Notosuchus

Notosuchus Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Notosuchus terrestris
Scientific classification
Class:	Sauropsida
(Unranked) :	Mesoeucrocodylia
Suborder:	Notosuchia
Family:	Notosuchidae
Genus:	Notosuchus Woodward, 1896
Species:	N. terrestris (type) N. lepidus Saez, 1957

Notosuchus (meaning "southern crocodile") is an extinct genus of South American notosuchian crocodylomorph possibly related to Simosuchus. It was terrestrial, living approximately 85 million years ago in the Coniacian or Santonian stages of the Late Cretaceous. Remains of this animal have been found in the Neuquén Formation in Patagonia, Argentina.

Description

A paper published in 2008 by Fiorelli and Calvo described new remains of the type species N. terrestris. In it, the authors suggested that the skull would have supported a short trunk, or "hog's snout" as well as fleshy upper and lower lips. The anteriorly directed nares and the absence of a bony nasal septum (which presumably indicates cartilaginous tissue serving its place) provide evidence for a trunk-like snout, while striations on the surface of the nasal bones and the lower jaw most likely acted as attachment points for the nasolabial muscles and the depressor muscle, respectively. Additionally, the authors suggested that a lateral rim on the dentary as well as numerous aligned neurovascular foramina are evidence of soft cheek-like muscular tissue. The function of the trunk was likely used for searching for food by sniffing the ground in a manner similar to extant suids and peccaries, while the cheeks would aid in mastication by preventing food loss.