Armadillosuchus

Name meaning:

Armadillo crocodile

Period of life:

72–68 million years ago

Period:

Cretaceous period

Habitat:

Floodplains

Taxonomy:

Crocodilians

Countries:

Cretaceous period Armadillosuchus | 3D Dinopedia

Nipponosaurus

Andrewsarchus

Armadillosuchus (72–68 million years ago)

Armadillosuchus was a remarkable creature that lived in what is now Brazil around 70 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period. It is an extinct genus of crocodylomorphs belonging to the family Sphagesauridae. Despite its relationship to crocodiles, Armadillosuchus possessed a number of unique features that set it apart from any other representative of this group.

Most striking was the unusual armor covering the animal’s body. It consisted of hexagonal bony plates—osteoderms—connected to one another by flexible, leathery ligaments. This construction provided Armadillosuchus with reliable protection from predators but did not allow it to roll into a ball, as modern armadillos do. It was precisely this armor that gave the animal its name, as it resembled an armadillo’s shell, while “souchus” is Greek for “crocodile.”

Armadillosuchus was a relatively small animal: its length reached about 2 meters, and its weight was approximately 120 kilograms. A significant portion of this mass was, of course, the armor itself. Unlike most crocodilians, Armadillosuchus had long legs and sharp claws on its feet. Its jaws contained prominent canine-like teeth, giving it a somewhat predatory appearance.

However, despite its imposing look, Armadillosuchus likely preferred peaceful coexistence with other species. Scientists believe that it was an omnivorous animal, feeding mainly on plant material. It may have used its powerful jaws and canine teeth to crack tough roots and plant stems.

It is also possible that it fed on small invertebrates—mollusks, worms, and insects—and did not disdain carrion.

There is a hypothesis that Armadillosuchus led a burrowing lifestyle, similar to that of modern armadillos. Strong claws and powerful forelimbs could well have been used for digging burrows, which served as shelters from predators and adverse weather conditions.

Armadillosuchus is an important subject for the study of crocodylomorph evolution. It demonstrates the remarkable diversity of this group of animals, their ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions, and their capacity to occupy very different ecological niches.

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