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       Suchomimus is a genus of large dinosaur with a crocodile-like mouth that lived between 121–112 MYA, during the late Aptian stage of the Cretaceous period in Niger, Africa.



The only species in the genus is Suchomimus tenerensis, but there is a theory that it might just be another species of Baryonyx instead.

Facts[]

Unlike most giant theropods, Suchomimus had a very long, low snout and narrow jaws, formed by expansion of the premaxilla and the anterior ramus of the maxilla. The jaws have about 130 teeth, pointed but not very sharp and curving slightly backward, with fine serrations. The tip of the snout was enlarged and carried a "rosette" of longer teeth, seven per side on the top and about the same number in the lower jaw. Further back, there are 22 teeth per side on top and 31 per side on the bottom.

The animal is reminiscent of modern crocodilians that eat mainly fish.

Suchomimus also had blade-shaped extensions on its vertebrae which may have held up some kind of low flap, ridge or sail of skin that was highest over its hips, lower and further back than that of Spinosaurus.

Detailed study shows that the specimen of Suchomimus was a subadult about 11 m (36 ft) in length and with mass estimates between 2.6 and 5.2 tonnes (2.6 and 5.1 long tons; 2.9 and 5.7 short tons)

The overall impression is of a massive and powerful creature that ate fish and presumably other sorts of meat (carrion, if nothing else) more than 100 MYA, when the Sahara was a lush, swampy habitat.

Appearances in the series[]

Walking with Dinosaurs: Inside Their World[]

Suchomius is one of the viewable dinosaurs in the app. One was killed by a Spinosaurus in What were the Dinosaurs? section and in the main menu.

Gallery[]

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