Name meaning: Crocodile Mimic

Time Period: Aptian (Early Cretaceous) 125-112 Mya

Locations: Niger - Elrhaz Formation

Taxonomy: Theropoda-Spinosauridae

Species: S. tenerensis

Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~

The Crocodile mimic Suchomimus grew to 31 to 36 feet long and weighed around 3 metric tons. Known for its crocodile like jaws which were 4 feet long and had up to 122 sharp conical teeth which it would use for hunting fish. Suchomimus had tall neural spines on its back reaching their tallest at the hips, these are believed to form a small sail which later spinosaurids like Spinosaurus would further develop. Suchomimus had hollow bones unlike other spinosaurids meaning it spent more time shallow water than deep water. Suchomimus had incredibly strong forearms with large 8 inch claws on the forefinger. Speculated to be used in defense or for catching fish similar to a bear. Suchomimus lived in the coastal floodplains of now Africa with Ouranosaurus Sarcosuchus Nigersaurus Kryptops 

History & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~

Suchomimus was discovered in 1997 by David Varricchio in an expedition lead by Paul Sereno in the Ténéré dessert. The Suchomimus holotype MNN GDF500 was around 66% complete very uncommon for spinosaurids. When discovered it was debated whether Suchomimus was synonymus with the now likely dubious Cristatusaurus discovered to months earlier, or a a species of Baryonyx B. tenerensis.

Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~

Jurassic Franchise Suchomimus has been treated phenomenally by the Jurassic Franchise. The two main depictions of Suchomimus are the one from Camp Cretaceous and Jurassic World Evolution, both of which are phenomenal. The Camp Cretaceous Suchomimus coloration and how it is based upon snakes looks amazing it gets into a fight with a Majungasaurus later on and loses. Suchomimus realistically would have won that fight as it was far larger. The Jurassic World Evolution Suchomimus was based on the Jurassic world website’s design it looks accurate and photogenic. It would later be used in all of the Jurassic World Evolution Games.

Extras: ~ ~ ~ ~

Suchomimus All Perfect Animations & Interactions

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Suchomimus Tenerensis by Jay Qui on Sketchfab

Articles:

A Long-Snouted Predatory Dinosaur from Africa and the Evolution of Spinosaurids (1998)

Beyond the Stromer’s Riddle: the impact of lumping and splitting hypotheses on the systematics of the giant predatory dinosaurs from northern Africa (2025)

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