A new creature has arrived in 3D Dinopedia: Araripesuchus, an extinct crocodile-relative that lived during the Cretaceous Period (about 125–66 million years ago). Fossils of this genus have been found across parts of the former supercontinent Gondwana — in South America, Africa, and Madagascar, with discoveries reported from places like Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, Niger, and Cameroon.

Araripesuchus didn’t look or live like modern crocodiles. It was mostly terrestrial, typically around 1 meter long (sometimes larger), with relatively long limbs and a body held higher off the ground — clues that it could run quickly and move like a nimble land animal rather than a slow, semi-aquatic ambush predator.

Its teeth are especially fascinating: simple, conical teeth in the front, and flattened, leaf-shaped teeth with ridges and tiny serrations in the back. This “mixed toolkit” suggests a flexible diet — likely omnivory or small prey hunting — and even hints that it could process food efficiently in its mouth. Open 3D Dinopedia to explore this surprising “land crocodile” in 3D!