Chenanisuchus

Chenanisuchus
Life restoration of Chenanisuchus lateroculi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Clade: Crocodyliformes
Family: Dyrosauridae
Genus: Chenanisuchus
Jouve et al., 2005
Type species
Chenanisuchus lateroculi
Jouve et al. 2005

Chenanisuchus ("Chenane crocodile") is a genus of dyrosaurid crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous of Mali and the Late Palaeocene of Sidi Chenane in Morocco. It was described in 2005, after expeditions uncovered it in 2000.

The type species is C. lateroculi ("lateralis", lateral; "oculi", eyes), in reference to the laterally facing eyes.

Currently, Chenanisuchus is the most basal known dyrosaurid.[1]

  1. ^ Hastings, A.K.; Bloch, J. & Jaramillo, C.A. (2011). "A new longirostrine dyrosaurid (Crocodylomorpha, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Paleocene of north-eastern Colombia: biogeographic and behavioural implications for new-world dyrosauridae". Palaeontology. 54 (5): 1095–116. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01092.x.