Deinosuchus

dinosaur era · crocodilians · ancient predators · cretaceous

Massive swamp hunter. Deinosuchus was an enormous crocodilian that lived 82 to 73 million years ago, making it one of the largest predators of its time. It hunted in the warm swamps and rivers of what is now North America.

First fossil finds. The first bones of Deinosuchus were discovered way back in the 1850s in North Carolina, and scientists officially named the creature in 1909. More pieces have been uncovered since then, helping us understand it better.

Mystery in bones. For a long time, scientists only had broken fragments and an inaccurate skull model at a famous museum, so they didn't really know what Deinosuchus looked like. Recent discoveries of better bones are finally solving this ancient puzzle.

Fierce Cretaceous predator. This powerful crocodilian shared its world with dinosaurs and was likely one of the top hunters of its swampy home. Its name actually means 'terrible crocodile' in Greek.