Crocodyliforms

Diversity of life

Comparing forms and lifestyles

Fossil crocodyliforms show considerable diversity in size, dentition and adaptations.

Goniopholis tooth, Angeac-Charente. © Lilian Cazes. Dinosaures, les géants du vignoble, 2017, p. 190.

The method in practice

Researchers compare skulls, teeth, jaws, dermal plates and skeletal bones. Rostral or tooth shape informs dietary interpretations, which are strengthened by comparison with other evidence from the deposit.

Several lineages in one environment

Angeac’s crocodyliforms

Four groups of crocodyliforms are identified at Angeac through teeth, skull bones and bony skin plates.

sp. means the genus is recognised but the species is undetermined; indet. indicates a broader identification.

Crocodiles beside the water: a reconstructed scene. © Mazan.

Goniopholis sp.

An almost complete skull and mandibular elements from one individual were excavated in 2018. Their anatomy allows a provisional assignment to the genus Goniopholis, in the family Goniopholididae.

Goniopholis reconstruction in profile. © Mazan.

Theriosuchus sp.

Small isolated teeth, often recovered by screen-washing, characterise this atoposaurid. The described posterior teeth are low, broad, compressed and leaf-shaped, shown in plate 17, A–D. An osteoderm is also tentatively referred to Atoposauridae (plate 19, D).

Theriosuchus reconstruction in profile. © Mazan.

Indeterminate Bernissartiidae

Bulbous, low-crowned teeth indicate another lineage of small crocodyliforms. Their shape suggests a crushing dentition. They are assigned to Bernissartiidae, with genus and species undetermined (plates 17, E and 19, A–C).

Pholidosaurus sp.

Slender, curved teeth with longitudinal ridges, together with a mandibular fragment, attest to this genus at Angeac. The teeth appear in plate 19, E–J and differ clearly from the low crowns of bernissartiids.

Reference: Allain et al., 2022, p. 704–707, figures 17–19.

At Angeac and in regional comparisons

Charente deposits document several crocodyliforms, including Goniopholis, Pholidosaurus, Bernissartia and Theriosuchus. At Angeac, teeth, other remains and bite marks contribute to studying ecosystem interactions. Cherves’ remarkable skulls provide comparisons with a distinct provenance.

Goniopholis skull, dorsal view, Cherves. © P. Blanchier. Dinosaures, les géants du vignoble, 2017, p. 191.

What this research reveals

Understanding their ecological role also requires examining interactions: consumption of fish, turtles or dinosaurs, and possible transport of remains. A tooth mark records contact; the precise scenario requires further evidence.

Specimens and data

Crocodyliform teeth, skull and mandible

Angeac crocodyliforms have pointed, broad or rounded teeth.

Enlarge each plate to examine labels, specimen identifiers and scale bars.

Crocodyliform teeth — Angeac-Charente, figure 17 — **Crocodyliform teeth.** Figure 17, p. 705. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

Goniopholis skull and mandible — Angeac-Charente, figure 18 — **Goniopholis skull and mandible.** Figure 18, p. 706. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

Crocodyliform teeth and osteoderm — Angeac-Charente, figure 19 — **Crocodyliform teeth and osteoderm.** Figure 19, p. 707. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

People and expertise

Jeremy Martin and Jean-Michel Mazin contribute to the study of Charente crocodyliforms. Their work connects with research on bite marks, coprolites and animal interactions.

Jeremy Martin Jean-Michel Mazin

All the people behind the project →