the currently existing animals, this group includes modern crocodiles in the amount of three families (Eusuchia treasure), which, along with extinct species, are included in the crocodilomorph superorder (Crocodylomorpha). The latter, in turn, are part of a larger group of Archosaurs called Krurotarza, or Pseudosuchia.
Previously, all known crocodilomorphs - both now existing and fossils - were included in the Crocodilia order. A new classification was proposed in the late 80s. Twentieth century.
Differences of the ancestors of modern crocodiles
According to one hypothesis, ancient crocodiles lived on our planet already 250 million years ago, that is, in the Triassic period of the era, later called the Mesozoic. Crocodilomorphs of the time were smaller and relatively small. In the Cretaceous period, at the end of which the immediate ancestors of crocodiles appeared, this group was very numerous and included a variety of water and land forms, even giant ones.
Modern crocodiles have many similar external features with their distant ancestors. Some of the fossil reptiles will be briefly described below.
Protosuchia
Representatives of this suborder of the Crocodyliformes treasure, also called the Procrocodylia paleontologist Ferenc Nopcha, who identified them as a separate taxon, “Procrocodiles”, lived on our planet 190-200 million years ago. They were relatively small (up to one and a half meters in length), because of which they themselves often became the prey of larger predators. Their limbs were longer than those of modern crocodiles, due to which these reptiles moved fairly quickly on land. They also swam perfectly. Their body was covered with bone shields located in several rows, which provided relative protection against small predators. Protosuchia, like all, even the most ancient crocodiles, had sharp teeth.
Metriorinchis
Representatives of this genus (Metriorinchidae family, Neosuchia treasure), who lived on Earth 165-155 million years ago, had a rather long body - up to three meters. They had a well-defined caudal fin, which made them look like fish and gave certain advantages when moving in water. The body was streamlined. On land, these ancient "crocodiles" could not move.
Notosuchia
This suborder, combining relatively small crocodilomorphs, included land animals. They lived in Asia, Africa and South America during the Cretaceous. The largest of these was the South American Baurusuchus pachecoi. It grew to a length of 4 meters.
Dyrosaurids
Representatives of the extinct family Dyrosauridae inhabited almost all regions of the Earth from the end of the Cretaceous to the Eocene periods. With their very elongated faces, they resembled modern gavials. These reptiles led an aquatic lifestyle. Representatives of the Phosphatosaurus gavialoides species belonging to this family had an impressive length of about 9 meters. They were common in the northwestern regions of Africa.
Sarcoccus
The reptiles of the extinct genus Sarcosuchus (Sarkozuh) in the modern classification belong to the Crocodilomorphs, the family of the Pholidosaurids, whose representatives had long snouts expanding at the end.
Representatives of the Sarkozuhov family itself, who inhabited the territory of Africa at the beginning of the last Mesozoic – Cretaceous period, grew up to 10-12 meters in length and were thus 1.5-2 times larger than modern crocodiles!
The ancient crocodile Imperial Sarkozuh (imperator), first described by scientists in 1966, was no exception. The length of this reptile's skull alone, found by researchers, is 160 cm. Most of the skeletal specimens were found in 1997 - 2000. American paleontologist Paul Calistus Sereno. Prior to this, the size and appearance of these ancient animals (crocodiles) could only be judged by the remains of several teeth and shields covering the body of reptiles discovered half a century earlier. They were found and described by the French scientist Albert-Felix de Lapparent. According to scientists, the mass of this giant monster exceeded 8 tons.
The giant ancient sarcosuchus crocodile is gaining popularity among game developers. To date, it has been used in at least two of them - ARK: Survival Evolved and Jurassic world the game.
Finally
The article briefly describes only a small part of the representatives of crocodilomorphs. Their classification is quite complicated, and in the literature, especially popular, describing fossil animals, you can still find the term "crocodile" as applied to any representative of crocodilomorphs. Although it would be more correct to call crocodiles only representatives of the Eusuchia treasure. All modern and part of the extinct ancient crocodiles belong to it.