Rimasuchus

Rimasuchus is an extinct genus of crocodile from the Miocene of Egypt and possibly Libya. Only one species - Rimasuchus lloydi - is currently known. It was previously thought to be a species of Crocodylus, but is now thought to be more closely related to the modern African dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus).

Rimasuchus
Temporal range: 23.03–.781 Ma Early Miocene – Early Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Crocodylidae
Subfamily: Crocodylinae
Genus: †Rimasuchus
Storrs, 2003
Type species
†Rimasuchus lloydi
(Fourtau, 1918)
Synonyms
  • Crocodylus lloydi Fourtau, 1918

Fossil crocodiles from all over Africa and the Middle East of Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene age were previously referred to R. lloydi. The majority are now known to be extinct forms of Crocodylus. The generic name "Rimasuchus" comes from the Latin words rima, meaning "crack" (referencing the East African rift valley),[1] which is ironic because Rimasuchus is not currently known from deposits in East Africa.

Phylogeny

Cladogram after Brochu C. A., Njau J., Blumenschine R. J., Densmore L. D. (2010).[2]

 Crocodylinae 
 

Crocodylus megarhinus

 
 Mekosuchinae 
 

Kambara

 
 

Australosuchus

 
 

Trilophosuchus

 
 
 
 Osteolaeminae 
 
 

Rimasuchus

 
 
 

"Crocodylus" pigotti

 
 

Euthecodon

 
 
 
 

Voay

 
 
 

Osteolaemus osborni

 
 

O. tetraspis

 
 
 
 
 

Mecistops

 
 
 

Crocodylus anthropophagus

 
 

C. palaeindicus

 
 
 

C. palustris

 
 
 

C. siamensis

 
 
 

C. porosus

 
 

C. johnsoni

 
 

C. novaeguineae

 
 

C. mindorensis

 
 
 
 
 
 

C. niloticus

 
 
 

C. acutus

 
 

C. intermedius

 
 

C. rhombifer

 
 

C. moreletii

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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See also

References
  1. Leakey, M. G. and Harris, J. M. (2003). Lothagam: the Dawn of Humanity in Eastern Africa. Columbia University Press, New York. ISBN 0-231-11870-8 p. 144
  2. Brochu, C. A.; Njau, J.; Blumenschine, R. J.; Densmore, L. D. (2010). "A new horned crocodile from the Plio-Pleistocene hominid sites at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania". PLoS ONE. 5 (2): e9333. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0009333. PMC 2827537. PMID 20195356.
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