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Palaeontological atlas

Ancient crocodylomorph catalogue A to Z

Land runners, freshwater hunters and marine forms across more than 200 million years

Crocodylomorphs were far more diverse than living crocodilians. Their history includes small terrestrial forms, armoured freshwater hunters and specialised marine branches.

Each card opens a complete profile separating preserved skulls, skeletons and teeth from functional inference and artistic reconstruction.

In the catalogue6ancient crocodylomorphs
Complete profiles6evidence-led guides
Time range200+ MyrLate Jurassic to Miocene
Showing 6 of 6 profiles

A

Catalogue illustration for AcresuchusA

Acresuchus

Acresuchus pachytemporalis

A large Late Miocene caiman from Amazonia with thickened temporal bones and a broad feeding toolkit.

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Catalogue illustration for AcynodonA

Acynodon

Acynodon

A short-snouted Late Cretaceous eusuchian with rounded rear teeth adapted to crushing hard food.

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Catalogue illustration for AlligatorellusA

Alligatorellus

Alligatorellus

A half-metre Late Jurassic neosuchian known from articulated skeletons and paired rows of osteoderms.

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Catalogue illustration for AllodaposuchusA

Allodaposuchus

Allodaposuchus

A Late Cretaceous European eusuchian whose many island species test the origins of crown crocodilians.

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Catalogue illustration for AllognathosuchusA

Allognathosuchus

Allognathosuchus polyodon

An Eocene alligatoroid with a short snout and enlarged blunt rear teeth for processing resistant food.

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Catalogue illustration for AnteophthalmosuchusA

Anteophthalmosuchus

Anteophthalmosuchus

A long-skulled Early Cretaceous goniopholidid known from unusually complete European skeletons.

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Continue through deep time

Explore crocodylomorph evolution and evidence

Compare changing lineages, Mesozoic environments and the fossil record behind each reconstruction.

CCretaceous PeriodEuropean islands and freshwater ecosystems→JJurassic PeriodThe setting of early neosuchians→FFossil formationBones, armour and exceptional preservation→

More than modern crocodiles

The catalogue spans several branches rather than treating every fossil as a member of Crocodylus. Alligatorellus was a tiny basal neosuchian, while Acresuchus belonged inside the much later caiman radiation.

Teeth record different feeding tools

Acynodon and Allognathosuchus independently developed blunt rear teeth. Similar mechanics do not make them close relatives or prove the same exclusive prey.

Complete bodies can change family trees

Skulls dominate many classifications, but limbs, vertebrae and osteoderms add independent characters. The associated skeletons of Allodaposuchus and Anteophthalmosuchus show why postcranial evidence matters.

Frequently asked questions

Were ancient crocodylomorphs all aquatic?

No. The group included terrestrial runners, freshwater ambush predators and marine specialists.

Are all fossils in this catalogue true crocodiles?

No. Crocodylomorpha includes many branches outside the crown group Crocodylia.

How is diet reconstructed?

Researchers compare tooth shape, wear, jaw mechanics, gut contents and feeding traces, while keeping their different evidential strength clear.

Why do classifications change?

New skulls and postcranial skeletons add characters that can split historical wastebasket genera and alter family trees.