Crocodylo-Month, Day 8: Hesperosuchus
(Image by Nobu Tamura.)
Another basal crocodylomorph from the Triassic Southwest, Hesperosuchus was a roughly two-meter-long animal, with extremely long legs that would have enabled it to run at high speeds. It was a prey animal of dinosaurs, including Coelophysis. Its bones have been found in the stomachs of fossilized Coelophysis, and were initially mistaken for the bones of Coelophysis juveniles, unfairly inflicting accusations of cannibalism on Coelophysis that have lingered for years.
Hesperosuchus barely resembles a crocodylomorph at all in comparison with modern crocodilians, or even with some its contemporaries, such as Carnufex. This really goes to show the massive diversity once possessed by crocodylomorphs. But if you think Hesperosuchus is crazy, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet…












