Leidysuchus
Crocodile Tooth
Class Reptilia,
Subclass Diapsida, Order Crocodilia
Geological
Time: Late Cretaceous
Size: Fossil
tooth is 30 mm (1 1/8”) in length
Fossil Site:
Hell Creek Formation, Butte County, South Dakota
Fossil Code:
PFV319
Price: $60.00
- sold
Description:
Crocodilians are descendants of diapsid reptiles that are thought
to have appeared in the late Permian Period. They are often grouped
in the unranked Archosauromorpha, which also includes extinct non-avian
dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Most early Archosaurs resembled modern
crocodiles, with narrow skulls, pointed snouts, teeth set in sockets
and a modified ankle joint. During the Triassic period Archosaurs
divided into two evolutionary lines: 1) crocodiles and 2) dinosaurs
and birds. The oldest crocodile fossil found was called Protosuchus
(meaning "first crocodile"). It was some 240 million years
old from the Jurassic period. Leidysuchus crocodile fossils have
been found in Cretaceous North America, and are the most common
croc fossil coming from Hell Creek.
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